A girl I work with lives in Blanchardstown, she drives daily to Summerhill in her car. Why t f?
What’s wrong with a modest hatch back?
She’s unmarried and no kids. What the f does she need it for?
I didn't say it was but the large increase in them on the roads (principally because this is what the manufacturers are encouraging people to buy) is making the roads less safe for vulnerable road users
I wasn't saying it was the fault of the SUV driver. I obviously wasn't as clear as Seth thought I was.
If I am behind a 'normal' car, I can see over it and see the driver emerging from a side road sooner. And possibly more importantly, that driver can see my big stupid head over the roof of the car in front of me and will wait till I pass.
I'm not pulling this out of my ass. The reason I mentioned Newtown park avenue is that the very scenario I am describing happened me there several times.
That's the reason I prefer being behind normal height cars, because they don't 'steal ' visibility from me.
Is it? You did reference the post though about vehicles pulling out in front of cyclists because of high vehicles(suv types), doesn't matter what vehicles a bicycle is behind if that happens, that's the fault of the vehicle pulling into traffic. Would you not agree?
The point that has been made over the last number of pages is that the height of SUVs reduce drivers ability to seen past them. This blockage also applies to busses and trucks but they simply aren't as plentiful on the roads and drivers, for whatever reason, anticipate for the blind spot created by their presence
I know what the point is, and I'd say cans and trucks, etc are every bit as plentiful. Have a drive up the Naas road any morning. Drivers need to anticipate for SUV types then,. Pretty simple. I don't see why you need to see over a car, you don't need to see over a van, a tractor, a bus, a lorry, etc. You wait until you can see and proceed. Pretty basic rules of the road.
I doubt all greyed out plated cars are driven by dubious characters. They are a fashion statement as much as anything, just like the 3r, 4d, German styled plates, etc. ATM the Gardai obviously don’t care about them as they’re everywhere
As someone who cycled a lot before getting a driving licence, I was always situationally aware of my surroundings and especially around trucks/buses. These vehicles have blind spots no matter how many mirrors they have. I've been saying it for years that the likes of the RSA need to bring school kids(Even Adults) and sit them in the likes of an artic truck to show people what the driver can &cannot see.
Years ago i had a mate get in to the artic i was driving and he couldn't believe the views from the truck and all the different things a driver would do.(He just qualified as a pilot at the time).
So the emphasis for all road users should be checking your surroundings.
I think that's just the size and shape of cars now. Kodiak/Kodaiq I still would say is very car like, most of them would be 2WD I'd say the 4x4 variant is the minority of sales and most would never tow a boat or whatever.
I'm fairly shocked at magic's experience as a cyclist. That's just bad driving. I'm able to see cyclists all the time by being observant and looking through windows to check for cyclists when I'm turning.
Yep, you're definitely right about the "suv" type cars. I'm in the same camp there too about observation, purely inattentive driving behaviour, with how busy roads are nowadays, with every sort of user, including cyclists,e scooter users, it's all about observation
Let’s blame farting cows for climate change. edit: I was replying to a post ‘SUVs are selling in record numbers’ but it didn’t show even though I hit ‘quote’ ??
Ah but, but EV SUVs don’t cause climate change
The "quote" function is problematic ATM.
Some sort of glitch.
To be sure it's actually showing the post you want it to you have check every time you use it.
They are illegal and purchased only by twats who want to break the law.
especially as without doubt it’s the cyclis, pediestriant, whatever who is going to come off worst. I can never understand a vulnerable road user with headphones on, for example. At some stage, it is going to bite them, not anyone else.
Yeah, we want to place the restrictions on those exposed to the danger rather than those creating the danger.
It's fine to drive around in a large motorised vehicle with double glazing, listening to Andre Rieu at high volume or whatever. But we disdain the vulnerable road users with headphones.
Only a moron would wear earphones when out on a public road, be they on a bicycle or driving a car. Use a Bluetooth speaker if you're on a bike.
Whilst I don't wear headphones when on a bike, I'm curious as to how I'm deemed to be at a disadvantage with them. Will it make a difference in the numbers of close passes I encounter? Will I not see the driver rush to pass me and immediately turn left causing me to brake suddenly? Will I not hear their horn when they for whatever reason beep it at me, despite me doing absolutely nothing wrong?
In exactly what kind of scenario would it make a difference having headphones in or is it simply yet another driver who knows what is best for someone cycling?
Edit: actually don't answer that because I already know the answer is one based on ignorance and anyway we shouldn't be going off topic!
Tosser alert.
Who said that it was fine to listen at a volume that prevents you from hearing things outside the vehicle?
There are headphones and headphones. A €10 set of headphones might be fine, €250 padded Bose sound cancelling headphones might put you in your own world.
TBF it’s not like they’re trying to hide anything. Up to the gardai to sort it but they couldn’t give a damn. Just like with driving commercials as a private vehicle, regularly bought by people who knowingly break the law
Tall people require suv type cars. It's the reason I want one.
They are trying to make their number plate more difficult to read!
Why?
It's not just earphones.
I gave up using my 120db Hornit electric horn on the bike when I found many drivers not hearing it, when just a few cms from their ear.
This is one of the worst excuses. I'd nearly have more respect for people who (quite wrongly) think you should be allowed to drive whatever you want, wherever you want, than people who make silly excuses for their obnoxious choices. It's not a requirement; it's an indulgence.
If motorists are forced into driving tiny misery boxes, all cyclists should be made cycle bmx's. I think thats only fair.
Presumably they consider it fashionable. Majority of such plates I see are on brand new or nearly new cars driven by the antithesis of the boy racer cohort. I’d be far more concerned with the amount of cars with bald tyres and one eyed monsters, but each to their own
Well if you've never used them you wouldn't know. Think about it though, it's the same reason most if not all, construction workplaces,workshops, don't allow their use or the use of ear defenders with radios.
I'd like to point out that I also cycle.
Nothing miserable about driving a sensible-sized car that fulfils most people's needs. Unless they have 4-wheel-drive (which most laughably don't), and you need that for whatever practical reason, SUVs benefit nobody. They just get in everyone else's way, as the idiots who waste money on them try, usually unsuccessfully, to navigate their way around the place. And your BMX example might have sounded clever in your own head, but it makes about as much sense as I'd expect it to make. like SUVs, most cyclists don't have any reason to use a BMX. Although at least a BMX is actually built for off-road use, so there's that, I suppose.
You scoffed at and rudely dismissed another poster who said he wanted an suv as he is a taller gentleman.
If you want to force tall people to drive small cars, then I think it's only fair to force everyone to drive small vehicles. Including cyclists. They don't need mountain bikes or racers. A bmx is sufficient for most.
