Comments on: Daft Old Duffer: Bike Laws http://ventnorblog.com/2009/11/14/daft-old-duffer-bike-laws/ VentnorBlog - It's not just about Ventnor! News from the Isle of Wight. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:15:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Wabbit http://ventnorblog.com/2009/11/14/daft-old-duffer-bike-laws/#comment-77043 Wabbit Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:42:55 +0000 http://ventnorblog.com/?p=34464#comment-77043 Unfortunately Not. As the clocks have just changed it is very noticable,especially on roads like Brading and Arreton Downs with no street lights.I myself have a crack in a forward fog light (one that shines downwards and a short distance) but it will not be replaced unless picked up on the MOT! Unfortunately Not. As the clocks have just changed it is very noticable,especially on roads like Brading and Arreton Downs with no street lights.I myself have a crack in a forward fog light (one that shines downwards and a short distance) but it will not be replaced unless picked up on the MOT!

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]]> By: Meursault http://ventnorblog.com/2009/11/14/daft-old-duffer-bike-laws/#comment-76995 Meursault Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:16:42 +0000 http://ventnorblog.com/?p=34464#comment-76995 I invested £1500 in a very nice bike a few years ago with two goals - firstly to get fitter and secondly to 'do my bit' and reduce my carbon footprint a little. My initial plan was to ride as much as possible and eventually to only use the car when i really needed too. The first week I hit the roads and came very close on a number of occasions to writing the bike and myself off. The following week I decided to stick to off road riding as a much safer option and I found myself being treated with utter contempt by ramblers, dog walkers etc. So at the beginning of week three I decided to invest a further £200 in some super-powerful lights and only ride at night, off road. This worked great throughout the winter months but as the summer arrived I found myself having to hit the trails at like 10pm, which was a lot less practical. So if the government wants me to ride my bike (which i really do) it needs to invest in infrastructure. A few tweaks and laws here and there are not going to encourage more people to trade the car in for a bike. I invested £1500 in a very nice bike a few years ago with two goals – firstly to get fitter and secondly to ‘do my bit’ and reduce my carbon footprint a little. My initial plan was to ride as much as possible and eventually to only use the car when i really needed too.

The first week I hit the roads and came very close on a number of occasions to writing the bike and myself off. The following week I decided to stick to off road riding as a much safer option and I found myself being treated with utter contempt by ramblers, dog walkers etc. So at the beginning of week three I decided to invest a further £200 in some super-powerful lights and only ride at night, off road. This worked great throughout the winter months but as the summer arrived I found myself having to hit the trails at like 10pm, which was a lot less practical.

So if the government wants me to ride my bike (which i really do) it needs to invest in infrastructure. A few tweaks and laws here and there are not going to encourage more people to trade the car in for a bike.

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]]> By: Sailor Sam http://ventnorblog.com/2009/11/14/daft-old-duffer-bike-laws/#comment-76983 Sailor Sam Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:33:37 +0000 http://ventnorblog.com/?p=34464#comment-76983 Obviously you should get out more! Take a stroll along Ryde Esplanade near LA Bowl occasionally. Obviously you should get out more! Take a stroll along Ryde Esplanade near LA Bowl occasionally.

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]]> By: Sailor Sam http://ventnorblog.com/2009/11/14/daft-old-duffer-bike-laws/#comment-76981 Sailor Sam Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:57:07 +0000 http://ventnorblog.com/?p=34464#comment-76981 Obviously you should get out more! Take a stroll along Ryde Esplanade near LA Bowl occasionally. As for the point about having one headlight, I take it that was a joke? Obviously you should get out more! Take a stroll along Ryde Esplanade near LA Bowl occasionally.

As for the point about having one headlight, I take it that was a joke?

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]]> By: BigEars http://ventnorblog.com/2009/11/14/daft-old-duffer-bike-laws/#comment-76978 BigEars Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:53:57 +0000 http://ventnorblog.com/?p=34464#comment-76978 What do you know – there are cycle elitists too! They get everywhere. Damn those non-cyclist behaving people having the cheek to come here and ride their pieces of chesse (I think you meant cheese, Jan). My first experience was with something more like a triangle of Dairylea. It was a tricycle (well I was only three), but I got the bug. I went on to own some very fancy bikes indeed. I'm not sure if I knew how to behave as a 'Cyclist' but I certainly new how to ride properly on and off road and quickly understood to behave pro-actively in order to avoid motorists who unwittingly filter their vision for car shaped objects and not bicycles. What do you know – there are cycle elitists too! They get everywhere. Damn those non-cyclist behaving people having the cheek to come here and ride their pieces of chesse (I think you meant cheese, Jan). My first experience was with something more like a triangle of Dairylea. It was a tricycle (well I was only three), but I got the bug. I went on to own some very fancy bikes indeed. I’m not sure if I knew how to behave as a ‘Cyclist’ but I certainly new how to ride properly on and off road and quickly understood to behave pro-actively in order to avoid motorists who unwittingly filter their vision for car shaped objects and not bicycles.

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]]> By: Wabbit http://ventnorblog.com/2009/11/14/daft-old-duffer-bike-laws/#comment-76952 Wabbit Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:59:38 +0000 http://ventnorblog.com/?p=34464#comment-76952 I have never seen a cyclist at night on the Island without lights on. BUMP Just another pothole!!If you only have one headlight that works drive on full beam you can see better, and other road users know your coming. I have never seen a cyclist at night on the Island without lights on. BUMP Just another pothole!!If you only have one headlight that works drive on full beam you can see better, and other road users know your coming.

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]]> By: Jan http://ventnorblog.com/2009/11/14/daft-old-duffer-bike-laws/#comment-76929 Jan Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:09:03 +0000 http://ventnorblog.com/?p=34464#comment-76929 The Isle of Wight used to be marketed as "Bicycle Isle". Problem now is that there are too many people riding BSO - aka Bike shaped objects ie the cheap full suspension etc like bikes for under £100- so you might as well be riding a piece of chesse!!-. Unfortunately they do not have a clue how to behave as "Cyclists". On top of this we have drivers who give no consideration to any cyclists. It should be noted that in Belgium cyclists are allowed to ride against the flow of traffic in one way streets- without problems. Probably beacause unlike UK, Belgium has a cycling culture. The Isle of Wight used to be marketed as “Bicycle Isle”.
Problem now is that there are too many people riding BSO – aka Bike shaped objects ie the cheap full suspension etc like bikes for under £100- so you might as well be riding a piece of chesse!!-. Unfortunately they do not have a clue how to behave as “Cyclists”. On top of this we have drivers who give no consideration to any cyclists.
It should be noted that in Belgium cyclists are allowed to ride against the flow of traffic in one way streets- without problems. Probably beacause unlike UK, Belgium has a cycling culture.

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]]> By: Steephill Jack http://ventnorblog.com/2009/11/14/daft-old-duffer-bike-laws/#comment-76928 Steephill Jack Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:57:19 +0000 http://ventnorblog.com/?p=34464#comment-76928 Legislation doesn't make things happen on the street. What we need is more pedestrian and cycle routes free of motor-vehicle traffic. This can be done anywhere: London and the Isle of Wight. It just needs a determind policy and some money. Over to you Eco-Island ! Legislation doesn’t make things happen on the street. What we need is more pedestrian and cycle routes free of motor-vehicle traffic.
This can be done anywhere: London and the Isle of Wight. It just needs a determind policy and some money. Over to you Eco-Island !

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]]> By: Cheesybits http://ventnorblog.com/2009/11/14/daft-old-duffer-bike-laws/#comment-76908 Cheesybits Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:12:34 +0000 http://ventnorblog.com/?p=34464#comment-76908 Can I just point out that pedestrians are required to step onto a (Zebra) crossing to stop the oncomming traffic. It's the drivers responsibiliy to allow for this eventuality when approaching. At least that was what it said in the Highway Code last time I read it (1972). Can I just point out that pedestrians are required to step onto a (Zebra) crossing to stop the oncomming traffic. It’s the drivers responsibiliy to allow for this eventuality when approaching. At least that was what it said in the Highway Code last time I read it (1972).

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]]> By: SB http://ventnorblog.com/2009/11/14/daft-old-duffer-bike-laws/#comment-76901 SB Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:29:51 +0000 http://ventnorblog.com/?p=34464#comment-76901 More than you do with no lights on!!! More than you do with no lights on!!!

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]]> By: Sailor Sam http://ventnorblog.com/2009/11/14/daft-old-duffer-bike-laws/#comment-76891 Sailor Sam Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:49:22 +0000 http://ventnorblog.com/?p=34464#comment-76891 And how many do you see at night with lights on? And how many do you see at night with lights on?

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