Airport Expansion | Skateboarding | Greenbelt | Traffic Calming | HOME	Updated 12 June 2007

How often have you been driving along in your car, only to be forced into slowing down for a cyclist or worse two cyclists, who are hogging the road? Cyclists pay no road tax or insurance yet they act as if they own the highway. Worst of all is the 'professional' cyclist in his day-glow Lycra who loves to ride with no hands on the handlebars.

Posted Saturday, December 27, 2003
Shoot the car drivers - Join the Cyclist Rifle Club
Richard Humphrey

Posted Tuesday, December 9, 2003
I assume that the pathway which was constructed along (almost) the full length of the B4438 between Catherine De Barnes and the A45 is intended to be a cycle lane. If so, maybe it should be marked as such, as cyclists still regularly use the road, which is a 60mph stretch - although some drivers seem to think it's 40 - and I would have thought it safer to use the cycle lane.
Neil

Posted Tuesday, September 23, 2003
I'm fully aware of the term "Aunt Sally", but such Alf Garnetisms have to be corrected before some sad journalist like Jeremy Clarkson actually starts a campaign to shoot people. LOL
Graham xx
Starting to warm to you now m8

Posted Monday, September 22, 2003
Obviously motoring is very bad for your understanding of grammar and spelling. Shouldn't it be "too good" in the title of this column?
Graham Figg
Graham I think you should look up the term "Aunt Sally" and you may then have a better understanding of where this page is coming from. Thank you for playing the game though.

Posted Friday, September 19, 2003
I think all motorists should have their legs amputated and sold for spare part surgery and dog food manufacturing. The revenue thus raised could be spent on improving cycling facilities. Yes I do wear Lycra and I'm much fitter than you motorised fat slobs-so there!!
Graham Figg
Thank you for confirming my previous conclusions Graham!

Posted Friday, May 2, 2003
Please remember that cyclists like horse riders and pedestrians use the road by right. Motorists do not have this right but are allowed use of the road by licence only. This makes legislation aimed at cyclists a restriction on all citizens of the UK not just the cycling minority.
Paul Cardy

Posted Sunday, January 5, 2003
I think the title of this page "Cyclists - shoot em!" is rather biased don't you think? It does alienate a lot of people from this site to be honest. If this were Oxford, where there are 20,000 cyclists travelling in to or out of Oxford every day, that title would be immediately changed. In Oxford, incidentally, motorists and cyclists are quite happy together because there are properly marked cycle lanes which segregates the two groups. Local councils can apply for grants to do this but as usual, the Tories don't seem to have bothered do they? Cycling for half an hour a day reduces the risk of heart attack by half. 60 miles cycling a week adds 2 years to your life. Try it some time!
Chris Williams

Posted Wednesday, December 4, 2002
The point here is negligence. If a cyclist is negligent you simply take them to court for any financial costs incurred including the extra cost of the lost no claims bonus etc. The advantage of this legislation is that it encourages cyclists to stop and leave their details so you can, at least, pursue them.
Anon

Posted Wednesday, November 6, 2002
I have a classic car and as such do not pay road tax but have a car (not sure what relevance this is but thought I would throw it in:-) I wonder why car drivers tend to behave so aggressively when driving but not when walking (i.e. do not swear, shout or threaten anyone who happens to be walking slower than they are or gets in their way) Could it be that they feel protected by their car and so feel brave enough to threaten people and assert them selves? I used to cycle a lot and always found that they never seem so brave when you catch up with them and ask what their problem is ?
Alan

"Cyclists - shootings to [sic] good for em!"
Which sub-normally intelligent individual came up with that one? How about shooting the motorist who is too busy concentrating on their phone call to drive safely? They are a danger to themselves and other road users. These idiots can be seen conducting their business/social affairs at pretty much any roundabout or junction. Or what about the motorist who'll overtake a cyclist with inches to spare, well in excess of the speed limit, all from the safety of their 1 ton metal overcoat? Presumably they've got an urgent appointment to join the queue of vehicles at the next set of traffic lights? I could go on, but why bother? A lot of motorists leave a lot to be desired in the courtesy and common sense departments, as do a lot of cyclists. I pay my taxes. I obey the Highway Code. I'm insured. Go figure.
A. Ireland

Everyone knows that roads are for cars, cyclists should be forced wheel their bicycles to a cycle lane and not get on them until then. At least riders of horses say thank you when you slow down for them. Most cyclists think they own the road and take great pleasure in occupying most of it. As for the Lycra clad brigade shooting is far to kind.
S Bates

I don't own a car because I use my bike to get everywhere. It is cheap and often a lot faster than driving in the rush hour traffic. Anyone who complains about cyclists not having to pay road tax, or crossing on red lights, or edge their way forwards for a quick getaway; try it for yourself. its fun, it gets you there faster, its cheaper and you might just get fit. Oh yeah, and cyclists don't have to pay for parking or drive around on a busy day looking for somewhere to park. 'ha ha'!
Dude

I don't see why car drivers always moan about cyclists because there the ones who are lazy fat asses using up the planets natural resources to go to the shops because they are too bone idle to cycle there.
Car drivers should be more aware on the road. The other day I was cycling on a cycle path a car passed me and without indicating, turned left, right in front of my path nearly knocking me off. Cars should be more aware because if they do happen to be in a crash with a cyclist they'll be fine but 99.99% of the time the cyclist won't.
Ben Twilly

I have a son who when he started a new job 10 miles from home, decided to use his cycle to commute. His reasoning was it would be cheaper and good exercise. Within a week he was using the train. Anyone reading this will probably know why, you guessed it. The road is an extremely dangerous place for any cyclist. Car and van drivers seem to be blind to any cycle, pedal or motor. They drive past you at speed so close that you are in fear of your life rather than slow down and wait to pass when there is room. Some will sound their horn if you happen to be in their path, making you jump for no good reason. Some will deliberately drive close to unsettle you and then select a lower gear and roar past in an effort to emphasise their annoyance at your presence on the road. Vehicle drivers need to remember, they once road a cycle as an only means of transport. In short, Grow up you ignorant drivers, and remember it is not only you that matters or only where you are going that is important.
Dave Donoghue

I am a motorist and a cyclist at those times when my car is in for repair etc.  When I do cycle, the state of the road surface is enough to deter me from regularly setting out on my bike: potholes, sunken drains, broken glass, dog excrement, garden rubbish.. I could go on indefinitely.  The designated cycle lane along Blossomfield Road has ruts in where the double yellow lines and red patches of road near the college and school exits do not quite line up.  All this makes for hazardous cycling, never mind the close encounters with cars.  I do cycle the same way as I drive- in strict accordance with the Highway code.  This also applies to my road positioning at junctions when on two wheels, although here I am constantly exasperated by other car users.  I recently had two cars line up next to me (not behind me as they should do) on my inside to turn right.   They would not have done this had I been on four wheels, so why the dangerous behaviour towards me on two wheels? My children tend to prefer cycling on the pavements.  I wonder why?  I have recently returned from a stay in Hamburg where cycle paths are the norm.   Cyclists, pedestrians and inline skaters all seem to co-exist quite happily.   It's about time we adopted this system to save the nerves and frustration of cyclists and motorists alike.
Carolyn Cook

All we (Car Drivers and Motorcyclists) ask of cyclists, is to obey the Highway Code !
Wear something white at night, Ride single file  etc. We would also appreciate cyclists to STOP at stop signs. To stop at RED traffic lights and not to edge their way for a quick getaway etc. Those that do - You know who you are. I follow the Highway code as a pedestrian, driver & motorcyclist....That way we are all in the right !!!
Faye

An interesting one this - if you read Birmingham Cyclist, the newsletter of Push Bikes, you will find an article referring to attempt by a motorists lawyers to have accident damages reduced because a cyclist was NOT wearing fluorescent yellow clothing..

1. As a car owner/driver and poll tax payer (I've just had my bill), I feel I do pay enough tax for road upkeep, so I can use it whether by car, on foot, or by bicycle.

2. I've never collided with a car yet, and killed the driver...

3. A road vehicle is a road vehicle, whether it has 2, 3, 4, 8, or 16 wheels, or is powered by Petrol, Diesel, LPG, electricity, town gas, or by foot

4. Isn't there just a wee touch of jealousy in the article???

Why not check-out our rides program on www.pushbikes.freeserve.co.uk
Richard Murphy

As a cyclist, 2 car owner & 40% taxpayer I certainly pay for the upkeep of the roads I cycle on. Do not assume that all cyclists are non-taxpayers. Cycling is an economical & very environmentally friendly way to commute - cycling should be encouraged as in Europe & proper facilities laid on. That way we would all be wealthier & healthier & our cities would not be the polluted gridlock's they have become with parking at exorbitant rates!
Mark Geeson

How many times have you been passed by motorists travelling faster than the speed limit ? Car drivers, at least those who have paid their road tax, don't pay sufficient to cover the costs of motoring including road building maintenance and pollution. All tax payers, of which adult cyclists are likely to be a part, contribute to road provision. Insurance is not a legal requirement for cyclists but many have insurance cover. The motorist must be covered by insurance by law because they are likely to be injures rather than injured, particularly in any accident involving pedestrian or cyclist (bicycle or motorcycle. So, how many times have you had to slow down for a cyclist ? not many if my experience of cycling in Solihull and being passed by cars is representative. Even if a car has to slow, the time added to their journey is very likely to be a tiny fraction of the journey time, hardly a significant factor. Neither car drivers nor cyclists own the road (the government does) and in spite of the minority of both groups who behave as if they do, there is ample room for both groups to share the space without inconveniencing others. It might be wiser to ask, how many times have you been stopped in a long queue of motor traffic caused by large volumes of cars containing only one person when a cyclist has passed you by arriving at their destination some time before you ? It is not illegal for bicycles to ride side by side on the highway. The highway code provides guidelines for when it is not advisable. Car drivers should also review the highway code for when it is advisable to overtake cyclists. The Council has, in the past, constructed traffic calming measures on some roads, like Widney Lane, where 'squeezes' are designed to make overtaking difficult and thus slow traffic. Unfortunately this puts cyclists in the position of being a moving traffic calming measure and inadvertently causes friction with some motorists, hardly the cyclists fault ! Rather than placing an 'aunt sally' like topic on this site for discussion, perhaps it would be more sensible to question unnecessary car use and the congestion it causes around the borough.
G. Hidderley

Cycling is, for many people, a useful, cost effective and environmentally friendly way way to get to and from work and other locales. If motorists do not wish to share the road with cyclists then I suggest that they petition their councillors to provide cycle lanes on the busier routes so that the bikes and cars can be kept separate.  I'm sure many cyclists would be happy to not have to risk becoming bumper fodder to an unobservant car driver. As a regular user of public transport (mainly the 37 bus route) what I find frustrating is being stuck in a traffic jam made up mostly of cars with only the driver in them.   People, if you must drive to work then please at least car pool! Incidentally the typical saloon car takes up the same road space as 4-6 cyclists.
Stephen Booth