Cyclists

[Otrere]

Do you think it should be made law that cyclists wear helmets?

[campbellking]

henneth. I wish the police would pull over the motorists who drive through red lights, or the ones who try and mow me down on zebra crossings...was halfway across a zebra crossing last week when one drove at me. This was done with a policeman sitting in his car about 15 yards away who didn't bat an eyelid..

[stevie21]

I thought it was already the law to wear a helmet on a bike (and to have lights at night).

I'd also be in favour of a token payment of �20 or so towards the maintenance of cycle lanes (although most are labelled as bus, taxi and cycle lanes?) : full road tax is too much whether it's a measure of pollution or wear and tear.

Finally, I agree that everyone's at it. While Cyclists go on the road/pavement/grass, motorists also have terrible habits (speeding is infinitely worse than anything I've ever seen from a cyclist) as do motorcyclists. How many people have died as a result of me pedalling along a pavement?
Given that motorcyclists weave in and out of traffic (as cyclists do to some guys' annoyance) I'd have to assume that people in cars would do it too if they could fit.

[nedflanders]

Why should cyclists pay a cyclepath tax when it is encouraging people to exercise which in the long term will save the NHS a lot more money than councils spend?

[CT]

�20 is probably a bit steep for the amount of cycle paths there are, and the often incompetent way they are designed. Are you going to charge less for kids? Would this this deter people from cycling everywhere, hence wasting all the cycle lanes that have been put in?

[Shire]

Not quite sure how a tax would work, but could some wider pavements in our towns and cities be marked so that they are half for pedestrians and half for cyclists. If everyone then respected this, it would be safer for all three modes of transport. Obviously this wouldn't be sutiable in all areas, but perhaps it could be taken into account when new roads are built.

I cycle to work sometimes, and sometimes drive, and I have to admit that I see inconsiderate or downright dangerous behaviour from all sides, but although I have never seen a car being driven without lights on these dark mornings and evenings, I have seen plenty of cyclists with no lights.

With regards to helmets, they probably should be compulsory, just as they are for motorbikes, and definitely for children - children under 14 are not allowed to ride a horse on UK roads with out a helmet, and it should be the same for bikes. I don't see why some sort of compulsory hi-viz would be a bad idea either - I have seen several near-misses between cars and cyclists over the years (thankfully none related to me, and equally thankfully none have resulted in injuries) but almost without exception this was on a dark morning or evening, and the cyclist was almost impossible to see in their dark clothing, and had no lights!

[lightoftruth]

I myself am a cyclist and i never ride without a helmet, lights and reflective stip on my arms( to indcate with). Many idiot cylists are the same as ignorant motobikers. It frustrats me when i see people on high powered bikes wearing Jeans and T-shirt. a freind of mine was weraing full,high strength leathers and came of his bike on the motorway. his leathers were shredded right down to the skin. If he wasn't wearing leathersthe road would have been painted with spinal fluid.

I think a safety test and service check should be implemented and that Helmets should be worn. this nonsense about helmets doing nothing is jargon. to those you say helmets do nothing i tell you this.

go outside and put a helmet on and get a friend to hit your helmet as hard as they can. then take the helmet of and get them to hit you. Feel any diffrent?