Cyclist insurance campaign

[TGB]

I've been run into and knocked to the ground as a pedestrian, by an adult cyclist on a pavement in Ambleside. When he tried to cycle off by riding over my legs, I grabbed his bike, as I got to my feet. He swore at me for preventing his departure. When I pointed out a crowded pavement was not the place to ride a bike. He swore again and suggested I get out of the way next time.

 

At this point I could see he was just a thug who happened to be on a bike. Then his friends had arrived, having scythed a path of mayhem through various other people on the pavement. Now he and they bathed me in a torrent of verbal abuse and threatened to put me in the grave. At this point, a copper emerged from a nearby shop. The cyclists complained bitterly that I'd grabbed the bloke's bike as he'd cycled by. Fortunately, I had half the street as witnesses and the copper had seen me being run over.

 

It was suggested to the wheeled group, that they leave the town immediately or get done for threatening behaviour. But what if I'd not had witnesses. On paper to some pen-pusher in a sue-everybody-you-can legal firm. The chance to make money from someone else would be on the cards, when their cyclist client complained I'd grabbed him.

 

I'm not saying all cyclists are bad people. But there are idiots, thugs & grab all you can legal firms everywhere these days.

Edited April 6, 2014 by TGB

[Woodcrafter]

Yeah I can't stand the fact they get away without it. I say if you want to ride on the road why not have a number plate. I believe that most of the roads aren't suitable for cyclists and that they create a hazard to road users.

There should also be a licence test taken to educate cyclists on how to ride ie not side by side but in single file.

[Stephen Blair]

What about horses and riders, that winds me up!

[Dean Lofthouse]

Horses should too stevie, they are more likey to cause carnage than a lot of other road users

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[Kenty]

What about horses and riders, that winds me up!

 

Why do horses & riders wind you up?

[TGB]

I think some cyclists purposely ride two abreast, in order to make the overtaking driver think twice before cutting them up. I see many motorists overtaking cyclists or horse riders and only just missing them. To a cyclist, this means being sucked sideways as the vehicle passes. Now the person on the bike might think badly of the driver but at least they have an inkling of what is happening. To the horse, it can make very little sense, other than something being a threat to them.

 

There's no excuse for drivers being inconsiderate to the needs of other road users, even if that other user happens not to have an engine as part of their transport.

Edited April 6, 2014 by TGB

[Kenty]

I would like to see cyclists have adequate insurance to cover against collisions, but I would also like to see the 10 million or so drivers without insurance dealt with, I would also like to see a little more respect & patience on the roads from all users.

So you have to sit behind a horse & rider, or slow down when approaching people walking in the road due to no pavements, or cyclists riding two abreast, is it really going to impact that much on your life if you have to wait a bit to pass, whereas not being patient could have catastrophic consequences for all involved.

[Gnome]

Road Tax for cyclists,horses,runners, dog walkers.

 

If they use the road they should pay. That way we might get rid of some of the potholes.

 

The bikes that they sit low down in and bikes with trailers carrying offspring should be banned.

 

No helmet should mean prosecution. We have to wear seatbelts.

 

Anymore than 3 cyclists and they should get an asbo.

[Bombadil]

You're 'aving a laarf :lol:

Road Tax for cyclists,horses,runners, dog walkers.

No such thing as Road Tax since 1930's

 

...That way we might get rid of some of the potholes.

Potholes made by bicycle traffic??

 

 

 

Anymore than 3 cyclists and they should get an asbo.

Aha ! You really are joking

[Burgess]

I nearly hit a cyclist the other day as he didn't bother to indicate, or even slow down, before turning into a road as I was coming the other way. Just swooped round right in front of me and then when I screeched to a halt gave me a dirty look and rode off.

 

Of course donkey's drive cars and ride bikes, but if I had crashed into a car we'd have both survived easily but if I'd have hit him at 40 (which was the speed limit on that bit of road) he'd have been lucky to survive.