Cyclist love them, hate them or tax them?

[David Black]

Nigel Havers the actor recently said "I absolutely hate cyclists. If they use the roads for free and they don't have to pay any tax, they must obey the rules. The rules are that you stop at a red traffic light. I'm at one now and four cyclists just went through. They go up a one-way street the wrong way. And they're aggressive if you get in their way. One just smacked the side of my car with his hand. It's unbelievable behaviour."

What is your view of the jolly cyclist and should they be taxed?

[David Black]

Agree they don't chew up the road but they certainly slow other traffic.

A Chelsea tractor (4x4) pays the same tax as a Smart car so we don't tax on the basis of damage.

[homer75]

As road users they should have to abide by the rules and I think they should be made to have insurance as I have seen many 'near misses' caused by the antics of some of them. However, I think the majority of cyclists are sensible people but tend to get tarred with the same brush as the numpties.

[chazza]

They do annoy me when I am driving along a one lane road in rush hour and they are either two abreast or else driving in the middle of the road so that the traffic can't get past.

It certainly slows the traffic when there is a long queue behind a cyclist

[admarlow]

i HATE them!!! when they don't jump red lights , they pull away from them on their crappy kids toys at 10 mph so all the cars get stuck behind them and dont get through the lights. They should be taxed , LICENCED, and have regestration plates so you can report their terrible triving. We don't put up with it from motorbikes so why bikes!!! The road is no place for a kids toy.

[Pippa68]

I'm with Nigel ~ cyclists use the road, so should be treated the same as a car driver!

I do agree that the majority of cyclists are safe, but I have lost count at the amount of times I have been held up by two abreast cyclists having a chat whilst oblivious to the chaos they are causing. My mother in law had her window broken by a cyclist when she had stopped at a red light ~ he got cross and tried to pass her on the inside..losing his balance and smashed her passenger window, which of course she had to pay for on her own insurance!

While we are at it, why shouldn't cycles have a safety test too? cars have to have MOTs and insurance, so why not cycles & their owners? ditto caravans..;o)

No doubt road tax doesn't go anywhere near paying for road maintenance anyway..just in Monsieur Browns pocket, so I won't go into that one.

[Pippa68]

And while I am ranting I will also add that the road is no place for those motorised carts old people use either ~ will someone please tell them to get off the road?

Mind you, they can be lethal on the pavement too ;o)

[Jay70]

David Black - A 4x4's road fund licience bracket is much higher than a smart car.

I hate the club riders then ride along 3 abreast and also in one long line with no breaks to allow cars to over take safely. I had one bang the side of my car when trying to overtake such a long line. I stopped and when he saw I'd been clay pigeon shooting and had the Browning on the back seat he soon rode off. lol.

[Shire]

I do get annoyed by cyclists that just ignore the rules of the road. This morning I had to stop at a set of traffic lights, and whilst stopped I was overtaken by two cyclists who passed me on my inside and went straight through the red light. I find dark winter mornings and evenings particularly scary though - as so many cyclists seem to think that it's OK to ride without lights or any reflective gear.

I'm not sure that taxation of cyclists is feasible, but I do think some form of insurance should be compulsory for those who ride on the road, and safe cycling and the cycling proficiency test should be compulsory subjects at school.

[ugly_bob]

You need a license to drive on the road, why not cycle? it's not infeasable (sp?). You must have licenses to watch TV and fish and these are policed, so why not cylcle licenses? There should be a basic proficiency test.

I agree with Shire about cyclists riding without reflective gear or lights. It's not so bad in town or in busy traffic, but when you are out in the sticks with no street lights you just can't see them, esp if there's a car coming the other way and you don't have full beam on.

[flip-flop]

Well, as a cyclist, motorcyclist and car driver of my three modes of transport I cycle for probably 75% of the time and whilst I'm cycling to work it does drive me bananas to see other cyclists jumping red lights, going the wrong way up one way streets and generally ignoring the rules of the road.

I (probably obviously) don't think cyclists should pay road tax simply because we are not damaging the roads and are being environmentally friendly, however I do think there is a valid argument for licencing and/or testing (if it were feasible).

As far as insurance is concerned, if I were to cause damage to a car and it were my fault, the car driver would have a valid claim under the public liability section of my houshold insurance - which is of course fine if you have household insurance (many people don't).

But if we are going to tackle the issue of insurance, surely it is more pressing to tackle uninsured drivers (about 1 in 10 if the figures are to be believed) because these people are forcing yours and mine motor insurance policies up.

If we are going to have testing, then I think there is a valid argument to send drivers on a cyclists awareness course - I've lost count of the number of times I've nearly come a cropper, usually, it has to be said I'm afraid, by women driving their kids to school.

The last time, a couple of months ago, I was in a cycle lane when a people carrier overtook me and then turned left in front of me which knackered my front wheel and forks to the tune of �250 - needless to say she didn't stop - but the outcome could have been so much worse.

So, yes, I'll happilly be tested and licensed, subject to car drivers being educated to open their bloody eyes once in a while.

[pompeyboycat]

im a hgv driver and find the worst thing with cylists is when there is a cycle lane on the pavement they still use the road and its near impossible for me to pass safely then they look at you like your an a**hole for overtaking them, councils spend millions on cycle paths to keep you all safe so why dont you bloody well use them!!! i agree, road tax, insurance and a mandatory MOT for bikes.

[flip-flop]

That's a bloody good point that I never thought of....should cyclists be taxed, licenced and insured, then I will have every right to be in the middle of my side of the road.........................................so, what would you car drivers out there prefer?????????

[admarlow]

I think everyone agrees , 99% of bike riders break the rules and ride around with a smug face thinking they are saving the environment, but infact they cause more pollution as all the cars are stuck behind them!!!!!!