Sources are available in the video description and if you like this video, try this one too ► ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RWhMEkMtLy0.html Thanks all
Thanks. It could be great to have french translations (we can't collaborate on your video). The same problem in all cities : I'm sure people will be interested in this video here too !
If car drivers get fined £1000 for not giving way or not given room to cyclists then cyclists should be fined the same for not using lights in the dark, riding two abreast or cycling on the road when an adequate cycle Lane is present
That's how you can get rear-ended and actually kill someone, stopping too fast and unexpectedly. Just look around, you'll see those kinds of accidents all the time; ever since stupid laws came into effect which allow people to walk where vehicles are driven.
@@danmayers1161 It's annoying AF, for real, when everybody drives "according to law". Maybe in, like, Amsterdam - it could work - but, anywhere else, in a big city: OMG. :D
This video was truly excellent, I loved the references to studies to debunk people’s anecdotal experience. Cyclists are always unfairly scapegoated by most. However, I will complain about the first argument they made. While there are no trainists, people are also classified as pedestrians and drivers (as you repeatedly name them throughout the video). It’s just a bad philosophical argument. Yes, people bike for different reasons, but also drive and walk for different reasons and I don’t understand how the label of “cyclist” is particularly problematic. P.S. I’m from Canada, and we also complain about cyclists all the time. I’m only adding this piece of context as the word “cyclist” may have taken on an especially derogative connotation in Britain that I am unaware of here in Canada.
It's really good to see constructive comments on this video. Another issue I see is that there seems to be no consistency with regards to signage and road-marking of cycle lanes across the UK. in Cardiff there are pavements that I know are shared use but aren't clearly marked, so pedestrians and driver's think you're cycling on the pavement.
There is friction and that is the fault of the Law and highways agency. They take roads barely wide enough for cars, and put in cycle lanes and reducing road widths. Motorists are now being blamed even where a cyclist may be at fault. Cyclists routinely Jump lights and ride on paths. Cyclists video a car jumping light or breaking the rules and send the video to the Police who prosecute. To video a cyclist doing the same thing gets ignored because the Police can’t prosecute. No number plate gives Cyclists immunity but not so for motor vehicles. Can no one see the unfairness and friction the law is causing.
All users of the roadways have a right to be there. Roads were built for pedestrians. Highways are built for automobiles only. Cyclists have the right to use the lanes exactly like a car but normally are more sensitive to other users of the road and will stay to the side. Automobiles don’t own the road. It’s a privilege not a right to drive a car on the roads.
no it doesnt matter. the problem is that most countrys have no real place for cyclist. here in germany you cant follow the rules. you simply cant. theres no place for you to ride, the bike lane is changing sides dissapearing for 500 meters then appears on the other side. when i break the law it is mostly to protect myself from car drivers.
Wow, I was about to comment on this, I'm German, too. I can confirm this. On the street, the reckless behaviour of drivers, which drive too fast, without care for my own life, causes me to switch between pavement and road frequently. On the pavement, pedestrians shout at me, even when I'm being really considerate and cycle at walk speed, once a man tried to shove me into a hedge. Cyclists aren't even considered when planning and renovating roads, I have no place on the streets which I can safely and comfortably ride my bike. No wonder when every household owns two cars on average, although it takes you 10 minutes max from where I live to the city center...
I've been riding motorbikes for 12 years mostly in London, and I've never had an accident involving another vehicle. I took up cycling about a month ago (having cycled in towns in my youth) and in that short time I've experience more abuse and hostility from other car drivers than I have in all my years on a motorbike. I had my first ever collision with a vehicle - while riding in the blue cycle lane a car just turned and cut across me, he was very apologetic but I have no idea how he didn't see me. I had a very similar near miss just the day before, where after almost hitting me the driver just shouted and flipped me off...nice! Being a cyclist for the first time in a long time, I've realised just how shit cyclists have it, and you really don't understand until you're in that position. I feel like car drivers should be made to cycle around London for a day just to see what they have to put up with.
I've been a motorcyclist, I am car driver van driver, and a cyclist. Driving for 35 years. People on the whole have gotten worse on the roads they couldn't care less, no pride in driving quality, 0 consideration for others. Wouldn't do most any harm if they took to 2 wheel's and experience the vulnerability you have on a road, we've a life to lose if you get it wrong, vehicle driver's may have limited damage..
@@karikling7268 bro, ive seen the videos online. that is a flat out lie. there is, literally, nothing protecting a motorcyclist from anything he hits aside from his helmet and MABY some padding. To say he would be fine is completely absurd. cars have a fatality rate of 13 out of every 100,000 cars. motorcycles is 72 per 100k.
If drivers were held to the same standards as cyclists with the amount of accidents and fatalities they cause the MSM would be calling for cars to be banned.
Which is what has happened in Holland where the consequences of same 'all cars' urban planning that was prevalent in many countries in the 50s 60s triggered an uproar.
You’re joking? As the police officer said the police often let cyclists off it law breaking because they pose such little threat to other road users and pedestrians. That one guy, Charlie Allison I think, was an anomaly. His remorseless attitude is what caused an admittedly over exposed story to absolutely explode.
Ginger definitely not and it shocks me when I talk to cyclists friends who don’t seem to see what’s wrong with cycling on the pavement if they’re at a busy junction. If you need to come off the road due to safety dismount.
If there were a lot more good cycle lanes/routes, then this will be obviously a good thing for both cyclists and drivers alike, as well as be good for public health and the environment.
Not necessarily as they would probably start ripping up a lot of verges and trees ect. The best thing to do is bring in 10-15-25 mph speed limits on the majority of urban roads. This might actually reduce average commute times as everyone would have more time to read the road and maintain a more of a consistent speed on average. You can maintain a high speed on the motorway, really you can't maintain a 20 or 30 mph speed consistently over urban areas. All the hard herky jerky stop starting just wares the machine down wasting resources.
i think most people in cars seem to actually think something closer to "that cyclist almost got himself killed" even if they're the ones to blame for almost killing the cyclist
@@shannontrainer5857 did you watch the film? engage your brain, every year there are thousands of Mathew Briggs in this country who lose a wife, a husband, a child as a result of dangerous and careless operators of motor vehicles. No one would excuse one more than the other, its a fact you'll have to swallow that cyclist are not killing thousands on our roads each year.
As an ex-courier in London, I'm mixed about cyclists. I find if you're not getting in the way of a priority pedestrian at a zebra crossing (ie going behind where theyve come from), that shouldn't be an issue. But i do see en-mass light jumps by the dayglo urban warriers, the commuter cyclist. I find (like skiing) when you become half skilled, competency goes right out the window. I do find pedestrians also need to take responsibility for their actions too, as you see people walking out without looking in areas like the West End and Liverpool Street. These days I'm an easy rider - i stop at all lights and ride considerably. This is partly due to an inconsiderate driver who ran me over whilst i was waiting in a right turn junction. Fractured wrist, elbow, torn right ligaments, whiplash. Injuries caused me to lose my job whilst the driver disputes my claim and just has to pay more annual motor insurance. He's appearing in court September for his troubles. Guess what I'm saying is that'll help if we all don't fight over the road, and give others a bit of awareness and consideration - pedestrians, cyclists and drivers
Completely agree about disrespectful pedestrians. But what you say about going behind pedestrians at a zebra crossing implies a failure to see it from the pedestrian’s perspective. No (reasonable) pedestrian is going to find fault with a cyclist moving behind them from a standing start. But if, like at one point in the video, a cyclist passes behind at speed, it is highly unsettling.
What a terrible experience. In the Netherlands cyclists are protected against motorists in the sense that motorists are always liable for damages suffered by a cyclist even if the collision was caused by the cyclist.
@@irrationalculture7439 i expect parked cars to hit me with doors, so i'm happy when they don't. its nice to think people will play fair, but they won't.
@@Gee-xb7rt I think personal responsibility and defensive cycling is important. Expect that everyone on the road is drunk and texting and you will be a lot safer. No one cares about your safety except for you.
I would like to comment on this video from a dutch perspective. First some legal stuff. In the case of a collision between a cyclist and a motorist the motorist is always liable for the damage suffered by the cyclist even if the accident was caused by a trafic violation of the cyclist, with the very narrow exception of force majeur. (Art. 34 wegenverkeerswet, dutch trafic code) The dutch created a bicycle culture. This culture is the result of a strong grass roots protest movement against road unsafety and a similar political movement aimed at preserving excisting urban structures "the compact city". These two movements together with the oils crisis in the seventies of the last century resulted in a broadly supported policy to stimulate the use of bicycles. This policy was realized by creating a very large and extensive infrastructure such as a network of bicycle lanes and massive parking facilities at hotspots such as train stations. Of all the trips made in the Netherlands 25% is done by bicycle. This means millions of bicycle trips every day. I watched the video and i saw what we call MAMIL's (middle aged men in lycra) perform the most ludicrous stunts in a very hostile and dangerous environment. I was born in Amsterdam the bicycle capital of the world. I know from experience how eratic and anarchistic cyclists behave , be it in the Netherlands or in Albion. In Great Britain some people say that cyclist are above the law and that they should behave themselves and abide by the traffic laws. I agree with that. But in the Netherlands de facto the rules of the traffic game are set by the cyclists. In the Netherlands cyclists are not above the law, they are the law. I think the dutch (and danish) bicycle culture can be adapted in different environments as well. I know from experience how hostile or even better how ignorant british motorists can behave towards cyclists. Dutch motorists are also cyclists so they instinctively know how to interact with them. British motorists don't even have the faintest idea. So i think without a strong grass roots movement that promotes cycling and the infrastructure that comes with it, plus the political will to implement and build this infrastructure on a large scale traffic in Great Britain shall be doomed to remain the incredible stunt circuit as it is today.
@Dave Cockayne thank you for your eloquent reply, i must however say that our country is called the Netherlands, not Holland. It is like calling the United Kingdom England. But never mind you were absolutely right in your remark. Cycling is a culture, so much more then just mobility.
Even in the US there are more bikes than cars, though admittedly most are probably toys. Because we have no equivalent to bike centered laws, I think even the cyclists in cars can feel ticked off if the bike is in their way. It is a little crazy. That said, Holland is tiny. I just came back from NB to Ontario. It is 1600 km. I am probably one of the few who has done it twice by bicycle, but maybe 100+ times by car. Even our cities are very spread out. Winters are long. The car is king. Will be interesting to see what impact electric, driverless cars have on your culture. If you could get a clean source of power, a case could probably be made for driverless cars being more inclusive and virtuous, for instance for the elderly, and some with handicaps. The whole battle for the roads will probably be fought again. And even today 25% of trips by bike is better than most places, but still the car does the most. And trips is a misleading metric. Try kg moved a km, or something. Not many loads of bricks by bike.
Alleen jammer dat iedereen wielrenners haat. Ja inderdaag die MAMIL's zijn regelmatig klootzakken maar bij de vereniging waar ik zit is verkeersveiligheid erg belangrijk.
It requires energy to get a bicycle up to the small optimum window between progress and effort, and some cyclists are reluctant to allow circumstances to impede their momentum. This leads to a bubble mentality, where the goal of maintaining progress outweighs pragmatic decisions, including personal safety and law. The serious answer to this is to separate cycles from motor vehicles in high quality, dedicated provision, but as this requires equally serious investment it's easier to moan about one another and tut when inevitable fatalities occur.
Exactly. It takes a lot more effort, planning and preparation to stop and start at traffic lights when you're on a bike. You have to change down gears before you stop, so you're not struggling to get going when the lights go green and then you have to put in a lot of physical effort to build momentum when the lights do go green, whilst at the same time worrying/thinking about how traffic behind you will respond.
You're correct. It's the same mentality HGV drivers have, 'as it takes a lot of fuel and time to get up to speed'. Point is, all road users must obey the law / HWC or don't use it!
@@SqueekyBums I wasn't condoning light jumping, I always stop at red on my bike. Just musing why they habitually cycle through crossings and red lights on a bike, when the same people would never do it in their car.
I have to mount the pavement for a short part of my journey for my own safety. The council (Norwich CC fwiw) have created a contra flow bike lane along a residential one way street with two blind corners. The amount of times I've nearly been flattened by a car coming round a corner oblivious to oncoming cyclists so now I mount the pavement so I can at least not get run over.
But do you slow down for pedestrians on the pavement? Or do they have to jump out of the way? Pavement is also side-walk. That's the side of the road where people walk on.
I ride mostly on the pavement. I'm considerate, slow and will get off my bike if there are lots of pedestrians about (walking is my other main way of getting about). Why? Because I've had too many close calls with motorists who did not respect my right to be on the road.
@Ginger uh, yes they are. if the crosswalk light is red, you have to stop walking. you cant just walk out into oncoming traffic and then blame the traffic for not stopping. its stupid entitled attitudes like yours that cause accidents. everyone thinks theyre better than everyone else. guess what? whether cyclist, pedestrian, or car driver, no one is better or worse than anyone else, there is no "pecking order". all are just people trying to get around, and should respect each other equally.
That seems to be the justification. I'm wondering how they account for the way some cyclists ride flat out and treat pedestrians with utter contemp on some stretches of canal towpaths.
The self preservation argument suggests its ok for pedestrians to push light jumping cyclists off their bike as a safety measure. London cycling occupies a gap between libertarian idealism and the enforced conduct of a city like Delhi. The best analogy is a shoal of fish losing a regular number to predators, but not enough for them to be seek a new environment.
it's more difficult for a cyclist to kill a pedestrian than for a car to kill a cyclist or a pedestrian. but the problem with pavement is that it can be full of pedestrians. So bring on those bike lanes ...
It doesnt suggest that at all, jumping a red light doesnt put pedestrians at risk. Look at the number of people in the UK killed by a cyclist jumping a red light, its zero it just doesnt happen. Look at the numer killed by cars jumping red lights and it can be as high as 5 a year, cars also kill 50 pedestrians on the pavement every year, as far as I know no pedestrian has been killed by a cyclist on the pavement.
Rubbish. I work at a major hospital and we’re getting more cases off cyclists knocking over pedestrians. These crimes I would think do not get logged or investigated
When was the last time you had a patient die after being killed by a cyclist? You'd be extremely unfortunate to have ever experienced that in your working life, as most years in London that fatality figure is 0. On the rare occasion that it happens it generally makes front page national news, they throw the book at the culprit (jail) & questions are asked in parliament. On the other hand, a driver ploughed into pedestrians waiting at a bus stop at the end of my street, killed one & put another two in hospital with life changing injuries. Driver did a runner, lack of evidence, no prosecution...(so much for registration). Didn't make national news, no, questions in Parliament. It should be noted that Westminster Council found in collisions between cyclists & pedestrians, that pedestrians were at fault 60% of the time
I've been working full-time as a cycle courier for a couple of years now. Two thirds of my crashes have been a result of pedestrians stepping out without looking. There is a very confrontational atmosphere on the roads (and I do accept some degree of responsibility as someone who regularly jumps red lights). Most drivers are courteous, but I experience close passes every day, really dangerous ones once or twice a week. I regularly get beeped by cars for taking the lane, which I could understand if I was slow, but I'm maintaining a constant distance from the car in front. I think for inexperienced cyclists cycling in the UK is a very scary experience because you really have to be assertive and confident. I often see cyclists suddenly indicating and moving into the centre of the road without checking over their shoulder. Hopefully we can get over this animosity and exploit bicycles to their fullest potential!
I happen, for the most part to agree. In fact, in my case, the situation is aggravated by a) living in London and b), riding an adult tricycle, due to a balence issue in my left inner ear (and now I am blessed with bilateral tinnitus ...), which means I am wider than almost every other bike out there. That means I am very concious of how much room I take up on the road, to the point that I haven't been on it for a very long while, due to being overly self-concious. I know that I ought to get back out there, if not for health reasons, but still ... That saying, if cyclists are to be taken seriously, then we, as a community, have to try and do something about the serious transgressors, whom give us all a bad name. A good example of this was, years back, I was crossing a pedestrian crossing, with it in my favour. It was an early Sunday morning, barely 7:15am, and thus with almost zero road traffic. I barely got 2/3rds the way across, when a entire peloton (a least 10, or more, strong), of neon lycra weekend warriors passed straight past me, at not inconsiderable speed. Now, I'm by no means a Tour de France competitor, but I do know the consequences of when a peloton crashes; it isn't pretty. And had I have been a few inches further forward, at the speed they were going at ... well, I rather not think about what might have happened ... So to be nearly sideswiped by one scared the hell out of me. Worse, not only didn't I not hear any of their bells ringing, but no-one shouted an apology; they were too busy pushing hard, and chattering amongst themselves. I'm not sure they barely registered me. I know like everything in life, there is the good, the bad, and the outright insane. To lack basic situational awareness to realize that perhaps jumping a red light when a pedestrian is trying to cross, at speeds which may result in a tangled mess, if not broken bones, at the very least, is crazy. And, given it was broad daylight, and not at dawn, visability was more than enough for me to be seen. Thus my argument is that, as cyclists, we have to do something about the often, inherent, complacency that exists. Granted, we are more vunerable than other road users, but certainly less vunerable than pedestrians. And lacking basics, such as situational awareness, could result in very nasty injuries, as almost happened to me ...
In many cities drivers kill cyclist when distracted or just not looking. They tell the officer they didnt see the cyclist and they get off without even a ticket.
Even pedestrian get killed. The Police officers in Berlin (population 3.4 million) killed at least 4 people and injured permanently 2 other in separate road traffic accidents caused by the police officers often driving to fast (almost 90 miles in a city center) or with not light and sirens at night night.
I just wish that they would not cycle on the pavement - I'm in my mid-60's a run-in with some moron doing 20mph on the pavement on his bike would see me in hospital - its reached the point I'm too scared to go out anymore because of these people and I'm not the only one. And yes they do think they are 'above the law' because they are - Police don't seem to give a shit.
perhaps they are using the pavement because they are too scared to use the road... That's usually what I see, they are either scared kids, ignorant rude teenagers, or older people. I very rarely see anyone age 19-50 using the pavement to cycle on
I've trundled along pavements but if you are doing much more than 5 mph you should be using the road. I even run on the road if the pavement is busy. I've solved the problem by adding a motor to my bicycle so cars don't keep passing in town only on the open road. And I don't ride it on the pavement with the motor added of course.
Police generally don't give a s***, if the cyclist isn't being a danger to anyone on a pavement. I.e. if said cyclist is moving at 5mph they are no more dangerous to pedestrians than a pram. So why bother stopping a cyclist who isn't barrelling through a pedestrian area at 15 to 20mph. Especially given how sometimes the area may be a spaghetti junction of start stop pavement swap, mount dismount confusion.
sorry it's the driver's fault.. you were actually hit by car driver and motorists.. why? try riding a bike, MTB, road bike, folding bike for a day in a road.. the amount of abuse even though you cycle within laws and politely are outstanding.. making cyclists inveitably cycle in pavement, unless they want their life threatened by impatient drivers so yeah its the drivers who pushes us to go to pavement for absolutely no reason
"it doesn't matter how carful and responsible I am as a cyclist, I will always be held responsible for the actions of others, and it doesn't matter how irresponsible you are as a driver, your actions will almost immediately fade into anonymity."
As a cyclist I'm no fan of cyclists jumping reds, for it gives us a bad name and others treat me as if I'm responsible for that. That said, if any driver wants to have a go at me, on the basis that cyclists break laws, they are free to do so, so long as they haven't even broken the speed limit, jumped an amber when it was safe to stop, park on double yellow lines etc.
I absolutely agree. The number of comments here that are, a driver did this to me so I'm entitled to break the law, or a cyclist did this to me so I'm entitled to break the law is crazy, because in all cases, you are not doing it to the same cyclist/driver/person(!). That's like saying I got run into on the pavement by someone with a white shirt, so I'm entitled to break the law (ignore the pedestrian red light or jaywalk) because I see someone with a white shirt.
It doesn't give "us" a bad name, that's wrong headed thinking, why should one persons actions carte blanche say all persons are the same, that's utterly ludicrous. Do I think all motorists are wrong uns because I got close passed by white van man this morning, no I don't.
@@tonyfranklin8306 It shouldn't give us a bad name and it is ludicrous that it does, but unfortunately among a certain section (certainly not all) of the population it does.
That being said, as cycling becomes more mainstream certain behaviours shouldn't be normalised. Jumping red really is notorious, as is not yielding to pedestrians on cross-walks. It doesn't matter that its "less dangerous". I'd be all for handing out fines to some of the people featured in those clips.
I have cycled several thousand miles in London. I have seen a cyclist not yielding to pedestrians around 10 times in total. It is almost non-existent compared to other road users.
@@acceleratedsloth interesring, I'm not sure if I've cycled several thousand miles, but I lived there for 4 years and used it as my main mode of transport for 3. I've seen far more cyclists failing to yield than cars.
@@daniellekrupa3930 you're a muppet, a simple google search gives you the answer, but you comment without first doing so. it's not a legal requirement in the UK. There is no British Law to compel cyclists of any age, to wear helmets when cycling, even though the Highway Code suggests that cyclists should wear a cycle helmet
I lived and cycled in London for years and eventually stopped cycling due to the aggression felt on the roads from pedestrians, drivers and other cyclists. Since then I have been living in Osaka and Tokyo for the past year and it's interesting to compare the attitude to cycling here. Cyclists can do what they want, go through red lights, ride on the pavement, even ride on the opposite side of the road. After being in London for so long I was so shocked to see this happening so casually, and even more surprised to see that nobody minded. Everyone just gets on with their own journey and is respectful of each other. It isn't something that can change overnight for London, but it's refreshing to see that it can be done if we stop demonising cyclists or antagonising pedestrians.
Cycling conditions and signage can vary so vastly from borough to borough and the rules of the road are often unclear both to those on bicycles and in motorised vehicles. Also, cyclist often need to anticipate a vehicle's next move, because a car doesn't communicate a turn with an indicator or the like. This is simply a matter of communication and respect. Generally speaking, I find the hierarchy on the road in the UK pretty shocking. Even as a pedestrian I am often baffled at how carefree a vehicle can whip onto a side road, not at all phased by the panicking pedestrians rushing to get to the other side so as not to get hit...
How about passing a law which would require a person applying for a driver's license, to ride a bike for three days on their neighbourhood streets, and get certified for doing so, prior to getting a driver's license.
I like this idea. I was thinking; as part of the normal test the examiner needs to see you share the road with an other road user, particularly a cyclist. Both our ideas are very extreme, yours might be easier to implement. I don't think three days, just same time as a normal test really, maybe a bit longer, like one or two hours on a bike, even an ebike would do.
Great, just what we need in England. More licenses. You got a license for that license mate? Yes I really want to spend more of my personal money, time and tax money on more kafkaesque bureaucratic BS…
In the US there is a lot of poverty shaming around cycling, and a lot of drivers don't know the law, so they think we are breaking it by riding on the street. Its really just the selfish arrogance of Murica, but there isn't a shortage of selfish arrogance in most Anglo dominant countries, Anglos were here first, right? And they had cars.
I live in Spain and like to cycle on my visits to London. There is no doubt that many rush-hour London cyclists believe that cycling should be an adrenalin-loaded activity and like to push themselves to the edge. I imagine that they see themselves as lightweight Spitfire pilots dog-fighting their way to the office each morning. In contrast, I potter along and usually pick-up a couple of 'tut-tuts' from impatient fighter pilots behind me.
I agree, it's a workout substitute for desk jockeys. Another competition in a toxically competitive environment. Chilling on a bike is socially aberrant behaviour.
I was driving along once and was approaching a zebra crossing, I had a cyclist beside me. On approach to a zebra crossing I normally take my foot off the gas to see if anyone wants to cross, the pavement was completely empty and no one was around, I was just about to accelerate, but the cyclist who was cycling on the road beside me had just decided they wanted to be a pedestrian. Without even slowing down or indicating, they swerved in front of me and cycled across the zebra crossing to the other side. I had to do an emergency stop, if I had accelerated a split second earlier I would have almost certainly ran the cyclist over. There aren't many cameras as far as I'm aware around that crossing, I wonder who the law would have favoured there, I was so shocked I didn't even horn at the guy. He just cycled off merrily. Cyclists may not be a physical threat to drivers, they are mainly a threat to themselves. But if they don't follow the rules of the road they will be unpredictable and increase the risk of road traffic incidents, they shouldn't get a free pass.
As a bicycle commuter in the suburbs, the rule of survival is to mitigate any possible interaction with vehicles. If that means running a light or sign I do it. If I stop and wait for a car coming up to the sign, go and that car runs the light, I'm dead (and cars run signs often). I won't defend actions around pedestrians but you have to proactive around cars and speed = safe.
Exactly that is why pavements are fair game in some situations, don't expect cyclists to risk their lives because no one wants to invest in cycle paths.
Worth remembering that there are cycle couriers whose income depends on speed, obviously they make up a fairly small percentage of cyclists, but because they are out all day, very skilled and are under pressure it's not odd that they cut corners and spread bad practice to people without the experience to pull it off. It's odd that on one hand we praise the speedy deliveries and on the other we chastise the ways that speed is achieved. What we really need is more cycle paths.
When I was a motorcycle despatch rider as an undergraduate 20 odd years ago if we stepped out of line and were seen by the plod we got well and truly done and we were under just the same time constraints, just because you work on two wheels does not give you the right to flout the road traffic act!
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND REALITY - ALWAYS TAKE A HIT WHEN YOU NEED TO PAY THE BILLS. BOTTOMFEEDERS LOVE CITY SLICKERS AND TRASH OUR ECONOMY. AS LONG AS WE LOOK THE OTHER WAY AT SOCIAL NEGLIGENCE, THE KIDDIES WILL COMMIT SUICIDE, FOLKS. CYCLISTS ARE IMMUNE TO STOP SIGNS. ETHICS AND A CONSCIENCE - BOTH HAVE NO POWER OVER THESE CITIZENS. SAME WITH CAR DRIVERS, FOLKS.
I think we should just ban driving and turn all roads and motorways into bicycle super-highways. Would drastically reduce road fatalities and solve the obesity problem at the same time. As for freight: buy local, or use horse-and-cart/trains.
Compliance with traffic laws graph: 88% cyclists 85% drivers...............Drivers are way lower than that. Every single driver will go over the speed limit by at least 1mph usually more every time they drive. I am constantly seeing drivers on their phones. Cars are also routinely parked half on the road and half on the pavement. Drivers don't even consider that against the law they do it that often.
cell phone usage while driving was under police surveillance this week in Northrhine Westphalia, and they caught every fifth driver holding a cell phone while driving. That alone makes it at best 80% who comply with all traffic laws.
only today I was waiting at a side road junction with the main road, saw a gap and went to pull away. Something made me stop, a movement in the corner of my eye and a kid on a bike cut across from left to right, right in front of me. He'd been riding on the pavement, against traffic, no helmet and would have been badly injured if I'd been driver who just speeds away. That shook me up all the rest of the day, so there's an unseen consequence of riding like a dork. Time for ID plates, compulsory helmets and training, insurance and fines for transgressing the rules of the road.
Riding on the pavement is selfish but jumping lights, I don't see anything wrong with it! Cyclists are usually sat higher up and have a clearer field of view compared to other motorists, why not go for it if you can see the way ahead is clear?
Absolutely despise cyclists. In my state the law says drive as far to the right as possible as long as it's safe to do. They interpret that law as driving the middle of the road pretending you're a car going 10 miles an hour maximum when the speed limit is 40
pedestrians,cyclists and drivers are all in the same,people must be more considerate towards others when crossing,jogging, riding or driving on the roads
when cycling on the sidewalk, I will slow down to walking speed if I need to pass a pedestrian at close distance, mainly not to raise their anxiety levels. But there are also those pedestrians who still feel like telling you off simply because they see it as an opportunity to vent their daily pent up anger and frustrations
“There’s no such thing as a cyclist” guess it’s all a waste of time then. Brilliant journalism. Motorcyclist are 4x more like to die than other road used and over 30% of the fatalities don’t involved another vehicle, so the idea that people will somehow behave sensibly and considerately when they are vulnerable is clearly unsupported. What about the risk cyclist pose to themselves? Red light jumping without looking clearly isn’t the best idea you’ll ever have.
You would probably jump reds if you cycled. Excellent 360 degree vision, hearing unimpeded, and a simple case of creeping out/rolling back as required. Some countries are letting cyclists jump reds in some places - it just makes sense.
Here in New Zealand, I cycle and follow the rules and get attacked by drivers. Last week's highlight: Pick up truck parks on cycling lane in a corner. I point it out to the driver in a polite way, so he says in increasingly aggressive tone that a cycle lane is also a parking space and he accepts my (non existent) apology. Then he drives off and passes me extra close at high speed. That was after being hit by two other cars only 10 minutes earlier, one almost backing up into me while looking right at me and one cutting me off in a roundabout.
It's a shared responsibility I think. You have to remember when on the roads you are in defense mode even in a car or cycling. Common sense if it's a road with no stopping lane why ride two abreast? Single lane it so no one has a chance to be hit. People need to cool it down on the roads and just chill.
"some cyclists do break the law" I see multiple cyclists EVERY DAY cross red lights just like that, not even it was yellow and just turned red, no it was standing red, and they just go over as if it was normal. EVERY DAY: I dont see ANY cars do that, ever. Do they go over red last minute? Yes. But that is different than just passing a red light as if traffic lights dont exist.
I am a cyclist. That being because I commute every day using only my bike. I can say without hesitation that many cyclists do exhibit highly dangerous behaviour with, what I've seen at least, most jumping red lights, riding in the wrong direction in cycle lanes (we have directional lanes here in Berlin) and riding in pedestrian only areas. We of course have dangerous drivers too who drive too close to cyclists and open their car doors without first looking. I used to be a dangerous cyclist. I would constantly run red lights and ride on the pavement etc. I even saw jumping lights as sort of a game and had a system worked out where jumping certain groups of light would sometimes knock 20% off my commute time. I did this every day til the police caught me and fined me heavily for my stupidity. They also spoke with me and made me realise how dangerous my actions were. That was 5 years ago and to this day, I have remained a safe and considerate road user. Neither cyclists nor drivers are any worse or better than each other in all honesty, but ultimately we all need to treat each other with more respect, consideration and kindness. Both on the road and in every other part of our day to day lives. Let's all try to make the world a better place :)
"Do cyclists think they're above the law?" Sorry, have you ever been down a country lane, literally anytime of the day?? I'm completely sick and tired of this implicit car driver bias. Cars are fucking horrible, and so are many drivers. On the whole, THEY are the ones who think they own the road and nothing is being done about it.
Not a danger to others but a danger to themselves? My experience with people on bikes in general is extremely pleasant but I worry that the cyclists who have a cavalier attitude towards the rules of the road might meet with motorists who have a similar cavalier attitude towards the rules of the road. Also the amount of motorists who stop in the bike box at traffic lights shocks me, it's not hard to tell what it's for. It's got a big bike printed on it.
@@mikewade777 Nonsense - none of that excuses ignoring red lights, riding at high speeds on pavements (I'm not against pavement cycling - e.g. I think cycling on a dual carriageway is mad if there's a pavement), or generally being a prat
@@ChrisRGB It’s not “very very very few”. It’s certainly much fewer than automobiles and doesn’t often result in many fatalities (which is why it isn’t reported in the news that often), but it still happens and will increase with more bikes on the road.
and you definitely never been cornered by a car at 20-30 mph even though you're on the left lane(left lane is the slowest in indonesia) at 5 AM yes.. i do ride regularly and follow traffic rules, so i dont even know what's jumping red light means? getting 10 seconds quicker to work when i rode at 5 Am? never done that but i've been abused regularly on my way work and off work in a bike.. so yea, clearly the bigger issue is the driver
Motorists wonder why an ever increasing number of cyclists are uploading poor driving online... It's a result of the false publicity motorists have been making about cyclists, combined with the complacency with their own driver standards. True, their are a number of silly cyclists, but us cyclists who cycle with due care have had enough and don't have to put up with unfair amd stupid stereotypes.
So much this. There are days I can't stand to read the Guardian because of how much they push that. I just want news from a source that isn't on the right and isn't the FT, dammit.
Yeah but its easier than having to report on anything fundamental. And you dont need any massice changes in society and the economy to achieve it. All you have to do is nag and point fingers and whine until people change their views
Everyone out in public needs to just look and think for a second before making any changes. Look and think if you have enough space for an overtake Look and think if there may be someone else walking round the corner Look and think before crossing the road. As a cyclist, one of the many reasons I ride a few feet away from the pavement is that pedestrians have a tendency to step into the road before looking behind to see if the road is clear. Equally, when driving I make sure I give cyclists at least 1.5m room
The analogy that there is no such thing as a cyclist is wrong. He says: is there as “busist”or “trainist”. Cyclist is an activity such as a “bus rider” or “train rider” akin to a “bike rider”. So yes, anyone riding a bike is cycling their bike, so they would be a “cyclist”.
I live in a pleasant part of central Berlin. The two major arteries have bike paths, but not the side streets. Most of the cyclists along those side streets are not there -- they're on the sidewalks. I learned years ago to walk with my head on a swivel, especially when turning to the right or the left in case someone is coming from behind at speed, unbeknownst to me. This has saved me from a collision on several occasions. None of this will show up in your statistics, precisely because the pedestrian has adapted to a world in which the stronger can and will dominate the weaker. Another thing that won't show up in your statistics is the stress that all of this engenders, day after day; in minute quantities, granted, but it adds up and your psyche is keeping score, whether you are aware of it or not. It baffles me that everyone seems to have a lobby nowadays save the pedestrian, and I don't quite understand why the Guardian, advocate of the afflicted, has no interest whatsoever in the consequences of this egotistical, predatory behaviour. Let me walk in peace!
@@captainmakai I would love it if Berlin resembled Copenhagen or Amsterdam in this respect. The irony is that once the culture of sidewalk riding has established itself, there is no pressure to make the city truly bike-friendly. The pedestrians simply accept it as a fact of life, the cyclists are happy to do whatever they want, and the politicians will ignore whatever they can. It's human nature to rationalise expediency. But I would be embarrassed to ride a bike on the sidewalk.
I wonder if the rule breaking cyclists think they can also get away with it when they drive *because* they don't get penalised when they are cycling. Very few are cyclists and not also drivers
I cycle myself I have done cycling In London and other city around the world and London is the worst for people who cycle to jump red light in my experience. I would never jump red lights but I do think that cyclists are much more aware of the traffic than people who drive because of the danger and risk of cycling among other vehicle.
If you think London is the worst, you've never been to Paris where red light jumping on a bike is legal as long as the way is clear. They should introduce this everywhere. It's clearly not dangerous.
This is missing the point massively! It's not that cyclists will hurt others when breaking the law - it's that they will hurt themselves. If a cyclist jumps a red light, collides with a car and dies, then the driver has to live with that for the rest of their life, even though they weren't to blame! It's a way of including someone else unwillingly in your own suicide. There have been plenty of incidents where cyclist have stoped in the blind spot of a HGVs/large vehicle at lights, only to be crushed when the truck makes a turn. The driver couldn't see the cyclist and the cyclist didn't think / know about the blind spot. I agree that you can't just say cyclists are all bad, becuase at some point we are/have all been a cyclist at some point , and most of us, at some point, have dangerously broken the rules. Part of that comes down to our own blinkered focus when rushing and situational awareness when traveling at speed. What it requires is better education at school for everyone when we first learn to cycle. That is the first intro to the highway code, learn about the different vehicles on the road and their limitations and dangers. Situational awareness training from an early age.
@@lucapatrono7748 We had some lessons at my primary school. Lots of kids cycled to school and all over the place in my home-town when I was growing up (80s-90s). I don't see why they shouldget upset, if you're gonna let your kid have the independence to go out on their own, or with friends, on their bikes then surely education is the most responisble thing to do?
Filtering is defiantly becoming a trend on the public highways. Cycling in mixed pedestrian and cycle lane areas does require cyclists to take care and not intimidate pedestrians. As I have gotten older I do have a more relaxed attitude towards the strict letter of the law but I do obey traffic lights and I always defer to pedestrians. However I might jump off the bike and walk across a red light. A few years ago I moved to a new town and it is easier to get about by cycling. I bought an electric step through bike so to just step off is really easy and pedestrians defiantly appreciate it.
I get intimidated by pedestrians aggressively walking out in full on zombie mode. I've had several fractures to arm and hand due to one ped simply running out right into my path withpout looking, they were totally unscathed. the facts also support that pedestrians cause their own death 50% more often when in collision with a cyclist, this was from the report in 2018 re new cycling laws and compiled by the head of the haulage association (something that she his in small type as a footnote because it showed the true picture of how less a threat cycling is to pedestrians and that actually peds cause more harm outright than those on bikes never mind motorists)
A cyclist is a human being, a father, husband, son, brother best mate, or mother wife daughter sister BFF. Please think of a cyclist as a person who just wants to get home safe to his or her family. If you hit and kill someone on a bicycle just think how many people will be affected by the death.
Which form of transport is: - More expensive? - Louder? - Less Efficient? - Takes up more space? - More polluting? - Bad for human health? - Not accessible and complex for all ages? - What is the biggest danger to pedestrians and cyclists? The answer: CARS Which form of transport is: - Cheapest? - Quietest? - Most Efficient? - Take up the least amount of space? - Least polluting? - One of the best for human health? - Accessible and easy for all ages? The answer: BIKES Bikes are the future of transport, and will help save our planet, and should be allowed to go on roads. Cars should be banned from inner city roads and populated areas as they are the leading cause of transportation fatalities.
Banning cars is the best thing that cities can do. Take a look at Denmark. They have removed many car roads and now they have a better standard of life. Cities get more space, more residential area, more greenspace, less noise and damage, and less deaths.
I'm a cyclist in London and rarely use other forms of transport, save for maybe walking. It's in my interest to get to my destination as quickly as possible, but that doesn't make it okay to flout the rules simply because car users are worse. Every time I hear this argument it feels like we lower the standard on the duty of care by cyclists just because car users pose a greater risk. Can't we walk and chew gum at the same time? Focus on both? There's no doubt that cycling infrastructure could be improved in a way that might cut bad behaviour by cyclists down, but until then, please, spare me the poor excuses.
It should be compulsory for all adults and teenagers buying a bike to know the cyclists high way code. And it should also be in the driving tests. And possibly taught at school. With knowledge comes understanding.
My though process is, if you want to ride on two wheels, get a motorcycle, if you want to ride a bicycle go on trails, or to the gym and ride a stationary bike. There is no reason you should be on a road that has a 50+ MPH speed limit, and you can only go 25 MPH max.
There is a reason though 1 people enjoy commuting to work on bikes for the exercise 2 some people don't have a license and can't afford taxis and ubers everyday 3 we bike on roads because there are no routes for bikes that get us from point a to b
It is dangerous on the road against certain drivers and I have escaped by going on the pavement at lights until they get away. I wish that there were more protected cycling paths because I think more people would cycle around, as it is now you have to be extremely carefu and aware, even on the bike lanes because some drivers don't care or aren't paying attention.
@@zUJ7EjVD it literally isn't an excuse at all, imagine that cyclist hit a pedestrian and that pedestrian was out of work for 6 months with the resulting injuries. That would 100% be down to the cyclist.
I’m gonna start running reds on my motorbike too then as I face the same danger stopped at the lights oh wait no I’ll get a fine through the door won’t I...
Most people on bicycles ride safely because when they crash they get hurt. People in cars just as often break the rules but it's so common people look the other way, and when they hit someone they often die.
No there are commuters and cyclists. Commuters are those who use bikes as another mode of transport, and wear regular clothing. And they only know a thing or two about bikes. Cyclists are those who pursue the sport professionally, pros are one’s who earn money doing what they do. You’ve got the poc helmet, the bib, jersey, mtb/road bike shoes, down turned handlebars (or tt), ultegra? Maybe, 11-13 cassettes again maybe, power meters, hammer head, dhbs and so on.
I have been hit by cyclists going through red lights, I have witnessed it many times too. you think you arent going to get at least a shout at if you run into a pedestrian crossing or jump a light?
If I were to punch a person and I were to stab a person, those two crimes would carry very different consequences and rightly so. Although they are similar, the severity and the potential for harm and completely different from one another. It is the same when a car runs a red light and a bike runs a red light. They may have the appearance of being the same but are not the same crime, they do not carry the same potential for harm, and so people should face different consequences for breaking the law in different ways.
Time to make cyclists carry Number plates and compulsory insurance. Time for cyclists to take responsibility for their own actions. If a cyclist jumps a set of lights and a driver hits him it seems the driver is blamed just because car vs Cyclist its drivers fault. The drivers insurers will have to pick up the bill fault or not. They ignore the jumping of the lights as far as blame is concerned. To say its not dangerous for a cyclists to jump lights or ride on the path is avoiding the obvious and turning pedestrians, Drivers and cyclist against each other. Yes more cyclists do die in accidents with cars, that's obvious, however what's not mentioned is a cyclist is above the law and cannot be blamed. Because cycles don’t carry number plates they cant be identified for prosecution. There also a large number of cases cyclists get away with things like assault, damage to vehicles. Because one cyclist looks like another even if an incident is videoed they cannot be identified. Cyclist are also involved in accidents with pedestrians and cause lots of injuries never stopping and never caught for the same reason not able to identify. Pedestrian even then has no where to claim for any injuries incurred since cyclists don’t carry insurance. Part of that fault as I can see is the fact cyclists are not covered properly by the Law and cant be identified by a registration number.
We need more bike sheds in the UK. Also need more electric pumps to charge our electrical vehicles. That way we can improve or climate and better the environment. Solar panels help as well. But most importantly go vegan!
all the cyclist I've seen jumping red lights or braking traffic laws don't do it out of safety or self-preservation. Utter bs. I ride myself fyi. Breaking a set rule makes you unpredictable and that is dangerous. Say you make a left turn into a one-way street, and suddenly there is a car coming from that street. You don't expect that, because it's a one-way street. If it was a two way street, you would have been prepared for this. Cyclists are also annoying for other cyclists. Very often when the light is red and they stop, they position themselves on the opposite lane instead of queued behind the first cyclist(s). When it turns green, they are riding in the wrong lane, confronting cyclists coming from the other side. Why?
Jean Steven how are you going to uniformly say that no cyclists jump a red out of safety? Pretty arrogant to think you know what each and every person is thinking.
