City cyclists still flouting the rules (From Oxford Mail)

Standing giving out fines waiting for crimes, Burglary in Blackbird Leys 09:40 Police arrive 15:20. Says it all

Typical response from James Stirling!!
Instead of holding his hands up and admitting that cyclists are wrong, he blames the regulations. Like he wants cyclists to be able to ignore Red traffic lights and one way streets. He also states its not a big deal because motorists drive while on the mobile phone, what's that got to do with it????
Oh yes, cyclists also ride while on the mobile phone, but I guess thats ok as well. Once again cyclists think they are above the law because their so called spokesman thinks they are anyway.

Then whats the point of wasting thousands of pounds on cycle lanes that cyclists cry out for if they don't use them!!

"“On Cornmarket there are probably too many pedestrians for any sensible person to want to cycle." "

Unfortunately there are far too many cyclists who are not. So many I lose count when I am walking along Cornmarket & Queen Street. Indeed, too many for 3 policemen to be able to stop them all (and the fact that a bunch carried on cycling past the policemen who were busy issuing tickets shows their absolute disregard).

Cyclox need to stop burying their heads in the sand and start actively criticising cyclists who flout the law with such disregard for their own safety and the safety of others.

Bart_Simpson1 wrote:
Then whats the point of wasting thousands of pounds on cycle lanes that cyclists cry out for if they don't use them!!

Because (amongst other reasons) it gives cyclists who are not confident about cycling (including children) the chance to legally cycle where they otherwise would not.

It doesn't mean that you should get rid of them because there are cyclists who choose not to use them - I'm sure there are many who do the lanes on that route.

custardsnatcher wrote:
Standing giving out fines waiting for crimes, Burglary in Blackbird Leys 09:40 Police arrive 15:20. Says it all

If the police rushed to Blackbird Leys every time a crime was committed, they'd run into themselves returning, on the way back.
If a burglary has been committed,in BL, the perpetrator's finger prints are probably already on the PNC anyway, so why bother rushing.

Bart_Simpson1 wrote:
Then whats the point of wasting thousands of pounds on cycle lanes that cyclists cry out for if they don't use them!!

Personally I'd prefer it if many cycle lanes did not exist. Even ones that inpatient motorists consider to be good are often less than helpful to a cyclist (shared with pedestrians, lots of stop / start, stopping without warning, not maintained in the same way as roads, forcing you to give every side road etc).

It annoys me too that money is wasted on bad quality cycle lanes. I'd like to see useful cycle lanes or none at all.

All to often inconsiderate and cowardly motorists try to bully cyclists off the road with the misplaced idea that the cycle lane helps the cyclists.

Just yesterday a driver of a cement mixer forced me to skid into the curb - or face being run over. After nearly killing the coward sounded his horn and drove off.

Cyclists are arrogant and deliberately break the law. There is no reason why they should not be fined. They are particularly dangerous cycling on footways where there is no cycle lane marked out. In Summertown for instance they are a menace and the police do little to protect the pedestrian, although they boast about how many motorists they fine. They let cyclists off with a warming. They should treat them the same as motorists and fine them every time. It is the same Road Traffic Act for both. If motorists deliberately broke the law as many times as cyclists they wsould be banned from driving. So, tighten up Mr Plod and look after the pedestrians for a change.

Cyclists are arrogant and deliberately break the law. There is no reason why they should not be fined. They are particularly dangerous cycling on footways where there is no cycle lane marked out. In Summertown for instance they are a menace and the police do little to protect the pedestrian, although they boast about how many motorists they fine. They let cyclists off with a warming. They should treat them the same as motorists and fine them every time. It is the same Road Traffic Act for both. If motorists deliberately broke the law as many times as cyclists they wsould be banned from driving. So, tighten up Mr Plod and look after the pedestrians for a change.

"Cyclists are arrogant and deliberately break the law" , very sweeping statement

I drive and cycle in Oxford.

Today driving in I saw cyclists and driving doing stupid things.

As I cycled along university parks road I saw 2 cars pulling into the cycle lane between the pedestrian crossing and the traffic lights. At the same time waiting at the pedestrian crossing at least 5 cyclists go through the red light, 2 had to weave between crossing pedestrians to do so.

Both cyclists and drivers are as bad as each other.

The issue is that cyclists complain about how vulnerable they are on the road, but then do things which increase the danger they are in (using mobile phones, headphones on, going through red lights, cycling on pavements, down one-way roads the wrong way, cycling with no lights).

The long an short of it is this, if you get hit by a car because you did something stupid on your bike, you are likely to die, the driver isn't; if that isn't incentive enough, then you're pretty stupid.

Madi50n wrote:
I drive and cycle in Oxford.

Today driving in I saw cyclists and driving doing stupid things.

As I cycled along university parks road I saw 2 cars pulling into the cycle lane between the pedestrian crossing and the traffic lights. At the same time waiting at the pedestrian crossing at least 5 cyclists go through the red light, 2 had to weave between crossing pedestrians to do so.

Both cyclists and drivers are as bad as each other.

The issue is that cyclists complain about how vulnerable they are on the road, but then do things which increase the danger they are in (using mobile phones, headphones on, going through red lights, cycling on pavements, down one-way roads the wrong way, cycling with no lights).

The long an short of it is this, if you get hit by a car because you did something stupid on your bike, you are likely to die, the driver isn't; if that isn't incentive enough, then you're pretty stupid.

Well said :)

Part of the problem is that the police do these one day "crackdowns" but the rest of the time you see police cars driving past cyclists without lights or jumping red lights. If they made a point of stopping cyclists for a few weeks it mean much fewer cyclist breaking the law in the same way that most motorists don't jump red lights - although the chance of being caught is small, you know if the police see you doing it they WILL prosecute you.

now, maybe, the police would like to have a crackdown on the many cars and vans which have lights out. there are loads i see everyday with either a headlight or tail light out, or in some cases, both! this includes taxis and delivery vans, the drivers of which SHOULD be checking their vehicles every day.

Too right Davyboy, and I'll add those whose headlights are so badly misaligned I have to shield my eyes while walking along the pavement.

I'm not going to defend idiot cyclists although I have two bikes and do 50+ miles a week. They are idiots first and cyclists second, and are no better than idiot drivers.

Too right Davyboy, and I'll add those whose headlights are so badly misaligned I have to shield my eyes while walking along the pavement.....Totally agree, but I even get blinded whilst sitting at my desk, and I'm on the 2nd floor.

This is about cyclists but as usual the motorist has to be brought into it. If cyclists had to conform to the law like motorists there would be no cyclists on the road.

If the boys and girls in blue want to make get their stats up, they want to get out of Cowley nick and take a stroll along Oxford Road, between 4.00pm and 6.00pm, any day of the week. From the Total garage by the business park - from where the cycle path clearly runs out - down to the Texaco station at the end of Edmund Road and beyond, they will happily find the pavements awash with cyclists. If they are serious about making the walkways safer for us pedestrians then, as our friend iklhik says above, one-day crackdowns in the city centre need to be extended to longer periods and to cover other areas of the city.

Bart_Simpson1 wrote:
This is about cyclists but as usual the motorist has to be brought into it. If cyclists had to conform to the law like motorists there would be no cyclists on the road.

Cyclists do have to confirm to the law, but they don't.

This is the usual rubbish. It's not that I think that there are no bad cyclists but there is never any column space given over to all the bad drivers who can't use their indicators, don't pay insurance, tax, park on the pavement, stop across pedestrian crossings, drive down bus lanes and ignore double yellows and so on and so forth. I cycle , I drive and I am also a pedestrian. It's car drivers who think that the law doesn't apply to them that causes the real danger. Every day the bus lane coming up to Cutteslowe roundabout is full of cars. Kidlington High St which is clearly marked as "no motor vehicles" and also has full double yellows the entire length of the shopping area is probably the most congested road in Oxford. Just an accident waiting to happen. And no one enforces the signs so now instead, Cherwell DC is using my hard earned tax money to pay to make this already pedestrianised area pedestrianised because no one stops the hundreds of "the law doesn't apply to me" drivers who drive and park there daily. The police should hang around there on a Saturday morning and catch far more selfish drivers than they ever could bikes down Cornmarket.

There is never column space given to these so called bad drivers because the police are out to catch them every day, not just once a month like cyclists.

Cyclists using pavements and jumping red lights are real dangers to the public - along the roadworks on Iffley Road they use the pavements all the time and I've lost count of the times I've nearly been hit by cyclists who jump red lights at pedestrian crossings.

cubist wrote:
"Cyclists are arrogant and deliberately break the law" , very sweeping statement

Very sweeping statement BUT TRUE.

And to top it all their spokesperson (love the pun) James Styring, tries in vain to put the attention elsewhere, when the whole exercise is clearly aimed at law breaking CYCLISTS.

However I do not agree with cyclists riding on pavements where pedestrians are, there its a bit of a balance sometimes whether to get knocked down by a bus or get off the road. Most motorists are fine but like some cyclists you will always find "its my space get out" syndrome.

You will always get people who think they know best. Sad thing is most know nothing.

shipscat wrote:
Oh dear the anti bike brigade come out in their droves again. Bit sad aint they nothing do but moan about bikes probably too fat or unfit ever to get on one. Touch of envy maybe?

Puss, I don't necessarily think that it's a case of the "anti-bike brigade" coming out for a moan. Rather people - such as myself (and I sometimes ride a bike, for the record) - who just feel fed up of having to run the gauntlet of anti-social cyclists on a regular basis: the cyclists who think that they can do whatever they want to and flout the rules of the road with impunity. Probably the most priceless incident that happened to me, a year or two back, was having to jump out of the way of two lads who were riding bikes through one of the narrowest aisles of the covered market one Saturday afternoon. I felt pity for those two idiots, not envy, and something should be done to stop it.

Did you light controlled people ever think when your sitting there waiting at red, while the way ahead is clear your the cause of traffic problems... In central London removing the lights increased traffic flow... If its clear I go bike or car its the right way to use the road... Plus an empty pavement is a good cycle lane leaving the road free for cars

So of you people think like sheep

Next time a cyclist on an 'empty pavement' drives head down into me, should I just kick him/her in the head?

┄Next time a cyclist on an
'empty pavement' drives head
down into me, should I just
kick him/her in the head?┄

Yep did you realise, that a bike is about the same width as a walker, carry on as normal and we go round you with ease, its when people start doing the 'its a bike dance', or jumping in the way shouting 'off the path' accidents happen...

There are allot of 'block the bike drivers' in Oxford so the pavements a good option... Mind you I just normally boot the wing mirror off...

Darkforbid wrote:
┄Next time a cyclist on an
'empty pavement' drives head
down into me, should I just
kick him/her in the head?┄

Yep did you realise, that a bike is about the same width as a walker, carry on as normal and we go round you with ease, its when people start doing the 'its a bike dance', or jumping in the way shouting 'off the path' accidents happen...

There are allot of 'block the bike drivers' in Oxford so the pavements a good option... Mind you I just normally boot the wing mirror off...

Hopefully you'll get run over soon, doesn't seem like you'd be much of a loss to society.

Madi50n wrote:
I drive and cycle in Oxford.

Today driving in I saw cyclists and driving doing stupid things.

As I cycled along university parks road I saw 2 cars pulling into the cycle lane between the pedestrian crossing and the traffic lights. At the same time waiting at the pedestrian crossing at least 5 cyclists go through the red light, 2 had to weave between crossing pedestrians to do so.

Both cyclists and drivers are as bad as each other.

The issue is that cyclists complain about how vulnerable they are on the road, but then do things which increase the danger they are in (using mobile phones, headphones on, going through red lights, cycling on pavements, down one-way roads the wrong way, cycling with no lights).

The long an short of it is this, if you get hit by a car because you did something stupid on your bike, you are likely to die, the driver isn't; if that isn't incentive enough, then you're pretty stupid.

totally agree with your comment on the issue

iklhik wrote:

Darkforbid wrote: ┄Next time a cyclist on an 'empty pavement' drives head down into me, should I just kick him/her in the head?┄ Yep did you realise, that a bike is about the same width as a walker, carry on as normal and we go round you with ease, its when people start doing the 'its a bike dance', or jumping in the way shouting 'off the path' accidents happen... There are allot of 'block the bike drivers' in Oxford so the pavements a good option... Mind you I just normally boot the wing mirror off...

Hopefully you'll get run over soon, doesn't seem like you'd be much of a loss to society.

It seems that the debate has finally come around full circle. Mr Darkforbid has just illustrated why so many people posting on this long thread are fed up with antisocial cyclists on the footpath: either quietly riding up from behind or coming at us full pelt from ahead - and expecting us to make way! Pavements are for pedestrians - if you take that away from us - especially on narrow footpaths - where else are we supposed to go?

┄Hopefully you'll get run over
soon, doesn't seem like
you'd be much of a loss to
society.┄

Well thanks, if you think you have a society instead of a load of Animal Farm pigs...

┄Mr Darkforbid has just
illustrated why so many
people posting on this long
thread are fed up with
antisocial cyclists on the
footpath: either quietly riding
up from behind or coming at
us full pelt from ahead - and
expecting us to make way!┄

I don't expect you to make way, most cyclist are good at basic obstacle avoidance... I've seen some of you 'sheep' shouting at young kids learning to ride on the path... Stop playing policeman and grow up.

I'm sick to death of cyclists on pavements. I am completely deaf on one side and cannot hear them coming, several times have walked into the path of cyclists travelling at speed on the pavement. I have been hit by a cyclist doing about 20mph on the pavement, and it was very painful, and my dogs have nearly had their feet run over by kids belting carelessly along the pavement. I'm sick of so-called 'cycle lanes' on what are actually pavments. As cars increasingly obstruct pavements everywhere, where the Hell are pedestrians supposed to go?

Floflo wrote:

Bart_Simpson1 wrote:
Then whats the point of wasting thousands of pounds on cycle lanes that cyclists cry out for if they don't use them!!

Personally I'd prefer it if many cycle lanes did not exist. Even ones that inpatient motorists consider to be good are often less than helpful to a cyclist (shared with pedestrians, lots of stop / start, stopping without warning, not maintained in the same way as roads, forcing you to give every side road etc).

It annoys me too that money is wasted on bad quality cycle lanes. I'd like to see useful cycle lanes or none at all.

All to often inconsiderate and cowardly motorists try to bully cyclists off the road with the misplaced idea that the cycle lane helps the cyclists.

Just yesterday a driver of a cement mixer forced me to skid into the curb - or face being run over. After nearly killing the coward sounded his horn and drove off.

And I bet you were cycling up the left hand side of the mixer?
As a lorry driving cyclist, I'd like to advise those who do find themselves on the nearside of lorries to give the passenger door a friendly tap as you pass; It'll let the driver know you're there who cannot see you if you're sat alongside the cab.
Lorries that block cycle lanes at traffic lights by stopping in the gutter are not being ignorant, they're stopping cyclists from getting in the blind spot.

Yep good point Big Issue used to drive 7.5t multi drop, both cars and cyclists need to be more blind spot aware...

As both a cyclist and car driver as well as an ex motorcyclist, the thing that annoys me most is the lack of lights. I travelled from Keble road to Abingdon road only last week and in that short journey counted 17 cyclists with no lights and 5 others with only one. They were also filtering through traffic and down the outside of stationary vehicles at lights where there was very little room for traffic moving in the opposite direction. These idiots either have no regard for self preservation or feel they're immortal!! They would be the first to complain if they were hit or knocked off their bikes. I personally have no sympathy for people with no common sense.

The people pointing out the the other people who happen to be on bicycles whilst breaking a rule... are the people who have never driven a car through an amber light when they could have stopped, never driven 1mph or more above the speed limit, never over-stayed in a parking space, parked on a double yellow line, or had any form of parking ticket...

for it would be most hypocritical to criticise the actions of others when they themselves have not always obeyed the rules.

I got stopped and fined this Saturday down Queen street. I wasn't even pedalling my bmx bike, i was sat on my saddle, scooting myself along, going slower than most pedestrians walking as i going to meet some friends outside M&S. I got pulled over, most probably because i was going that slow, and the reasons they were giving me a fine was because i was dangerous to walkers. I was as dangerous as some pushing a children's buggy, maybe some common sense could be used sometimes.

Lima0x4 wrote:
I got stopped and fined this Saturday down Queen street. I wasn't even pedalling my bmx bike, i was sat on my saddle, scooting myself along, going slower than most pedestrians walking as i going to meet some friends outside M&S. I got pulled over, most probably because i was going that slow, and the reasons they were giving me a fine was because i was dangerous to walkers. I was as dangerous as some pushing a children's buggy, maybe some common sense could be used sometimes.

You deserved the fine. Why did you not just push your bike, instead of being a poser and trying to look COOL sat side saddle. I bet you looked REALLY cool when the police pulled you over and gave you a ticket. HAHA

Lima0x4 wrote:
I got stopped and fined this Saturday down Queen street. I wasn't even pedalling my bmx bike, i was sat on my saddle, scooting myself along, going slower than most pedestrians walking as i going to meet some friends outside M&S. I got pulled over, most probably because i was going that slow, and the reasons they were giving me a fine was because i was dangerous to walkers. I was as dangerous as some pushing a children's buggy, maybe some common sense could be used sometimes.

Yes, you could have used some common sense and pushed your Bmx, or you could get rid of it and get a proper bike

What about the pedestrians who wander all over New Inn Hall street? There used to be an offence called "Jaywalking" I've seen a number of near collisions caused by these numpties Imagine the outcry if the police had a "crackdown" on them

Hedart wrote:
What about the pedestrians who wander all over New Inn Hall street? There used to be an offence called "Jaywalking" I've seen a number of near collisions caused by these numpties Imagine the outcry if the police had a "crackdown" on them

I expect they have to walk in the road to avoid the cyclists on the footpath...

as a cyclist AND motorist it helps to know the road laws. Most cyclists seem to forget that a cycle lane marked with a broken line can be entered by vehicles - as per the one on Iffley Rd. Another thing that annoys me about cyclists in East Oxford especially is on tight streets with a one car passing gap - if I'm already moving down the street and a cyclist enters from the other way (off a major road) they never wait and give way as they should but they try forcing down the road, scraping along the side of your car etc. If they were in a car or even motorbike they'd have to wait but for some reason they consider themselves to have a right of way! Also on Cowley Rd, I lose count of the number of cyclists that dont stop at either of the zebra crossings - imagine if cars ignored zebra crossings!