Cyclists, rules of the road, a bit of cop on!

Spook_ie · 08-02-2013 11:14PM

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Not sure I understand the point of this and have to question why you omitted the fact that cars killed 260 TIMES MORE people in that period or any information about the circumstances for any of those accidents. I could equally find the following:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EcQC62MlQU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGPTpNtgZ74

As all the sane posters have said, a moron is a moron. Put them behind a wheel and they are a moron driver, stick them on a bike and they are a moron cyclist, put an ipod in their ears and they are a moron pedestrian.

We've all had our moronic moments on the roads.

But the biggest morons are the people posting on here and declaring they hate ALL cyclists/motorists/pedestrians because of a few personal incidents.

People like Spook_ie above are the ones to be wary of on the roads, you clearly have some sort of agenda against cyclists as can be seen from your frequent inflammatory posts in the cycling forum. People like you shouldn't be allowed anywhere near traffic.

I'm sure the relatives of the 29 who died from cyclists are cock a hoop that their deaths weren't part of the 260 times more killed by cars, 1 death is one too many, your post seems to excuse the 29 killed by cyclists as them being somehow less important than others!

As for your inflammatory remorks about me personaly, let me see, in 34 years (so far) I've killed no one, maimed no one (God willing it'll be that score still when I stop driving) I have an adgenda against anyone that thinks the rules and regulations of the road don't apply to them, unfortuneately a large percentage of them are made up of cyclists. Those are the ones that shouldn't even be allowed out in traffic but Noooo cyclists are above critism.....

Beasty · 08-02-2013 11:22PM

BTW I'm aware of a couple of successful prosecutions against cyclists for killing pedestrians in the UK. One of which involved a cyclist who was on the pavement rather than road

However there would not appear to be a breakdown as to who was at fault with the 29 referred to above. Many may well have been as a result of pedestrians stepping out into the road unexpectedly (and actually I did this as a child many decades ago in a small village with hardly any traffic - ended up with a leg broken in 3 places when hit by a cyclist but it was entirely my fault, although I still claim her weight contributed to the extent of the injuries;)). Others could also have involved other road users. The term used was "linked to", not "killed"

Spook_ie · 08-02-2013 11:37PM

Beasty wrote: »

BTW I'm aware of a couple of successful prosecutions against cyclists for killing pedestrians in the UK. One of which involved a cyclist who was on the pavement rather than road

However there would not appear to be a breakdown as to who was at fault with the 29 referred to above. Many may well have been as a result of pedestrians stepping out into the road unexpectedly (and actually I did this as a child many decades ago in a small village with hardly any traffic - ended up with a leg broken in 3 places when hit by a cyclist but it was entirely my fault, although I still claim her weight contributed to the extent of the injuries;)). Others could also have involved other road users. The term used was "linked to", not "killed"

Their deaths were directly attributable to cyclists, if the cyclist was to blame or not isn't the question, as I'm pretty sure that of the people killed by cars, not all are blamed on the drivers.

As to "However there would not appear to be a breakdown as to who was at fault with the 29 referred to above" then that is the whole point, there is no requirement for the incident to be recorded so therefore it isn't.

Which brings us neatly back to the fact that cyclists should be insured, registered and regulated instead of the myth that they like to perpetuate that 2 wheels is good ( even when they have no regulatory framework ) and 4 wheels bad (even with a regulatory framework )

opti0nal · 08-02-2013 11:38PM

StinkyMunkey wrote: »

Tbh, my greatest fear is hitting a cyclist or pedestrian while driving my motorbike. .

Do you see many motorcyclists driving illegally in bus lanes?

Jester252 · 08-02-2013 11:40PM

Is you break the rules of the roads you have put yourself and others at risk

Spook_ie · 08-02-2013 11:47PM

Beasty wrote: »

Yes, let's read what it actually says

<snipped>

Now let me relay an example from my own cycle into work this morning. I was on the inside of 2 lanes heading south on the old N1 heading towards Swords (at Blakes Cross). A juggernaut is overtaking me - plenty of room - more than the 1.5m minimum clearance recommended. Then this idiot decides to right turn onto the road from a petrol station. They think they are being smart - a quick getaway before the car in the Northbound lane gets to them. Of course they cannot see me - I'm hidden by the juggernaut - they expect him too make room for them. Fortunately the juggernaut driver had his wits about him, held his ground and gave the car driver a blast on his horn - they probably had the fright of their life but managed to get away with it only because there were 2 northbound lanes and the oncoming car could move to avoid them. If the juggernaut driver had reacted instinctively and moved over to accomodate this idiot he would have been cutting straight into me.

As has been highlighted many times in this thread, there are stupid cyclists, stupid car drivers, and stupid taxi drivers out there. To try and suggest cyclists are for some reason more of a problem than motorists is absurd

Unless there was a vehicle blocking the median preventing the car from entering the "safe" zone then the car simply pulled out in the front of the truck, I certainly wouldn't expect the majority of motorists to pull out in front of a truck without an exit option

I assume you're referring to the Topaz garage at Westview

http://s7.postimage.org/fazl1n2ej/topaz.jpg

EDIT

having reread the post I actually think you are referring to the Esso garage at the turn to Lusk, in which case, yeah tricky enough, but I know there is no right turn from the Northernmost exit ( forces you to cross a double solid white line ) but the Southern most exit, not sure what if any signs are up there, but whatever not a good place to be crossing traffic anyway

Beasty · 09-02-2013 12:11AM

Spook_ie wrote: »

having reread the post I actually think you are referring to the Esso garage at the turn to Lusk,

Yes, and they were coming out of the Southern exit. Of course there is the Topaz a km or so down the road and well as the Centra off the roundabout at Turvey Avenue which can be easily accessed with no issues getting back onto the southbound carriageway. So it was particularly poor planning on behalf of the driver (I would never top-up southbound at that garage) and completely incompetent driving

I would add that I cycle around 10,000km a year (and drive a bit more than that) - the vast majority of road users I come across (car drivers, cyclists, bus drivers etc) are courteous and have due consideration for other road users. A minority in all categories are not and appear only interested in their own little world and pretty oblivious or uncaring about what is going on around them

Smithwicks Man · 09-02-2013 12:18AM

Rules of the road? What about rules of the footpath - as in stay the f**k off of it if you're going to cycle. The amount of times I've had a near miss with a cyclist while walking on the footpath because the c***s refuse to use the road :mad:

Beasty · 09-02-2013 12:25AM

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

Rules of the road? What about rules of the footpath - as in stay the f**k off of it if you're going to cycle. The amount of times I've had a near miss with a cyclist while walking on the footpath because the c***s refuse to use the road :mad:

I never cycle on the footpath - it's illegal you know.;)

Smithwicks Man · 09-02-2013 12:29AM

Beasty wrote: »

I never cycle on the footpath - it's illegal you know.;)

At least there's the odd one like yourself that does things right! God knows If I started walking in the middle of the road there'd be enough people complaining! :pac:

SparkySpitfire · 09-02-2013 12:30AM

Before I begin, this isn't a cyclist-hate rant...

I was on the bus driving along the N11 the other day, it was around 8.30am so traffic was bumper to bumper. I'm on the bus enjoying flying past all the cars stuck in a traffic jam, until a cyclist comes along.

This person is clearly not representative of all cyclists, but I cannot comprehend what this eejit's reasoning was.

He decided he didn't want to cycle on the cycling lane and instead decided he'd travel along the bus lane, making the bus go at a snail's pace behind him. This continued for a few minutes until he decided to switch from the bus lane to the footpath, again leaving the cycle lane empty!!!

Seriously cannot understand the mentality of some people.

MrCreosote · 09-02-2013 12:41AM

SparkySpitfire wrote: »

Before I begin, this isn't a cyclist-hate rant...

Great!

SparkySpitfire wrote: »

I was on the bus driving along the N11 the other day, it was around 8.30am so traffic was bumper to bumper. I'm on the bus enjoying flying past all the cars stuck in a traffic jam, until a cyclist comes along.

This person is clearly not representative of all cyclists, but I cannot comprehend what this eejit's reasoning was.

He decided he didn't want to cycle on the cycling lane and instead decided he'd travel along the bus lane, making the bus go at a snail's pace behind him. This continued for a few minutes until he decided to switch from the bus lane to the footpath, again leaving the cycle lane empty!!!

Seriously cannot understand the mentality of some people.

That's a cyclist hate-rant. Yet again a single anecdote. One person acting the maggot=meaningless to the argument

SparkySpitfire · 09-02-2013 12:45AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

Great!

That's a cyclist hate-rant. Yet again a single anecdote. One person acting the maggot=meaningless to the argument

I was waiting for this.

How? It's a rant about that person, I even said he wasn't representative of all cyclists. Way to go smarty-pants.

MrCreosote · 09-02-2013 12:56AM

SparkySpitfire wrote: »

I was waiting for this.

How? It's a rant about that person, I even said he wasn't representative of all cyclists. Way to go smarty-pants.

So if it's in no way representative of cyclists, why bother posting it on a thread giving out about cyclists. In your opinion it's just a random meaningless story then?

Please- you posted it because you do believe it's representative of cyclists, regardless of your qualifier...

Beasty · 09-02-2013 12:58AM

This thread was started by a motorist having a (discredited) rant at a cyclist, and has continued with a small minority wishing to throw in their own 2c in an attempt to have a dig at cyclists in general. Basically whatever the "pro-cycling" lobby say there will always be a minority wishing to find isolated examples to support their general anti-cyclist position. As I said earlier, I cycle over 10,000km a year. I average over 30kph throughout the year. I get to work (which is 23km away) only 3 or 4 minutes slower than if I drive. I am 40kg lighter than I was 6 years ago, and healthier now (in my fifties) than at any time since leaving school

Maybe some of you guys should just embrace it. Recognise cycling for what it is. A healthy pastime, that allows you to get about without causing excessive damage to the environment. The more cyclists there are on the roads the less drivers there are. This makes driving easier - so why don't some of you actually think about doing yourself and the wider community some good, save yourself a bit of money and get yourself a bike. You never know, you might even enjoy it:)

blacklilly · 09-02-2013 12:59AM

Firstly I. think cyclists have improved over the last number of years, many seem to be wearing helmets, have high vis clothing on, appropriate foot wear and lights on their bicycles. What really irritates the crap out of me is when I see cyclists who are not wearing helmets, high vis etc.
What also irritates me is when I meet a group or even one cyclist on a narrow, bendy road. Drivers are told to keep to the left hand side of the road while driving, if you do this and come around a bend only to find a cyclist right in front of you and a car approaching from the other direction it is incredibly dangerous.
I just can't comprehend any cyclist who doesn't take standard precautions with regards to their safety. Even a collision from a car travelling at 20km will cause serious damage to a cyclist
A friend of mine was killed some years ago, she wasn't wearing a helmet and was cycling on a bendy road. The driver that hit her was travelling within the speed limit and couldn't avoid her due to on coming traffic. That driver has to live with that for the rest of his life, even though he was driving safely he killed a young girl. It is one of my greatest fears while driving that I may hit a cyclist or pedestrian. This is not a rant at cyclists but more of a "please cop on" to the cyclists that do not wear standard safety clothing/protection. I'm well aware that helmets will only help in certain situations but common sense should prevail and all cyclists should wear them.

SparkySpitfire · 09-02-2013 01:00AM

MrCreosote wrote: »

So if it's in no way representative of cyclists, why bother posting it on a thread giving out about cyclists. In your opinion it's just a random meaningless story then?

Please- you posted it because you do believe it's representative of cyclists, regardless of your qualifier...

To give an example of how it's certain people who are retarded, not the group as a whole.

And less of that snarky attitude please.

SparkySpitfire · 09-02-2013 01:02AM

blacklilly wrote: »

I'm well aware that helmets will only help in certain situations but common sense should prevail and all cyclists should wear them.

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend.

I'm actually really surprised that helmets aren't required by law in the same way that seat belts are. Perhaps they should be.

Beasty · 09-02-2013 01:04AM

blacklilly wrote: »

I'm well aware that helmets will only help in certain situations but common sense should prevail and all cyclists should wear them.

OK, so you now want to turn this into a helmet rant. Now let me start by saying I always wear a helmet - that's because I typically cycle quite quickly, but it's a matter of personal choice. Rather than re-invent the wheel (see what I did there;)), I would suggest you head over to the Cycling Forum, do searches on "helmet debate" and "hi-viz" and educate yourself as to all that is wrong with your position on this.

blacklilly · 09-02-2013 01:18AM

Beasty wrote: »

OK, so you now want to turn this into a helmet rant. Now let me start by saying I always wear a helmet - that's because I typically cycle quite quickly, but it's a matter of personal choice. Rather than re-invent the wheel (see what I did there;)), I would suggest you head over to the Cycling Forum, do searches on "helmet debate" and "hi-viz" and educate yourself as to all that is wrong with your position on this.

I'm not having a rant but to think that I could cause life altering injuries to a cyclist while driving at low speeds terrifies me. I have looked into this, my own father is involved in a cycling club as are many of my friends. I don't want to get into an emotive discussion here but perhaps if my friend had of been wearing a helmet that day she would possibly still be here, her family and friends wouldn't be devasated and one man's life wouldn't be turned up side down.
Now in a perfect world where accidents didn't happen there would be no need for helmets and seat belts.
When it comes to road safety everyone should do their absolute upmost to protect themselves.

Mongfinder General · 09-02-2013 01:19AM

Why on earth would a cyclist obey the rules of the road once he/she knows that there is no enforcement of the said rules in this country? As long as they think that they can get from A to B safely and quickly they're not going to give a monkey's.

Wishbone Ash · 09-02-2013 01:20AM

I had a young female driver totally over react in the opposite way than usual today in the city centre. I was to her right on a one way street when she nearly cleaned me out of it when she spotted a vacant parking spot. I had anticipated her move and took evasive action. She pulled up and said that she was sick that she could have killed me and that she was going to vomit. I reassured her that I was ok and to relax and that I was experienced with such incidents. Makes a change from the usual "you shouldn't be on the road" responses from some motorists!

Stark · 09-02-2013 01:22AM

SparkySpitfire wrote: »

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend.

I'm actually really surprised that helmets aren't required by law in the same way that seat belts are. Perhaps they should be.

They're required by law in some places such as Australia. They only result of making them compulsory has been to decimate cyclist numbers.

blacklilly wrote:

A friend of mine was killed some years ago, she wasn't wearing a helmet and was cycling on a bendy road. The driver that hit her was travelling within the speed limit and couldn't avoid her due to on coming traffic. That driver has to live with that for the rest of his life, even though he was driving safely he killed a young girl

This is something that annoys me. It doesn't matter what the speed limit is on the road, there are plenty of examples of single lane boreens overgrown with grass with 80km/hr limits. You always drive at a speed that allows you to stop in the distance you see to be clear. If it was a pedestrian instead of a cyclist on the road, the end result would have been the same (yet you don't see people lobbying for pedestrians to wear helmets).

blacklilly wrote:

It is one of my greatest fears while driving that I may hit a cyclist or pedestrian. This is not a rant at cyclists but more of a "please cop on" to the cyclists that do not wear standard safety clothing/protection. I'm well aware that helmets will only help in certain situations but common sense should prevail and all cyclists should wear them.

It would do you far better to drive more carefully (such as making sure you can stop if you come round a bend to find pedestrians, cyclists, sheep etc. on the road) than to insist that other users be mandated to protect themselves from you. A helmet won't make a blind bit of difference if you hit someone at speed.

Beasty · 09-02-2013 01:23AM

blacklilly wrote: »

When it comes to road safety everyone should do their absolute upmost to protect themselves.

I take it you have not taken my advice. If you were to read some of the countless threads on the subject in the Cycling Forum you may start to appreciate there are risks associated with wearing helmets, and there is a serious debate as to whether on balance it is better to wear them or not (purely from a safety perspective). I choose to, others choose not to.

Wishbone Ash · 09-02-2013 01:23AM

Mongfinder General wrote: »

Why on earth would a cyclist obey the rules of the road

Because I wish to cycle in a legal manner. What's wrong with that?

Would you drink and drive just because you knew there were no Gardai around?

MrCreosote · 09-02-2013 01:24AM

SparkySpitfire wrote: »

And less of that snarky attitude please.

Sir, yes, sir!

blacklilly wrote: »

A friend of mine was killed some years ago, she wasn't wearing a helmet and was cycling on a bendy road. The driver that hit her was travelling within the speed limit and couldn't avoid her due to on coming traffic. That driver has to live with that for the rest of his life, even though he was driving safely he killed a young girl.

Sorry to hear about your friend. If that driver "couldn't avoid her" because of oncoming traffic the s/he was travelling too fast for the conditions. Regardless of whether it was within the speed limit, it was not safe driving.

Mongfinder General · 09-02-2013 01:28AM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Because I wish to cycle in a legal manner. What's wrong with that?

Would you drink and drive just because you knew there were no Gardai around?

That's good that you behave in this manner.

But it's like working without PAYE, buying on the black market. We do it if we think we can get away with it.

Wishbone Ash · 09-02-2013 01:29AM

Beasty- it must be a sign that things are too quiet over in our own forum when we've ventured over here! :eek:

Beasty · 09-02-2013 01:31AM

Mongfinder General wrote: »

But it's like working without PAYE, buying on the black market. We do it if we think we can get away with it.

You may - some of us have morals

Wishbone Ash · 09-02-2013 01:31AM

Mongfinder General wrote: »

But it's like working without PAYE, buying on the black market. We do it if we think we can get away with it.

...although it could be argued that non payment of taxes does not put lives at risk!

Cyclists, rules of the road, a bit of cop on!

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