do cyclists get in the way on roads, and should they be allowed on busy roads?

Answer 1

I have to say i hate cyclists on the road. The queues that can be caused by them before you can overtake when the other side is clear, is unbelievable. I do think the roads should have special lanes which dont affect car drivers. The other day my hubby and i were driving in town and a cyclist was over to the right and blocking the whole road but what can you do???

Answer 2

Sorry Joannie, cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities on the road that motorists do. Bikes are transportation for many people, not toys. Perhaps we should all give up our bikes and make the roads even more crowded and drive fuel prices higher?

How about paying some attention to your own behavior before casting stones?

1. Turn off the cell phone. Operating a 2 ton vehicle requires and deserves your full attention.

2. Obey speed limits. Yes, we're all capable of handling vehicles faster than posted limits. Its a lot easier for the rest of us to judge pulling out from intersections if the speed of oncoming vehicles is predictable.

3. Come to a complete stop at stop signs. At the white line, not with your nose sticking into the cross street, blocking the crosswalk.

4. Signal your intention to change lanes, pull out from the curb, or turn. Do it before you get to the turn. Turning it on as you begin the turn is too late and doesn't help anyone decipher what's going on in your little pea brain.

5. When you parallel park, LOOK before flinging the door open.

6. Next time you buy a vehicle, DON'T get one that pedestrians and cyclists can't see over or around. If you must, at least avoid dark tinted glass.

Most cyclists are just trying to stay alive out there. If you mess up, its just an "Oh, I'm sorry", and a call to the insurance agent. For us, its a ride in an ambulance, or worse.

Answer 3

Take a look at Germany, the Netherlands, the Skandinavian, and some other countries:Cyclist, pedestrians, and motorist live together and respect one another much more.

Just read some of the answers here, to much violence and little regard for life. Is it that only what I think are my rights count?

One cyclist is usually a car less, so less traffic, less parking place taken, less pollution, etc.
It is the cars that take up the space on the roads and city streets. One car takes the parking space of 5 bicycles, and much more when in motion in the street or roads.
Motorist should think about the advantages they gain while other cycle (or take the bus, train, etc.).

Cyclist should know the have a right to the roads and streets, but should be respectful of traffic laws, and pedestrians.

How much more would we all gain if we had a little more common sense and patience, not to mention respect for oneself and others.

Answer 4

Cyclists who know the rules and obey them (like motor vehicle operators should) do NOT get in the way of drivers. They are no different than a slow-moving lorry or delivery van ... and in fact are FAR less of an obstruction to traffic flow.

If, as a driver, you find that you are coming up on them too fast in a blind corner ... chances are that you're driving too fast for conditions (which includes visibility). What's to say the guy coming the other way in a Jaguar isn't crowding your side of the road anyway?

Cyclists are allowed on roads ... except for high-speed controlled-access routes like the North American interstates and UK roadways like the M-series. They're subject to the same rules and regulations regarding traffic as motor vehicles.

Of course, there's always those who don't think the rules apply to them - and they drive motor vehicles as well. Not giving the cyclist sufficient room to avoid roadside obstacles is a crime, in more ways than one. Next time you think about doing so, consider how you would feel if someone decided to jump the curb and drive down the sidewalk, because they were in a hurry to get past slow-moving traffic ... never mind that you were walking quietly along with your family on that same stretch of pedestrian right-of-way.

Yes, I am a little incensed by the "I drive so I own the road" mentality that seems to be more and more prevalent these days. It comes from being knocked off my bike by trucks with wide mirrors driving too closely, cars intentionally running me off the road (when they are actually ONCOMING traffic!), things being thrown at me from moving vehicles, and overall obnoxiousness. I'm a good rider, who does obey the rules. And I'm usually not traveling all that slowly - an average speed on the flats is around 40-45 kmh (25-28 mph) ... on secondary roads that have posted speed limits of less than twice that. (Which means that on those roads, I'm above the minimum speed that a motor vehicle would have to use four-way flashers to indicate that they were 'slow moving').

Answer 5

Next time you start to get frustrated about cyclists, start counting how many seconds you spend behind them.

Now compare that with how many seconds you wait at traffic intersections.

My guess is that you spend 5 to 10 times more time at intersections, waiting to go than you did behind cyclists.

Cyclists do have a right to the road, and studies have shown they pay more than their proportional share for the road (see the first link).

Most countries require slow vehicles to not impede traffic, if there is a queue of cars behind the cyclist, they should pull off at the next safest place, and then reenter the traffic flow. However, that is only valid on narrow roads.

Answer 6

there is no where else a serious cyclist can or should ride. sidewalks and bike paths are full of people walking, pets and other slower trafic that make it very dangerous for a cyclist running 20mph or more.

one of the greatest problems with western society is that we are so overwhelmed with stuff we are always rushing and in a hurry. let's face it, it takes only seconds to get around a bike, but everyone acts like it is killing them to slow down at all. you know it may make a few moments difference in your arival time, but if you are running that late, you should have left earlier.

motorists have thier roads in the U.S., the interstates. no bikes are allowed there. the rest of the roads they need to grow up and slow down. life is too damn short to stress over something as small as working around a cyclist. hotheads.

Answer 7

Amen OhioJeff!!!! I second that!!! You all should see the common denominator among most of the replys to this question; going too fast on secondary roads!!!! Which is were most cyclists ride to avoid busy streets in the first place.

Answer 8

cyclists are fairly easy to overtake and I don't see a problem with them. Many people complain that they don't pay road tax, the fact is most cyclists do pay road tax, they just sometimes take their bikes instead of their cars.

Answer 9

Most car drivers assume that the roads belong to them only. Where would you sugest they ride? Pavements are OK for 5 year olds, but illegal for anybody else. Public footpaths are also illegal.

That leaves bridalways (Have you ever tried to ride a well used bridalway in the winter. Not easy for a mountain bike, let alone a standard machine) and roads. Cycle lanes tend to be underfunded add ons and are generally inadequate.

Please forward all SENCIBLE answers the the transport minister, otherwise .......

Luck

Answer 10

Pedestrians and cyclists have the right of way, however annoying.