Cycling

[SAD12]

In yesterday's Guardian there was an anonymously written article about cycling mainly in London. It didn't mentioned electric bikes but I couldn't help thinking about the many discussions on here about powerful e bikes (legal/illegal ones) and wondering how long it would be before there is a clamp down because of the actions of a minority. Here's a short extract from the beginning:

'After 12 years riding a bike in London, I recently came to a shocking conclusion: what scares me the most as a cyclist is not the cars, not the lorries and not even the taxi passengers who unexpectedly wrench their door open in front of you – but other cyclists.

'From busy roads to quiet estate pathways, canal towpaths to back streets, they move with astonishingly little regard for anyone else, leaving old and young, pedestrians and fellow two-wheelers spinning in their self-righteous wake. They buy a bike and they buy a bell, and they make me despair because everywhere they go they set the cause of cycling back.'
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The rest of the article can be found here:

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jul/05/worst-thing-about-cycling-other-cyclists

 

[tillson]

I couldn't help thinking about the many discussions on here about powerful e bikes (legal/illegal ones) and wondering how long it would be before there is a clamp down because of the actions of a minority.

...my guess, and it is a guess, would be within 24 months. Sooner if the inevitable serious accident occurs.

 

[Kudoscycles]

SAD12.....I agree,especially in London,the speed of these non assisted lightweight bikes is now so fast and so quiet and Boris's so called super highways often go the wrong way down one-way streets,it so easy to walk in front of one.
Cyclists who ride 2 abreast down narrow country lanes,jump red lights and ignore zebra crossings are doing cycling promotion no favours.
However,I don't think legal electric bikes are any guiltier or on the radar than fast sports cyclists,with the 15 mph cutoff they tend to be ridden at 14 mph to keep the power.
KudosDave

 

[amigafan2003]

The sooner there is a clamp down on bad cyclists (running red lights, hopping on and off pavements, riding contrary to the highway code etc) the better imho.

You'll generally find that those riding non legal ebikes tend to ride like saints in all other respects - you need to pass under the radar at all times so the eyes of the law don't linger on you for too long ;-)