Cyclists and road laws!! - Page 4

It's seems strange to me that only one cyclist has replied to defend the activity, a cyclist who stops at 'every' red light and pedestrian crossing when necessary 🤔 

Plenty of instances have been given by various forum members of bad practices. 

I think my thread can be closed now that a majority agree with my original posting.

Thank you. 

Steve 

Tebo, I don’t disagree, there are certainly a lot of riders that aren’t reasonable, but like Paolo51 who also replied, the point I was putting is that it’s not ‘all cyclists’ or ‘all motorists’ that are inconsiderate.

YES. Always. I always stop at traffic lights, crossings, etc, and even sometimes just to let people cross. NO HURRY.

I have nearly been rundown by a cyclist, while on a crossing and when cars have stopped.

Two weeks ago, I waited for the light to turn green, leisurely drove off and just missed a cyclist who had gone through a red light.

The real problem with cyclists in Spain is that they act as if they are on time trials, that every second counts so they have to go as fast as possible, even pulling out in front of cars on roundabouts. And they get really upset if anyone delays them.

My biggest annoyance is when there is maybe 20 cyclists in a group, all over the road. Difficult to pass. I've seen that happen in a number of places in southern Spain.

In England (from newspapers), when cyclists run people down, they are off like a shot, because they know they cannot be identified and they have no insurance. And the often elderly victims DIE. Thank goodness for cameras everywhere nowadays.

We have to share the roads, but my problem is the following.

Cyclists don't pay road tax - but car users do, to provide them cycle lanes.

But they are against other users - such are electric scooters using 'their' lanes.

They should remain in a single file - even in large groups. Roads are for cars, many have business to do and countless hours of  wasted in transport time by those 'enjoying themselves' - actually can be holding up those who are working or have a schedule.

No laws - I often see a local bike group stopping off to down a few pints, before getting back on their bikes - so no drink driving if you are in a car, but you can wobble all over the road on your bike and cause accidents.

No insurance - a cyclist, complete with headphones, not paying attention, road straight into the side of my stationary car. He apologised for damaging the car. The next day, he claimed to have 're-thought' and apparently I jumped a light, which is why he hit me. No insurance and when I spoke with my insurance company, they said it was cheaper to give him 5000 for his bogus claim, than argue in court.  Not acceptable. 

1. They should have liability insurance.

2. There should be a small contribution for the road tax

3. Any accidents - or arguments, they should be tested for drink/drugs - the same as car users.

4. Single file - consideration for other road users - you don't own the road - no one does.

That is a possibility however your poin does not say who actually was in the wrong with cyclists cutting corners, not stopping at junctions, just pulling out without any sense of what is behind them etc.

Think it's to do with the lycra,  it pushes the blood to the brain and makes them have who gives a crap attitude! try London it's even worse they now use escooters , 

They use escooters here, I actually thought they were illegal in the UK because one person died. But here they are taxed and insured 

Believe it or not at the moment tax and insurance depends whether it is an e-scooter with a seat or not. 

Yes every bicycle should have to display a disc with at least 3rd party cover, same as cars the vehicle must be insured!

As for the riding habits 🤷‍♂️ it’s very hard to police as the cycle has no recognition plate or anything for a motorist or pedestrian to identify with.

I'm not sure how it is in Spain but in the UK it's a common myth that Vehicle Exercise Duty (VED), commonly know as road tax, pays for the building and the upkeep of roads. The tax generated by VED goes into the general taxation pot along with other taxes raised by the chancellor of the exchequer. 

https://ipayroadtax.com/no-such-thing-as-road-tax/who-pays-road-tax/ 

Rgds,

Aitch.