Les Croupiers Running Club Forum

I often don't wear a helmet... IF I am on my road bike, I have a lid on, but on the knackered "don't care when it gets nicked" bike I don't. Main reason being I am probably going somewhere, like out to a bar or into town shopping, and having to carry a helmet around all the time is a PITA.

Regarding lights, the UK ought to do what they do here, on the spot fine for riding at night / in bad weather without them (and random police check points to keep people on their toes)...

No lights / lights nor on - €55
No reflectors on your pedals - €35
No reflector on the rear of the bike - €35
No reflectors on the wheels or tyres - €35

Can be expensive if you get stopped without the right gear!

Can also be fined for not having a bell, not signalling before making a turn, all sorts of stuff...

The above is from a runner and Cyclist in the Netherlands .

Cycling Accidents in the UK (2014 figures) 113 Fatalities

Around 75% of fatal or serious cyclist accidents occur in urban areas.

Around half of cyclist fatalities occur on rural roads.

75% happen at, or near, a road junction.

80% occur in daylight.

80% of cyclist casualties are male.

Almost one quarter of the cyclists killed or injured are children.

Around three quarters of cyclists killed have major head injuries.

All of this got me thinking about my own mortality and of course then others.

All of which leads me to the conclusion.....

I have to say there are perhaps four bad junctions on my way to work. Based upon what it says above a sex change is out so!

When I aproach these junctions im going to wheel my bike therefore becoming a pedestrian. At night the risk will be far less so I could simply be careful and very observant! This should reduce the risks considerably! Possibly as much as 90%!

Surely If they changed the law so you had to wheel your bike on junctions it could potentialy save near to 100 lives per year???? (Based on 113 deaths in 2014) Should I start a petition!

Im sure it is not as simple as all that though and this could be a flawed idea. Is it though? Could it actually do more harm than good?

Failing to look properly causes 57% of serious collisions by motorists and to the cyclist 43% of serious collisions at junctions.Could these figures be negativy altered by a change in the law? Or perhaps improved????

If people dont curently wear helmets (which also has for and against arguments) then will they really wheel there bikes at junctions? Will driver's be less aware of cyclists at junctions if the law changed?

If the law could be changed to save lives on bikes what would be the best thing to bring in??

I feel sure of only one thing here! There are over 100 deaths per year and im convinced more can be done to stop them!

Just playing with a few ideas I had this morning. Any feedback would be good.

Granted I could do with a few more stats here ie Netherland figures etc I havent had time to add any more at present.

I cycle nearly everywhere and I do agree there are a lot stupid cyclist around. However I questioned how these fines will be enforced when the police and council struggle enforce fines for illegal parking and driving. Cycling is a cheep, free and healthy way to get around but once you start asking people to take a test to ride a bike people especially children will stop cycling. The council do not do eought to provide cycle lanes and awarness. I too have been almost knock off my bike a few times due to drivers being impatient or not looking. Many drivers here have never been cyclists so have no ideal what it is like. However there cyclists who do give us a bad name by not having lights, no helment, dare I day it wearing headphones and driving in a pack instead of in single file on busy roads. Carrying a helemt in a PITA but it could save your life and you can lock it with your bike. I always recommend a helemt, lights and a good lock.

Lots of good points there Tracey. One thing I disagree with you over is that of riding in a pack- I think it's actually safer to ride like that, as it means a driver has to overtake you, as they would have to overtake another car. How many times have you been riding alone and found yourself shoved into the gutter or brushed as a car tries to squeeze past you in a non-existent gap?

Fining cyclists (or drivers, for that matter!) would be difficult to implement - just look at how many idiots you see using their phones on the road, safe in the knowledge that they won't be caught/fined.

I'm aware that there are pro/con arguments regarding safety and helmet wearing, but I'm intrigued Lyndon that you wear a helmet sometimes but not others. Also intrigues me when I see families out on the Taff Trail, kids with helmets and adults without.

For what it's worth, when I was knocked off my bike 2 years ago (by another cyclist), I was on the Taff Trail, and going about 8mph as I was passing pedestrians. Thirteen stitches, a knee which is buggered forever, a black eye and covered in cuts. Without my helmet I could've added concussion to that list.

beware cycling on the pavement! I often do as its safer. I was slowly going along a pedestrian free, quiet pavement ,with no houses/driveways on it and got stopped by community police and fined £50- they said they agreed roads were unsafe when I pointed out speeding cars/drivers on mobiles/poor car driving, but said they were "cracking down " on cyclists first!!!!! they did another middle aged cyclist straight after me ....you have been warned!!!! so much for encouraging cyclists....

I quite agree if there's pedestrians on the pavements, then cycling on them is a no no, and the cyclists should get off and push! BUT... when I was "spotted" and fined not a single pedestrian passed by in the half hr it took to charge me and the subsequent cyclist- it was madness! in addition ,many of the official cycle routes on pavements in Cardiff actually share the space with pedestrians which is daft eg western avenue

I'd rather cycle on the roads. Pavements are full of hazards - uneven surface, kerbs, children, balls, dogs, adults with no spacial awareness, bins, cats, all sorts.

I do ride on the pavement sometimes as some roads are just too dangerouse eg Western Avenue. As for cycle lanes there is no point to some of them epsecialy when they are full of parked cars like the ones by me. Have complained to the coucil but they are not intrested.