Bicycle Thread

[POLICE]

sponsor me beeyaches ... please?

http://register.gongride.org.au/?GongIn60Seconds

[JAS-25T]

Im going to die

no training what so ever

[astrotristan]

wtf.

sydney bus driver bashed by cyclist

[Mr Eps]

well - that's obviously taking things too far - but i have a few questions

in perth - there are "bike/bus" lanes, which buses and cycles share - in sydney, where do bikes go? general roads are too dangerous half the time and cyclists run the risk of dieing or being cleaned up, footpaths are dangerous too because pedestrians go on them,. so where are cyclists supposed to go??

i've had my share of close calls with motorists who feel the need to do "whatever it takes" to overtake me (even if it means putting lives at risk) just to pass me - they don't factor in that i'm doing a similar speed to them.. and i admit there have been times i've nearly been hit that i completely lose my temper - i've been known to smack a window or two in my time, or scream at the odd driver that cuts me off so they can pull into chicken treat that 5 seconds earlier... physical violence is TOO FAR of course...

but the way the journalist has portrayed cyclists in that article is laughable - cyclists illegally using the transit lanes? where ELSE do cyclists go?

[astrotristan]

i was under the impression cyclists were allowed in translit lanes in qld too

i love that they are putting up "61 no bicycle" signs hahah

should bikes used on the road have rego?

have i just started a debate? or brought up old discussion

[JAS-25T]

no where unfortunately.

[JAS-25T]

i was under the impression cyclists were allowed in translit lanes in qld too

i love that they are putting up "61 no bicycle" signs hahah

should bikes used on the road have rego?

have i just started a debate? or brought up old discussion

Thats a piss weak argument considering bikes would need centuries of use on a road to do the damage cars would do in a day.

After all, registration costs are to maintain the roads in a user pays system, and I dont see any space in current cities (sydney) for a dedicated user pays cyclist lane, so you can't really introduce new infrastructure for them

[astrotristan]

i wasnt refering as much to cyclists paying, more that they would be able identified - as this seems the drama in the article

i agree they should be allowed in the transit lanes - far better than on the line between the transit lane and the far left hand "non transit" lane (if you get me

[JAS-25T]

Then who pays to maintain the registration system?

I know krudd wasted all his left overs (and the next generations) on saving us from recession, aka handouts.

[astrotristan]

yehh true true,

i was just throwing ideas around - clearly didn't think about all of the relevant consequences involved

[JAS-25T]

Clearly

[Mr Eps]

yeah - why should a cyclist pay registration fees?

no pollution, no road damage, no parking spaces, also - cycles don't hit people or crash into people and kill them...

during the 1990's i remember there was so much publicity and media promotion for people to ride bikes in australia, "look left, look right, look BIKE" (remember that?)

or

"burn fat - not oil"

etc etc

or 'give way to cyclists"

there used to be a lot of government propaganda about how you need to be cyclist aware on the roads - this has dissipated (sp) over the last 5-10 years, as a result, motorists are more vigilant, ignorant, and selfish on the shared roads.

you may not notice it - and this may not be the case over east, but in front of the line of every traffic light, there are 5 diamonds and a picture of a bike painted on the road, this denotes that area is to be left vacant for if there is a cyclist present, so that the cyclist can be noticed and thus not run over as cars jock for lane changes and traffic light races.

it's a dangerous world out there for cyclists... not to mention idiot teenage minded guys who throw maccas cups at you or swear at you as they drive past you... which - is obviously frightening, last thing you need when you're pedalling in a field of ignorant drivers is to be startled or have your concentration comprimised.

it also upsets me when (these are the most common for this attitude) female drivers openly express their views in conversation that when ever they se a cyclist on the road they "drive right up their arse and toot the horn - they have no right to be on my roads" (actual quote - one of many)

bikes have every right to be on the road - it's a legal requirement, it's just not advertised so people think they have the right to play judge jury and executioner because "we pay registration fees and you don't"

the attitudes of motorists needs to be shaken up. but it will take government awareness to acheive this

[mad082]

i can see some valid points in registration for bikes for identification reasons. but a user pays system would cripple the bike industry. and there are too many holes in the idea. what happens if you happen to feel like dusting the bike off for the first time in years to ride down to the shops but haven't got any registration? do you run the risk of getting booked or do you get registration even though you never ride the bike just in case you one day in 5 years time may decide to ride your bike. and what about kids? do they need it as well? and who has to do all the paperwork? do bikeshops have to sort it all out when they sell a bike or does the customer do it themselves once they have bought the bike? and if the customer does it, can they ride straight away, or do they have to wait until it turns up? and what sort of identification do you use? number plates? they would have to be plastic or there would be injuries when people crashed.

as for a user pays system, that would result in a massive decline in cyclists having the following negative effects:

more polution

more traffic on the roads

more crowded public transport

more fat people, which puts more strain on the public health system in both financial terms and waiting list times

higher unemployment due to lots of jobs lost from the bike industry.

as for the argument that cyclists should pay because of all the cycle paths being put in around the cities, well that is just stupid. how many pedestrians do you see using them? plenty. probably just as many pedestrians as cyclists. if you are going to make cyclists pay on that basis, then pedestrians should be charged a registration to pay for footpaths, and the painting of crossings on the road, etc.

[POLICE]

Hey Rowan, where's my coke son?

[Mr Eps]

hahahabh LEGEND!!!!

i on the other hand - have a tube that has shat itself...

valve collapsed. oh the ironing.

[iseekool]

How about this bike. Seems to be of good value from aldi - tempted to get one - seems to have all the right bits for the money spent. The local aldo is not selling it for $249 but for $209 instead.

http://www.aldi.com.au/au/html/offers/2827_6093.htm

[mad082]

How about this bike. Seems to be of good value from aldi - tempted to get one - seems to have all the right bits for the money spent. The local aldo is not selling it for $249 but for $209 instead.

http://www.aldi.com.au/au/html/offers/2827_6093.htm

oh dear son of rajab....... *facepalm

the ONLY thing on that bike that is any good is the rear derailleur. the rest of the bike is shit. the forks are cheap shit. the brakes are cheap shit and won't work very well, the frame is cheap shit alloy and will weigh more than a steel frame, the shifters are cheap shit non shimano items and will start to seize up after a few rides, the wheels are cheap shit and if you ride it often you will be lucky to get 6 months out of them before the hubs collapse, and finally it is a dual suspension, so that makes it even heavier and you will very quickly get sick of the bike 'bobbing' up and down every time you pedal.

[iseekool]

oh dear son of rajab....... *facepalm

the ONLY thing on that bike that is any good is the rear derailleur. the rest of the bike is shit. the forks are cheap shit. the brakes are cheap shit and won't work very well, the frame is cheap shit alloy and will weigh more than a steel frame, the shifters are cheap shit non shimano items and will start to seize up after a few rides, the wheels are cheap shit and if you ride it often you will be lucky to get 6 months out of them before the hubs collapse, and finally it is a dual suspension, so that makes it even heavier and you will very quickly get sick of the bike 'bobbing' up and down every time you pedal.

Thanks for the info

[mad082]

no worries. i've worked on a few of them already. they weigh close to 20kg. they are about 5kg heavier than a decent quality bike which doesn't cost too much more.

[SilverECR33]

as for the argument that cyclists should pay because of all the cycle paths being put in around the cities, well that is just stupid. how many pedestrians do you see using them? plenty. probably just as many pedestrians as cyclists. if you are going to make cyclists pay on that basis, then pedestrians should be charged a registration to pay for footpaths, and the painting of crossings on the road, etc.

+1

Given the R-tarded nature of our politians & their revenue raising laws .. its a possibility.. They think cyclists pose a danger to pedestrians...Also once you consider they are trying to seperate the 2 means of transport, in a risk assessment pov, possibly they will do it, why do u think they moved cyclists from footpaths to the road. (which is clearly more dangerous). this then provides the grounds nessesary to indentify cycles as 'Vehicles' of transport that can be targeted for more revenue raising.. :??