Cyclist cought doping
Cyclist jumps red lights
Cyclist knocked over my mother by Petronella Wyatt in Fenruary 2010
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1250746/Beware-rogue-bicycles--Petronella-Wyatt-attacks-cult-cycling-frail-mother-knocked-down.html
and also again in September 2012
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2200280/Cyclists-How-thuggish-minority-Lycra-louts-terrorising-roads.html
and the great article by Tariq Tahir on the 20th November 2011
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/882297-irresponsible-cyclists-should-pay-road-tax-say-quarter-of-drivers
And the most thoughtfully rehash of old news by @pendlenews and an ill conceived opinion by Sue Blunket
http://www.pendletoday.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/opinion-it-s-time-to-tax-those-inconsiderate-cyclists-1-5064046
what is wierd is the generalisation of the cyclist and that wether you jump a red light , call a policeman a pleb , make your blood cells richer we are all the same .
Now from my past experiance I rode a bmx when i was a kid , i was a kid on a bmx , then got a scrambler motorbike progressed to a car ,, took my motorbike direct acess licence and now choose to leave my car at home and use a road cycle for getting to work on as the journey is only 5 miles and to be honest is a damn sight quicker than parking up outside of town and walking the 20 minutes to work. therefore i feel i have the credentials as a road user and with plenty of ability to use most forms of transport available. I even know how to get on a bus and train. Not sure about horses or tractors though.
I stop at red lights and on a number of occasions i see many people run red lights regardless of the vehicle they are using at the time. Some people in cars like to speed up when the orange light goes on to ensure they get through that set of lights so they can wait at the set further in front. Some people on bikes like to ride around the lights over the path so they do not go directly through the light but around it.
Some people in cars do the same and also like to cut through town centres across pedestrianised zones and bully people on foot to move out the way.
So why do we blame the vehicle not the person when something untoward happens.
Take the following type of people
people who use a bike by choice
people who use a bike because they have too
people who drive because they are lazy
people who drive because they need to
When a person uses a specific vehicle the behaviour of that person does not change , if they are a cock in life they will be a cock in a car , a cock on a bike , a cock on a horse and even a cock walking with the phone and not bothering to see where they are going. There can even be said to be a cock in a white van.
It seems that lazy journolism and lazy headlines seem to be the main producer of this label , when at the end of the day it is soley the person in charge of the vehicle in question that is the problem not the actual vehicle.
The one word fits all situation is akin to racism and the general sweeping statement.
We need to be in a place where the onus is on the individual regardless of what vehicle you utilise on a specific day. Maybe one day we might see a headline
Person runs red light whilst using a bike instead of cyclists jump red lights
Person runs red light whilst using a car/truck/bus ect
Let us get to the issues that some lazy jouro seem to keep rehashing over and over again.
Road tax, Number plates, Licensing.
These seem to be a right big moan about who pays for roads when a little bit of research can go a long way. Just by reading the information on the direct gov website and type in road tax you get the site that says car tax. A tax for a car that is based on emissions and without displaying the disc you are not allowed to use the road. So going by the road tax argument and ability to use the road if you display the disc regardless of cost this is your pass key to road use.
So how do you get a disc in the first place.
NUMBER 1 - YOU HAVE TO BE USING A MOTORISED VEHICLE
ROAD TAX ARGUMENT - YOU DONT PAY IT SO DONT USE IT
So lets say that bicycle's get a disc based on emmisions this will also be a nil charge , like the following vehicles
Audi A1 1.6 TDI SE, Sport, Contrast Edition, S
Line Diesel 99
Audi New A3 1.6 TDI 105PS SE, Sport, S Line
Start/Stop Diesel 99
BMW New 1 Series 116D Efficient Dynamics Diesel 99
Fiat New Panda 0.9T Twin Air Pop, Easy, Lounge Start/Stop Petrol 95
Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic Diesel 98
Toyota
Yaris 1.5 VVT-i Petrol
Hybrid 84
Vauxhall Corsa
1.3 CDTi 95PS ecoFLEX S, Exclusiv
Start/Stop Diesel 94
Vauxhall Astra
1.7 CDTi 110PS ecoFLEX Exclusiv
Start/Stop Diesel 99
Volkswagen Up! 1.0i 60PS Move Up! Bluemotion Petrol 97
Volkswagen New
Golf 1.6
TDI 104PS Bluemotion Start/Stop Diesel 85
Panda 0.9T Twin Air
Easy, Lounge Start/Stop Petrol
99
Fiat Punto Evo 0.9T Twin Air T85 Petrol 98
Fiat Punto Evo 1.3 Multijet Easy, GBT, Lounge Start/Stop
Diesel 90
Fiat 500 0.9T Twin Air Base, Plus, Pop, Sport,
Lounge, By Gucci S/S Petrol 95
Fiat 500C 0.9T Twin Air Base, Lounge Start/Stop Petrol 95
Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic Diesel 87
Hyundai New
i10 1.0i Blue Petrol 99
Hyundai New
i20 1.1 CRDi 75PS Blue Drive Diesel 84
Hyundai New
i20 1.1 CRDi 75PS Classic Diesel 99
Hyundai New
i20 1.4 CRDi 89PS Blue Drive Diesel 96
Hyundai New
i30 1.6 CRDi 110PS Blue Drive,
Classic, Active Diesel 97
Hyundai new
i30 1.6 CRDi 110PS Blue Drive
Style, Style Nav Diesel 100
Hyundai New
i30 1.6 CRDI 128PS Blue Drive
Style, Style Nav Diesel 100
Kia New Picanto 1.0i 1, 1 Air, 2 Petrol 99
Kia New Picanto 1.25i ISG 2, Halo Petrol 100
Kia New Rio 1.1
CRDi ISG 1 Diesel 85
Kia New Rio 1.1CRDi
ISG 1 Air Diesel 94
Kia New Rio 1.1CRDi
ISG 2 Diesel 99
Kia New Cee'd 1.6 CRDi 128PS 1 Diesel 97
Kia New Cee'd 1.6 CRDi 128PS 2,3 Diesel 100
Lexus CT200h 1.8
SE-I, SE-L, SE-L Premier, F-Sport Petrol
Hybrid 94
Mini One 1.6D Base, Pepper/Media/Sport Pack Diesel 99
Mini Cooper 1.6D Base, Pepper Pack, Media Pack,
Chilli Pack, Sport Pack Diesel 99
Mitsubishi i Elec 49kw 65PS MiEV Electric -
Nissan Leaf Elec 80kw 106PS Electric -
Nissan New Micra 1.2 DIG-S Visia Petrol 95
Nissan New Micra 1.2 DIG-S Acenta, Kuro, Shiro, Tekna Petrol 99
Peugeot 107 1.0i Access, Active, Allure Petrol 99
Peugeot 207 1.6 92PS HDi Oxygo, Oxygo+ Diesel 98
Peugeot New
208 1.0 VTi 67PS Access, Access+,
Active Start/Stop Petrol 99
Peugeot New
208 1.4 HDi 67PS Access+, Active,
Allure Diesel 98
Peugeot New
208 1.4 e-HDi 67PS Access,
Access+, Allure EGC S/S Diesel 87
Peugeot New
208 1.6 e-HDi 92PS Active,
Allure, Feline EGC Start/Stop Diesel
98
Peugeot New
208 1.6 e-HDi 115PS Feline Diesel 99
Peugeot New
308 1.6 e-HDi 122PS Oxygo, SR EGC
Start/Stop Diesel 98
Peugeot iOn Elec 49kw 65PS Electric -
Peugeot 3008
2.0 HDi FAP HYbrid 4 4WD Diesel Hybrid 99
Renault Twizy
Elec 13kw 18PS Urban, Colour, Technic Electric -
Renault New
Clio 1.0 VVT 67PS Petrol 99
Renault New
Clio 1.5 dCi 88PS Diesel 83
Renault Clio
1.5 dCi 88PS Expression Eco Diesel 94
Renault Zoe
Elec 65kw 88PS Electric -
Renault Fluence
Elec 70kw 93PS Expression+,
Dynamique Electric -
Renault Megane
1.5 dCi 110PS Expression+,
Dynamique, GT Line Start/Stop Diesel 90
Renault Megane
S.To 1.5 dCi 110PS Expression+,
Dynamique, GT Line Start/Stop Diesel 90
Renault Megane
Coupe 1.5 dCi 110PS
Expression+, Dynamique, GT Line Start/Stop Diesel
90
Seat New Mii 1.0i 60PS Ecomotive Start/Stop Petrol 96
Seat Ibiza 1.2 TDI
75PS S, SE Ecomotive Diesel 92
Seat Ibiza Estate 1.2 TDI 1.2 TDI 75PS S, SE
Copa Ecomotive Diesel
94
Seat Leon 1.6
TDI 105PS SE Copa Ecomotive Diesel 99
Skoda New Citigo 1.0i 60PS Greentech SE, Elegance
Start/Stop Petrol 96
Skoda New Citigo 1.0i 75PS Greentech Elegance Start/Stop Petrol 98
Skoda Fabia 1.2 TDI CR 75PS Greenline II Diesel 89
Skoda Fabia Estate 1.2 TDI CR 75PS Greenline II Diesel 89
Skoda Octavia 1.6 TDI CR Greenline II Diesel 99
Smart fortwo coupé Elec 55kw 73PS Electric Drive Electric -
Smart fortwo coupé 0.8 cdi Pulse, Passion Diesel 89
Smart fortwo coupé 1.0 mhd Pulse, Passion Petrol 97
Smart fortwo cabrio 0.8 cdi Passion Diesel 89
Smart fortwo cabrio 1.0 mhd Pulse, Passion Petrol 97
Suzuki Alto 1.0 VVT-i SZ, SZ3, SZ4 Petrol 99
Toyota
New Yaris 1.5 VVT-i Hybrid T3, T4 Petrol Hybrid 79
Toyota
New Yaris 1.5 VVT-i Hybrid T Spirit Petrol Hybrid 85
Toyota Auris 1.8 VVT-i HSD 89g/km T4 Petrol
Hybrid 89
Toyota Auris 1.8 VVT-i HSD 93g/km T4, T-Spirit Petrol
Hybrid 92
Toyota
iQ 1.0i VVT-i Base, 2 Petrol
99
Toyota
Aygo 1.0 VVT-i Base, +, Ice, Fire Petrol
99
Toyota Prius 1.8 VVT-i T3 Petrol Hybrid
89
Toyota Prius 1.8 VVT-i T4, T-Spirit Petrol
Hybrid 93
Toyota
Prius Plug-In 1.8 VVT-i Petrol
Hybrid 49
Toyota
New Prius+ 1.8 VVT-i T4 Petrol Hybrid 96
Vauxhall Corsa
1.3 CDTi 95PS ecoFLEX S, Exclusiv
Start/Stop Diesel 94
Vauxhall Corsa
1.3 CDTi 95PS ecoFLEX S(AC), Exclusiv
(AC) Start/Stop Diesel 95
Vauxhall Astra
1.7 CDTi 110PS ecoFLEX Exclusiv
Start/Stop Diesel 99
Vauxhall Astra
1.7 CDTi 130PS ecoFLEX Exclusiv, Tech
Line Start/Stop Diesel 99
Vauxhall Ampera
Elec/1.4 149PS Electric 0/40
Volkswagen Up! 1.0i 60PS Bluemotin Move Up! Petrol 95
Volkswagen New
Golf 1.6
TDI 104PS Bluemotion Start/Stop Diesel 85
Volkswagen Polo 1.2
TDI 75PS Bluemotion Diesel 91
Volvo C30 1.6D
DRIVe ES, SE, SE Lux Start/Stop Diesel
99
Volvo V40 1.6
D2 ES, SE, SE Lux Diesel 94
Volvo S40 1.6D
DRIVe ES, SE, SE Lux Start/Stop Diesel
99
Volvo V50 1.6D
DRIVe ES, SE, SE Lux Start/Stop Diesel
99
Well that is over 80 different model of car who use the road for FREE, then we have
- Vehicles registered to disabled people, although it should be noted that the person is exempt and not the vehicle - estimated 1.12 million vehicles in 2010
- Emergency vehicles (includes police cars, fire-engines, and ambulances and other health-service vehicles)
- Vehicles registered to ex-soldiers who receive a war pensioners' mobility supplement
- Ministerial cars
- Vehicles operated by the Government Car and Despatch Agency and cars imported by members of foreign armed forces
- Road construction vehicle
- 'Crown vehicles' for the use of the royal family
HOW DO YOU CLAIM THE DISC THAT SHOWS NIL RATE .
Well this brings us on to the MOT , INSURANCE argument that gets spouted
OK MOT - what is covered
by referring to the document Your Car and the MOT by the department of transport http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/CONT071791.pdf
you can see that the following checks are required
Body Structure and Engine mountings. - bicycles dont have an engine - pass
Fuel System, check for leaks and security - bicycles dont need external fuel supply -pass
Emmisions - Bicycles dont have emmisions - pass
Exhaust system - Bicycles dont have exhaust systems - pass
Seat Belts - Bicycles dont have seatbelts - pass
Seat - Seat . well this can be checked - is there a seat on the bicyle and is it secure
Doors - no doors on a bicyle - pass
Mirrors - mirrors not standard on a bicylce -pass
Brakes Efficiency Test of ABS - check brakes on bicycle
Tyres and wheels - - check tryes and pressure on bicycle
Registration Plates - bicycles dont have them - pass
Lights - check lights are working , not a legal requirement on a bycicle- pass
Bonnet - bicycles dont have bonnets - pass
Windscreen Wipers - dont have windscreen wipers -pass
Horn - not standard on a bicycle - pass
Suspension and Steering some bicycles dont have suspension it is the elbows and knees but it is impossible to ride a bike with loose steering - pass
VIN - no - pass
Electrical Wiring - no - pass
Well you get the drift - but have you ever tried to handle a bicycle with low pressure in the tyres and a wobbly seat , you know and you fix it , and it can be done at home in the safety of your kitchen , low pressure in the tyres of a car at 40 miles an hour can be dangerous by overheating and blowout. So how does having an MOT on something that is powered by a human make a relevant argument.
INSURANCE
You need to have insurance and an mot to get a ved (road tax) ( car tax) disc to display in your vehicle.Yes that is write it is YOU the person that is insured to drive a specific named vehicle not the other way round. You insure YOU to DRIVE CAR. you dont insure CAR to have YOU inside it.
You can get 3rd party cover and public liability cover from CTC and British Cycling , and as we all know insurance only gets checked if there is an incident or the number plates get flagged by the ANPR cars and cameras and linked to regestration plates. Or you commit an offence on a public highway and get stopped by the police.
There are plenty of people that get vehicle insurance to get the disc then cancel the insurance afterwards to save money on the hope that the vehicle is never stolen or crashed, or pulled.
Insurance is a moral argument and again and to be honest it starts at £16 per annum and for people that care this would be purchased as i said before you can be a cock on a bicycle as well as a car.
CYCLING / DRIVING TEST
And finally , testing that you can ride a bike ,
OK - to drive a car takes some kind of skill and you have to learn to drive because this vehicle can kill someone else , like a gun but only bigger.
In order to get insurance on a vehicle you need to be signed off to handle that vehicle with some degeree of profficiency so the insurance company can underwrite the policy.
You only take this test and have to pass it once, then you are free to drive on any road you like regardless of experiance, remember the first time on the motorway .. scary wasnt it , well did you learn the rules of the motorway without an additional test NO just used your initiative , did you learn how to overtake a tractor on a country road ,well that is the same as getting on a bike , learning to ride and then starting to commute and picking up roadcraft as you go , self preservation comes into force here.
So Sue Plunkett and people of your ilk, i have seen plenty of new people driving cars with limited road sence , and being protected just adds to the danger to others rather than self preservation.
So as William Blake once said
To Generalise is to be an idiot ,
Your opinion is a tale told by an idiot , full of sound and fury signifying nothing - william shakespere
