Cycle paths or road??

[Woz]

OK, at least four double whiskeys behind me, but here it is:
a) A cycle path is not a f-ing velodrome. They are to be shared; but not with public enemy No 1 the car. A few sharp clicks of the break lever / bell while keeping your speed up can be enough to scare the crap of most pedestrians to get out of the way. Smacking mp3 wearing people with a old school road bike pump could work if you are so inclined.
b) Expensive infrastructure investments for the "benefit" of cyclist should be used; as far as possible. If not they will disappear with potentially no replacement. So back to square one in dealing with public enemy No 1 full on.
c) By boycotting crap bike lanes / paths, it makes a passive statement to the authorities that they don't work. This would make much more sense if it's actively communicated to the authorities why they are so crap.

...the above is idealistic BS which most of don't have time to deal with on a commute to get to work before the bell rings. Ultimately, it will come to money. Cyclist who pay no road tax will have no authority and no say.....if there's a big increase in accidents, then something will be done because the politicians don't like egg on their face. Be happy - be a statistic!

PS: On my ride on Sunday some f-wit decided a cycle path was great place to "park" a caravan. Not to park - like in temporary - but to actually live in it with gas bottles outside and all. I felt like getting a junk bike and throwing it through the window to make a statement.

 

[gbsimpsa]

Cyclist who pay no road tax will have no authority and no say.....if there's a big increase in accidents, then something will be done because the politicians don't like egg on their face. Be happy - be a statistic!

Good show on the double whiskeys (peaty single malt.... want mmmmm) this'd be a blur for me I expect. Must wait until Friday.

Anyways... Not sure about Sweden but no-one in UK paid any 'Road Tax' since 1937, abolished by Winston Churchill of all people.

Some interesting sites for disambiguation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_tax
http://ipayroadtax.com/

Oh agree about not being a statistic, it does worry me the amount of aggression out on the roads, regardless of who's in the right or wrong.
Stress and time pressures are probably at the heart of it, we all need to slow down a little I think, we'll all live longer, healthier and happier lives. ..and NO I'm not a hippy!

 

[Woz]

I'm a blended sort of person. Irish. Jameson Signature Reserve.

Interesting that about road tax. Better keep my gob shut; but if we turn it on it's head - would you or would you not pay for the service of a specific quality fast track cycle line. That is to say, something similar to a toll road but for cyclists?

Damn...luv whisky.

 

[gbsimpsa]

I'm a blended sort of person. Irish. Jameson Signature Reserve.

Interesting that about road tax. Better keep my gob shut; but if we turn it on it's head - would you or would you not pay for the service of a specific quality fast track cycle line. That is to say, something similar to a toll road but for cyclists?

Damn...luv whisky.

If I had the money and I could be a philanthropist, I expect I would.
But in reality, people don't have money and wouldn't be willing to pay enough to build or maintain it. That is unless everyone got out of their tin cans and did the same. But that would leave a lot of empty roads, imagine that thought. Motorways for cyclists.

And stop it with the Whisky, it's way too early in the week.

 

[highlandsflyer]

If I'm doing a sustained 25mph on the road in a 40mph limit why should I get in a cycle lane and slow down by 15mph so that cars can speed up by 15mph. I will lose the time that they gain. I have just as much right to be on the road as they do, or are we saying that right of way is dictated by speed. Maybe tractors should use cycle lanes too. I use the cycle lanes that are designed well and work well for me. If they hinder my progress and introduce additional hazards then I don't use them.

Sense being spoken.

 

[highlandsflyer]

I'm a blended sort of person. Irish. Jameson Signature Reserve.

Interesting that about road tax. Better keep my gob shut; but if we turn it on it's head - would you or would you not pay for the service of a specific quality fast track cycle line. That is to say, something similar to a toll road but for cyclists?

Damn...luv whisky.

We are building cycle lanes as a response to the environmental issues, there is no reason to tax cyclists for this.

We should tax motorists in order to fund these alternatives, they are the ones driving around with empty cars with no good reason using up our collective resources.

 

[Woz]

That's quality. The average occupancy of a four seater car is shockingly bad. I think what cyclists need is a to get to A to B not via Z with reasonably security and predictable timeliness. Not necessariyyllly (whiskly kiccking in) fast.

 

[highlandsflyer]

That's quality. The average occupancy of a four seater car is shockingly bad. I think what cyclists need is a to get to A to B not via Z with reasonably security and predictable timeliness. Not necessariyyllly (whiskly kiccking in) fast.

In cities of course cycles even at 10/15mph are faster than cars for most journeys.

I would like personal car journeys to remain only for routes not achievable by other means, with publicly owned efficient cars being available where needed.

 

[cyfa2809]

NO I'm not a hippy!

No your from the south west!

I would like personal car journeys to remain only for routes not achievable by other means

Was chatting with some colleagues about this the other day and we agree. But then the car gets used out of habit after that :?
And there are trains and coaches

 

[We_are_Stevo]

If I'm doing a sustained 25mph on the road in a 40mph limit why should I get in a cycle lane and slow down by 15mph so that cars can speed up by 15mph. I will lose the time that they gain. I have just as much right to be on the road as they do, or are we saying that right of way is dictated by speed. Maybe tractors should use cycle lanes too. I use the cycle lanes that are designed well and work well for me. If they hinder my progress and introduce additional hazards then I don't use them.

Sense being spoken.

Not 'sense' - 'idealism...'

If you are doing a sustained 25mph in a 40-limit you can guarantee the traffic approaching you from behind is doing at least 50mph...

...that doesn't make it right - but it does make you very dead when one of them clips you because the driver is eating his breakfast/texting/fiddling with the radio/ checking his laptop on the passenger seat/shaving/can't have a conversation with his passenger without turning to face them every 20seconds - and don't get me started on kids climbing all over the seats when they should have seatbelts on! :x

I've cycled in London, from Wimbledon to Spitalfields and back via Parliament Square, and you can dice through the traffic without being a complete knob - but then again, I did used to have a paper round!