Cyclist's. Do You Wish They Would Get Off The Roads Or Not???  

Personally i don't think it safe for cyclist's to ride on the roads because people drive to fast these days and with a small thing like a bike you can easly be put off.

I wouldn't ride a bike if they didn't allow me to choose how i wanted to ride because at the end of the day my safty is important to my family.

It does annoy me when i see 'em using the pavement and they take all the space up. it really does when we're pushing my son and they except us to go onto the road. (which we don't)

Really i think it's fine aslong as you respect it. we have cycle lines which aren't used but i would so.

~Kudos!
~Joey

Well I was shocked to learn bicycles are not allowed on the side walk in my town! To me this is crazy, especially for kids. I do think laws should change and if you are going to ride on main roads, you should have to carry insurance. Here the laws, with that exception are the same for bikes as for cars, however few follow those laws. It kills me to see someone on a bike go through lights and the police don't go after them.

I completely agree. I feel that way with pedestrians in general. There is so much pressure on drivers to see everything and watch to see if cars are coming while still watching people to see if they are going to cross the street in front of you. Lots of pressure. That's why I hate driving downtown. Way too much going on.

We need to make the roads save for travel for everyone. There should be lanes specifically designated for bike use. There are rules that need to be followed for the safety of everyone. I can't tell you how many times I have come upon a group of people on bikes while I am driving along a road. These people often take up the entire road rather than pull into single file to allow the safe passage of motorists.

ON the note of having children on the bikes, that is one I never considered before seeing it here in your discussion. A child strapped to a bicycle going 40 mph is unsafe even if the child is wearing a helmet. If the cyclist should lose control that child is going to go down hard. No helmet will protect their bodies from injury.

Have things changed? I admit I haven't driven in England for the last 10 years. When I was driving in England while staying at my brother's there, I was SO impressed by English cyclists! I thought they were wonderful! I admired the way they cycled along such a straight line and cars passed them so close on the narrow streets.

Here in Australia, cyclists swerve all over the road. I doubt if many of them could ride a straight line. Just as well for them, most of the main streets, and streets leading to schools, have bikeways so they don't need to ride on the roads. This wouldn't be possible in many places in England with your narrow streets.

I would have to agree with you about child seats on bikes, and even more so with children sitting on the bar in front of the rider.

Wouldn't it be a good idea if cyclists had to obtain a licence, with theory and practical tests?

I don't like them on main roads in peak hour. It is so frustrating to have a cycle hold up a whole lane in peak hour. If a car were doing that, the driver would be booked.

well I'm not a fan of them either.. but if they're on a match/championship that's fine with me, but not the one you describe..

I agree. A lot of cyclers use the road, even though there is a sidewalk. They impede traffic. They go less than the speed limit and take up a lane, even if they hug the curb we cant get around them. Its stupid. Just use the sidewalk and be careful of pedestrians, whats the worst that can happen there? And they don't obey the rules! Why is that ok?

Well I think it's ok as long as the cyclist is following road safety rules However, I think they should be allowed to ride their bikes on the sidewalk. I'm pretty sure it's a by-law however that they not ride on the sidewalk, but instead on the roads. I think this is the cause of a lot of accidents and think it would be much safer if they were off to the side where people can actually see them.

Well I am a person who goes everywere on my bicycle! I respect the transit signals and laws, and I use the specially marked roads for cyclist here in Berlin. I am actually contributing with a less polluted world and an easier public transportation for others that have to take it. I don't take space parking, and I get off my bike when I'm crossing the street.... But I guess not everybody likes me either!!!