why do cyclist break the road laws?

Question

Riding through red lights? riding the wrong way up one way streets? riding accross ped lights? riding on the pavements? riding at night with no lights? Yet they want special consideration? is it because being unregestered they know they wan't be caught? Would they be so anti social if they had some sort of number plate?

Answer 1

Well chap, I think we break them for the same reasons you folks driving motor vehicles break them... because you can.



Here's what I see Drivers doing on a daily basis:



Talking on cell phones, rolling stops, speeding, trying to beat yellow lights, failure to signal, driving drunk, driving emotionally unstable, eating, drinking, reading a newspaper, fiddling with your CD player, wearing headphones, racing, cutting off other drivers (and cyclists), clipping the heels of pedestrians, honking your horn incessantly, weaving in the lane, illegal turns, blocking intersections, blocking bike lanes, right hooking cyclists, speeding up at crosswalks, burning cross walks, disregarding school zones, work zones and caution signs, driving with no lights, driving without turn signals or brake lights, driving without brakes(!), driving with a missing headlamp...



I could go on. Look all I ask is that you folks driving 1/2 tons of steel and plastic obey the basic traffic laws designed to keep you in check and from killing the rest fo us who are sharing the roadway. Slow down, get aware and deal with it. Pedestrians, equestrians, cyclists and longhorn sheep are unpredictable. So watch out.



I'm sorry you are stuck in traffic with your brethren, please don't hate others who dare to brave the elements for the sake of fun and avoiding the snarl you're sitting in. Yes I just blew by you in the bike lane and I'm long gone before you get to move 10 more feet. Is that my fault?



It's been a looooong time since the automobile first appeared on our roads and we've all forgotten that motor cars are the VISITORS.



It's why y'all need a license... though the way you gents and lassies drive each day... you couldn't tell you'd had some driver's ed.

Answer 2

The responsibility lies with you the driver and me the cyclist-you too look at other traffic on the road (regardless of whether i pay a licence fee or not) and occassionally wonder will I be in collision with this vehicle?!!!



There are **** cyclists who ride the wrong way down one way streets, jump red lights, give you the finger, swear at you, threaten you with a pistol whipping.....whatever, i've done it myself and i've had it done to me. But when I drive my car I give them some room, and when I ride my bike, I don't take the piss. The reason is this....a car is a weapon, my £3000 road bike will put a slight dent in your door (thats all) and humans naturally believe "might is right" It wont change till the oil really runs out. Please dont run me over for saying this.....:)

Answer 3

Probably for the same reason that car drivers do. All of the things that you have mentioned, I have seen car drivers do the same. In addition to this, you have inconsiderate parking, where they park illegally just in front of a zebra crossing, or will block the entire pavement because they do not want their car damaged, etc. Parking on double yellows because they are just popping into the shops, overtaking on blind summits/corners/junctions.



The problem with bikes is that we learn to ride them when we are children. As overprotective parents, who know what car drivers are like, we feel better if little Freddy is on the pavement. We don't, as parents, enforce the road laws and so young children on bikes do not respect the road laws. Guese what happens when they grow up.



We are also, as parents, to blame for the lights. We buy our children bikes, which we make no effort to maintian (Simple things like oiling the chain, or regular services). We do not buy lights for our childrens bikes and make no effort to ensure that they are seen at night. Funilly enough, as adults we carry on as we were originally taught.



So, as a parent, let me ask you a question. Do you actively encourage/enforce your children to wear helmets, use lights and wear reflective clothing?



As well as cycling whenever possible, I will do about 2.5 thousand company miles per month in a car. Your average motorist commits far more sins and yet this goes uncommented on these forums. Why is that do you think?



Luck

Answer 4

Here’s why We:

Roll thru stop signs –more often than not, motorists expect it. It requires a lot more energy to stop/restart. Motorists get upset because it takes us so long to get thru once we have stopped.



Ride two abreast – its safer to use the whole lane rather than having cars pass you in that same lane. Also nice to talk. Try putting a car passenger behind you when you drive.



We ride on pavement because we pay taxes too – also its unsafe to ride on sidewalks drivers do not expect such fast moving things (includes wheelchairs).



We Dio get tickets and



How many motorists obey All traffic laws?

Passing on right. Stopping Behind the limit line. Speeding. Rolling thruy stop signs. Failing to yield. Unsafe lane changes…



As for some of the other things that cyclists do… well they may just be stupd

Answer 5

some cyclists. not all, break the law. some cyclists, not all, are careless of others. most cyclists are considerate of other road users.

its a shame that most car drivers are not so considerate

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2006/10/17/2050861.html

i am a part time cyclist and being on the road is a dangerous and scarey place to cycle. i stick to the paths and pavements when ever i can. pedestrians dont normally get killed by cyclists. it has happened but it is very rare. cyclists do get killed by cars. its not rare. it happens regularly

Answer 6

I've always advocated that cyclists should obey all traffic laws, signs, and devices mainly for their own safety. As a cyclist, you are safest when you are behaving as automobile drivers expect you to do. There is one exception on my local routes. I'll go through a red light when it's triggered by sensor pads in the road. The sensors don't detect bicycles, so the lights will never turn for us. Not a good situation, but there isn't any other option.



HTH

Answer 7

Cyclists break the road laws for the same reasons you and all other drivers do. EVERY driver speeds, most don't signal, they encroach on cross walks etc., etc., etc... Cyclists obey laws far more than drivers.



Cyclist don't want special consideration, no more than you do.



More drivers kill themselves in cars than cyclists do. So mentioning this point is ignorant on your part.



If your goiing to rant at least make a mature, thought out point.

Answer 8

Cycling is the last bastion of freedom the British have. Cyclists can ride on the pavement - the wrong way up roads - without taking any kind of road test - without helmets - without passing a test - without tax or insurance - without lights after dark. I say hats off to them. Enjoy it while you've got it - until the government discover a way to squeeze money out of them with tax, insurance and instant on the spot fines.

Answer 9

Check the cycling laws where you live. Very often, bike laws are different than the laws that cars have to obey. This is one reason that most people get mad at cyclists - they assume cyclists are breaking laws, when in reality, they aren't. They don't realize cyclists have different rules. For example, where I live, cyclists do not have to stop at red lights or stop signs. At 4-way stops, cyclists have the right of way and don't have to stop at all, but must use caution. At red lights and other stop signs, cyclists are only required to yield. There are other laws also too.

Answer 10

Those who run red lights, stop signs, turn without signaling and go the wrong way on one way streets are simply jerks. Cyclists have every right to ride on the road as long as we follow all the rules of the road.

Answer 11

The unfortunate reasoning for this is because when the police do ticket the violators, the fines are not steep enough Secondly, I have asked about confiscation of the bicycles and the city says its useless because the violator just goes out and gets a new bicycle. Thus it's a lost cause. (i.e. ) a habitual alcoholic getting their license revoked. They still go out and drive.

Answer 12

As a cyclist of many years I have had many run ins and minor accidents with car drivers who pay scant regard for cyclists and see them as a nuisance and inconvenience .



The road is for all users not just cars

Answer 13

In the u.s. bike riders are taxed as well as anyone else,yet they are not represented very well at all. The government has made some feeble attemts to do so, but they have fallen short of making it a good drive for everyone out on the road or in the towns.

Answer 14

Not all of us do, some people seem to think having a cycle gives you pedestrian rights, Having said that I have seen all the above performed by motorists aswell!



so you cant judge all by single actions

Answer 15

everyone has the right to decide what laws to obey



and their reasons for doing it, or not



do you [asker of troll question..] always obey every law in your car?



i didn;t think so



wle.

Answer 16

Here in Florida, USA, I hear some say "use the sidewalk" every now and then.

Answer 17

I think it's because many cyclists view themselves as pedestrians rather than another vehicle. They SHOULD be following the same laws as cars.

Answer 18

Because they can. No law is ever respected if it's not enforced.

Answer 19

get of n milk it

Answer 20

I hate that They think they are special