Cycling UK Forum

Shootist wrote:Ahhhh! But if even one life is saved it will all be worthwhile.

bloody right

The German law is quite simple: one may not use the phone so long the motor is running, even if the car is not moving.

It just needs to be enforced!

Of course you could have stopped. The cyclists are not to blame for your decision to abuse the clutch.

You could have stopped in one of the many passing places.

It is earnestly to be hoped that you learn from your "expensive" mistake.

No-one is to blame but you.

Chwarae teg!

http://www.adfc.de/news/schleswiger-helmurteil

The Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constituional Court) has decided that unhelmeted cyclists injured in "accidents" will not have their financial compensation reduced.

The judgement just came out today, I have not read it all yet )

Hope some of you can read German.

Looks like good news.

When passing a horse I try to communicate with the rider (eye contact), to be friendly and patient, and I ring my bell gently several times so the horse can "locate" me. Of course I wait till there is space and I keep as far away as possible.

It's often quite nice to have contact with "people" (walkers, horse riders, cyclists). When there is not too much traffic shared walking and cycling paths are ok. It would be even better if the horses wore nappies.

Horses may be quiet "prey" animals but they weigh a few hundred kilos too.

11% is 1 - in - 9 in old money.

Yet again, like almost everything it seems, the problem is speeding. Faster driving wears the road more so it has to be mended sooner.

The costs are enormous, for example on single-carriageway roads where trucks do 60 instead of the permitted 40max, the wear is manymany times greater. A quick calculation in my head shows: this increases the wear by more that 100% (law of momentum).

Yet another reason for speedchecks and satellite governers!

When will we wake up to this?

I love to hate radio 4. Many of the programmes are very good, for example a recent series by Martin Sixsmith about psychology. But even this fascinating programme is "adorned" (( with background miusic. Revolting! Even worse is "the listening project" with its awful tinkling. I suspect it is very interesting but I can not bear to listen to it. Mind, the jingles on German radio are even worse ..

What do you love to hate, or love AND hate?

It is happening in Germany, now, today.

I saw a truck and trailer parked on the footway this morning as I cycled by, as always I kept a lookout for the police, a few moments later I saw a police vehicle and flagged it down. I told the officer what I had seen (meanwhile his dog was barking in the back). I observed from a distance that the oficers were talking to the driver. The police drove off, a few moments later the truck and trailer drove off and went into a side street.

I would give a lot to hear the conversation, especially what arguments the police used. It is earnestly to be hoped they did not use gentle respectful language.

I have done this many times, in Britain too, the police are indeed often there when one wants them!

Yes we can!, if hundreds or thousands of CTC members and others acted like this, it would soon make a difference. If the vehiles just parked on the roads instead of the pavements it would slow the traffic, very desirable.

Do you know a shopkeeper near home who habitually parks on the pavement? Avoid buying his goods and inform him and others!

Join me! Fight for safety!

it is already happening in Britain, the aa offers pay how you drive insurance.

reohn2 thinks Germany is a socialist society!

In fact it is ruled by a grand coalition, the CDU/CSU (=conservatives) is by far the largest party.

I am sure not going to accept the situation now ("stomach reality"), over here, or over there! I will continue fighting for change.

to CJ, reohn2 and the other pessimists: your views almost make me sick (I'm trying to be polite )

It is already happening here in Germany:

Finanztest (the equivalent of money which) reports that insurance companies are "spying on drivers". Cars are fitted with sensors that register, for example, speeding or sudden braking. If the driver is "good" he gets a small discount. Just needs the system to be modified a bit so that illegal behaviour is not possible. There could be a rain sensor too, or a "low-sun-dazzle" sensor.

Let's hope the insurance companies concentrate on their business (reducing costs, reducing claims). Then it might hardly matter if the police continue doing next to nothing.

CJ wrote: I agree they should lose that freedom. But it won't happen.

Why not? No answer required!

"Impossible" things have happened before, like in Germany in 1989. Or the smoking ban in pubs (pubs?!) and trains.

..
For example with brutal adverts showing what happens in "accidents". Dying is bad enough, but many who are "only seriously injured" are crippled and ruined for life, they can't cycle, work, read or go to the toilet without help. Many have constant pain but can not even communicate their wish to die. Many of these are drivers!

Richard Brunstrom (North Wales Police) had the right idea, he used photos of the severed head of a motorcyclist.

Adverts could show the daily "life" of someone living in a wheelchair.

With modern technology it is quite possible to force drivers to obey the law.

Stopping Distances. Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop well within the distance you can see to be clear.

Maybe there will be a dark heavy object just round the corner. A boulder or an elephant. By going too fast you might not kill others, you might kill yourself. Is that incentive enough to obey the law?

It would be great if the police would enforce this law, there would soon be much less motor traffic.

anything that reduces speed ("impedes the free flow of traffic") is welcome

99 or later.

Here is a story I read some years ago:

I recently celebrated my 90th birthday, I decided to go for a ride on the day. Did a circuit in the morning, had lunch at home, went out again, got home at teatime. Felt fine with a healthy appetite. I realised I had done exactly 90 miles.

The next day I was glad I live in a bungalow.

Now I am looking forward to my hundredth birthday.