"BBC wrote:
Cyclists break the law and ride anti-socially because the Highway Code rules are set against them, a national cyclists' organisation has claimed.
CTC says cyclists flout some of the rules, such as turning left on a red light, as it helps them to stay safe.
It has called for the code to be re-written to protect cyclists.
Motoring organisation the AA said the behaviour of some cyclists meant in effect there were "two tribes" at war on the roads.
Indeed. Some cyclists behave in a very anti-social manner. We came across a wobbler yesterday.. on a mobile phone
He was oblivious to the woman crossing the road at the crossing. The lights were on red. All the cars were stopped. He just ignored the situation.
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One proposal is to introduce an advanced green stage at a junction which allows cyclists to get away before motorists.
They could be allowed turn left on a red light.
A filter and a GIVE WAY marking exist on many roads already
This means giving way and stopping to on-coming traffic. Unfortunately to allow this a T junctions would mean that the cyclist will either ride into the path on on-coming traffic or hit the pedestrians who might be already crossing the road
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Another proposal is to allow them to ignore instructions to stop at red on a pedestrian crossing, as they say being allowed to cross some red lights is safer.
It is NOT safer for the pedestrian. The pedestrian has RIGHTS and the RIGHT to cross a road safely when they use these crossings. To demand this is arrogant CTC nonsense.
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Breaking rules
Chris Peck, of CTC, said: "Most cyclists obey the rules of the road, there is only a minority that cycle anti-socially, like breaking red lights and cycle on pavements but we have to realise why they are doing this.
"It's because the rules of the road are not set up for cyclists, the width of the roads, the layout of the roads, even cycle routes are not designed with the cyclists in mind, they are designed to keep cyclists off the road and mingle them with pedestrians."
I heard him saying this on the BBC News earlier this morning. He sounded like a spotty yoof with an attitude problem.
The CTC claims the cyclists are pedestrians on wheels when it suits them to justify cycling on pavements and ignoring red lights. We have the gem of the quote from this same bloke on file
They then say they want to be part of the traffic.
Well .. being "part of the traffic" means abiding by the same rules as the rest of the traffic .. such as stopping at reds.. slowing down to stop for pedestrians.. riding the right way along one-way streets and carriageways. Not riding whilst using a hands held device.. not riding whilst drunk/drugged or fatigued..
We agree that cycle lanes are usually poorly engineered .. paint jobs to meet some target which proclaims the local borough to be "the greeniest of all". It does not. These lanes need to be better and not paint for the sake of it.
We agree that there should be changing facilities at work or a communal one at the industrial parks to allow the freshen up and change into work-a-day clothes.
But where a decent cycling route does exist.. this same CTC moans that they are being segregated and not "part of the traffic". When they are not built.. they moan about this too.
Difficult to take them seriously because this just makes them come across as half baked pretzel
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Cycling is being promoted in English cities such as Bristol, with the government providing £140m of funding.
We do see cyclists just not obeying the rules of the road, also we get motorists doing things that the shouldn't so maybe we need to clarify the rules for all
Edmund King
AA
The rules are set to be changed at a local level, in London councils will soon get new powers to protect and prosecute cyclists.
Nick Lester, of the Association of London Governments, said: "We have got two powers, the first is to enable advance stop lines to be enforced to give cyclists the benefit at traffic signals.
"The second is better powers to control reckless footway cycling where cyclists can - and it's only a minority of cyclists - cause fear amongst pedestrians."
Exactly. I support this action to control these pests in the city centres. I needed stitches. I was lucky it missed an artery when one such idiot shoved me into a Transco trench.
Pedestrians have the right to walk without being intimidated by these louts in lycra. This type ride badly. They blame everyone else for their accidents. They would be just as scary if and when driving to be honest.
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Edmund King, of the AA, said at times it appeared there were two tribes at war on the roads.
He said: "We do see cyclists just not obeying the rules of the road jumping red lights, one way streets, also we get motorists doing things that they shouldn't so maybe we need to clarify the rules for all."
Indeed. We start with insisting all road users are trained in C O A S T skills.. and that cyclists like drivers meet a basic standard required by law before riding out in busy town centres. BIKEABILITY LEVL THREE should be compulsory for all.