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Breakin' the Law

Morlock - groupie for hire

08:34 / 20.12.02

So I'm cycling into work, when I get pulled over by the police. Fair enough, I tend to jump red lights and they were right behind me at the time. Plus after a bit of a chat and some minor insults (I'm an idiot, apparently, regardless of any defence I might have mounted) they let me off with a warning, so I'm really not complaining.

Nah, what got me was when one of them mentioned that it costs half a million quid to investigate a fatal road accident. It's nice to know my life isn't thought of as cheap, but that does seem rather a lot. I mean, I jump the gun because I trust the coffee-crazed morons I can see ahead of me more than the ones behind me. If that involves some minor traffic violations I'll take full responsibility for the consequences, that money should be spent on rather better things.

PC Plod's reasoned opinion on the subject seems to be that everything will be fine if you just follow the law, but I have rather less faith in the law than I have in helmets when it comes to protecting myself.

The hare-brained scheme of the day, then, is an opt-out scheme to stuff like this. For a regular contribution you get license to break minor laws like red lights, pavements, whatever, as long as you carry it on you. In return you automatically accept responsibility for any damage or injury to yourself or others whenever you're involved in a traffic incident, right up to death-by-Volvo.

Go on, tell me it's stupid.

ONLY NICE THINGS

08:49 / 20.12.02

Things I hate:

1) Local governments who fail to spend money on creating a viable set of pathways for cyclists.

2) Cyclists who respond to this absence by cycing on the pavement, be that pavement ever so narrow or twisty.

3) Cyclists who want to be rewarded for traversing the mean streets by behaving like pedestrians at red lights.

Jumping a red either means you are forcing oncoming traffic to react to somebody violating their right of way, or forcing pedestrians who are now entitled to cross to deal with you cannoning past.

If you can't handle the very basics of vehicular travel (stop at red, go at green, say), then walk.

Dances with Gophers

09:17 / 20.12.02

In my area the cycle paths are either death traps (ie being made to cross the road at a point where you can't see whats coming at yer and like wise the motorist can't see you) or they are seen as extra parking spaces! There are a few good paths, bit ironic really as they were originally intended as pedestrian access to a series of carparks.

As a rule I tend to assume that any other road user isn't paying proper attention.

One thing i do find distrurbing (please correct me if I'm wrong) is that the rules around dangerous cycling are so vague you can get pulled for just about anything.

09:57 / 20.12.02

One of the problems with cycle paths is that pedestrians seem to think they are extensions of the pavement and walk on them. As a cyclist I cycle at a cruising speed of about 20 mph, and average 12 mph. This I cannot do with pedestrians sharing my space, as it's obviously dangerous for both of us. I'm not going to slow down as I have a 16 mile ride to work and it takes long enough as it is. And the cycle paths are few and far between anyway.

What cyclist really need and want is the guarantee that other road users are going to drive with responsibility and awareness, and that what laws there are are going to protect cyclists first, who are the most vulnerable road users.

When cyclists ride through a red light they are not always putting pedestrians and other road users in danger, sometimes they are trying to avoid being overun by a mass of motorised machinery thinking they are on the start line at Silverstone when the lights change.

Haus's 3rd point gives two options for a cyclist going through a red light, causing either oncoming traffic or pedestrians to react to the cyclist. As long as the cyclist is in a position where they act with awareness and allow the right of way to any traffic/pedestrians that are there that will never be an issue.

I personally never go through a red light unless I believe it is in by best interests to do so, in terms of my own personal safety. I also abhor those cyclists that do, just so they can get home/to the pub/to work 30 seconds earlier.

And while we are on the subject, I hate:

1. Pedestrians who cross the road when it is my right of way, especially those carrying a full Sumo-portioned take-away of McDonalds in their hands causing me to hit said take-away at near full speed, do a full cartwheel (with pike) through the air, land on my arse in the middle of the Euston Road traffic, with my bike on top of me, closely followed by the entire contents of the McDonalds...

2. Pedestrians who walk blindly through gaps in traffic into my path, within 100 yards of a crossing.

3. Buses (or any vehicles) that don't indicate when turning left across my path. Especially when they are really close. Very exciting, in a really unpleasant way.

09:58 / 20.12.02

But I agree with Haus on point 2. Cyclist who use the pavement ARE wankers.

Dances with Gophers

10:16 / 20.12.02

Apparently in Holland they have a special green traffic light for cyclist that appears just before the ordinary green to give cyclists a chance to get away from the cars behind. I've also had experience of left turning nutters, someone pulled up along side then turned left. Some people seem to have the idea that if they don't look they don't see you, it's not their fault "I didn't see you"

Regrettable Juvenilia

10:55 / 20.12.02

Cyclists who don't stop at red lights when pedestrians are crossing are definitely one of my bugbears. When I lived in Oxford it was such a widespread phenomenon that I briefly contemplated carrying a stick with me at all times, which I would insert into the passing spokes of the offenders.

"No, no, some of my best friends are cyclists..."

11:02 / 20.12.02

i know what you mean. i am always being called rascist, but i mean, seriously, some of my best friends should be sent back where they came from.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

11:14 / 20.12.02

Hey. I don't walk in the cycle lane. I don't drive in the bus lane. I'm not gonna go quite so far as Punji, because I figure cycling on the pavement is safer than cycling on the road- as long as you FUCKING CYCLE SAFELY!!!- but what DOES piss me off is cyclists who cycle on the pavement and tell ME as a pedestrian to get out of the way!!!

Also, I know it looks kind of stupid, but when I did me cycling proficiency test about 20 years ago, cyclists were ALSO supposed to indicate?

When was the last time anyone ever saw that happening?

11:32 / 20.12.02

I indicate! In fact, most of the cyclists I know do. And I don't jump red lights as a rule - I'm aware of the whole "good PR" thing of cycling responsibly. Unfortunately, lots of drivers just don't give a shit and I've found that they generally only give you respect if you do cycle aggressively. If you look like you're trying to be pleasant and responsible, they write you off as a granny and drive over the top of you.

12:24 / 20.12.02

One of the main problems with cycling on the pavements is there is usually a major variation in speed between the cyclist and the pedestrian, and this can be quite intimidating for pedestrians, especially if they're old/infirm. When I call pavement cyclists wankers I'm particularly talking about those who bomb about at high speed thinking the pedestrians are a wonderfully exciting fluid chicane. If you cycle at slow speed on the pavement (hence responsibly) you are losing out on one of the main benefits of cycling in an urban environment, namely speed and maneuvrability.

And I indicate whenever turning. As a cyclist the indication may be brief though, because if turning across the traffic maximum acceleration is usually needed and therefore both hands on the handlebars too.

12:34 / 20.12.02

what DOES piss me off is cyclists who cycle on the pavement and tell ME as a pedestrian to get out of the way!!!

Did I ever tell you this horrible story? About the time that we were walking on the sidewalk and had to jump out of the way of a cyclist who then shook his fist at us and --pointing to a sign-- shouted over his shoulder "Can't you read, sidewalk's for pedestrians!?" and sped away!

12:55 / 20.12.02

Yes, cyclists on the pavement are a pain, because you don't expect or anticipate them. I am very happy to cut them some slack though, given that cycling in London traffic is only for those with no frontal lobes and cycle paths are not adequate for the purpose.

There are pedestrians, cyclists and motorists who are good people who have a concern for others and there are those who are shits and could give a fuck about anybody but themselves. Only the car can work the magical transformation of turning the former into the latter by the mere act of getting behind the wheel. My anger about the ****ing internal combustion engine seldom abates sufficiently for me to have much ire left over to direct at cyclists.

Given, however, that city centre drivers are impatient and possessed by demons, everybody following the basic rules of the road maximises safety, in that everyone can see what's going to happen next and can anticipate. Only ever saw that happen in Denmark though, where pedestrians would wait for the green light at crossings, even on empty roads.

ONLY NICE THINGS

02:06 / 21.12.02

Oh, I have no problem with cyclists miving slowly on the pavement. The best way to do this is to dismount and walk your cycle until you reach a good place to cycle again. As Ariadne says, "Cyclist PR" is a good thing, and penalties for drivers who do not respect the sanctity of the cyclepath, or indeed pedestrians, should be discouraging.

What I *do* object to is, as has been mentioned, cyclists who bomb down narrow pavements or who turn corners on pavements at high speed, assuming that whoever is around the corner will be young and fit enough to get out of the way. On occasion, cyclists pulling these things have been shoulderbarged or clotheslined into immobility. I feel bad about this, but I would feel worse if some elderly or infirm person got plowed into by a Shoreditch Twat.

Car owners need to be prevented by the law and the enforcement of the law frm acting like arses and killing people. In general, cyclists can manage this by exercising politeness and common sense. If they cannot do this, due to motorists being arses or the road conditions making cycling according to the laws dangerous, a letter-writing campaign may be in order.

Tryphena Absent

02:22 / 21.12.02

Cyclists scare me when I'm driving, at least twice I've almost run people over because of their idiocy. Let me tell you my story...
About a year ago, driving through the mean streets of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire it was raining heavily at about midday. Going at the sure speed of 30mph I approached a clear junction. I could see the road ahead and a car facing towards me about to turn left on to the road. I carried on assuming that there was no reason to slow down, assuming that I could see everything, I was wrong. As I got closer a cyclist pulled out from behind the other car and pedaled across the road, I hit my brakes, the car skidded and I stopped a bare two inches from the bike. I almost had a heart attack, aware that I was really fucking lucky, did the cyclist notice my bright red car? No.

You tell me what that bitch was doing pedalling across a road from behind a waiting car in the rain when I was driving towards her and I will send you, erm, two Duracell batteries (size D). The other story may be told another day.

Tryphena Absent

02:24 / 21.12.02

And I'd like to add that the cyclist was lucky too, probably luckier then me, though I still assert that she was the idiot.

pointless and uncalled for

09:20 / 21.12.02

Cyclists propably should have some kind of education. Just because you don't have an engine it doesn't mean that you aren't an integral part of traffic.

That said, as far as I am concerned, red lights, pavements, footpaths, footbridges and so on are all considered fair game. This does all fall under the proviso that it is safe to do so. If there is no opposing traffic then as far as I am concerned a red light means nothing. If a pavement is empty then there's no harm in using it, and so on. Naturally your definition of safe will change from person to person, but essentially speaking some people are just plain wrong. This is most evident when it comes to peoples approaches to such things as blind corners.

I've been cycling by my own rules for a long time and haven't once hit anyone and wouldn't have hit the people who did choose to take evasive action. On the other hand I have been hit by countless vehicles and pedestrians in a state of non-observance.

If you want to give tickets to cyclists for such infractions as inappropriate use of the pavement then it would only be fair to ticket pedestrians for things like blithely walking into the road from behind a high-sided vehicle and expecting the universe to revolve around them.

ONLY NICE THINGS

10:25 / 21.12.02

So, when there is a collision it's *always* the other person's fault?

Schyeah.

pointless and uncalled for

10:28 / 22.12.02

With vehicles it's mostly been a case of side-swiping and I can't think of any incidences when I shouldn't have been where I was, i.e. my position was legitimate in accordance with the highway code. Other events include such things as opening a door into my path and illegal manouver through an intersection.

As for pedestrians, there have been a handful of incidences where someone has stepped into the road and into my path. Now I've checked the highway code on this, it seems to be incredibly clear on this matter and states that pedestrians should not leave the pavement until such time as there is enough time to make a complete crossing at a walking pace. Other infractions include being hit with an open umbrella by a pedestrian close to the curb.

I cannot come up with a single incident where I was at fault. I doubt very much that you will believe this though.

23:55 / 22.12.02

I've cycled in London on and off for about ten years.

Yes, very occasionally, I've jumped a light to keep myself clear of car traffic. Probably just a handful of times, and once, I too was pulled over and given a good talking to by a police officer.

I ride on pavements too, if otherwise I'm forced to follow a half-mile detour around a one-way system with aggressive traffic. When on peopled pavements I ride no faster than, say, a jogger.

Car drivers have deliberately driven their cars at me three times. On one of those occasions, the driver was successful in knocking me off.

This does not include the countless "sorry mate, I didn't see you" car-door-opening, lane-changing, pulling out in front of me incidents. Pedestrians can manage these quite well too, stepping out onto the road in front of you, sometimes en masse, following each other like sheep.

Of course I don't think the actions of motorists justify dangerous cycling. I just don't care whether you think all cycling on the pavement etc. is right or wrong. It's my arse I'm trying to save, I do not put yours in danger. It's just a bike, and I'm just trying to get where I need to be. Live with it.

Cyclists scare me when I'm driving, at least twice I've almost run people over because of their idiocy.

So all cyclists are idiots? Strange though that I've never met a cyclist that thinks approaching a "loaded" junction in heavy rain at 30 mph is sensible. Certainly not one that would be surprised when they locked their brakes.

Tryphena Absent

00:13 / 23.12.02

I didn't say they were all idiots, I said I'm scared of them, I'm worried every single time I pass them that I'll run them over. Only a minority of them are idiots.

Tryphena Absent

00:45 / 23.12.02

I'd like to add that when you cross a road you check for cars!!!! What I'm trying to say Ignatius is please don't judge me, I don't hate cyclists, I don't feel like the car driver owns the road but I do wish everyone would be sensible and just pay attention to what's going on around them. When you're driving you look and if you don't see someone you just don't see them. For that junction (I wish I could show it to you) I was driving sensibly, if the car hadn't been there I would have seen the cyclist and still not expected them to walk out in front of me, a car is hard to miss but someone on a bike crossing the road... well I'm sorry but I've never lost it so badly in my life. I shook, I exercised so much control not to scream, I had a panic attack for ten minutes about my near escape and I very rarely say this but it was their fault. I'm actually concerned about my own safety and I do attempt to drive safely, you know, manslaughter doesn't particularly appeal to me. What kind of person crosses a junction in front of a car without looking, I hope you don't, I sure as hell wouldn't. The motorist can't bear all of the responsibility on their shoulders.

10:07 / 23.12.02

Janina, I think in that case it was indeed the cyclist's fault. I have noticed there are some cyclists, and pedestrians, who wilfully ignore the rules of the road. I think they are trying to prove some point and are deeply unhappy with their lot in life. Not suicidal, just sort of ... adolescent. There are motorists like this too, often middle-aged men in older cars, but sometimes women in newer but smaller cars too. Funnily enough, young men, stereotypically poor drivers, tend to be just stupid rather than malicious.

It does sound as though you were driving with only two inches stopping distance to spare. Still, a miss is as good as a mile, and your emotional response to the incident I think proves you are a cut above the average slot-car racer "licensed" to drive on the roads. And I don't think I'm any kind of road angel qualified to judge! :-)

Anyway, I've got to go soon to pick up a hire car for Christmas. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday, no matter how many wheels you roll on.