Council chief says cyclists should "protect themselves"

These kinda discussions ALWAYS come down to a Human in a box that can kill - respecting another human that would be killed if 1st human is up their own ass !

I do agree with him as per cyclists getting lights etc..as he points out a No. of car drivers like to play big person p.o.v - this is very very very wrong and should be enforced but at the same time - with police No.s going up the wall...whos gonna do that ??

And so, we fight amongst ourselves.

For those who haven't already done these debates to death...

Here's CTC's campaigns briefing on cyclists and the law:
http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/Briefings/Cyclists-behaviour-and-law_brf...

And a couple of briefings on helmets, one setting out CTC's policy stance:
http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/Campaigns/Cycle-helmets_brf.pdf

...and a second providing an overview of the evidence:
http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/Campaigns/Cycle-helmets-(the-evidence)_brf.pdf

Fuller coverage of the evidence on the helmet debate is on the website of the Bicycle Helmets Research Foundation:
www.cyclehelmets.org

Roger Geffen
Campaigns & Policy Director
CTC, the national cycling charity

What I dislike about Cllr Clarke's rant is the presumption that cyclists are a nuisance to drivers that should only be tolerated if every cyclist follows the Highway Code to the letter.

In Cllr Clarke's world, it would appear that one random maverick who jumps a red light is justification for all drivers to bully all cyclists.

It needs to be underlined forcefully that a bike doesn't have safety belts, airbags and crumple zones to protect us. We are vulnerable on the road and expect consideration.

Most of us who are experienced cyclists will make an informed decision about helmet wearing and our behaviour may or may not be influenced by it being on our head - we take the decision and accept the consequences based on our collective experiences and knowledge (I personally wear a helmet on most rides but there are times when I do not).

If a friend or relative of mine were taking up cycling from scratch I would advise them to wear a helmet to start with and then with time they will make there own decision.

How does Councillor Nick Clarke know that every cyclist who in his words are "going through red lights, not having lights on at night, and not having appropriate clothing to make themselves visible" are members of Cambridge Cycling Campaign. MI5 should definitely recruit this man just think of the money the government would save on internet snooping!

"I personally see numerous cases of cyclists going through red lights, not having lights on at night"

Got to agree. I see it alot too and it does my head in. It gives us all a bad name.

If the law were changed so that it was 'open season' for motorists to run down cyclists with no helmets, there'd be carnage on the roads. If on the other hand the law were changed to declare open season for cyclists to run down any motorists using their mobile phones while driving, no-one would notice the difference. Anyone cycling aggressively,challenging the guy in the car or truck nearby to a verbal duel, or perceived by their friendly testosterone charged neighbourhood motorist to be aggressive, is taking a short cut to the mortuary. Sad but true.

perhaps cyclists - who wear helmets, obey all the rules, have lights, wear hi vis gear and have a bell should be permitted to wear a sidearm.

This would allow them to protect themselves fully - as the councillor suggests by equalizing the level of risk for drivers who break the law and/or intimidate cyclists.

Oh Christ on a Bike Hardgrit! Are you new to this site or just felt "Wtf! I'll start the helmet/no helmet debate yet again..."? Don't make eye contact and follow me slowly to the door...

I agree with all you've said btw. It's all about sharing. At present some drivers and councillors don't want us: on the pavement, on the road, filtering to the front of the queue at the lights, on A roads, B roads, country lanes... Sheer weight of numbers is changing this but the battle with never be over.

Freedom for Tooting!

I only stated on Wednesday evening to a rider coming the other way having almost jumped the red lights (they changed as he had edged all the way forward and then started off) "Red lights are intended for everyone". It isn't any skin off my nose what others do. Oh actually yes it is because I am so frustrated by how much I get accused of the sins of "other" cyclists. I have got to the point now where I am trying very hard now not to rise to the bait. But it is very hard. "We" seem to be only slightly above the level of child molesters in the opinion of a lot of the general public.

Last week I had someone pulling out/filtering on me from a side road on to a dual carriage way, that I was already on. "this is a dual carriage way" he shouted. "Yes" replies I "and I'm the one already on it".

I hope that CCC do all they can to stop Councillor Nick Clarke from getting re-elected.

Hardgrit I don't think that what you have said is controversial. Just common sense. I drive a car and ride a bike and i believe in keeping to the highway code, (observing red lights, not parking in cycle lanes, etc.) regardless of the vehicle i am using.

I am being controversial here but I do have to agree with him to an extent.
I commute into work twice a week in Manchester (as well as weekends) and see way too many cyclists not wearing helmets, not having lights or lights that are barely visisble in winter and plenty of people riding straight through red lights.
I am no saint and have had to flout the law on occasion for the benefit of my own saftey but i certainly do not make a habit of it and will always try and obey the rules of the road. There is always going to be an us and them argument with cars and cyclists (even though i imagine 99% of us also drive cars) but I see plenty of people giving car drivers an excuse to bash us with the above examples.
This does not detract though that there are plenty of idiot, inconsiderate car/vehicle drivers on the road that also need to sharpen up and stick to the rules.
If cyclists do their bit then then is no excuse for vehicles any more.
Wear a helmet, get some decent lights (very cheap) and don't be riding through red lights. Not cool!

P.S. Bike lanes are for bikes so get your bloody car out of it!

never trust anyone who uses the term 'pushbike' to make a rational comment on cycling.

He's got a point but whenever anyone says anything like this, they generally don't think before opening their mouths and it sounds like they're blaming cyclists. Just not thought about the tone or context of their comments.

To be fair, some cyclists are their own worst enemies, equally for every incident of bad cycling I see, there are plenty of other incidents involving motorised traffic - every single commute I will see people on their mobiles, jumping lights, infringing ASLs, overtakes & turn left, parking on double yellows or pavements etc etc.

What's needed is not some blame culture of "cyclist" vs "motorist" but far stricter road laws enforcement against ALL road users.

@antonio - I've always felt that the cycle jousting idea had some merit. Boxing glove on a long stick, some kind of solid face protection. I'd certainly pay to watch...

Imagine if the government said, "no more new motorways until everyone stops speeding"

Funny how we never see the "we're not helping you until you all behave" argument applied to motorists, eh

Seriously, I suspect many Cambridge cyclists, even if they know the law, will not obey it until they see a majority of drivers obeying the law and being punished properly for breaking it.

Handlebar-mounted RPG launcher (a favourite fantasy of mine)?