How dangerous is cycling?

[allen-uk]

There needs to be bigger teeth in the laws to protect cyclist. If I was to walk down a high street with a cricket bat swinging it at people and hitting them, I would be arrested and charged. So why, when a driver uses their vehicle to asault and injure, why are they not charged?

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Sorry to make this political, but it is.

Until you're prepared to vote in a party which will raise taxes to pay for more police (and nurses and teachers and road-fixing etc etc) nothing will improve.

This government, just like the last one, sees bailing out barrow-boy bankers as more important, not keeping the streets safe.

A

 

[RobF]

Sorry to make this political, but it is.

Until you're prepared to vote in a party which will raise taxes to pay for more police (and nurses and teachers and road-fixing etc etc) nothing will improve.

This government, just like the last one, sees bailing out barrow-boy bankers as more important, not keeping the streets safe.

A

The collapse of the banking system is undesirable in many ways.

People would lose their savings, business would grind to a halt, to name but two nasty consequences.

Regrettably, we could not allow the bankers to take responsibility for their actions.

Baling them out was a side effect - handy for them - of what had to be done for the greater good.

 

[allen-uk]

Regrettably, we could not allow the bankers to take responsibility for their actions.

Baling them out was a side effect - handy for them - of what had to be done for the greater good.

The Greater Good, is it?

As the old song has it, "We may be in the same boat,
"But it's us that's got the oars..."

A

 

[Gubbins]

Statistics aside, my experiences,riding,walking and driving, seem to show me that almost everyone is in a hurry and if you try to bully your way out into traffic or go speeding down the inside of a traffic queue, these actions seem to elicit a caveman like response with cars deliberately trying to keep you out or stop your progress whereas a more polite approach rewards me with a similar response with drivers often slowing and waving me out.
I realise this wouldn't be the case in London, but generally I have noticed an improvement in attitude towards me on my bike.

 

[flecc]

I agree with you Phill, and even here in London we can experience kindness and consideration from many drivers, especially when riding responsibly and sensibly. And as you say, this is an improving situation, probably as a result of both the rise in cycling and the goverment propaganda on the subject of cycling safety.
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[Kinninvie]

Here in Teesdale 99.9% of drivers actually drive completely on the other side of the road when passing me (luckily we dont get much traffic!).
The ones that get too close are mainly really old folk(usually wearing a trilby or a flat cap).
Even when riding in town folks will follow me for a mile rather than overtake when there is oncoming traffic.
When I can I always keep towards the kerb and wave them past.
I once had a bloke who actually clipped my leg with his wing mirror but luckily I spotted his car later that day and rectified the problem.
Now he doesnt have a wing mirror on that side so I have at least a bit of clearance next time

 

[Croxden]

Never trust a driver wearing a hat other than chauffeurs or police officers.

 

[flecc]

Never trust a driver wearing a hat other than chauffeurs or police officers.

And Funeral Directors, they wear hats and they drive too slowly to knock cyclists off!

I'm sure I could think of many other examples, but it could end up like Monty Python's "What have the Romans ever done for us?".
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[billadie]

Never trust a driver wearing a hat other than chauffeurs or police officers.

I often drive - and sometimes cycle - in a hat. It's not the hat that matters it's the head that's in it.