Ben said:On Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:51:39 +0100, "Hog" <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:Ben said:On Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:03:46 +0100, Dentist <[email hidden]>
wrote:Quoted message said:Quoted message said:> CT wrote;
>> New cycle lane cameras to hit wayward drivers with £120 fineQuoted message said:Quoted message said:> The strength of British apathy never ceases to amaze me.
> If a councillor or MP won't give an undertaking to reject this theft,
> then argue with them, don't vote for them.Quoted message said:Quoted message said:Here's a revolutionary concept for you...
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:If you don't want to pay a fine, don't break the law.
Quoted message said:Poor Troll Mr Pedal Pusher ;o)
Not really a troll. I'm happy to break the rules now and again, but
I'll never whinge about paying for it if I get caught.If Dentist doesn't want to pay 120 quid, then he shouldn't drive in
cycle lanes. Quite simple really.
Nice little swerve there. The point is that these aren't cycle lanes,
as such. These are areas of tarmac at the front of traffic queues,
where cycles are supposed to wait until the lights change (though few
seem to).
I wouldn't ride in a cycle lane. It's not safe, for a variety of
reasons.
However, there is absolutely no danger at all in a motorcycle, having
filtered to the front of the traffic, in plonking itself there. Let's
face it, no biker is going to give it full beans if there's a cycle
right in front of him, is he? We have skins to lose too.
What these areas do, if the law is adhered to rigidly, is actually
reduce the ability of a motorcycle to make a clean and safe getaway.
It can filter, but then has to pause, jammed in between other
vehicles, until the lights go green.
There simply isn't a safety problem here that needs to be addressed.
The next step will be to treat the white line at the front of a
traffic queue as an absolute. Put one wheel over that, brother, and
you're fined. Yes, yes, in theory you should stay behind it, but
again, there is no safety risk here at all in sticking your front
wheel (or a bit more) over it, in order to get away swiftly and
safely.
In other words, it's pure revenue raising. Again.