Bloke getting written-up by traffic cop on Lewes Road, Brighton today...

[sten_super]

You are suggesting that a cycle is not a vehicle ?
definition of a vehicle :A device or structure for transporting persons or things.
Therefore its discrimination that all road users are not subject to the same tax.

You are being deliberately obtuse. It's not even the case that all cars pay the same VED, so there's no reason to suggest that bikes should have to pay it.

 

[Garage_Doors]

You are being deliberately obtuse. It's not even the case that all cars pay the same VED, so there's no reason to suggest that bikes should have to pay it.

I'm not being obtuse at all. That is my point exactly why shouldn't cyclist pay a proportionate VED ?
I'm not suggesting they pay the same, as you have correctly pointed out, there is a sliding scale for vehicles.
I just don't see why cycles should use the road for free.

For the future i don't see any alternative as if more people move out of their cars and onto cycles as the environmentalists want use to then the VED the revenue will drop, so the it will have to be re couped some other way.
So maybe it will be a way of balancing the books.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

We do pay for a tax disc that goes towards the road network.

No it doesn't. It goes into the same pot as other taxes.

 

[vegster]

I'm not being obtuse at all. That is my point exactly why shouldn't cyclist pay a proportionate VED ?
I'm not suggesting they pay the same, as you have correctly pointed out, there is a sliding scale for vehicles.
I just don't see why cycles should use the road for free.

For the future i don't see any alternative as if more people move out of their cars and onto cycles as the environmentalists want use to then the VED the revenue will drop, so the it will have to be re couped some other way.
So maybe it will be a way of balancing the books.

Failing that, how about some form of registration so that Cyclists who consistantly flout the laws are punished by fines and bans in the way that motorists are ?

 

[sten_super]

I'm not being obtuse at all. That is my point exactly why shouldn't cyclist pay a proportionate VED ?
I'm not suggesting they pay the same, as you have correctly pointed out, there is a sliding scale for vehicles.
I just don't see why cycles should use the road for free.

For the future i don't see any alternative as if more people move out of their cars and onto cycles as the environmentalists want use to then the VED the revenue will drop, so the it will have to be re couped some other way.
So maybe it will be a way of balancing the books.

You've already changed your tune from "why don't they all pay the same tax" to "they should pay a proportionate tax". I would suggest that they probably already do. Cars do far more damage to road surfaces, road locales and the environment than bikes. Once you add that to the fact that the government is clearly trying to encourage bike use and discourage car use it's pretty clear to see why the level of VED is so different between bikes and cars.

 

[sten_super]

Failing that, how about some form of registration so that Cyclists who consistantly flout the laws are punished by fines and bans in the way that motorists are ?

Now that I'd be completely in favour of. I'm just not sure how practical it would be.

 

[Uncle Buck]

No it doesn't. It goes into the same pot as other taxes.

Paying for the public sector employees?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Paying for the public sector employees?

Yep. Nurses, soldiers, sailors, spies.

 

[Garage_Doors]

You've already changed your tune from "why don't they all pay the same tax" to "they should pay a proportionate tax". I would suggest that they probably already do. Cars do far more damage to road surfaces, road locales and the environment than bikes. Once you add that to the fact that the government is clearly trying to encourage bike use and discourage car use it's pretty clear to see why the level of VED is so different between bikes and cars.

I not sure i have stated "why don't they all pay the same tax" have I?
if so it was not the intention as clearly cyclists could not be expected to pay the same "tax" or VED.
The differences in the level of VED is not so different between bikes and cars.In fact my bikes are more !
Ie. a Megane diesel in in the region of £40-50 VEN where as my motorcycles are £74 each.
I pay more for my bikes than a lot of cars do.
Think we can agree that motorcycles do less damage to the road than cars.

 

[jackanada]

I'm not being obtuse at all. That is my point exactly why shouldn't cyclist pay a proportionate VED ?
I'm not suggesting they pay the same, as you have correctly pointed out, there is a sliding scale for vehicles.
I just don't see why cycles should use the road for free.

For the future i don't see any alternative as if more people move out of their cars and onto cycles as the environmentalists want use to then the VED the revenue will drop, so the it will have to be re couped some other way.
So maybe it will be a way of balancing the books.

Ok, so how much are we going to tax prams and buggys, or shoes, they all go on the road at some time?
Oh hang on roads are part of the countrys infrastructure, why don't we pay out of general taxation for the benefit of all.
Oh we do!

 

[Garage_Doors]

Ok, so how much are we going to tax prams and buggys, or shoes, they all go on the road at some time?
Oh hang on roads are part of the countrys infrastructure, why don't we pay out of general taxation for the benefit of all.
Oh we do!

Absolutely agree, The roads are paid for out of general taxation, but certain vehicles and subject to additional VEN, but not cycles.
I'm not going to fall out with anyone over this .
I've said my piece and given my viewpoint. It just different to others that's all.

 

[Seagull on the wing]

A common misconception, there are plenty of exemptions for parking on double yellows, e.g. loading/unloading, letting a passenger in/out, assisting a disabled passenger, etc. and if you have a blue badge you can park for 3 hours on a DYL.



Yep fair enough if the Police are treating certain bad parking as 'obstruction' they can, but it's not a contravention in its own right and Council Traffic Wardens can't do anything about cycle lane parking.

Disabled badge holders can park on double yellow,but they must not cause obstruction..i.e near a junction and cannot park in loading bays and bus stops or where on double yellow it has two yellow stripes going over the kerb at intervals.

 

[Notters]

...and bloody right too

Parked on the zig-zags leading up to a pelican crossing

I felt like shouting, 'Good one officer! The bloke is too lazy to park properly and is obscuring the view of the crossing for approaching traffic, and someone could be killed or injured. Hope the three points gets him a ban! Knobber!'

The reason these areas are usually clear, is because most people know the hazard they would cause by parking on them, and if the don't, three points and a fine should be the minimum penance

Don't know why this thread has been hyjacked by cycling issues. Very much agree with your original point. People don't seem to give a toss about crossings any more

 

[Gblocksouthstand]

I wonder how many people cycle down London Road past Surrenden Park?

 

[public school boy]

As a cyclist I believe that ALL cyclists should have to go through training before using the public highway, should be banned from riding on pavements, prosecuted for going through red lights, prosecuted for undertaking traffic, display identification in the form of a registration number on the riders back and all riders should be insured.

 

[DumLum]

The most selfish thing I have ever seen on the road is Brighton Mitre Cycling Club climbing Ditchling Beacon.

I think they wait for a car to come before pulling in front as a group and not allow them to overtake until you get to the top. They put themselves in danger doing this, why can't they go up in 10 second intervals? I would prefer it if they hired the road and closed it off on a saturday morning.

 

[Acker79]

The most selfish thing I have ever seen on the road is Brighton Mitre Cycling Club climbing Ditchling Beacon.

I think they wait for a car to come before pulling in front as a group and not allow them to overtake until you get to the top. They put themselves in danger doing this, why can't they go up in 10 second intervals? I would prefer it if they hired the road and closed it off on a saturday morning.

They'd probably say it's safer to do it in a group, than to go individually, where cars will overtake them and not give them as much space as they'd give a group of cyclists. And if they went up in drips and drab you have the whole road interrupted by cyclists, you overtake one, and then there's another then another and so on. By going together there one moment when you need to overtake.

They would also argue that it isn't selfish to use public roads properly.

 

[public school boy]

It should be law to wear cycle helmets.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IdkhZX8vhkA/SZLHgpKdOiI/AAAAAAAAAA0/LUoh_7taXkc/s400/naked_cyclists.jpg

 

[Fur Cough]

Especially as cyclists are the first to complain when they get run over.

I beg to differ, the one I hit didn't do much complaining, alot of screaming looking at his skinless leg and shoulder but can't remember him complaining.

I hasten to add that the accident was entirely his fault, the light in front of me was very much of the green colour.

 

[BHAFC_Pandapops]

argh, it makes me sick...

so then driving down Egremont Road yesterday, and someone pulls out of queen's park (the big gate, south side) and proceeds to drive on the right hand side of the road, towards Hannover! The look on my face...