Artleknock wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 22:56:00 GMT, Martin Dann <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> Artleknock wrote:
>>> Before I start a rant - I have been a cyclist all my life.
>>> On Sunday morning the 5th I was driving down the A1 about a couple of
>>> miles short of the first A1M after Scotch corner when I joined a long
>>> tail back of traffic. On finaly reaching the hold up it was a bloke on
>>> a bike, drop handle bars, crash hat, lycra budgie smugglers, the
>>> works, riding on the carriageway!! A bit further on there was a
>>> marshal at the next turn off. The idiots were doing time trials on a
>>> major trunk road on the same day that all the holiday makers were
>>> heading home from up north.
>> I regularly ride on dual carriage way A roads. In fact I
>> commute to work on a dual carriage way. I have no choice
>> about this as my company is placed next to a dual carriage
>> way.
>>
>> Do you object that I have to ride in the carriageway, or
>> do you expect me to get off and bow as you pass.
>>
>> If you truly are a cyclist as you claim, why are you
>> ranting about cyclists legally using British roads.
>
> No one is complaining about the legality, it is the stupidity.
Why is it stupid to cycle in the road, it is safer than
using a shared use road side cycle track.
It was
> more dangerous for the cyclist than the vehicle drivers,
Driving a car is more dangerous than driving a HGV if the
two collide, are the car drivers also stupid?
and at the
> place where I passed him there was a hard shoulder.
There was a hard shoulder, what does that have to do with
anything. Were there also fields next to the road?
Many car drivers
> where squeezing through between him and the traffic on the outside
> lane,
In that case he was to far towards the left of the road,
he should have moved out further, and made all the cars
move into the next lane to overtake.
I was towing a caravan and had a hell of a job getting
onto the
> outside lane to pass him.
So you were also travelling slower than most other
vehicles, did you cause a tailback?
Many motorists hate cyclists anyway and
> situations like that reinforce their prejudice against all of us.
>
> I use the bike as much as I can, it's great to get out for the
> exercise and fresh air, you have to get off road for that.
No you don't, it is far healthier to cycle along a road
than to drive along. If a cyclist and car driver go the
same route with a lot of pollution, then at then end of
that route, the cyclist will have far less pollution in
his blood stream than the motorist.
If you
> choose to ride on A roads, that's up to you. I live near a dual
> carriage ring road that takes me straight to work. I use the car,
> there is no way that I am going to mix it with HGV's and cars
I would rather mix with HGV's than cars, the drivers are
more likely to know that they are doing. I also find dual
carriage ways safer than some of the small roads where I live.
> traveling at 70mph+.
70+ is that not stupid and illegal?
I could ride across town on cycle ways, but I
> work shifts and once it gets dark all the layabouts and muggers crawl
> out of the woodwork. You can stick up for your "rights" and ride
> around with your middle finger up, I choose to be sensible (or a
> coward - your choice).
I work shifts and still manage to cycle. If more people
cycle the roads it would be safer for everyone.