Cycling to work and back through Auckland's central suburbs during commuting hours I found everyone very well behaved. But problems occurred on a regular basis on my cycle home when I stayed late after 6pm. Items thrown from car windows, random yelling from car windows during passing (plenty of room on the road). The vast majority of this was youthful 'prank' type stuff but it is still dangerous and very unpleasant. I consider the anti-cyclist type ranting often heard on breakfast radio and talkback a big contributor to the way these people behave and that they partially believe (wrongly) that their actions are socially condoned by a majority.
blackjack17:Heaven forbid drivers should pay attention to what is on the road
For some perverse reason that escapes me some cyclists seem to go out of their way to adopt a ninja look with black leggings and black or dark blue tops. When you've spotted all the bright and fluoro ones look again for Mr Invisible.
I don't know about ninja cyclists, but I almost took out a ninja skateboarder a couple of weeks ago. Driving up a poorly-lit steep hill at about 11.30. He came hurtling towards me, in the middle of the wrong lane and at a fairly high speed, wearing black pants and a black hoodie. If I had been driving a merc, the little symbol on the front of the hood would have had him like a gunsight. It was only good luck and quick braking (by me) that avoided something nasty.
I would have hit the little buggar just to teach him a lesson yeah sure I would have felt a little stink afterwards but that would have been offset by the stopping of stupidity in it's tracks....
Athlonite: I would have hit the little buggar just to teach him a lesson yeah sure I would have felt a little stink afterwards but that would have been offset by the stopping of stupidity in it's tracks....
Chances are you would have faced an investigation, possibly prosecution and if he had been badly injured and you could have (which in this case it was proven you could have) stopped, you would face the memory of that for your life time so you could "teach them a lesson"?
must be that I'm just a sadistic buggar but the way I see it is if your on my side of the road in the dark wearing dark clothes then your in the wrong not I whether I could have stopped or not shouldn't even enter the equation.... same as if you are 100mtrs from a pedestrian crossing and you get rolled bolled and aholed it's your fault not the driver thats hit you
Athlonite: must be that I'm just a sadistic buggar but the way I see it is if your on my side of the road in the dark wearing dark clothes then your in the wrong not I whether I could have stopped or not shouldn't even enter the equation.... same as if you are 100mtrs from a pedestrian crossing and you get rolled bolled and aholed it's your fault not the driver thats hit you
Yep I am not saying it's your fault. I am saying it's pretty easy to sit behind a keyboard, making claims you wouldn't bat an eyelid, but the reality is that IF you hit them, heard bones break, saw blood everywhere, heard the screams of pain, or attempted to resuscitate that kid you hit, or held him as he died , all in the name of "teaching him a lesson", I wonder how much of a sadistic buggar you would be then? Don't believe me? Attend a grief counselling session. You might be surprised how many of the people there weren't responsible but will never be the same again.
Also be very sure, investigators who are trained well, will determine that you didn't try to stop, you will likely be charged with failing to operate a vehicle responsibly, which will go on your record forever.
Athlonite: must be that I'm just a sadistic buggar but the way I see it is if your on my side of the road in the dark wearing dark clothes then your in the wrong not I whether I could have stopped or not shouldn't even enter the equation.... same as if you are 100mtrs from a pedestrian crossing and you get rolled bolled and aholed it's your fault not the driver thats hit you
The way you see it is wrong.
Yes not having lights is foolish, to kill someone for it, which is what you are suggesting is just stupid
Athlonite: must be that I'm just a sadistic buggar but the way I see it is if your on my side of the road in the dark wearing dark clothes then your in the wrong not I whether I could have stopped or not shouldn't even enter the equation.... same as if you are 100mtrs from a pedestrian crossing and you get rolled bolled and aholed it's your fault not the driver thats hit you
The way you see it is wrong.
Yes not having lights is foolish, to kill someone for it, which is what you are suggesting is just stupid
Yah I 100% agree with this. I really hate it when I see people endangering their lives, but I have to keep reminding myself it's not my job to teach them.
I read a paper late last year in which it published the results of studying different colours worn by cyclists. There was no difference in daytime.
I ride predominantly mountainbikes, though used to commute on an old slick equpped hardtail to my job at a finance company. I never ran reds, but you have to ride pretty aggressively. The only way drivers see you is if you can make eye contact. I got bumped off twice, doored once and eventually gave it up. The two times I got knocked off where cars were coming out of intersections, not waiting until I'd completely passed, and tagging my rear wheel. And the door, well, was a door, they didn't look. Crushed my nuts on the stem, grabbed the top of the door frame and bent it back pretty good. I was pretty sore. Sorry for the rant, but high vis is only any good at night, doesn't do squat during the day.
Athlonite: must be that I'm just a sadistic buggar but the way I see it is if your on my side of the road in the dark wearing dark clothes then your in the wrong not I whether I could have stopped or not shouldn't even enter the equation.... same as if you are 100mtrs from a pedestrian crossing and you get rolled bolled and aholed it's your fault not the driver thats hit you
You do realise it's legal to cross the road anywhere more than twenty metres from a crossing right? Legally, said pedestrian has right of way 100 metres from one.
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