Cycling UK Forum

Heard this calamatous noise behind me and was expecting a huge 24 wheeled monster trying to overtake. It was a flippin' lawn mower with number plates. The guy was actually hunched down for better streamlining. After a hundred yards or so he started shouting abuse. Well I think it was abuse as the noise was deafening. One thing about cycling, its never boring.

It seems to me that if the offending driver hands himself in and says 'Ah didnae mean it' then that's excuse enough for careless driving. Please tell me where the protection is for vulverable road users? How is that approach by the police going to encourage cyclists that cycling is safe and more to the point, deter careless drivers?

I am seriously considering buy the biggest [rude word removed] off 4 x 4 on the planet and giving up commuting. Totally fed up by the shocking attitude towards cyclists by motorists. Even today, nearly wiped out by a bus on a left hooker.

If you cycle every now and then probably not. I commute every day and would not be without one.
You can spend some serious cash on them but I picked up an HD one from Aldi for £89. Before that I had another Aldi one for about £30 and was very adequate. Recorded number plates no bother.

EVERY DAY I have examples of bad driving but it's so commonplace I just wipe it unless I'm involved in an accident. Plus who are you going to report it to, the police? Good luck with that. Maybe I should start posting to websites that record these things. Get myself a funky user name and ...... become an internet star! Maybe not.

The lawyer I have used recommends all cyclists should wear one. Easier for them to screw the insurance company.

I used the same lawyer I had 2.5 years ago. I got fed up waiting on the CTC lawyer getting in touch. I asked my lawyer the exact same question and was told not to dwell on it as it ,,happens 9 times out of 10. Instead, I should concentrate on taking legal action against his insurance company to recover costs. I don't think money is the point here although I would appreciate getting my bike fixed. What is there here to stop the taxi driver doing the same again? Is it enough for careless drivers to say 'I didn't mean it'? Is it even properly recorded?

Look, I know the police are busy and thisn't exactly Crimewatch stuff but where's the deterrant for careless drivers. Does it depend on my level of injury? What if he wasn't insured? What if....ach it's [inappropriate word removed] in my opinion. Encouraging cyclists my buttock. Cyclists being let down again in my opinion.

Got knocked off my bike by a taxi exiting a side street. He was looking right and slowing coming up to a give way but did not stop and ended up ploughing into the back of me. Thankfully I have it all in glorious high definition.
Anyway, the police called to say they were not taking any action against the the taxi driver as in there opinion there was no criminal intent. They didn't even want to see the video. To me the taxi driver was careless. Has the law changed to include the need for a criminal element as well? Any lawyers on here?

I was so fed up getting punctures that I started using CX Pro Scwalbe tyres on my road bike. Not had any punctures (touch wood) in months and to be honest dont notice too much of a difference from Conti 4 Season jobbies. Are the roads that bad? I would be loathed to change back to road tyres. Am I slower? No doubt. Do I care? Do I flip

Any advice?

Maybe it's the West of Scotland but absolutely everyone thinks you cycle because you are banned or can't afford a car. Is it that hard to believe that you like cycling? Why is cycling deemed so inferior? Maybe explain the poor attitude towards cyclists by car users.

Lovely encouraging cycling story. Everything is alright with the world. Time for bed

Admittedly I did see a women handing out leaflets with a CTC T-shirt. I'm guessing she probably bought it herself and handing out leaflets as a voluteer. Hmmm, time for an insurance requote for legal cover. I'm sure we can beat £41.

Anyone interested? Why not? This isn't the first post querying whether we would we miss the CTC if it wasn't for legal cover.

No doubt I'll get banned but then thank goodness for social media. You had better interrupt all that social dining our leaders are partaking at our expense. Watch this space, or Twitter or Facebook or.....

Call yourself cyclists.

I would like to apologise if I seem in anyway ungrateful to those organising POP 2014. You did a marvelous job given the funds and time required to organise this. THANK YOU! Seriously.
I am disappointed at the lack of CTC involvement in terms of participation and funding and some of the comments just reflect the ignorance from the CTC regarding this events. When was the last time 5000 cyclists turned up to make a protest? Talk about handing you an oportunity on a plate. Was it because it wasn't in London? Big opportunity missed.

Thank you again to the unpaid, overworked volunteers. Shame on the CTC.

Apart from the insurance aspect why renew my membership? You would think that the CTC would be all over events like this. Instead we have 'What is POP 2014?', 'What's he on about?' A quick Google would have told you that. No wonder we are leap years behind the Dutch and Norwegians if you lot represent cyclists.

Well it was better attented than last year but I can't help but fell an opportunity was missed. I know the organisers have been working 24/7 for many weeks bit I just felt that this was an opportunity missed. We all turned out dutifully but there was no atmosphere. No sense of occassion, no bands. no shows, no stalls, no .... well you get the idea. Liked the idea of kids speaches at the end pleading for safe cycling. Nice touch but not enough. Could I do a better job? Probably not but then I would be as amateurish as those organising it. I applaud everything cycling but we need to get more polished at these things. Why doesnt the CTC fund these events and run them professionally? You are thinking of spending 10's of thusands on a name change but here you have 5000 cyclists turning up at an event run by well meaning amateurs. I enjoyed cycling the 1.5 miles a and am PROUD to be a cyclist. You can't beat the cycling variety from kids on 3 wheelers to guys on 10K bikes. You would think that we would have a traffic free run for 1.5miles but I was stopped for at least 5 minutes to let vehicles by. Pedestrians YES. ABSOLUTELY. Vehichis. NO NO NO NO.
I applaud the effort by by those organising this event. Extreme hard work and many hours. CTC. You have a bank account that could choke a horse and this event could reaaly do with your money. Stop fannying about with name changes and put money into events like this. YOU WILL LOSE US.

Gerry ( Fed up )McFarlane

Also from Decathlon, I got one of those cycling bibs. It was a bit dear (30+ - you don't even get sleeves for gods sake) but has turned out to be the best money I've spent. Lightweight, plenty of pockets and great on top of a t-shirt.

I regularly experience this and often receive a mouthful or some gesture for being 'in the way'. There is one particular mini roundabout with 5 exits in Coatbridge Town Centre! One of the exits has an unsighted bend after 20 yards and you wouldn't believe the number of cars/vans/buses trying to get by before the bend. The road isn't even wide enough to ovetake properly. Whilst I'm on a rant. Once I've tied my bike to a lamppost as their is no proper cycle parking. (North Lanarkshire have other 'pressing' priorities apart from cycling) Have you noticed how pedestrian crossings are timed to allow every car by before changing for pedestrians. We definately live in a car centred culture.

Ooh, that's better.

I wrote my car off and my insurance trippled from 300 to a grand. (Hit black ice and managed to dent every panel on a Disco!) I had the maximum protected no claims and 'allowed' a couple of claims a year without it affecting my renewal. Aye right. I now cycle everywhere or use public transport. They can stick their premiums where the sun don't shine.