Cedric, did they ask which side you ride on?



Good to see a healthy debate going on here. I agree that getting any kind of organised testing/licensing would be largely ineffective in practice and the money better spent paying nurses a better wage... However, one thing I am glad to see is that more and more cyclists are wearing a helmet.

As for me, I spent four years cycling in Cambridge which probably has some of the most narrow roads and clearances between cyclists and road users are tighter than a hippo trying to squeeze into a cupboad containing two other hippos. Early on during my time there I witnessed a poor girl hit a draincover and fall headfirst under the rear wheels of the lorry passing her by: a healthy respect was imparted.

 

The only way to control it would be to put registration plates on bikes. How else can you/police track people if they are continually broke the law? (think someone already mentioned this)

I seem to remeber it being legal to ride on pavements but it's dependant on wheel size. If you have a 20" wheel or greater (or something like that) then you have to use roads. Anyone able to confirm this?

As to cyclists bugging people because they get of they're bikes, pick them up and cross like pedestrians. No problems. If you can pick up the S you can do the same

At the end of the day, I had to do a cycling proficiecy test when I was 11. Maybe it should be compulsory.

(P.s. Haven't ridden a bike in about 8 years)

 

I agree entirely with this Welshman. As an ex biker myself it makes perfect sense. Riding a bike in all weathers makes you aware of road surfaces and how they change. It also makes you much more aware of your surroundings as cars, buses, pedestrians etc don't often see you, this makes you drive defensively.
Most importanty it males you concentrate on what you are doing because on a bike there are no distractions like radios, wives, kids, heaters etc so the road becomes a challenge, especially because if you fall off it's going to hurt.