Hazards of gaggle of cyclists

[bell]

As for swerving, the driver has already taken you into account, based on where you were at the time. The fact you got caught and had to swerve is as much of a surprise to him as it is to you. You can't apply the logic that he had to give more room.

In this case the driver had not "taken me into account". They had not allowed sufficient/safe room to pass me - regardless of the fact that I had to swerve. In my 5 years of riding in NZ I observed that there was roughly a 1/3 to 2/3 split in the number of drivers that passed bicycles with what could be called sufficient room. That's 2/3 that didn't unfortunately.

... By all means, go and tempt fate by riding two abreast. Just don't bitch about it when you get hit...

Never have, don't plan to. I actually stated that in my post.

...who the fuck pays for all of these???
yes we all do!!!!!!!!!!!
every single one of us tax earners!!!!!!!!!

You didn't think to consider that cyclists might also be tax payers. Hmmm? Or that a fair percentage of people that cycle also pay car/bike rego and ACC, etc? Hmmm?

Scenario.. Manukau Road, Epsom, heading out of the city. Travelling along the inside lane (as I wasn't overtaking anything). Sitting in the right hand side of the lane, as there's a cyclist ahead. Be aware, I'm not going fast. 50ks, as that's the limit, and there's a lot of dorks about.
Up ahead, there's a parked car. I have plenty of space to pass it, without changing my position. Pushbike decides to pull into my path. No looking, no indicating. Nothing.
Now, when I grew up, all children had to do a cycling test. I did mine at the age of eight. If children can be taught to look behind them and indicate before pulling out in to the path of a vehicle, why can't an adult cope? Surely an adult should have enough brain capacity to cope with it.
As it was, he pulled out far earlier than he needed to, and my clairvoyant powers shouldn't have been needed.

What you term "clairvoyant powers" is actually a well developed awareness of traffic - in this case, a bicycle.

I seriously doubt that the majority of the driving public think ahead as you have indicated you do here. They're the ones that need to get onto a bicycle and see how much riskier their shoddy driving makes it to ride a bicycle on the road.

I like the idea of this cycling test.

[scracha]

wel they make fukin cycle lanes that require paint repairs etc

Oh aye...I'm sure that's a huge chunk of the road budget. You can't move for cycle lanes around here......not.

like fuk they dont
they throw out drink bottles chocolate bars

I'm sure cyclists chocolate bars and drink bottles don't account for the majority of the $hit lying next to roads in this country. I don't see many cyclists going through the Maccas/burglerking/KfC drive in then depositing their "leftovers" at their arse.

how are the bike made without pollution???
how are the tyres made ??
where does the used rubber go?
where does the chain oil go??
it all wears off and pollutes!!!!

Compared to a car their "footprint" is teeeeeny weeeny.

yes they do and they knock over old grannys/granpas

Not nearly as often as cars.

so i cant get a speeding ticket on a bike bullshit it is possible!
a m8 of mine got one on a skateboard!!!!!!!!
and ppl get them when drinking and riding a bike !!!
you are still on the road so you have to abide by the rules !!!!!!!!!

I'm sure if we all ran about on skateboards and pushbikes there'd be much less HP cars out there. You'd have to be a particular type of arsehole to get a ticket for riding a skateboard or pushbike.

bike should pay some kind of one of levy added to the original cost as some traffic lights also accommodate cycle crossings

What? Like 1 in 100 traffic lights have specific lanes and lights for cyclists? Ok, so they should pay 1% of the car tax by your logic. Hmm...it'd cost more to collect and administer than it'd generate.

they have cycle lanes (some of which are also footpaths) and bicycle parks who the fuck pays for all of these???

Certainly not just car drivers and motorcyclists.

yes we all do!!!!!!!!!!!
every single one of us tax earners!!!!!!!!!

Cyclists pay tax too.

I don't have kids so should my tax pay for schools and universities?
I've been to a doctor once in 10 years so should my tax pay for medical centres and hospitals?
I rarely walk in the local park so should my tax pay for its upkeep?
I'm not disabled so should my tax pay for those who are?

I could go on but I'd sound like a right winged fascist.

Tax earner? I'm a tax payer mate.


I'm with the cyclists on this one. Yes, we can all cite specific examples of arseholes on pushbikes but the majority of them are well behaved, safe and courteous. The same could not be said about a huge percentage of drivers that pass them. Treat them with the same respect that you'd expect towards you from a car or lorry driver when you're on your "vulnerable" motorcycle.

Now did I mention the large amount of fuckwits who pass horses within inches at ridiculous speeds?

[Forest]

Scenario.. Manukau Road, Epsom, heading out of the city. Travelling along the inside lane (as I wasn't overtaking anything). Sitting in the right hand side of the lane, as there's a cyclist ahead. Be aware, I'm not going fast. 50ks, as that's the limit, and there's a lot of dorks about.
Up ahead, there's a parked car. I have plenty of space to pass it, without changing my position. Pushbike decides to pull into my path. No looking, no indicating. Nothing.
Now, when I grew up, all children had to do a cycling test. I did mine at the age of eight. If children can be taught to look behind them and indicate before pulling out in to the path of a vehicle, why can't an adult cope? Surely an adult should have enough brain capacity to cope with it.
As it was, he pulled out far earlier than he needed to, and my clairvoyant powers shouldn't have been needed.

In that situation, as the following vehicle, you are legally required to slow down and give way to the cyclist.

The cyclist is not required to look behind or indicate that he is pulling out. Though it obviously would be wise for him to do so.

[puddy]

All you other lycra clad fags should come down here to watch the Tour of Southland. It's on just now. Got some good teams this year too - should be exciting.

Hope you don't all use that Shitmano crap though Campagnolo FTW!

Thanks Jamie! All this time I thought the rattle from exotic bikes like Ducatis were dry clutches etc.........but all this time it was the flash Campag groupset. I think I'll stick with the shitty Shimano stuff, that must be hiding in Suzukis etc.

[hayd3n]

Oh aye...I'm sure that's a huge chunk of the road budget. ((You can't move for cycle lanes around here......not.))
huh??


I'm sure cyclists chocolate bars and drink bottles don't account for the majority of the $hit lying next to roads in this country. I don't see many cyclists going through the Maccas/burglerking/KfC drive in then depositing their "leftovers" at their arse.
yes but they still make a lil bit of mess


Compared to a car their "footprint" is teeeeeny weeeny.


Not nearly as often as cars.
well they still get shipped over on a boat and then transported to shops via truck


I'm sure if we all ran about on skateboards and pushbikes there'd be much less HP cars out there. You'd have to be a particular type of arsehole to get a ticket for riding a skateboard or pushbike.
yes but there would be more on the streets


What? Like 1 in 100 traffic lights have specific lanes and lights for cyclists?
Ok, so they should pay 1% of the car tax by your logic. Hmm...it'd cost more to collect and administer than it'd generate.
but there is already a admin system so why make another??

Certainly not just car drivers and motorcyclists.


Cyclists pay tax too.
(to be on the road??)

I don't have kids so should my tax pay for schools and universities?
well you have been to school before haven you?
I've been to a doctor once in 10 years so should my tax pay for medical centres and hospitals?
HTFU medical insurance is the only way yo will get proper treatment in this country
I rarely walk in the local park so should my tax pay for its upkeep?
Choose your govt wisely
I'm not disabled so should my tax pay for those who are?
are they on the road? then they should pay their onw regos/wof/ road mileage etc

I could go on but I'd sound like a right winged fascist.
so if you stop now you arnet?

Tax earner? I'm a tax payer mate.


I'm with the cyclists on this one. Yes, we can all cite specific examples of arseholes on pushbikes but the majority of them are well behaved, safe and courteous. The same could not be said about a huge percentage of drivers that pass them. Treat them with the same respect that you'd expect towards you from a car or lorry driver when you're on your "vulnerable" motorcycle.

Now did I mention the large amount of fuckwits who pass horses within inches at ridiculous speeds?
wtf have horses got to do with it?
have you got a fetish that noone knows about?

all answers in bold

[Dave Lobster]

In that situation, as the following vehicle, you are legally required to slow down and give way to the cyclist.

The cyclist is not required to look behind or indicate that he is pulling out. Though it obviously would be wise for him to do so.

Ok.. I didn't learn to drive in this country. However.. I find it hard to believe that ANY road user isn't obliged to look behind them before changing their position in the road.

I thought it was just asians that pulled out without looking. Is it everyone that isn't taught to do it?

[Ixion]

In that situation, as the following vehicle, you are legally required to slow down and give way to the cyclist.

The cyclist is not required to look behind or indicate that he is pulling out. Though it obviously would be wise for him to do so.

Bollocks. Please cite your legislative authority for that claim.

[jrandom]

When cycling to the left and swinging around parked cars, I make a point of being super-conscious of the twin risks of drivers' doors opening and cars coming up and side-swiping me from the right.

And I see a lot of other cyclists around central Auckland doing a good job of that, too.

I think that cyclists really do tend to be invisible to car drivers and, to a lesser extent, motorcyclists, until something bad happens. There are actually quite a lot of them out there, y'know. You folk hatin' on us pedalling sorts, consider for a moment that you may be tarring the innocent 95% with the brush of the naughty 5%-ers.

I'm sure I don't need to draw parallels from that.

The undertones of this thread speak more to sad facts about thoughtlessness and intolerance in human nature than they do to any truths or untruths about cyclists being worse than other road users.

[hayd3n]

When cycling to the left and swinging around parked cars, I make a point of being super-conscious of the twin risks of drivers' doors opening and cars coming up and side-swiping me from the right.

And I see a lot of other cyclists around central Auckland doing a good job of that, too.

I think that cyclists really do tend to be invisible to car drivers and, to a lesser extent, motorcyclists, until something bad happens. There are actually quite a lot of them out there, y'know. You folk hatin' on us pedalling sorts, consider for a moment that you may be tarring the innocent 95% with the brush of the naughty 5%-ers.

I'm sure I don't need to draw parallels from that.

The undertones of this thread speak more to sad facts about thoughtlessness and intolerance in human nature than they do to any truths or untruths about cyclists being worse than other road users.

yes peddlers have there place and should be on the road!!
and yes drivers need to look out for em !!
we are kinda lucky as theres heaps of bike lanes here!!

but peddlers do need to look out aswell
and use their signals more

[Forest]

Bollocks. Please cite your legislative authority for that claim.

A bicycle is defined as a vehicle under the Land Transport Act 1998 No 110.

This means that bicycle riders are subject to the same regulations as other road users. Namely the Land Transport (Road User) Rules 2004 (SR 2004/427).

The relevant section from the regulations is section 2.6, which I've posted below. These clauses apply to the driver overtaking the cyclist (as they would also apply to a driver overtaking any other vehicle).

2.6 General requirements about passing other vehicles
(1) A driver must not pass or attempt to pass another vehicle moving in the same direction unless—
(a) the movement can be made with safety; and
(b) the movement is made with due consideration for other users of the road; and
(c) sufficient clear road is visible to the driver for the passing movement to be completed without impeding or being likely to impede any possible opposing traffic; and
(d) until the passing movement is completed, the driver has a clear view of the road and any traffic on the road for at least 100 m in the direction in which the driver is travelling.
(2) Subclause (1)(c) and (d) does not apply if the passing vehicle and the vehicle being passed are in different lanes and are, throughout the passing movement, either on a one-way road or on the same side of the centre line.
(3) A driver must not, when passing another vehicle moving in the same direction, move into the line of passage of that vehicle until the manoeuvre can be made safely and without impeding the movement of that other vehicle.

[bell]

The undertones of this thread speak more to sad facts about thoughtlessness and intolerance in human nature than they do to any truths or untruths about cyclists being worse than other road users.

Well said that man. Superb clarity of thought shown there.

[AlBundy]

I think that cyclists really do tend to be invisible to car drivers and, to a lesser extent, motorcyclists, until something bad happens. There are actually quite a lot of them out there, y'know. You folk hatin' on us pedalling sorts, consider for a moment that you may be tarring the innocent 95% with the brush of the naughty 5%-ers.

I'm sure I don't need to draw parallels from that.

The undertones of this thread speak more to sad facts about thoughtlessness and intolerance in human nature than they do to any truths or untruths about cyclists being worse than other road users.

So, what you end up with is 5% bad cyclists interacting with 5% drivers, which results in an accident, then all hell breaks loose.

Just keep in mind, that thoughtlessness you mention goes both ways and I'd hazzard a guess it'll be your 5% that think they own the road...

BUT, I suppose in this day and age, common sense has no place. It's always someone elses fault or responsibility.

[scracha]

all answers in bold

Not worth responding to.

[jrandom]

Just keep in mind, that thoughtlessness you mention goes both ways...

I'm not implying that all cyclists are saints.

I mean, jeez, have you ever met Gordon McCauley?

[MisterD]

I'm not implying that all cyclists are saints.

I mean, jeez, have you ever met Gordon McCauley?

Gordie's in yellow in Southland. W00t!

Tis a good way to kill a few amusing hours listening to that fella's stories...