Myfanwy Heimdal wrote:but idiots in inappropriate sized cars who can't pass another oncomng vehichle without having a hissy-fit that thir supposed rufty-tufty Chelsea Tractor may actually have to get onto a grass verge by six inches or so.
The britishness of this sentence cause a top hat to spontaneously appear on the top of my head.
People who can't drive and people who drive cars inappropriate for city driving are a problem, but my concern for cyclists doesn't stem from the fact that their vehicles are inappropriate for the roads. I can deal with that. It stems from the fact that their attitudes are inappropriate for the road.
If you acknowledge that your vehicle puts you at a disadvantage to everyone on the road, and ride in a manner appropriate to that fact, the problem would vanish.
But cyclists inexplicably ride as if they are kings of the road, when in reality, they are the most vulnerable and the least trained. Here in Australia, there is no required training for riding a bike on the road. Everyone else gets shown how to control their vehicle and what the road rules are, and is required to pass a fairly stringent (although not perfect) test to demonstrate they at least grasp the basics.
Its par for the course for cyclists to ignore road rules. Just the other day I saw a learner in the turn left lane at a red light with a left arrow (also red). He had two cyclists on his left side. The turn left arrow went green, and he and the cyclists started moving. He went to turn the corner, but they went straight ahead, flagrantly ignoring the red light and almost went under his wheels.
I can count on one hand the number of times in my whole life I have seen a cyclist indicate by sticking his hand out. Its law to indicate that way over here, because otherwise how can you tell what they are about to do?
But none of them do it.
And you want motor vehicle users to respect your right to the road? **** off.
Cyclists are, almost to a man, unpredictable, roaming driving hazards, as surely as if someone put knee high cement blocks on powered skate boards and set them loose.
Display some internal community solidarity against cyclists breaking road rules, create community oriented measures to educate poor cyclists, and maybe we'll start respecting you. Until then, we shall treat you how you act: As a bunch of arrogant, stupid and dangerous children who either don't realise or don't care how much trouble they put us adults through.