There is a serious need for defensive cycling!

willocrew

I don't know about you guys, but when I cross intersections even when I have the right of way, I always slow down considerably for fear of meeting a driver who doesn't give way.

I tell you what, we better get some defensive driving happening or else we'll be adding to the statistics.

True enough, it happened earlier today. I was approaching a round-about, saw a civic on my left side approaching the roundabout as well. So I have right of way right? No wrong apparently. I entered the roundabout and the bugger did not give way, just went straight. I had to stop in the middle of a round about to give way to the bugger.

Now I don't know if the person was oblivoius, couldn't care less or underestimated my speed or what.. but he's a dickhead.

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willocrew

Now on retrospect... excuse my little rant.

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artemidorus

Your rant is entirely justified - I got knocked off my bike last year in exactly this circumstance. I hope you gave him a good bellow or two. Frame-mounted paint squirters would be nice

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1id10t

What about a water pistol filled with brake fluid . Would love to carry and use one but fear karma would bite me in the butt somewhere down the track. Still, would love to see some drivers get what they deserve.

artemidorus

Have you ever met a water pistol that didn't leak?

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Rockslayer

Cyclist what cyclist?? haha I tell you if you are in some parts of Sydney ppl dont give way to you in a whilst driving a car, suv or even a truck. right of way or not. On a bike defensive is your only chance and consider every car at every intersection potential risk. besides I wouldn't make an attractive hood ornament.

On the bright side not every driver is a total asshole.

Oakley

Thats true but the drivers that arnt pricks are the ones who ride bikes as they know metal to skin bloody well hurts not the other way round.

46kgToDate

I'm as mad as hell and
I'm not going to take this any more!!!!

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daviddd

Worrying isn't it? I have just about made my mind up to do 'the lap' next year, Perth to Perth, but starting to wonder if plan B wouldn't make more sense, Pacific Coast S to N. Still, everyday murders in Nicaragua are a bit off-putting too!

Governments need to realise that rising obesity levels can be addressed by making it easier to cycle, run etc., rather than seeing the motorist and some of their lousy habits as a vote-winner. From a UK perspective an added factor seems to be the macho image that the media attatch to Australian males - maybe they're just living up to the image?

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thebirdman

Have any of you, specially those with drivers licences, ever tried to find courses set up to improve a drivers road skills?

I'm not necissarily talking about the 'Advanced Driving' course type of thing. The ones that teach a driver to handle their vehicle at high speed and how to recover control when when they loose control of their vehicle. They have their place.

The sought I'm talking about are the ones that teach Road Craft.

By RoadCraft I'm talking about observation, vehicle awareness(it amazes me how many people don't know whether they are driving a front wheel, rear wheel or all/4 wheel drive vehicle), vehicle placement, assertive driving (no, not aggessive driving), judgement.

Much RoadCraft is gained from experience, but alot can and should be taught.

As cyclists we know how little roadcraft is out there.

I've had a drivers licence for nearly 30 years, been a taxi driver, truck driver, involved in motorsport much of that time and a keen cyclist. I'm always looking for this sought of thing. I have found so very few.

While we are talking about driver roadcraft is there anything in Australia / New Zealand that teaches cyclists roadcraft?

matagi

That's precisely what the Level 1 Advanced Driving courses teach you. My husband and I did one several years ago and the emphasis of the course was roadcraft.

As for the vehicle control stuff, most of that was done at 60km/hr, hardly high speed because the majority of driving scenarios they used were based on driving down city streets. There was a heavy emphasis on learning how your car behaved under certain conditions - for example, they wet down the track and made us all try emergency braking. The difference in stopping distances between the various vehicles was a real eye-opener.

The main problem with the system as it exists is that people are not taught to drive, they are taught to pass the driving test - big difference there.

thomas_cho

Why do you see a need for a driver to handle their vehicle at high speeds? Is there a need to travel at 80km/h across a roundabout? Negotiating bends at 100km/h using the throttle to keep traction? I think the emphasis should be knowing the dangers of driving at high speeds, and appreciating the need to slow down, and drive defensively.

Agree with matagi abt people being taught to pass exams. How many people do you know pass their driving test, but cannot reverse park? Its indicative of a lack of understanding of how steering affects the behaviour of the car.

Archibald

you mean the fat bastard watching sport on tv with Boonie as his idol?? what test?? they just have to fill their logbook now don't they?
reckon we need licence nazi's doing the testing, who are instructed to try and fail any driver taking the test (once they bring the testing back).

Rockslayer

Awareness and lack of respect has always been a problem.

Stupidity, Speed, DUI and unlicensed driving is another issue- no amount of driver training can help these people. Pretty sad looking photo of a commodore split in two in the Sydney Morning herald today where some unlicensed youths took themselves out on a telegraph pole.

I have no issues with speed, if people wish to do that they should go to the race track. The Fact that other innocent road user/s and bystanders get taken out is freaking wrong!!

Authorities should release money spent on better education, training and awareness could mean a reduction in cost in medical care for victims.

I remember when doing my class M truck license I had to learn "Roadcraft" I know it takes longer for a truck that I am driving to stop at lights etc.. too bad most car drivers don't know this and cut into the stopping space. They definately should include defensive driving as requirement of any driving license.

Having said that when I can I make it a point to acknowledge drivers who are courteous.