Doug wrote:
On 11 Sep, 09:36, BrianW wrote:
On 10 Sep, 16:23, Doug wrote:



On 10 Sep, 15:37, "mileburner" wrote:

"Doug" wrote in message

...

That's what it says in this Times article;

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...e/article68281...

And it also says:

"...According to their research, cyclists are at significantly
more risk of being hit by cars on roads that include cycle lanes.

Gee! No kidding. That's because cycle lanes encourage cyclists to
ride in the gutter and drivers to pass when it is not safe.

On

average, an overtaking car will pass 18cm closer to a bike in a
cycle lane than it would to a bike with which it was merely
sharing a road.

Sure! So long as the bike is in the cycle lane and the car is in
the main lane, everything is fine. No safety distance is required.
That's why cars may come as close as they like.

That is roughly the distance that your pedals stick out from your
cog. Do bear in mind that you also have elbows...

Keep the elbows within the cycle lane then!

...And yet, throughout our cities, provision for cyclists remains
perfunctory at best, and lunatic at worst..."

We know. Stay out of cycle lanes. They are dangerous places to
ride!

Hang on! Doesn't that place the onus on the cyclist instead of on
the source of danger? Shouldn't it be, "Drivers stay well clear of
cyclists because they are much more vulnerable than you and don't
become impatient while waiting to overtake cyclists"?

Of course we should say that to drivers. Regrettably, though, not all
will do so. Given that the outcome of a collision between a bike and
a car is so much worse for the cyclist, unfortunately cyclists do
have to look after themselves as well.

So you admit it is worse for the vulnerable victim? Doesn't this
suggest that the punishment for the perpetrator is not enough of a
deterrent and that is why cyclists continue to be bullied and blamed
and treated as second-class road users?

As always Doug, it depends on who the perpetrator is, doesn't it?

Surely if every time a driver set off on a journey they knew they
could be facing a long prison sentence for killing or seriously
injuring someone they would drive much more carefully and have more
respect for the safety of vulnerable cyclists and pedestrians?

They know that already, but many of them have the same attitude as you do
Doug.
..