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19-11.-2004, 05:33 AM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 27
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is it me?
Or is it really fucking dangerous commuting when its dark early. Im in the UK and its going dark around 16.30. I leave work at 17.00 and its an absolute nightmare. Ive got good lights and reflective kit,but the amount of people who have pulled out on me in cars in the last week is a joke especially if its raining. Its not difficult for drivers to check carefully before manouvere, maybe we need a nationwide "awareness" advert on the TV or make everyone ride to work for a week that would probably be most effective.
Im a confident and experienced rider but im starting to feel very vulnerable. Who thinks a TV advert trying to promote both driver awareness of cyclists and cyclists wearing the right kit and having good lights would be a good idea? |
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19-11.-2004, 05:56 AM
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#2 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 97
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Re: is it me?
Quote:
I know what your going throught, I commute at night on my bike too. I just slow down and ride as safe as possible, I stay off the busy streets and use the bike paths as much as I can even if I need to ride a couple more miles to get home. Here is a website which address the TV advert www.easytoshare.com. Good luck and ride safe. |
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21-11.-2004, 11:43 PM
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#3 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: *******
Posts: 186
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Re: is it me?
Quote:
I can totally relate to what your saying, i live in london and its a nightmare just going for a short ride, as you said, i feel vunruble sometimes too, cant wait till the winter comes and goes..... |
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25-11.-2004, 02:42 AM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: glasgow,scotland.
Posts: 1
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Re: is it me?
i stopped commuting two weeks ago for that very reason.going to work during the rush hour is a nightmare this time of year.i would cycle home at 11pm and felt o.k. as the traffic is lighter.thats the commuting over till it gets brighter at night or i get fed up waiting for the bus.
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29-11.-2004, 11:23 PM
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#5 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 3
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Re: is it me?
I just wouldn't do it any more. Readers of my posts in other forums will know that earlier this year i was nearly hit off by a Police Car! Nuff said?
Even the pigs don't treat us as serious roadusers. Once it gets dark, I stop. During the winter I go out Saturday and Sunday, and the rest of the time it's the gym for ol' Cyclo. |
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07-09.-2005, 08:19 AM
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#6 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: london uk
Posts: 76
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Re: is it me?
Quote:
i fully sympathise there and the tv ad would be no good as most motorists would not understand it... i live in london have excellent lights and still get idjits on my case.. only thing to do is ride in their face so to speak... stay out from the kerb where you have more room to move should you get attacked by the metal box assassin..
__________________
 Wide load!!
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08-09.-2005, 08:48 AM
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#7 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bolton, UK
Posts: 621
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Re: is it me?
Yup. Same here in Bolton. For some stupid reason, everyone always says 'ride defensively.' How the hell are you supposed to defensive against a ton of steel, rubber and plastic rocketing towards you at 30-40mph? Now I ride OFFENSIVELY! Screw the drivers. If they don't care about me, I won't care about them. For example, while riding home one night last year I turned right off the main road and onto a less busy one. Some asshole passed me and caught the handlebar end, almost causing me to crash into some railings on my left. REVENGE!!! Thanks to rush hour traffic, I caught up with him at the next set of lights. I slowed to about 10mph and burried my front wheel in his bumper! At this point he jumped out yelling all sorts at me. When I explained what he did earlier, he yelled louder that as I didn't pay road tax, he had more rights to the road than me. WTF!!! I unclipped my alloy extendable pump and threatened to ram it down his throat unless he jumped back in his car and drove home, safely. He apologized and left. I use 2x 10watt lights at the front and 3x 5LEDs at the back, and still some people don't see me. A TV add will make them think for a while, but as soon as they're behind the wheel again, they'll be just as ignorant again.
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Bill. God invented beer to prevent the Irish taking over the world! Eat right, exercise, DIE ANYWAY!!! I hate my new job, it sucks like a thirsty leech. 
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09-09.-2005, 06:18 AM
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#8 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 22
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Re: is it me?
Nice to know it's not just me they are after!
Agreed London rush hour has got less safe these last few weeks. I'm also taking note of numbers in the hope I'll meet the individuals later in the day (there's two that may well be close to home, so they will get a real shock). Question. I'm one of those in the day-glo jackets, with lights and a hi-viz bag cover, yet they still don't see me! However, they seem to notice the slow moving prat in 'normal' work clothes, how does that work?????? As they used to say on Hill St Blues, "Lets be careful out there" |
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09-09.-2005, 07:56 AM
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#9 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bolton, UK
Posts: 621
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Re: is it me?
One question. As cyclists, we all know that when it's dark, windy and raining, we slow down and ride more carefully. In the same conditions, a driver will speed up and drive more dangerously, despite being in a nice warm car. Does that make any sense to anyone? I can't figure that out.
__________________
Bill. God invented beer to prevent the Irish taking over the world! Eat right, exercise, DIE ANYWAY!!! I hate my new job, it sucks like a thirsty leech.
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09-09.-2005, 05:33 PM
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#10 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Wirral, Merseyside, England.
Posts: 97
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Re: is it me?
Quote:
I have great delight in quoting that to motorists who tell me they have more right to the road, especially as they pay road tax. I usually follow it up with the line "I pay road tax too, but my car is at home, not sitting in traffic" Some drivers have trouble seeing anybody when its dark or raining... I drive a van in work and people still pull out, despite its increased visibility. I do a lot of work in or next to the highway and you would be amazed at the number of people who can't see a white and green (almost day-glo green) van with flashing orange roof lights, hazard lights and a load of cones accompanied by two guys in big bright yelllow coats.
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~Dave~______________ Gratia Dei, sum quod sum. |
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25-09.-2005, 07:26 AM
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#11 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 236
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Re: is it me?
People are f*ucking morons. If you dont like people pulling out in front of you then dont cycle. Nothing you will ever do short of doing away with thick people will ever stop these idiots driving badly.
If I had it my way cyclists would carry guns and take out motorists they consider to be driving not within what the cyclist considers acceptable. Its a bloody good job that I'm not in charge of the law then I suppose! |
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25-09.-2005, 07:44 AM
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#12 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bolton, UK
Posts: 621
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Re: is it me?
Well I'd vote for it! I'd like to see how drivers atitude and awareness improved if it became legal for us to use built-in laser guided_rocket-propelled anti-tank grenede-launchers. Ah well, we can but dream......
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Bill. God invented beer to prevent the Irish taking over the world! Eat right, exercise, DIE ANYWAY!!! I hate my new job, it sucks like a thirsty leech.
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25-09.-2005, 06:00 PM
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#13 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Barnet, London.
Posts: 991
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Re: is it me?
Quote:
I think that motoists do need to be educated in matters pertaining to road-tax and road funding, as well as how cycling reduces the number of cars on the road, therefore reduces congestion and speeds up their own journey. (And about 50 other reasons as well for accepting our presence.) Cyclists also need to be educated, everyone who rides a bike in defiance of the Highway code and the law is making us all look bad and angering non-cyclists, which can increase the danger. I do not want to be run down by some idiot in a car bacause he is furious at seeing some other idiot on a bike go through a red light. Many motorists drive very badly and I notice this when cycling, driving or walking. The sad thing is that poor drivers always think that they are good drivers. I would like to see speed cameras spaced at 50 yard intervals along all roads, and uninsured drivers, those who drive whilest banned or those who drive without licences locked up for life. Living in the real world, For cyclists who do obey all the rules, cycling is safer than you would think, there really aren't that many accidents, and the risks are not significantly higher compared to walking or driving. Dusk is the most dangerous time, so bright clothing and bright lights are essential. One of the biggest helps that I have found is a light that fits in the end of my handlebars. The bike appears as a three-dimensional object and motorists give me more room. When all the lights are too close to the centre of the bike it looks two-dimensional from behind and they don't bother moving out to overtake.
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"Boudreaux pissed me off, what should I do?" "Nothing, just shut up and take his advice." |
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