The mentality of some motorists

[Moriarty]

It does (sort of) bring up an interesting point.

 

Cars are licensed and registered and through the number plate drivers can be identified.

 

Cyclist are anonymous. I wonder how the behaviors of cyclists would change if they were traceable?

Yes this is an excellent point, I for one would be most willing to register for and pay a regular license based on the mass and number of axles of my bicycles (same as for vehicles) as long as I then receive the same rights, insurance and treatment on the roads!!!

[MaxUmis]

Yes this is an excellent point, I for one would be most willing to register for and pay a regular license based on the mass and number of axles of my bicycles (same as for vehicles) as long as I then receive the same rights, insurance and treatment on the roads!!!

 

Below are the FIRST 3 points from the K53 drivers manual. The FIRST 3 points, and somehow there's still confusion from road users:

 

• Holding a driving licence is a privilege, not a right. The K53 tests evaluate your knowledge and driving ability. They do not evaluate your sense of responsibility or your state of mind. That is up to you. Are you really ready to do what it takes?

 

• Just as a firearm can be lethal in the hands of a licenced yet careless gun owner, so too can a motor vehicle. You need to be as mindful and as cautious when driving as you would need to be when handling and using a firearm, because both of them have the ability to injure or kill you as well as other people.

 

• When you accept the privilege of holding a driving licence, you also accept extra personal responsibilities:

• You will obey the traffic laws and apply the K53 defensive driving methodologies throughout your driving career;

• You will constantly stay focused and concentrate on the task of driving whenever you are operating the vehicle;

• You will at all times apply common-sense and courteous behavior when you are behind the wheel, or sitting astride a motorcycle.

['Dale]

Cool post, Max'

 

Food for thought there

[eddy]

It does (sort of) bring up an interesting point.

 

Cars are licensed and registered and through the number plate drivers can be identified.

 

Cyclist are anonymous. I wonder how the behaviors of cyclists would change if they were traceable?

In theory you are right, but we live in the real world of practicality and I must respectfully disagree with you.

 

The fiction that registration and licencing makes people traceble is shown by the collapse of the e-toll system

 

It is a tax on the honest.

 

Also, on the whole, I think I am more law-abiding on my bicycle than I am in my car.

 

I am sure In small ways I transgress the rules of the road on an ongoing basis:

Drifting over the speed limit, passing cars on the left (or getting passed on my left), not using my indicators to change lanes when there is nobody else on the road ( in my mind the exact equivalent of stopping and sneaking a red light when it is safe to do so at 04:45), stopping in a loading zone when popping into the pharmacy, etc.

 

I think we (with our motorist hats on) focus on those aspects that cyclists are reviled for: yielding at stop streets, treating red trafic lights as stop signs, etc and often disregard the laws we break whilst driving.

[dre]

 

Below are the FIRST 3... snip snip 

 

• You will at all times apply common-sense and courteous behavior when you are behind the wheel, or sitting astride a motorcycle.

 

 

The lack of the former in some drivers, sometimes makes it difficult to keep doing the latter 

[Eldron]

In theory you are right, but we live in the real world of practicality and I must respectfully disagree with you.

 

The fiction that registration and licencing makes people traceble is shown by the collapse of the e-toll system

 

It is a tax on the honest.

Whaaaaaaaat?

 

You and several other hubbers are disagreeing with me...uhhh why?

 

I asked if the behaviour of cyclists would change if they were traceable - never said anything about being pro licensing...

 

Let me try again - if cyclists were forced to have their name and contact number in big red letters on their back would they act differently on the road?

[Moriarty]

Whaaaaaaaat?

 

You and several other hubbers are disagreeing with me...uhhh why?

 

I asked if the behaviour of cyclists would change if they were traceable - never said anything about being pro licensing...

 

Let me try again - if cyclists were forced to have their name and contact number in big red letters on their back would they act differently on the road?

Yes they undoubtedly would, but so too would motorists if their names and contact details were prominantly displayed.

[eddy]

Let me try again - if cyclists were forced to have their name and contact number in big red letters on their back would they act differently on the road?

 

Nah, i think not. See the second point in my post above. Even when we are identifiable via our cars, we tend to break the law.

 

Two things that will work.

 

First, the group I ride with has sort of drifted into obeying the law. Peer pressure is working as the dudes who sneak the red lights feel a bit spare when the rest are politely waiting for it to turn to green. I think that this HAS made a difference.

 

Second, proper law enforcement. Like in all aspects of law enforcement it is the certainty of punishment (not necessarily the severity) that deters. Cops pulling people over consistently and making the charges stick will change our behaviour

[Marc Anthony]

Just a little patience is required between both parties...Unfortunately most motorist don't realize we simply have nothing to protect us unlike a MV and that moment of madness and haste to get somewhere quickly can change that of the cyclist and his Family forever.In 2009 I was a victim of a inconsiderate motorist doing a u-turn in a car and me hitting him on a motorcycle doing a slow speed of 54kmph,my injuries were significant and life threatening.This has taken some 5 years of constant rehabilitation to get to a point where I can function to a point of normality.We live in a society filled with anger,fear and no understanding towards one another so please motorists please think before you do something that will change lives forever.

[Pants Boy]

Hi Marc, welcome to the hub.

 

I don't necessarily agree with your statement that motorists don't know we're not 'safe' or protected - cannot tell you how many people have told me I'm stupid to ride in traffic as it's not 'safe'. They couldn't give a ****, they know we're not protected by a cage, but that will not change their mindset one iota.

[SwissVan]

Hi Marc, welcome to the hub.

 

I don't necessarily agree with your statement that motorists don't know we're not 'safe' or protected - cannot tell you how many people have told me I'm stupid to ride in traffic as it's not 'safe'. They couldn't give a ****, they know we're not protected by a cage, but that will not change their mindset one iota.

 

Yup

Its the courtesy thing, the lack of it

 

I'm all right, stuff the rest... attitude

 

All they (we / you) have to do if inflicated with this problem (lack of courtesy) is just think:

"What if that was my son / daughter" on the bike they see in fron of them....

 

 

But nee....I'm alright and going for lunch so stuff u all