Should recreational cycling on public roads be banned?

Question

Though cycling is percieved as being healthy and pollution free, what about the knock on effect of having traffic following behind, causing them to use lower gears thus increasing their "carbon footprints" through no fault of their own, just the cyclist for being an obstacle, and an unnessesary one at that, if only there for recreational purposes.

Answer 1

I get very annoyed when they ride two abreast. No-one can pass them safely, a little consideration would go a long way

Answer 2

There are plenty of cars out there for recreational purposes only. Cyclists have a right to use the road and they are pollution free. If they are an obstacle to you, then you will just have to Wait and slow down just as you have to at a speed bump, etc. Perhaps you'll loose a few seconds, Oh dear what ever will you do.
I drive and cycle, and I do try to be considerate to all always, and drive within the speed limits.
I hate impatience on the road.

Answer 3

No wonder the worlds in such a mess with selfish car owners like you in abundance. I ride a bike and I'm not an 'obstacle' to traffic. I, like most cyclists, only take up about two feet of space right next to the roadside. You sound like a very poor driver if you need to follow behind and can't just drive past.
Or maybe youre just the typical whingeing car owner with nothing better to do than moan about fuel prices, road tax, speed cameras and pedestrians.
Its a free world, don't blame cyclists for your own pollution. Cyclists are helping the planet by refusing to be like you.

Answer 4

I personally think that it's a great way for people to get exercise and also it saves on all of the car emissions if they bike instead of drive. I don't think it should be banned, seriously, where else are they going to ride, especially if they have a particular destination in mind. Now I agree that with everything there are rude people out there that don't take drivers into consideration, but I think the majority of them are a bit scared riding on the roads when they could be hit by a driver who isn't paying attention. I'm sure most cyclists wish there was an alterative to riding on the road just as motorists do. You can't ban them from their workout/hobby though.

Answer 5

I ride my bicycle to and from work whenever I can. I'd rather have a bike path instead of being out in the road or on the sidewalk. I also don't like to have to pass other cyclists with my car. Riding on the street probably won't be banned until bike paths are available to ride on. I'm just glad I can take side roads and live in a town where traffic isn't very heavy.

Answer 6

No of course cyclists should should be able to use the roads for leisure and comuting and also be safe from impatient motorist like yourself. The Highway Code says motorists should give as much clearance when overtaking cycles as they give to cars. We should promote a cycle culture in this country. While 4% of journeys in London are cycled, in Copenhagen the figure is 30%. Iff more journeys were by cycle there would be less polution and less congestion.

Answer 7

theres always 100 sides to both arguments, one will say one thing and the other will just argue back with a follow on, and it goes on. i personally dont drive and i use a bicycle but i am very considerate, i keep next to the kurb, but some cyclists are very disrespectful and let down the rest off us. there should be worse punshments to stop this and allow other cyclists to use the roads free of charge

Answer 8

Ah, the eternal battle. Car drivers in a hurry who resent the fact that, by law, bicycles have every bit as much right to the road as they do. The $&($%(&^ drivers who blast their horn in my ear or deliberately run close to me to scare me.

Care to say how you'll enforce the idea of distinguishing "recreational use" from transportation? The bicycle rider would have to have a basket? Willing to ban all recreational use of cars? Or use of a car when someone could have used public transportation instead?

Answer 9

What next? Ban zebra crossings and signalled pedestrian crossings because they force cars to stop thus increasing stop-and-start wear and tear on cars and increase emissions?

Why not ban recreational driving, like people who go out on joy rides, and boy racers cruising down a residential street with their stereos on loud, and the SUV's with the one person nipping out to get one bag of groceries?

Why stop at recreational cyclists?

Answer 10

Open QuestionShow me yet another » what number municipalities throughout the U. S. have effectively banned cycling on public roads? thanks in improve. 9 hours in the past - 4 days left to respond to. report Abuse added information that is humorous how gentle you adult men are to such an harmless question... i imagine that shows a contact of incorrect-doing on your area. ==les holiday female i done educate you till you're fairly a 17 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous pizza face nerd boy chat rant abuse reported wle

Answer 11

I have been annoyed by bicycles that ride where you can't pass them, assuming you will just stay behind them. It is just like slow cars. Some people have no trouble to drive really slow and hold up traffic behind them even though they have the ability to let cars by. And I know a bicycle rider that DELIBERATELY rides way out at the very edge of the bike lane, very close to traffic. He says that he wants to have room to dodge out of the way if necessary! I say that is rude and stupid! Rude because he is crowding the cars, daring them to hit him, and stupid because how would he even know he needed to dodge before he got hit? A little common sense and courtesy in all cases would really help!