Typical Cyclist

[silver fox]

Todays cyclist is very often tomorrows motorist.....I myself gained several years valuable on-road experience with a bike, before I turned seventeen and took to the road with a car.

Sure likewise as far as the bike is concerned, but totally illegally driving farm tractors all over the place from 14 years old and no-one batted an eyelid, today all hell would be let lose.

[The PNP]

Sure likewise as far as the bike is concerned, but totally illegally driving farm tractors all over the place from 14 years old and no-one batted an eyelid, today all hell would be let lose.

Some years ago, I've seen teenage lads take the 'tractor test', on the lane where we were living....Seemed to comprise of a quick drive up and down, whilst the examiner stood and watched.

[silver fox]

Some years ago, I've seen teenage lads take the 'tractor test', on the lane where we were living....Seemed to comprise of a quick drive up and down, whilst the examiner stood and watched.

I wasn’t even old enough to take any test, like many others in rural areas driving tractors in the field as soon as I could reach the pedals, the Grammar school I went to had longer summer holidays than most, the extra 3 weeks always went well into harvest time, any extra body who drive around the fields was very much in demand.

[The PNP]

I wasn’t even old enough to take any test, like many others in rural areas driving tractors in the field as soon as I could reach the pedals, the Grammar school I went to had longer summer holidays than most, the extra 3 weeks always went well into harvest time, any extra body who drive around the fields was very much in demand.

Kids have their uses.....My parents were in the hospitality sector (we lived on the premises). When there were too many customers for the staff to handle, I'd be called upon to free-up a staff member - by taking over at the washing-up sink!

[MICK/GILLY]

I like driving tractors there’s just something cool about them, I’ve driven them on the fields planting and years ago ( long before the Chinese drowned in Morecambe bay ) I used to go up to Bardsea everyday and take a big tractor and trailer ( sometimes a quad bike or trike ) out into the bay with a team of cocklers on it, we used to hire tractors off an agricultural engineer that lived right next to the beach, lots of local Southport names were there everyday , I started out working with the Rimmers then got in with another team, we did so well we ended up renting a house between 5 of us in Barrow, then a static caravan near Peel island, some days when the others were lazy and or hungover I used to walk along the coast and take a tractor far out into the bay alone ( cos I like money more than booze ) we sold our cockles straight off the beach to a trader ( fishers ) from lytham that used to appear with a wagon or brought them back to summers in Southport, we had a few close shaves with the tides ( greedy ) and have run a tractor and trailer loaded with people and cockles through deep gulleys with the fan hitting the water and the loaded back boards underwater just in time as the tide was coming in, yea quite frightening but there was serious money in it, I had a day off every two weeks when I had to be back in Southport ha.
Yea there’s something cool about tractors

I’ve been out at Southport on one of them older big shrimping wagons wow that’s an experience, I can only describe it as riding in a big garden shed with a big engine in the middle of it and a steering wheel so basically you are standing next to a big bare engine looking out the windows steering .

[Desert Region]

Here’s a novel idea, let’s all (drivers, cyclists and pedestrians) learn and adhere to the Highway Code which would have an immediate impact on casualty numbers.

Motorised vehicle riders / drivers have to pass a theory test based on the Highway Code before they can take their driving test also they have to comply with age restrictions.

In theory, cyclists have no age restrictions, do not have to undergo any training (practical or otherwise) to share the same space as motor vehicles.

A) Totally agree.....I would also like to see all currently licensed drivers be required to sit and pass a Highway Code theory test periodically, or have their license suspended. Because the Highway Code is regularly updated and I'll bet many drivers are either rusty and/or unaware of the changes/additions. E.g. how many know they should give bikes 1.5m clearance when overtaking?

B) Fyi, cyclists receive on-road training whilst at primary school.

So, motorists need to be tested periodically and be subject to sanctions re not passing those tests.

Meanwhile, cyclists can simply rely on what they learnt back at primary school. In the case of cyclists in their 70s, they can rely on what they were taught over 60 years ago...

[The PNP]

So, motorists need to be tested periodically and be subject to sanctions re not passing those tests.

Meanwhile, cyclists can simply rely on what they learnt back at primary school. In the case of cyclists in their 70s, they can rely on what they were taught over 60 years ago...

Any cyclist who has survived unscathed into their 70's, must not only be doing something right - they must lead a charmed life to have never been knocked off!

At end of day, it's infrastructure (or lack of it) that is at the heart of the issue. Put bikes on separate tarmac away from the motor traffic and motorists can drive how they like, without ever posing the slightest risk to the cyclist. Likewise, the cyclist can be highly ignorant of the HC, without ever getting under some vehicles wheels.

[justbecause]

Any cyclist who has survived unscathed into their 70's, must not only be doing something right - they must lead a charmed life to have never been knocked off!

At end of day, it's infrastructure (or lack of it) that is at the heart of the issue. Put bikes on separate tarmac away from the motor traffic and motorists can drive how they like, without ever posing the slightest risk to the cyclist. Likewise, the cyclist can be highly ignorant of the HC, without ever getting under some vehicles wheels.

Your sheer stupidity is never ending.

[Desert Region]

Any cyclist who has survived unscathed into their 70's, must not only be doing something right - they must lead a charmed life to have neve been knocked off!

Doubling down on this notion that cyclists don't need any training or testing over and above what they had back at primary school! There's no guarantee that cyclists will even remember what training they had over 60 years ago! Never mind, though, there's always luck and magical charms and magical thinking.

[Desert Region]

Any cyclist who has survived unscathed into their 70's, must not only be doing something right - they must lead a charmed life to have never been knocked off!

At end of day, it's infrastructure (or lack of it) that is at the heart of the issue. Put bikes on separate tarmac away from the motor traffic and motorists can drive how they like, without ever posing the slightest risk to the cyclist. Likewise, the cyclist can be highly ignorant of the HC, without ever getting under some vehicles wheels.

So you can keep on saying!

[The PNP]

Doubling down on this notion that cyclists don't need any training or testing over and above what they had back at primary school! There's no guarantee that cyclists will even remember what training they had over 60 years ago! Never mind, though, there's always luck and magical charms and magical thinking.

Well, a generous helping of luck is a highly desirable commodity, particularly when mixing it on a bike (pedal or powered) in present-day traffic!

[Desert Region]

Well, a generous helping of luck is a highly desirable commodity, particularly when mixing it on a bike (pedal or powered) in present-day traffic!

Which leads back and feeds into the point that the on-road training a cyclist experienced via primary school perhaps over 60 years ago isn't going to be representative of the present-day road-going experience, is it?!

[The PNP]

Which leads back and feeds into the point that the on-road training a cyclist experienced via primary school perhaps over 60 years ago isn't going to be representative of the present-day road-going experience, is it?!

No amount of training (as Sir Bradley Wiggins found out) can ever protect you from being knocked off by a bad driver.

[Desert Region]

No amount of training (as Sir Bradley Wiggins found out) can ever protect you from being knocked off by a bad driver.

Doubling down again on your 'why bother' attitude re cycling safety & training and cyclists' responsibilities.

The irresponsibility of believing that a cyclist having had on-road training over 60 years ago back at primary school days is where that cyclist's responsibility and training ends is a dismal philosophy.

If your attitude is pervasive, it's little wonder so many cyclists end up in accidents.

[local]

With the large amount of self-inflicted injuries, far larger than with motorists cyclists need saving mainly from themselves.

Compulsory training and safety gear would be a lifesaver.


If only they had a champion that really cared about them/us.