Police catch cyclists without lights every 90 seconds (From Oxford Mail)
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Police catch cyclists without lights every 90 seconds
10:00am Wednesday 3rd November 2010 in News By Emily Allen
The police operation in High Street
A CYCLIST was caught riding without lights in Oxford city centre every one-and-a-half minutes at a police checkpoint.
Police launched the Lights on Bikes campaign on Monday to coincide with the clocks changing and dark nights drawing in.
During the three-hour operation in High Street, 106 cyclists were issued with £30 fines for riding without lights.
But they were offered the chance to avoid the fine if they showed police a receipt for new lights within seven days.
Most cyclists caught were impressed with the operation, but it did not go down well with one cyclist.
He was arrested and fined £80 for threatening behaviour after he had to be forcibly stopped and restrained by three police officers.
He must also pay the £30 fine for not having any lights.
Oxfordshire road safety officer Pc Mark Pilling said: “We’ve had a lot of people who don’t like getting tickets, but never anyone who got physical.”
Another cyclist was spotted riding through a red light and was fined £30.
This year, officers decided the operation was so important they would run it all year round across the force.
Pc Pilling said: “The problem in cities is that there are a lot of vehicles with their lights on and a pedal cycle with no lights is often lost in the headlights.
“Just because there are street lights does not mean they are going to be visible. People do not realise that by not making themselves visible to other road users they are causing a danger not only to themselves, but also to pedestrians and motorists.
“Although we were issuing more than one ticket every two minutes it could easily have been more and that illustrates why the lights on bikes initiative is so important.”
Last year, 159 people were killed or injured while riding bikes in Oxford.
Police said this represented 30 per cent of all casualties on the city’s roads.
Canadian Amanda Clarke, 26, a student at Oxford University, said: “It’s the nicest fine I have ever received. I think it’s a pretty good service. We can all play our part in making the roads safer. I’m thoroughly impressed with the police.”
Liam Wain, 17, of Long Close, Headington, said: “I think this operation is a necessity, there are a lot of cycle accidents in this area.”
Meanwhile, a 21-year-old Oxford student, who refused to give his name, said: “It’s a waste of public resources. What’s the point in having lights when it’s a completely lit road and the lights get stolen anyway?
“They should put more money into stopping people stealing bikes and lights.”
Oxford student John James, 19, of North Oxford, who had forgotten to put lights on his bike, said: “I think it’s bizarre I’ve to buy more lights and take a receipt to the police station when I already have lights. But in itself I don’t think what they are doing is a bad thing.”
Comments(49)
Andrew:Oxford
says...
10:37am Wed 3 Nov 10
abingdonborn&bred
says...
10:41am Wed 3 Nov 10
EBTWO
says...
11:04am Wed 3 Nov 10
Come and have a driving lesson with me sonny jim, you'll soon understand.
Quentin Walker
says...
11:14am Wed 3 Nov 10
I would have thought self-preservation would kick in.
brianbbleys
says...
11:28am Wed 3 Nov 10
while the police are being vigilant in the city when are they going into Cornmarket Street & Queens Street to stop the cyclist breaking the law??
George III
says...
11:54am Wed 3 Nov 10
How in god's name did this person get a place at Oxford if they are that stupid.....
Thanes Valley Police - Please do this on the Plain and the Iffley road cyclists with no lights there are a nightmare.
multitask
says...
12:00pm Wed 3 Nov 10
Green123
says...
12:48pm Wed 3 Nov 10
Scrofulous Serf
says...
1:02pm Wed 3 Nov 10
GRB
says...
1:02pm Wed 3 Nov 10
Danny A
says...
1:05pm Wed 3 Nov 10
brianbbleys wrote:Because this way the problem is actually tackled directly rather than becoming a money raising exercise.
yet again we have buy lights show receipt and we'll let you off the fine!!!! why??? while the police are being vigilant in the city when are they going into Cornmarket Street & Queens Street to stop the cyclist breaking the law??
Many people complain that flat fines, such as you get with a speed camera, simply generate revenue and resentment rather than encourage people to change their behaviour for the better.
OxfordResident
says...
2:47pm Wed 3 Nov 10
Then you are stupid, dangerous and should be fined anyway...
"Another cyclist was spotted riding through a red light and was fined £30. "
They only spotted one???? I usually see at least a score of them every morning whilst walking to work.
BioHazard
says...
3:29pm Wed 3 Nov 10
eatmygoal
says...
3:30pm Wed 3 Nov 10
.
You don't buy a car, then buy the lights and fit them.
Green123
says...
4:01pm Wed 3 Nov 10
eatmygoal wrote:Exactly this. Bikes should not be sold unless they have lights, reflective panels and a bell. That way, there's no excuse not have what's required.
Why are bikes not sold with lights built in? It would be so easy to embed LED lights into the frames. . You don't buy a car, then buy the lights and fit them.
the wizard
says...
4:38pm Wed 3 Nov 10
One night a year to make a big show with the local newspaper on hand to take details. BIG DEAL.
Rest of the year, on the back of the the road tax paying, insured and tested driver, who has to conform with all of the rules all of the time.
If you are going to do something about cyclists then do it all the year round in all of the towns and in the city.
We the motoring public are totally peed off about cyclists, their rampant law breaking escapades and total dis regard for the law and the motorist.
Next time a motorist gets stopped does he get off with a blown bulb or bald tyre if he gets it fixed in 7 days ?
Chief Constable, you are having a laugh. Pathetic.
sparky123456
says...
6:00pm Wed 3 Nov 10
abingdonborn&bred wrote:This is a bit of a silly comment. You can overtake a police car at 75mph and you might not be pulled. he might not have a speed sensor, he could be a dog handler. these officers may have finished their shift, they may be assigned to a serious crime unit. jeez, think before speaking.
Monday night about 20:00 I was following a police car with 2 officers inside in Abingdon as it passed 3 youths on bikes without lights cycling against the traffic in a one way street. The police car continued on its way back to the station. Great to see this operation was so important they would run it all year round across the force. But excluding Abingdon I guess.
sparky123456
says...
6:05pm Wed 3 Nov 10
eatmygoal wrote:well theres a few reasons, some bikes arent strictly intended for road use, for example I have a hardtail MTB for X-trails however I have fitted small brackets for road lights. Other people may have professional road bikes where grams make all the difference. Most commuter bikes do come with bells, reflectors and occassionally lights but built in LED's could be costly and could compromise the rigidity of the frame, you'd also need to address the power supply. It's a nice idea but in reality not entirely possible.
Why are bikes not sold with lights built in? It would be so easy to embed LED lights into the frames. . You don't buy a car, then buy the lights and fit them.
Mr Beavis
says...
6:44pm Wed 3 Nov 10
6:00pm Wed 3 Nov 10
abingdonborn&bred wrote:
Monday night about 20:00 I was following a police car with 2 officers inside in Abingdon as it passed 3 youths on bikes without lights cycling against the traffic in a one way street. The police car continued on its way back to the station. Great to see this operation was so important they would run it all year round across the force. But excluding Abingdon I guess.
This is a bit of a silly comment. You can overtake a police car at 75mph and you might not be pulled. he might not have a speed sensor, he could be a dog handler. these officers may have finished their shift, they may be assigned to a serious crime unit. jeez, think before speaking.
No Sparky! It is because the police in Abingdon are lazy and pointless, i have seen then waiting behind a car making an illegal right turn into Marcham Road hospital and then drive off, i have had one drive off as i was about to overtake them as they sat on the side of the road on the phone only for them to turn into the polie station, i have seen them parked half on a zig-zag marking half on the pavement outside a school as children tried to make there way past to get into school, so the "officers" could stop and chat with other officers hiding round the corner with a speed gun.
And only today have seen them parked fully on the pavement on Drayton Road forcing people to walk into the road so they could deal with a broken down car on Ock Street.
Here to up hold the law? Not!
Simon33
says...
6:54pm Wed 3 Nov 10
As a driver, I hate Oct/Nov when new students are about, oblivious to their invisibility. Knocking someone off a bike is bad for cyclist and driver alike.
£30 - a round of drinks for these poor students, who just charge it onto their debt mountain - who gets the money, by the way?
Yawn
says...
8:16am Thu 4 Nov 10
Danny A
says...
9:44am Thu 4 Nov 10
http://www.oxfordmai
l.co.uk/news/8489684
.BREAKING_NEWS__Spee
d_cameras_to_go_back
_on/?ref=mc
I'm a driver and a cyclist but I get the impression there's a feeling of "enforce the law for one group but not the other"!
bifocal bill
says...
10:21am Thu 4 Nov 10
downfader
says...
12:18pm Thu 4 Nov 10
.
I think we have a situation in the UK where road use offences are now dealt with in a highly visible fashion (so only the very stupid/selfish seem to get caught) due to people crying about being caught (this is visible in cyclists getting caught by cops without their hiviz reflective top on, right up to motorists who wanted all the speed cameras painted yellow and with 2 miles of warning signs).
.
I think to tackle this more effectively we need to allow the Police a little more freedom. Allow them to be less conspicuous.
.
I think many of these cyclists caught have displayed an extreme level of selfishness. Their family will miss them, witnesses to any accident will be deeply affected. Theres no excuse.
.
I've ridden for years. Good lights are essential not just for being seen by but also in many circumstances seeing the road ahead and picking out potholes, glass and other debris.
.
I also think parents need to take a stronger line with their kids. If Oxford is anything like here then kids removed all the reflectors off their bikes and put themselves in danger. If you know your kid has done this - take the bike off them! Even if it comes down to locking their wheels up.
.
I will also state that if any cyclist is new to commuting, riding etc and wants some advice then there are good forums online (Bikeradar, Cyclechat, the CTC website and forum). Read the highway code, too, dont leave it to chance if you're unsure.
sparky123456
says...
1:09pm Thu 4 Nov 10
Mr Beavis wrote:1) seriously do you think police care about a turn making an 'illegal' right turn?
sparky123456, Oxford says... 6:00pm Wed 3 Nov 10 abingdonborn&bre
d wrote: Monday night about 20:00 I was following a police car with 2 officers inside in Abingdon as it passed 3 youths on bikes without lights cycling against the traffic in a one way street. The police car continued on its way back to the station. Great to see this operation was so important they would run it all year round across the force. But excluding Abingdon I guess. This is a bit of a silly comment. You can overtake a police car at 75mph and you might not be pulled. he might not have a speed sensor, he could be a dog handler. these officers may have finished their shift, they may be assigned to a serious crime unit. jeez, think before speaking. No Sparky! It is because the police in Abingdon are lazy and pointless, i have seen then waiting behind a car making an illegal right turn into Marcham Road hospital and then drive off, i have had one drive off as i was about to overtake them as they sat on the side of the road on the phone only for them to turn into the polie station, i have seen them parked half on a zig-zag marking half on the pavement outside a school as children tried to make there way past to get into school, so the "officers" could stop and chat with other officers hiding round the corner with a speed gun. And only today have seen them parked fully on the pavement on Drayton Road forcing people to walk into the road so they could deal with a broken down car on Ock Street. Here to up hold the law? Not!
2) i bet if you police started caring about the stuff you find annoying there'd be no time for sorting serious crime and you'd be shocked at the cost of admin associated with these petty incidents
3) do you literally spend every day following police and noting their actions so you can get riled up and moan like a baby on here
4) if it bothers you so much why don't you record the police and their illegal activities then make a formal compaint to the police complaints commission or the sargeant of the abingdon station?
abingdonborn&bred
says...
3:36pm Thu 4 Nov 10
oafie
says...
6:08pm Thu 4 Nov 10
It should be done more, cyclists with no lights are a hazard, and most of the time are oblivious to what is going on around them, they are either on the mobile or listening to their ipods. Why can't the PCSO's do this on an ongoing basis when they are walking around or the civil enforcement officers. Many of the students in the city centre are from oxford colleges;they can certainly afford lights, and are supposed to be the brightest of the bright and they can't understand what a danger they to others and themselves.
How quickly action might be taken if the motorists started driving about with no lights when needed.
Volterra
says...
8:13pm Thu 4 Nov 10
downfader
says...
10:28pm Thu 4 Nov 10
Volterra wrote:You Vikings, honestly!
Sack them all!
:-D
Mr Beavis
says...
9:15am Fri 5 Nov 10
Oh no wait! If he was then Sparky would know that is illegal to "record" or photograph the police!
Jmark
says...
3:55pm Fri 5 Nov 10
So fill out the form with a made up name, date of birth and address.
Honestly, they don't check the name or address you give them!
Hey presto no fine.
Budowaah
says...
4:33pm Fri 5 Nov 10
a cyclist
says...
8:16am Sat 6 Nov 10
I don't like any kind of law-breaking by any type of road user.
Cyclists who do bad things such as riding after dark without lights encourage the widespread hatred of cyclists that I experience frequently while I'm out cycling to go somewhere.
I have been shouted at; spat at ; had a telephone directory thrown at me and threatened with being run-over.
Of course, I've been run-off the road; sworn at; and hooted at for no reason.
There is a widespread belief that motorists pay for the roads and that cyclists are freeloaders. This isn't true – 'Road Tax' was abolished in 1937. Further more, cyclists benefit the economy in numerous ways because every 109 utility cyclists who use the bike instead of the car at least three times per week save the UK economy £1 million over 30 years.
This is due to:
Lower levels of absenteeism from work
Regular exercise helps protect against obesity; hypertension; cardiovascular disease & stroke; type 2 diabetes; certain cancers; depression and certain depression-related dementias etc.
Traffic pollution probably kills at least 24,000 people in the UK each year
Reduced traffic congestion - lost time to motorists and bus passengers
More than 99% of pedestrian casualties are caused by motor-vehicles.
Returning to lights.
I would like to see similar laws to those in Germany (StVZO), where all bikes apart from racing bikes have to be supplied already fitted with dynamo lights. I have them and I have recently fitted them to my son's bike. They are bright enough to see potholes in the pitch dark. They never need batteries and are hard to steal. Of course they aren't cheap, but what use is money if you're dead?
I think that cyclists that ride without lights are very unwise and that I wish the Police would exhibit zero tolerance towards any unlawful activity, especially on the road.
a cyclist
says...
8:48am Sat 6 Nov 10
the wizard wrote:'the wizard' is one of those people who thinks they know, when they don't!
Splendid !!!
One night a year to make a big show with the local newspaper on hand to take details. BIG DEAL.
Rest of the year, on the back of the the road tax paying, insured and tested driver, who has to conform with all of the rules all of the time.
If you are going to do something about cyclists then do it all the year round in all of the towns and in the city.
We the motoring public are totally peed off about cyclists, their rampant law breaking escapades and total dis regard for the law and the motorist.
Next time a motorist gets stopped does he get off with a blown bulb or bald tyre if he gets it fixed in 7 days ?
Chief Constable, you are having a laugh. Pathetic.
First of all he refers to "road tax"
Nobody pays 'Road Tax', because it was abolished in 1937 by Winston Churchill.
http://ipayroadtax.c
om/
The he goes on to say "insured and tested driver, who has to conform with all of the rules all of the time."
That may be the case where he lives - in cloud-cuckoo land, but in the real world, drivers just aren't so law-abiding.
Don't believe me?
Look at the statistics
http://www.justice.g
ov.uk/publications/d
ocs/offences-relatin
g-to-motor-vehicles-
2006-ii.pdf
a cyclist
says...
9:32am Sat 6 Nov 10
hilaryterm wrote:That in a nutshell, seems to be the mind-set of many drivers I encounter on my bike.
I saw a cyclist breaking the law once THEREFORE cyclists deserve no consideration.
I am a driver who dislikes the law on speeding THEREFORE the law should be changed.
How do I know, that many drivers give no consideration to cyclists?
Well many drivers have no compunction in overtaking and then cutting across my path; driving dangerously close to me at high speed; stopping in Advanced Stop Lines – what do they think that painted outline of a bicycle means?; parking in mandatory cycle lanes; parking in off-road cycle paths; following me too close behind - dangerously close; pushing past when there isn't enough room; pulling out in front of me, because it's only a bike – bet they wouldn't try that with a Police car or a skip lorry!
Yes, many drivers are bullies and some are thugs. But out of their pathetic metal boxes, most wouldn't behave like they do towards cyclists.
Few drivers seem to have read the Highway Code recently, or ever. It's changed.
Highway Code
Rule 61 Cycle Routes and Other Facilities.
USE OF THESE FACILITIES IS NOT COMPULSORY http://www.direct.go
v.uk/en/TravelAndTra
nsport/Highwaycode/D
G_069837
Rule 140 Cycle lanes.
You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. http://www.direct.go
v.uk/en/TravelAndTra
nsport/Highwaycode/D
G_070308
Rule 163
You should .... * give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders AT LEAST AS MUCH ROOM AS YOU WOULD WHEN OVERTAKING A CAR
http://www.direct.go
v.uk/en/TravelAndTra
nsport/Highwaycode/D
G_070314
Highway Code 178
Advanced stop lines.
Motorists, including motorcyclists, MUST stop at the first white line
http://www.direct.go
v.uk/en/TravelAndTra
nsport/Highwaycode/D
G_070332
Rule 212
When passing motorcyclists and cyclists, GIVE THEM PLENTY OF ROOM
http://www.direct.go
v.uk/en/TravelAndTra
nsport/Highwaycode/D
G_069858
Rule 213 Motorcyclists and cyclists may suddenly need to avoid uneven road surfaces
GIVE THEM PLENTY OF ROOM
http://www.direct.go
v.uk/en/TravelAndTra
nsport/Highwaycode/D
G_069858
a cyclist
says...
10:04am Sat 6 Nov 10
I'm pretty certain it will transform your cycling, it did mine.
a cyclist
says...
10:11am Sat 6 Nov 10
Mr Beavis wrote:Members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them filming or photographing incidents or police personnel.
It sounds like Sparky may actually be one of those lazy coppers as he seems to know so much about it!
Oh no wait! If he was then Sparky would know that is illegal to "record" or photograph the police!
http://www.met.polic
e.uk/about/photograp
hy.htm
a cyclist
says...
11:34am Sat 6 Nov 10
According to the RAC Report on Motoring 2010:
"A big increase in motorists breaking the law when it comes to mobile phone usage in their vehicles, with 28% using their mobile phone without a hands free kit, up from 8% last year, and 31% texting when driving, up from 11% last year."
http://media.rac.co.
uk/pdf/rac-rom-2010-
06-14.pdf
They should go to gaol!
a cyclist
says...
12:10pm Sat 6 Nov 10
http://www.justice.g
ov.uk/chapter8-motor
ing-offences-dealt-w
ith-by-the-courts.xl
s
Peterr Mcvey
says...
5:06am Sun 7 Nov 10
a cyclist wrote:But Mr Car hater, when we are nicked, we ARE nicked, not given a slap on the wrist and told to but some lights or what ever. P.S. A motorist will be nicked in the middle of the day if he doesn't have lights, unlike the lawless 2 wheeled silent menace, the same also goes for the audible warning device. P.P.S. Are you suggesting that the silent menace should be exempt from road laws because they won't cause as much damage as an artic in an accident?
A better source of motoring offences. http://www.justice.g ov.uk/chapter8-motor ing-offences-dealt-w ith-by-the-courts.xl s
a cyclist
says...
7:00am Sun 7 Nov 10
Peterr Mcvey wrote:Peterr Mcvey,
a cyclist wrote:But Mr Car hater, when we are nicked, we ARE nicked, not given a slap on the wrist and told to but some lights or what ever. P.S. A motorist will be nicked in the middle of the day if he doesn't have lights, unlike the lawless 2 wheeled silent menace, the same also goes for the audible warning device. P.P.S. Are you suggesting that the silent menace should be exempt from road laws because they won't cause as much damage as an artic in an accident?
A better source of motoring offences. http://www.justice.g ov.uk/chapter8-motor ing-offences-dealt-w ith-by-the-courts.xl s
“But Mr Car hater, when we are nicked, we ARE nicked,” yes, and Mr Cyclist-hating motorist, when vulnerable road users – in 2007-2008: 1020 pedestrians, 102 of whom were on the pavement and 219 cyclists are dead because of motor-vehicles. They are dead! And unless you know different, they are still dead!
Motorists are treated in a uniquely lenient way when they kill others. As long as they weren't driving under the influence, texting on the phone, on the run from the Police, hit & run, speeding seriously over the limit & etc., a motorist can pretty-well expect to get away scot-free.
Compared with taking human life by any other means, drivers can expect to get a metaphorical slap on the wrist.
Yes they might get a small fine or be banned temporarily, but on average they receive a lighter sentence.
“....Nationally four times as many RTA fatalities occur as homicides in Britain, yet there are less convictions for lethal motoring offences than homicide offences. Convicted drivers typically receive lesser sentences than other comparable criminals, and often receive a monetary fine with no detention sentence at all.
...” Ref. 1
“....Drivers who kill 'merely' through carelessness are regarded by the judiciary as unlucky but often blameless: an implicit empathy – “There, but for the Grace of God, go I” – is evident. However, driving offenders who are also implicated in vehicle theft or drink and drug abuse are likely to be condemned by judges and magistrates as 'real' criminals, even if their standard of driving was no lower....” Ref. 1
References
A Critical Review of the Legal Penalties for
Drivers Who Kill Cyclists or Pedestrians
J Voelcker April 2007
Fury as driver who killed four cyclists is fined £180.
Why wasn't he prosecuted for causing death by careless driving? Driving too fast for the conditions? His fine was for 3 bald tyres. Nothing for killing four innocent human beings!
http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/news/article-
398901/Fury-driver-k
illed-cyclists-fined
-180.html
Why is UK law tougher on other crimes?
http://www.brake.org
.uk/why-is-uk-law-to
ugher-on-other-crime
s
Road Casualties Great Britain: 2007 Annual Report
a cyclist
says...
9:31am Sun 7 Nov 10
"Are you suggesting that the silent menace should be exempt from road laws because they won't cause as much damage as an artic in an accident?"
If cyclists are the 'silent menace' what would an objective person say about motor-vehicles?
Since in 2007-2008 cyclists killed 4 pedestrians, that's 2 per year and 0.2 on the pavement. Whereas good-old motorists killed 1020 pedestrians, that's 510 each year with 51 being on the pavement. In 2007-2008, 10% of pedestrian casualties were on the pavement. That means overall that motor-vehicles pose 510/2=255 times the risk to pedestrians than that posed by cyclists. The same ratio applies to pedestrian fatalities on the pavement – that's almost one pedestrian killed by PAVEMENT MOTORISTS every week, versus one pedestrian killed every five years by pavement cyclists. That means that from 2007-2008 motor-vehicles were directly involved in 99.6% of the pedestrian fatalities. But of course you focus on the 0.4%.
So if 0.4% of pedestrian fatalities equates with being a menace? What does 99.6% of the pedestrian fatalities equate to? Vehicular cleansing? Mass pedestricide?
a cyclist
says...
9:34am Sun 7 Nov 10
If you had read my previous comments, you would have noticed these words:
"I don't like any kind of law-breaking by any type of road user."
"Cyclists who do bad things such as riding after dark without lights encourage the widespread hatred of cyclists that I experience frequently while I'm out cycling to go somewhere. "
"I think that cyclists that ride without lights are very unwise and that I wish the Police would exhibit zero tolerance towards any unlawful activity, especially on the road."
Is that clear?
oafie
says...
5:39pm Sun 7 Nov 10
you seem to be arguing apples and oranges.....
have you not heard the saying two wrongs do not make a right...whatever arguments you have about motorists or anything else for that matter...they do not justify cyclists cycling with no lights which is what the article is actually about.
Its an offence to ride with no lights every single day..not just when the police decide to do anything about it
a cyclist
says...
7:00pm Sun 7 Nov 10
oafie wrote:Oafie,
A Cyclist
you seem to be arguing apples and oranges.....
have you not heard the saying two wrongs do not make a right...whatever arguments you have about motorists or anything else for that matter...they do not justify cyclists cycling with no lights which is what the article is actually about.
Its an offence to ride with no lights every single day..not just when the police decide to do anything about it
You appear to have failed to notice my post that immediately preceded yours, I believe it answers your points. Perhaps I made my post while you were composing yours.
Just because pavement-driving causes pedestrians to lose their lives at a vastly greater rate than are caused by pavement cycling, doesn't mean I am attempting to justify any illegal act.
I was merely pointing-out to the seeming never-ending numbers of Dunning-Kruger afflicted cyclist-haters that inevitably seem to descend upon such fora, that the statistics reveal that the comparative risk from cyclists is tiny, a fact that is almost invariably overlooked by the media who focus on sensationalism and not upon objectively reporting news. The trouble is that people rarely bother to research the facts, so lies often go unchallenged.
In-fact there is strong evidence that more utility cycling - that is replacing car trips with cycling, would reduce pedestrian fatalities, by removing motor-vehicles from the road. For more about the numerous other benefits of cycling to those who cycle; to the wider population; to businesses; to motorists; and the economy. Please read my comment at: 8:16am Sat 6 Nov 10.
If you find that I have made an error, please show me.
Peterr Mcvey
says...
10:21pm Sun 7 Nov 10
a cyclist wrote:Ok Cycle man taking your argument a step further, Alcohol kills far more people a year then Heroin, so shall we ban Alcohol and make Heroin legal. Secondly you need to be pulled up on your motorist killing people quote, you are well out of order. If a motorist intentionally kills somebody with his car it is MURDER and will be tried as such, if it is an accident then it will be investigated and relevant charges will be made. When you admit that you hate cars and their drivers, that will be the time when you can take an unbiased veiw, and see that cycling lawbreakers are generally ignored by the police, but car drivers are always nicked because we have an I.D. plate, will pay up and add to the police figures. NUFF-SAID
oafie wrote: A Cyclist you seem to be arguing apples and oranges..... have you not heard the saying two wrongs do not make a right...whatever arguments you have about motorists or anything else for that matter...they do not justify cyclists cycling with no lights which is what the article is actually about. Its an offence to ride with no lights every single day..not just when the police decide to do anything about itOafie, You appear to have failed to notice my post that immediately preceded yours, I believe it answers your points. Perhaps I made my post while you were composing yours. Just because pavement-driving causes pedestrians to lose their lives at a vastly greater rate than are caused by pavement cycling, doesn't mean I am attempting to justify any illegal act. I was merely pointing-out to the seeming never-ending numbers of Dunning-Kruger afflicted cyclist-haters that inevitably seem to descend upon such fora, that the statistics reveal that the comparative risk from cyclists is tiny, a fact that is almost invariably overlooked by the media who focus on sensationalism and not upon objectively reporting news. The trouble is that people rarely bother to research the facts, so lies often go unchallenged. In-fact there is strong evidence that more utility cycling - that is replacing car trips with cycling, would reduce pedestrian fatalities, by removing motor-vehicles from the road. For more about the numerous other benefits of cycling to those who cycle; to the wider population; to businesses; to motorists; and the economy. Please read my comment at: 8:16am Sat 6 Nov 10. If you find that I have made an error, please show me.
a cyclist
says...
4:30pm Mon 8 Nov 10
A deeper consideration reveals that medically speaking cyclophobia is not a classical phobia, since it is not brought about by anxiety. However, cyclophobia clearly exists as a deeply felt hatred of cyclists and sometimes leads to victimisation, harassment, threats, or in extreme cases, road rage attacks against cyclists.
In truth, cyclophobia is no more about bicycles and cyclists than arachnophobia is about spiders or any phobia is about the object of the phobic's fear or hatred. But all phobias reveal much about the psychology of the phobics themselves. In this case, the sufferer typically fails to recognise his aggression towards cyclists is a displaced symptom of frustration and anger arising from the individuals' dissatisfaction with their deplorably futile & humdrum lives probably brought about by comparing their lifestyle, inadequate sex life, wife or girlfriend unfavourably with those of rich and glamorous personalities they see in the tabloid media or TV. The fact that cyclists can be in no manner responsible for this lifestyle malaise is irrelevant, the reason they are singled-out for hatred as a scape-goat is simple, they are a minority and do not conform with the phobic's distorted sense of normality and therefore deemed unacceptable. In effect cyclists are HATED AND VICTIMISED MERELY FOR COMMITTING THE 'CRIME' OF EXISTING, this effect becomes particularly obvious when the bicycle is visually particularly unusual. This singling-out of innocent but visually identifiable and different minorities and individuals as a target for blame is little more than akin to racism or gay-bashing, one that ultimately led to the Holocaust of Nazi Germany and is to be universally deplored and condemned. It's not acceptable in a civilised society, but the perpetrators of hatred and in extreme cases hate crime are not exactly 'civilised'. Almost needless to say the propensity of an individual for such mindless prejudice or violence is greatest among individuals and groups of below average intelligence and educational attainment.
everythingburnseventaully
says...
4:43pm Tue 9 Nov 10
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hilaryterm says...
10:33am Wed 3 Nov 10
I am a driver who dislikes the law on speeding THEREFORE the law should be changed.