Cycle helmets

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

There are some REALLY inconsiderate Cyclists (No lights, jackets, helmets, don't stop at lights etc...)

There are some REALLY inconsiderate Car Drivers (Drive too close to Cyclists, drive too fast, on phone etc...)

I drive a fair bit, and I cycle a lot too - there are idiots on both sides of this argument.

Oh, and IMO helmets should be compulsory.

 

[trueblue]

There are some REALLY inconsiderate Cyclists (No lights, jackets, helmets, don't stop at lights etc...)

.

My new favourites are the ones who, not content with having seen The Drive and Old Shoreham Road butchered on their behalf at vast expense, now decide they'll use the cycle lane on the wrong side of the road. So if you're a motorist pulling out on to the OSR, you're liable to get blind-sided by a lycra-clad loony while you look in the other direction for a gap in the oncoming traffic. And you know who'll end up in court - it won't be the idiot that caused the accident...

 

[The Wookiee]

I am off on my bike today from Worthing to Saltdean, I will use the cycle lane all the way, except that stupid bit that takes you round the houses in Shoreham. I will let you know how I got on !

 

[Pantani]

My new favourites are the ones who, not content with having seen The Drive and Old Shoreham Road butchered on their behalf at vast expense, now decide they'll use the cycle lane on the wrong side of the road. So if you're a motorist pulling out on to the OSR, you're liable to get blind-sided by a lycra-clad loony while you look in the other direction for a gap in the oncoming traffic. And you know who'll end up in court - it won't be the idiot that caused the accident...

It was not our idea though, was it? The Old Shoreham Road cycle lane is yet another poorly designed and implemented cycle path. It is as annoying to cyclists as motorists the way the authorities appear incapable of creating usable cycling routes.

And lets not live in a dream world were motorists get prosecuted for accidents when cyclists are at fault. This just does not happen.

 

[Woodchip]

There are some REALLY inconsiderate Cyclists (No lights, jackets, helmets, don't stop at lights etc...)

There are some REALLY inconsiderate Car Drivers (Drive too close to Cyclists, drive too fast, on phone etc...)

I drive a fair bit, and I cycle a lot too - there are idiots on both sides of this argument.

Oh, and IMO helmets should be compulsory.

I agree that helmets should be compulsory, but figures from Oz and NZ have shown that the number of people cycling has decreased considerably since enforcing the wearing of helmets.

Helmet law halves cyclist numbers | Stuff.co.nz

 

[kano]

I agree that helmets should be compulsory, but figures from Oz and NZ have shown that the number of people cycling has decreased considerably since enforcing the wearing of helmets.

Helmet law halves cyclist numbers | Stuff.co.nz

I wonder if making it compulsory for all new bikes to be sold with a helmet would be a better route. Make it so that the price retailers are allowed to advertise is the price of a bike + entry level helmet. I think this would mean that the vast majority would at least OWN a helmet and would set the scene for a public awareness campaign to actually work because people wouldn't have to go out and buy something extra.

As with most things, convincing people they should do something is usually more effective than telling them they have to.

edit to add - much slower tho...your looking at 4/5 years probably

double edit to add there is a really good TED talk about this very subject

 

[Woodchip]

I wonder if making it compulsory for all new bikes to be sold with a helmet would be a better route. Make it so that the price retailers are allowed to advertise is the price of a bike + entry level helmet. I think this would mean that the vast majority would at least OWN a helmet and would set the scene for a public awareness campaign to actually work because people wouldn't have to go out and buy something extra.

As with most things, convincing people they should do something is usually more effective than telling them they have to.

edit to add - much slower tho...your looking at 4/5 years probably

double edit to add there is a really good TED talk about this very subject

Now that is a great idea. Leave it for 2-3 years then you hit the media hard with a campaign about how helmets save your scalp. I can vouch for that as after I come off my bike had I not been wearing a helmet I'd have a do like Joleon Lescott. I certainly wouldn't have been a vegetable or dead, but I would have definitely wrecked my hairline.

 

[kano]

Now that is a great idea. Leave it for 2-3 years then you hit the media hard with a campaign about how helmets save your scalp. I can vouch for that as after I come off my bike had I not been wearing a helmet I'd have a do like Joleon Lescott. I certainly wouldn't have been a vegetable or dead, but I would have definitely wrecked my hairline.

Yep. I remember being a kid and thinking nothing of throwing litter on the floor...the brainwashing campaign against it did wonders, now i wouldn't dream of it. Same with seatbelts. Dont see why cycle helmets should be any different.

 

[Woodchip]

Yep. I remember being a kid and thinking nothing of throwing litter on the floor...the brainwashing campaign against it did wonders, now i wouldn't dream of it. Same with seatbelts. Dont see why cycle helmets should be any different.

The old Click - Clunk advertising campaign?

 

[crabface]

Helmets should definitely be made compulsory for all people riding bikes. When younger i hit a stone came off my Bike, smashed my head on the floor and snapped my bike helmet in half i dont remember much of that day. Would probably be dead if i hadnt been wearing one. The moment a cyclist steps onto the road they should be made to wear a hat as accidents do happen.

I like the idea of all Bike's being sold with a helmet, i believe they are all sold with bells so why not a helmet?

 

[Woodchip]

Helmets should definitely be made compulsory for all people riding bikes. When younger i hit a stone came off my Bike, smashed my head on the floor and snapped my bike helmet in half i dont remember much of that day. Would probably be dead if i hadnt been wearing one. The moment a cyclist steps onto the road they should be made to wear a hat as accidents do happen.

I like the idea of all Bike's being sold with a helmet, i believe they are all sold with bells so why not a helmet?

And yet none of my bikes have a bell on them. I can shout louder and quicker in the event of an emergency than some poxy little bell that goes "ding" or "dring ring"

 

[Pantani]

And yet none of my bikes have a bell on them. I can shout louder and quicker in the event of an emergency than some poxy little bell that goes "ding" or "dring ring"

I agree, bells are useless. They tend to make people freeze rather than move out the way, as you say, you do not need to reach for your voice, a bell on the other hand, whilst grabbing brakes can be very difficult to get to.

 

[crabface]

And yet none of my bikes have a bell on them. I can shout louder and quicker in the event of an emergency than some poxy little bell that goes "ding" or "dring ring"

Bells are possibly one of the most pointless inventions ever.

 

[BHAFC_Pandapops]

The reason cyclists (especially those on racing bikes who can easily achieve speeds of 20 mph) use the road instead of cycle lanes, is that the vast majority of cycle lanes are unusable. Take examples from Brighton alone:

1. The seafront cycle lane. Always full of pedestrians, and as has been mentioned the pelican crossings let people straight across the road in to the cycle lane. It is dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians alike.

2. The cycle lane from The Level to Old Steine. Brilliant at The Level end, it is wide, allows plenty of room for pedestrians and cyclist alike, superb. Then it gets to St Peter's Church, narrows down to a metre so two bikes cannot pass without going in to the pedestrian section. Goes round the back of a bus stop where it is less than two foot wide, and there is invariably someone stood in it waiting for a bus. Then it crosses to the next bit 50/100 yards later at another crossing where it is slightly wider, but now there are trees every ten yards forcing pedestrians in to the cycle lane again. Then another crossing, this time the path goes round the west side of Victoria Gardens more trees, though less pedestrians. Then the path ends at that crossing, bottom of Church Street and you have to join the flow of traffic at the busiest point for buses in all of Brighton.

3. The Level up Lewes Road to the Vogue Gyratory. A cycle lane full of parked cars, interspersed with bus stops and people pulling out on you from side roads. As bad going the other way, the day I see a traffic warden here doing anything about the continual parking infractions on this road will be a great day.

4. Top of Dyke Road. You come off the roundabout, you are going downhill it is very fast. What is this? A little traffic island? It is very close to the pavement, not much room here. In fact less than a foot between the pavement and the traffic island, the cycle lane goes between the traffic island and the pavement. It would be funny if it was not so dangerous. Incidentally the cycle lane up Dyke Road is gone now, I think, because it was such a joke the number of cars parked in it.

So you see why we do not use cycle lanes. The vast majority of them are unworkable for anyone who actually wants to get anywhere, and it is actually safer for us to ride in the road where we are at least fully aware of what the dangers are. On a cycle lane we have no idea what crazy idea is going to be thrown at us next.

get a bell then? people don't like to be told to get the f*** out the way by a car horn, a bell, or an engine rev. I find it makes them run out of the way.

 

[Pantani]

get a bell then? people don't like to be told to get the f*** out the way by a car horn, a bell, or an engine rev. I find it makes them run out of the way.

Try reading the posts above, bells are ineffective and often inaudible. Why not just accept what I have written as an explanation as to why cyclists do not use cycle lanes, instead of an aggressive response, I'm allowed to ride on the road and will continue to do so.

 

[brightn'ove]

Try reading the posts above, bells are ineffective and often inaudible. Why not just accept what I have written as an explanation as to why cyclists do not use cycle lanes, instead of an aggressive response, I'm allowed to ride on the road and will continue to do so.

This.

Just because the council spent a lot of money on a cycle lane doesn't mean that they are any good or that cyclists should be grateful for them. Some of the cycle lanes in this city are completely pointless and are essentially just a parking bay... I would much rather cycle in the road than having to weave around parked cars not knowing if they are going to take me out with a door or not.

The roads are there for both cars and cyclists, if you get stuck behind a bike, f***ing wait.

 

[BHAFC_Pandapops]

Try reading the posts above, bells are ineffective and often inaudible. Why not just accept what I have written as an explanation as to why cyclists do not use cycle lanes, instead of an aggressive response, I'm allowed to ride on the road and will continue to do so.

how was that an aggressive response? I'm sharing my loathing for troublesome pedestrians.

I'm just suggesting if you want to use a cycle lane tell Wayward Jim to get out of your way.

You do have priority, there..

 

[Pantani]

how was that an aggressive response? I'm sharing my loathing for troublesome pedestrians.

I'm just suggesting if you want to use a cycle lane tell Wayward Jim to get out of your way.

You do have priority, there..

I suppose the unnecessary addition of a swear word in a response to a post that had little relation to what you wrote. The fact that you are endorsing acting in an aggressive manner to your fellow man, yes, pedestrians are people too.

In a cycle lane we do have priority. May I suggest you start to look at roads as an area of equal priority for all road users, seeing as that is the law.

 

[Garage_Doors]

if you get stuck behind a bike, f***ing wait.

That's twice you have stated this on this thread, it this an important premise to you in riding a bike to ensure car driver are inconvenienced?

 

[Birdie Boy]

I have gone and got Insurance, so, anyone that tries to say I should pay road tax (I have 2 cars both with VED paid) and have insurance, bollox to them!