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Cyclists should do a theory test!

lickme

A lot of cyclists have no concept of the rules of the road and are getting more and more agressive. There acting like they have the right of way the whole time, weaving in and out of traffic, breaking red lights, not adhering and not looking for possible dangers ahead. Stricter and harsher penalties are needed for them. A piece of advice playing chicken with cars will not work well in the long run for ye. Should be made do some sort of simulation test or something. They are some decent cyclists but most are idiots.

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beauf

lickme wrote: »

A lot of cyclists have no concept of the rules of the road...Should be made do some sort of simulation test or something...

83% of UK cyclists hold driving licences...

"Cyclist" for this purpose is someone who cycled at least once during the week in which they were asked to fill in a travel diary for the NTS.

I think you'd need to work out do people not know the rules. Or are they choosing to ignore them. How many already have a driving license.

222233

Seeing as we provide cycle lanes, why aren't cyclists using these lanes paying taxes for the money it cost to make them, I'm not allowed drive in them?

mikemac1

Zipping up bus lanes
Blaring noise
Bullying others drivers
Flying through red lights
Stopping and parking wherever they like

Those feckin HSE ambulances :mad:

Matt_Trakker

Can we not just have a system where cyclists and drivers have to take theory tests?
Cyclists wouldn't need a cycling test, but then every 5 years or so everyone would have to take a refresher course of some kind.
Be a bit of a money spinner too for the gubberment.

Just doing a test once always seemed a bit pointless to me, like do any of you remember your algebra theories from your Leaving Cert? Or the definition of The Law of Diminishing Returns?

Continuous assessment is the way to go.
Plus it'll be a handy way to legally get all those old people off the roads....unless they pass of course....it's mad, like, people who passed their exams in the 40s/50s can still drive based on an exam they did 60 or 70 odd years ago. That's just wrong.

anncoates

PeadarCo wrote: »

So your asking for a poll tax. We've about 4.5 million odd in the country and pretty much everyone will make a "righteous" statement and some point during the year, whether its Cyclists/Drivers/Pedestrians/Fianna Fail/Fianna Gael/Sinn Fein/Denis O Brian/Man United/Liverpool/etc are the Devil incarnate/Hitler/criminal/God/perfect/ etc. Sounds a very easy way to raise money.

That's a lot of effort, to be fair.

Just say what about car drivers dur dur durrr etc.

IrishHomer

What about pedestrians?

Every pedestrian in Midlands walks on the wrong side of the road, won't use pedestrian crossings, but will walk out in front of traffic and expect right of way!

222233

mikemac1 wrote: »

I'm a cyclist and have passed a car test and a motorcycle test.

Now I need to do a test for cycling? Sure I was cycling when I was 8 years

If you obey the rules of the road, then Im sure you are fine as you can drive you are probably aware of how to use public roads I would assume

mikemac1

222233 wrote: »

Cyclists should have to sit a driving test, forget a theory test and they should be prosecuted with fines/penalty points for breaking the rules of the road.

I'm a cyclist and have passed a car test and a motorcycle test.

Now I need to do a test for cycling? Sure I was cycling when I was 8 years

222233

endacl wrote: »

:mad: Yeah. Grrrr! Cyclists are all bad! :mad:

On the other hand, the points you raise have already been addressed. In this and many other threads...

Sorry if I am repeating but it infuriates me that if I knock someone down for their own stupidity I will be prosecutable and have to live with that guilt.

endacl

222233 wrote: »

I was recently driving through a busy area at peak traffic time, one of the lanes allows for a continuous amber (yield and go if clear etc). I was coming off of my turn, I had a green light and a cyclist literally went straight through the amber light meaning I was inches from knocking him off his bike, he then preceded to make some angry, strange hand movements... I have also noticed cyclists running red lights, veering in and out of cars and leaning on cars. NOTHING MAKES ME MORE ANGRY.

Cyclists should have to sit a driving test, forget a theory test and they should be prosecuted with fines/penalty points for breaking the rules of the road.

:mad: Yeah. Grrrr! Cyclists are all bad! :mad:

On the other hand, the points you raise have already been addressed. In this and many other threads...

222233

I was recently driving through a busy area at peak traffic time, one of the lanes allows for a continuous amber (yield and go if clear etc). I was coming off of my turn, I had a green light and a cyclist literally went straight through the amber light meaning I was inches from knocking him off his bike, he then preceded to make some angry, strange hand movements... I have also noticed cyclists running red lights, veering in and out of cars and leaning on cars. NOTHING MAKES ME MORE ANGRY.

Cyclists should have to sit a driving test, forget a theory test and they should be prosecuted with fines/penalty points for breaking the rules of the road.

keith16

I am cyclist and I did a theory test.

PeadarCo

anncoates wrote: »

What about righteous emissions? The exchequer could make millions of euro from cyclists.

So your asking for a poll tax. We've about 4.5 million odd in the country and pretty much everyone will make a "righteous" statement and some point during the year, whether its Cyclists/Drivers/Pedestrians/Fianna Fail/Fianna Gael/Sinn Fein/Denis O Brian/Man United/Liverpool/etc are the Devil incarnate/Hitler/criminal/God/perfect/ etc. Sounds a very easy way to raise money.

anncoates

mikemac1 wrote: »

Since tax is based on emissions the correct rate is zero

What about righteous emissions? The exchequer could make millions of euro from cyclists.

RDM_83 again

Grandpa Hassan wrote: »

I agree. City planning will become cycle focussed. Dublin will eventually follow London in taking away entire lanes and devoting them 100% to cycles (works on the Embankment in London are underway and even taxi drivers have capitulated in their opposition to it)

Drivers here are all just raging against the dying of the light

I really don't think London is a place to emulate in terms of cycling, did a lot of cycling around Dublin currently cycling around London, there is probably a higher number of cyclists here but the experience is considerably worse, maybe the new big lanes they are building will be better but the lanes they make a big deal about now are pretty poor in many parts and there is really few of them, add to that you also have the added phenomenon here of cyclists that are aggressive to other cyclists and they allow artics during the day.
The reason the opposition is low to the lanes is because there is so many deaths,cycle past at least two ghost bikes a day and this week 2 people died.

Capt'n Midnight

dubscottie wrote: »

There is a video on the cycling forum of cars "breaking lights". In that video, Had the cars stopped, There would have been a pile up behind them.

You can go through a amber turning to red light if it would be unsafe to stop.. Ie slamming on the anchors.

Cyclists do it day in day out.. €100 a pop and a Garda would collect €20,000+ in fines in an hour at the junction of Harolds Cross Rd/Rathgar Ave.

LOL we could have saved hundreds of millions on NRA three lane upgrades if we prosecuted motorists who refuse to move in to empty lanes to their left.

Look at any of the RSA free speed surveys. at one stage 99% of motorists in free flowing traffic in interurban 50Km/h zones broke the speed limit. Average speed cameras would pay for themselves in no time.

Clearlier

RainyDay wrote: »

This is a very interesting question. The vitriol towards cyclists in verging on racist in nature. Small minded people see fault only in cyclists, and don't see the many faults in drivers (despite the fact that the road safety stats show clearly which road user group is a danger to others).

So why the vitriol - simple jealously at seeing cyclists breeze past in traffic while they are stuck in the queue?

I think that it's more likely to do with personal experience. As I hinted at in my earlier post when I cycle I see drivers do dumb things on pretty much every journey I make but I rarely see cyclists do anything wrong. When I drive I see cyclists doing dumb thing all over the place but rarely see cars do much wrong.

The above is because when I cycle I move at a similar speed to most cyclists so I don't encounter very many and when I drive I move at the speed of the traffic around me so I only see the behaviour of a few drivers. I doubt that my experience is unique hence why so many drivers think that most cyclists are bad and many cyclists think that most drivers are bad.

Edit to add that most (adult) cyclists are drivers and have some appreciation of the stupid things that cyclists do but most driver are not cyclists and have a limited appreciation of the dumb things that drivers do.

roadrunner16

tipparetops wrote: »

They should have a licence, insurance and tax. If they want to use the roads, they should pay for them.
And those pricks who get dressed up at the weekend, they are suffering a mid life crisis. Oddballs.

Assuming you're a driver ? how do you pay for the roads more than cyclists ?

Grandpa Hassan

Nice one RainyDay. Just shows how blind drivers are to the danger that they pose. The behaviour is so prevalent now that it is just accepted as the norm. I think that's why they don't see it. And professional drivers are the worst....taxis and buses

RainyDay

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

In Dublin city centre it's the exact opposite. Cars rarely do blatantly dangerous rule breaking but most cyclists act as if pedestrian lights don't exist at all and footpaths are just part of the road. Particularly around the quays.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Bwaahaahaa. You need to get real.
Have a look at these vids;
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=92964191&postcount=597

And this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc5VGuJvOVk

And this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWC8sT06Zi0

Would you like me to keep going, or do you get the point that just about every time a light goes red in Dublin, 1 or 2 or 3 drivers break the red light.

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

Why should someone who's 7 years old be allowed to cycle on the roads, when they're legitimately too young to drive? There's a reason we have age limits for things like that.

Do you often see 7 year olds driving on the roads?

And if you think that 18 is a good age limit for cycling, be prepared to get rush hour traffic to increase as the remaining (mostly boy) students who do cycle to school get back into Mammy's car.

Chloris wrote: »

What are you on about. We're talking about cyclists using the road in a dangerous way. Obviously anyone who kills anyone should serve time in prison. Nobody is contending that.

I'm talking about victim-blaming - that anyone who takes a child out on the road is somehow negligent. We've seen calls on this thread for extra training, and now you want those parents who do take their kids out on the road to prepare them for independent travel reported to social services? See the problem yet?

Clearlier wrote: »

I continue to be surprised at the level of vitriol directed towards cyclists.

This is a very interesting question. The vitriol towards cyclists in verging on racist in nature. Small minded people see fault only in cyclists, and don't see the many faults in drivers (despite the fact that the road safety stats show clearly which road user group is a danger to others).

So why the vitriol - simple jealously at seeing cyclists breeze past in traffic while they are stuck in the queue?

kylith

moonlighting wrote: »

I would gladly do a theory test or even pay a small tax if they implemented proper cycle lanes across the country, but that's never going to happen. I know there are some cycle lanes in city centers but there a mess and there's practically none in the county side. Cycling is great exercise and great for the environment but without the infrastructure its just dangerous.
I could be crazy here but i think the future is in cycling not electric cars.

Many cycle lanes are just taken from lanes on the road so it is impossible for cars to not be in the cycle lane. Many Irish roads are too narrow for cycle lanes and cars to be properly separated and even when the road is wide enough you have to deal with things like the left-turning lane for cars going over the straight-ahead lane for bikes, which is downright dangerous, imo. Cycle paths on footpaths often go over driveways and are used as footpath extensions by pedestrians. Cycle paths on footpaths are, imo, both frustrating and dangerous for all because you have to constantly expect a pedestrian to step in front of you so it's impossible to get up any kind of speed. I definitely agree that it would be a step in the right direction to move toward totally removing cars from city centres via better bike lanes, better public transport links, and cheaper/free parking on the outskirts.

inforfun

A **** cyclist is more than likely also **** at driving a car.
And the other way around.

I dont even dare to cycle here anymore

Changing vehicle doesnt make you all of a sudden perfectly aware of the rules of the road.

tritium

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

In Dublin city centre it's the exact opposite. Cars rarely do blatantly dangerous rule breaking but most cyclists act as if pedestrian lights don't exist at all and footpaths are just part of the road. Particularly around the quays.

Sorry but you have to be fcuking kidding there.

Why should someone who's 7 years old be allowed to cycle on the roads, when they're legitimately too young to drive? There's a reason we have age limits for things like that.

Unfortunately there's no special provision for them to be allowed do otherwise as I understand it -would be delighted to be wring on this

mikemac1

If every single cyclist you spot on your city commute decided to ditch the bike and drive the same route as you than your commute time would increase.

Many cyclists have cars at home but chose not to use them for work commutes.

They are doing car drivers a favour tbh.

hatrickpatrick

leftfinger wrote: »

ive been hit by a car twice in my life.

the first was many years ago as a child i was crossing the road on a green mad and a car struck me lucky they were not able to slow down enough in time to only really knock me onto the ground. i was able to get up and walk away from it.

the second time only occurred a few weeks ago while cycling i was clipped by a wing mirror or a car the car stopped for a moment and then just went on his/her way

i was also again luckily to have walked away from that but my bike was damaged and cost me 200 euro to fix.

ive never been hot by a cyclist maybe its different here in limerick but i hardly ever see someone cycling on the path.
i do see them running lights and cycling down the wrong side of the road alright.

but i also see cars speeding through pedestrian crossings in the mornings so they dont have to wait while the lollipop lady is letting the kids cross.

In Dublin city centre it's the exact opposite. Cars rarely do blatantly dangerous rule breaking but most cyclists act as if pedestrian lights don't exist at all and footpaths are just part of the road. Particularly around the quays.

i can think of ways that would help with these problems

1. better education for everyone
2. mandatory driving retest every 10 years or less
3. more garda on the street to enforce the laws

a theory test for cyclists what a silly idea when are you going to give people the test when they are 7 years old?

Why should someone who's 7 years old be allowed to cycle on the roads, when they're legitimately too young to drive? There's a reason we have age limits for things like that.

Grandpa Hassan

moonlighting wrote: »

I could be crazy here but i think the future is in cycling not electric cars.

I agree. City planning will become cycle focussed. Dublin will eventually follow London in taking away entire lanes and devoting them 100% to cycles (works on the Embankment in London are underway and even taxi drivers have capitulated in their opposition to it)

Drivers here are all just raging against the dying of the light

moonlighting

I would gladly do a theory test or even pay a small tax if they implemented proper cycle lanes across the country, but that's never going to happen. I know there are some cycle lanes in city centers but there a mess and there's practically none in the county side. Cycling is great exercise and great for the environment but without the infrastructure its just dangerous.
I could be crazy here but i think the future is in cycling not electric cars.

micar

As a person who cycles to work each day, there is one section on my daily 46km commute where I use the footpath. And, it's for my safety.

It's mobhi road in glasnevin. This road is split into 3 lanes. 2 lanes in the direction of the city and one outward lane. Although it does have 3 lanes, it was probably not designed for that. The road going northwards of the city (also a relatively steep hill) is so narrow in parts that for cyclists there is no room to pass out motorists or motorists to pass cyclists safely.

Also, there is a section at kerb which is about 6 inches wide with a deep narrow ridge. This is something you don't want to get your wheel stuck in as you'll end up coming off the bike. I have the scars in my elbow and shoulder from this happening between clontarf and Sutton.

The J Stands for Jay

Captain Chaos wrote: »

They should be able to be fined, mandatory to carry official national ID to use a bike and enforcement. Caught with no ID, dragged to the nearest station and fined.

All citizens are required to present papers and an official reason for travel to all officials, unless they own a mobile phone network or an oil distributor.

Saipanne

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

The wonderful news is that no government is going to grant your wish and force cyclists to be licensed or insured, or charge us a fee, or force us into particular lanes in the road or limit our access.

The opposite will happen in the next decade, more cycle lanes, cycle routes and greenways, expanded bikeshare schemes, bike priority traffic lights.
More and more cyclists on the roads, some whizzing past poor you stuck in traffic, others leisure cyclists meandering along.

Its going to be great, so deal with it.

Do us a favour and keep off the footpaths. Unless there's a cycle path on there. Cheers.