OT. Why do cyclists think it is ok to cycle against the traffic?

It seems to happen all over the place.

Montreal:
A 47-year-old West Island cyclist was taken to hospital with head
injuries, a broken jaw and a fractured tibia after being struck by a car
last week. The incident occurred on Sources Blvd., just south of the
Trans-Canada Highway on Oct. 25 at about 11:05 p.m.

Police say the injured man was pedalling against traffic when he was hit
by a vehicle that had just come off eastbound Trans-Canada and started
to head south on Sources. The driver of the vehicle swerved in an
attempt to miss the man but failed.

Cyclists should be cycling in the same direction as traffic, police
said, issuing a reminder

Are cyclists really that stupid? or is there some sort of madness
induced by cycling?

On 30/10/2013 20:19, Mrcheerful wrote:
It seems to happen all over the place.

Montreal:
A 47-year-old West Island cyclist was taken to hospital with head
injuries, a broken jaw and a fractured tibia after being struck by a car
last week. The incident occurred on Sources Blvd., just south of the
Trans-Canada Highway on Oct. 25 at about 11:05 p.m.

Police say the injured man was pedalling against traffic when he was hit
by a vehicle that had just come off eastbound Trans-Canada and started
to head south on Sources. The driver of the vehicle swerved in an
attempt to miss the man but failed.

Cyclists should be cycling in the same direction as traffic, police
said, issuing a reminder

Are cyclists really that stupid? or is there some sort of madness
induced by cycling?

This is a UK newsgroup.

On Wed, 30 Oct 2013 20:19:57 +0000, Mrcheerful wrote:

It seems to happen all over the place.

Montreal:
A 47-year-old West Island cyclist was taken to hospital with head
injuries, a broken jaw and a fractured tibia after being struck by a car
last week. The incident occurred on Sources Blvd., just south of the
Trans-Canada Highway on Oct. 25 at about 11:05 p.m.

Police say the injured man was pedalling against traffic when he was hit
by a vehicle that had just come off eastbound Trans-Canada and started
to head south on Sources. The driver of the vehicle swerved in an
attempt to miss the man but failed.

Cyclists should be cycling in the same direction as traffic, police
said, issuing a reminder

Are cyclists really that stupid? or is there some sort of madness
induced by cycling?

There is something to be said for bicycling against the traffic. Cars
are going to overtake you anyway, and it is good to see them in advance
without having to look behind etc.
However at intersections the bicyclist must be mindful that they are
coming from an unexpected direction, and slow down and take care
accordingly.
However I would NOT pedal against he traffic on a narrow road.

Peter Keller wrote:
On Wed, 30 Oct 2013 20:19:57 +0000, Mrcheerful wrote:

It seems to happen all over the place.

Montreal:
A 47-year-old West Island cyclist was taken to hospital with head
injuries, a broken jaw and a fractured tibia after being struck by a
car last week. The incident occurred on Sources Blvd., just south of
the Trans-Canada Highway on Oct. 25 at about 11:05 p.m.

Police say the injured man was pedalling against traffic when he was
hit by a vehicle that had just come off eastbound Trans-Canada and
started to head south on Sources. The driver of the vehicle swerved
in an attempt to miss the man but failed.

Cyclists should be cycling in the same direction as traffic, police
said, issuing a reminder

Are cyclists really that stupid? or is there some sort of madness
induced by cycling?

There is something to be said for bicycling against the traffic. Cars
are going to overtake you anyway, and it is good to see them in
advance without having to look behind etc.

It is the unexpected; and can become very confusing to have two sets of
traffic coming towards you, on either side.


However at intersections the bicyclist must be mindful that they are
coming from an unexpected direction, and slow down and take care
accordingly.

I would not like to have any traffic trying to negotiate getting to the
correct side of the road, especially in heavy traffic, where there is
frequently enough to have to consider when negotiating a junction,
roundabout, etc.


However I would NOT pedal against he traffic on a narrow road.

I hope that you would not pedal against the traffic in any situation. There
are correct sides of the road for traffic, and it is so for a purpose.

--
Iain