continued
from the previous page

.to
what extent do bad cyclists create bad motorists?
and equally, do bad motorists create bad cyclists?
I don't think they do. I dislike bad
cyclists and I dislike bad motorists. The difference
is the former is less likely to kill you and is at
least not contributing to global warming. I think
motorists will always use 'the red light jumper' as
a means of dismissing all cyclists as 'bad'. But these
are motorists who would complain about cyclists regardless
of how they behaved. All motorists are guilty of similar
or worse offences. Moving into the cycle box past
an advanced stop line at a red traffic light is an
offence, it is the same as jumping a red light. Even
the most benign motorists have done this. Every motorist
I know has broken the speed limit. Complaining motorists
reek of hypocrisy.
In the UK I think the problem with
car drivers starts with an alienation from 2 wheel
culture. In Europe most kids move from cycle to moped
to car. As 18 is still the minimum driving age in
most western European countries, this gives them a
full 2 years on 2 motorised wheels and offers them
in general a better understanding and perception of
2 wheelers place on the road when they do get behind
the wheel of a car. This undoubtedly benefits cyclists.
Britain should raise the driving age to 18 and lower
the moped age to 16. It doesn’t help the environment
or encourage cycling but it would make for better
car drivers.
As an aside I also believe that the
UK should grow up over speed limits. We should get
rid of speed bumps and traffic calming measures that
are a nightmare for cyclists. We should lower the
speed limit from 30 mph to 25mph in cities with camera
enforcement and increase limits to 80 or set no maximum
on the motorways.
.the ability to see
how much money and CO2 (amongst other things) you're
saving is a cracking idea - do you find letting people
know the good they are doing works better than hitting
them with a big stick?
I
don't think big sticks work, (although a D lock on
an errant BMW is incredibly therapeutic......allegedly)
I think if people feel they are making a contribution
and you can quantify that for them then why not.
.cyclists don't pay
road tax, what right do they have to be on the road?
Pedestrians, cyclists and horses have the right to
be on the road. Cars are only there under licence.
So the question should be what right do cars have
to be on the road? If they were to really pay their
way, I would hazard a guess there would be fewer of
them