Is it OK to cycle on public roads?

Cyclers dont bother me personally but plenty of people get really pissed off by them. What do you think, and why?

I think it's perfectly acceptable if you're going to be sensible about it. For example signalling and generally using the highway code, only taking up the 60cm on the left side of the lane that is yours*, making sure you can be seen**, not purchasing a flashing light which you put on your bike at night***, and not cycling in large groups*.

However motorists need to be more accepting as well. I'm currently learning to drive, and a basic issue with drivers is their attitude. Impatience and aggression lead to accidents, and can amplify the danger that someone else is causing. We all have to respect other road users, no matter how late we are for that meeting.

*I see so many groups cyclists next to one another so they can have a chat, which makes it so much harder to overtake them for the car behind. They're also more unpredictable because if they've claimed that much road as theirs then there's no way of knowing how well they're going to indicate their actions.

**It's rather scary when a cyclist pops up from nowhere

***Great to be able to see the bike, but you can't tell how far away it is or how fast it is moving, and you can't see anything else to concentrate on when there's a bright, flashing, red light in front of you!

The majority of cyclists in student areas are idiots, outside of such areas they tend to be okay. As long as they adhere to the highway code, I'm cool with it; those who switch between the pavement and road are ********* though, it's my pet hate. Pick one, ********.

This post I almost completely agree with . Just the end, picking one shouldn't be an option, you ride on the road/cycle path. The only time you should be on the path is when it's a shared pedestrian/cycle path, when you're pushing your bike or (and this one is borderline) when you're learning to cycle or just learnt to cycle.

If it were under the circumstances you stated I'd have no problem whatsoever, those are perfectly reasonable reasons to use the pavement. My last comment was in reference to those who decide to filter using the pavement / to advance through red lights

I think it's perfectly acceptable if you're going to be sensible about it. For example signalling and generally using the highway code, only taking up the 60cm on the left side of the lane that is yours*, making sure you can be seen**, not purchasing a flashing light which you put on your bike at night***, and not cycling in large groups*.

However motorists need to be more accepting as well. I'm currently learning to drive, and a basic issue with drivers is their attitude. Impatience and aggression lead to accidents, and can amplify the danger that someone else is causing. We all have to respect other road users, no matter how late we are for that meeting.

*I see so many groups cyclists next to one another so they can have a chat, which makes it so much harder to overtake them for the car behind. They're also more unpredictable because if they've claimed that much road as theirs then there's no way of knowing how well they're going to indicate their actions.

**It's rather scary when a cyclist pops up from nowhere

***Great to be able to see the bike, but you can't tell how far away it is or how fast it is moving, and you can't see anything else to concentrate on when there's a bright, flashing, red light in front of you!

I think it's perfectly acceptable if you're going to be sensible about it. For example signalling and generally using the highway code, only taking up the 60cm on the left side of the lane that is yours*, making sure you can be seen**, not purchasing a flashing light which you put on your bike at night***, and not cycling in large groups*.

However motorists need to be more accepting as well. I'm currently learning to drive, and a basic issue with drivers is their attitude. Impatience and aggression lead to accidents, and can amplify the danger that someone else is causing. We all have to respect other road users, no matter how late we are for that meeting.

*I see so many groups cyclists next to one another so they can have a chat, which makes it so much harder to overtake them for the car behind. They're also more unpredictable because if they've claimed that much road as theirs then there's no way of knowing how well they're going to indicate their actions.

**It's rather scary when a cyclist pops up from nowhere

***Great to be able to see the bike, but you can't tell how far away it is or how fast it is moving, and you can't see anything else to concentrate on when there's a bright, flashing, red light in front of you!

a basic issue with drivers is their attitude. Impatience and aggression lead to accidents, and can amplify the danger that someone else is causing. We all have to respect other road users, no matter how late we are for that meeting.

When overtaking a cyclist you should give at least as much room as you should a car which in theory means them riding two abreast shouldn't make it any more difficult on the majority of roads and in some cases (where all road users are using the roads as they should be used safer and quicker).

In many situations the entire lane is for the use of the cyclist too. Again this is often the safest way to ride and you already seem to have picked up the attitude you seem to dislike so much.

There are so many more problems with your post that I seriously suggest you change instructor, re-read the high-way code and attend a bikeability course.

Whilst I rarely ride two abreast I do often use primary road position which forces road users to overtake safely, the same is achieved by riding two abreast and most good cycling groups have practised ways to single out where appropriate in the same way I will take the secondary road position where appropriate.

Whilst you might get the impression I disagree completely with you from the above I do think your part about people being patient and accepting is very important and a good attitude to have

With regards to flashing bike lights, you have to understand that the cyclist's first priority is to be seen, and flashing lights help with thhat. Not being see is really bloody dangerous. It's not a specific aim of flashing lights, but if it makes you pay more attention to how fast they're moving and how far away they are, it probably means that you've taken notice of the cyclist and will avoid them.

Anyway, I wrote this post because I think that car drivers often don't see the road in the same way as cyclists do, and so don't understand the things we d

Personally I do agree with you for the most part, but I don't have a problem with cyclists sometimes moving into the middle of their lane. There are plenty of roads where the edge near the pavement is crumbling away and dangerous to cycle on, or in busy cities when approaching junctions where if they don't take up a dominant position they are in a much more dangerous position.

The thing that annoys me most about cyclists is what I like to think of as "cyclists immunity", the belief that a lot of cyclists have that if anything happens to them while on their bike then it cannot ever be their own fault.

The example I give for that is that if you're a pedestrian and you walked out through a gap in traffic without looking at all and got hit then it would be your fault. If you were on a motorbike and pulled out around a parked car without looking and got hit it would be your fault. If you were driving and pulled out around a parked car without looking and got hit it would be your fault. But if you're cycling and pull out around a parked car without looking and get hit it will always be the fault of the person that hit you.

My attitude comes from living in the middle of the countryside on winding roads without markings, where things like parked cars opening doors aren't high up on the danger list. There are a lot of horse riders around as well during the day. Because of the winding roads, it takes you by surprise when there is a cyclist around the corner, but if there's two then it's harder to avoid. As the roads are almost empty it is usually safe to overtake straight away, but the lack of other cars means that cars are moving faster than they might in a city or town on smaller roads. I don't really blame either road user in most cases, and the majority of cyclists are fine, but a few spoil it for the majority.

If cyclists follow the rules then I am fine with them. Since I've moved to suburban to central London recently, I have noticed why people find them so annoying. I sit on a bus and I just see some swerve out in front of it.

I am seeing a lot of cyclists not wearing any reflective clothing at night time Entirely legal; I see cyclists without helmets Entirely legal, and indeed there is an argument (controversial, but with some merit) that you're no safer with one, because not wearing one makes both the cyclist and surrounding motorists more cautious; cyclists in the middle of a lane Entirely legal, and recommended in some cases; cyclists not indicating Crap cycling, by all accounts...you name it. Don't get me wrong, there are some really responsible cyclists out there, but I doubt most cyclists have taken a course or anything to know how to cycle safely. A bike lane is not enough to feel safe, and cycling down Euston Road like you own the carriageway is definitely not right Cyclists do have just as much right to be on the road as you do

My pet hate is cyclists thinking they can skip the red light. I mean, Euston Circus Junction is a dangerous place even for pedestrians so I am always ready to go into instant first aid mode when I see a cyclist jump the red lights I'm not familiar with that junction, but there are some arguments to suggest that it makes the cyclist safer in some circumstances (essentially, when their path isn't going to cross that of another road user, i.e. when they're not deviating from the kerb). It's legal in some French cities, Belgium, Germany and Scandanavia, and apparently it works well. Indeed, the Lords have recommended that we adopt the system too.

If the TfL gained any extra funds, I would love to see cycle lanes implemented in as many places as possible on the pavement like in Berlin or Amsterdam. Whilst admirable, I think that there is a significant problem with these: pedestrians. In my experience, pedestrians have no concept that they are on a shared path, or indeed wandering onto the wrong side of a segregated path, and can be a danger to themselves and others. IMHO, whilst fantastic along routes where the traffic is heavy / fast and there are few pedestrians, in areas where there are too many pedestrians, they can be downright dangerous to all concerned.

I've had a grand total of two driving lessons, and my instructor has had no input into that impression I have. I have not fully read the highway code, but I can remember clearly what I was taught about cycling at primary school, which was the introduction to general cycling rules. I guess my Dad has given me the impression I have, especially about the red flashing light. I understand that the majority of cyclists are considerate and aware, but some spoil it for the majority.

My attitude comes from living in the middle of the countryside on winding roads without markings, where things like parked cars opening doors aren't high up on the danger list. There are a lot of horse riders around as well during the day. Because of the winding roads, it takes you by surprise when there is a cyclist around the corner, but if there's two then it's harder to avoid. As the roads are almost empty it is usually safe to overtake straight away, but the lack of other cars means that cars are moving faster than they might in a city or town on smaller roads. I don't really blame either road user in most cases, and the majority of cyclists are fine, but a few spoil it for the majority.