General Chat

Right I will start another thread

I've read through this thread with much interest and could comment at great length about all your thoughts. One thing that I notice hasn't been mentioned is "children on bikes". How would we view this subject. Should they be taxed/insured, etc.? How would it be policed?

We have two kids, both are using their bikes now that we cannot afford to use the car to get them to school. They are both at primary school and have a 4-mile round trip - a 4-mile round trip twice a day for whoever is taking them to and from school that day. Would this mean that we, as a family, would have to pay 4 times? Would that then mean that in fact it would be cheaper to return to the car?

Gosh, I am getting a palpitations and hyperventilating just thinking about it.

I think its really quite simple Eldrick, like so many threads on GR this one has wondered off its original path - but I understand what you are saying.

Im missing your point - I thought this thread was about taxing cyclists.......not punishing those who transgress.......which is a different topic altogether.

I dont think taxation can be used as a punishment - it then would become a fine. And in this country, at least for now, everyone has a right to a trial before they are punished - unless you are being held by the immigration service that is.....

So I don't really see where taxation and punishment can be related to each other....especially to be punished before you have actually done anything...

Perhaps we should just lock up cyclists who decide to deliberately mow people down and cause their deaths...I think so!

I'm afraid no amout of taxation would cater for this particular idiot. In this court case, it seems the law itself was on trial.

since when have taxes been used to punish people who havent done anything for the sins of others?

What a good idea that is. why stop at cyclists?

pleased those who think tax or insurance for cyclists are 'lol' so being killed by a a twit on a bike is okay then? oh yes I forgot the community service they might get tsk

lol

thats what we need, more taxation!

I think thyey should tax people on how much light they get into their houses as well. Oh, and on how many fires they have (another green tax) and why not on the amount of air we breath?

Just think of all the lovely wars we could finance with that lot!

Pablo, you failed to mention that the cyclist was on the pavement, and the girl (and her parents) had crossed the road and the girl was stepping onto the pavement and heading for a shop, The last thing anyone expected was a cyclist on the pavement!!!

I used to cycle a lot around Portsmouth/Southsea and later on when we lived just outside a village, and had to cycle the children to school 2 miles away.
I NEVER cycled on the pavement - neither did my children. If the traffic got a bit 'hairy' we would dismount and walk - with the bike on the road!!
Now I am a pedestrian and get really peed off by cyclists riding their bikes on the pavement - especially if they're adult and going fast.

As for going the wrong way down one-way streets, I'm sure I heard some politician suggest this should be allowed. They can join the car drivers who think going backwards (facing the right way) down a one-way street is acceptable!!

Pity the poor pedestrian.

Cars holding up a cyclist lol in this part of the world most of the cyclists are on the footpaths.

Ann- yes My OH was sent headfirst into the fruit and veg and I was run over by a very abusive man in a mobility scooter who was determined to get through the shoppers and go out of the 'in door' at our local supermarket...shame he hadnt got a number plate that I could have reported

As far as cyclist insurance being enforced really quite simple...when you buy a TV you have to give a current address to the shop so that the TV licence folk know you have a TV and can pursue a licence fee...same could apply with a cycle...

I for one am all for cylists paying road tax etc, but as for insurance, how would it be enforced?
Over here the cyclists dont give two hoots for the traffic, they frequently go the wrong way round roundabouts, looking left for traffic, about to enter roundabout and find a cyclist coming from the right, happened a few times to me. As for lights, I have never seen one here with lights!

PS we drive on right here incase you are thinking look left?

they should be like the radio licence system......you have to give accomodation(which are covered by a tv licence) details when you buy a radio/telly/dvd/ video player.......why not a similar system for bikers?

n

Cyclists, mobility scooter riders....make them take basic tests, pay tax and at have at least third party insurance...most of them are a nightmare and need dealing with far more robustly than they are at present

I know this is a bit late but did you see in the news a couple of days ago.
A cyclist crashed into a young girl and knocked her over causing damage to her head which resulted in her death.

What was his sentence a fine of £2500. This discusted me when I heard it. The man should have been locked up at least.

If it had have been a motorist who killed the girl the I guarantee that he/she would be serving time in one oher majesty's holiday camps.

The law is an ass I've heard that somewhere before

Dermot I live about 40 miles away from you and we have no cycle lanes and most of the cyclists cycle in the middle of the road. I admit I drive due to haveing 3 young children but I used to cycle. My problem here is that the cyclists here do not give 2 hoots for other road users as I stated in my first post on pg1. Some of them are darn dangerous in fact. How do we here in a small town in Cornwall get cycle paths? My children have nearly been knocked over by a cyclist using the paths on more than 1 occasion. I dont mean to sound like I am having a go at all cyclists because i am not i respect those who are carefull and conciderate. Lynette xx

I drive (a motorbike) in London and am fed up with cyclist who feel that they can completely disregard every rule of the road.
It is unusual to see one stop at a traffic light and they frequently go the wrong way down one way streets,
Cycle lanes have been provided on some roads near the Post Office Tower, cutting the road for motorised traffic down to one lane.
It must have cost tens of thousands of pounds to put those in but hardly any cyclists use those roads whilst it causes congestion and pollution from vehicles which have to wait for two or more changes of the traffic lights to get through.

good for you Dermot

Ann - couldn't agree more. Colleagues sometimes refer to me as the moving Christmas tree, I'm so well lit up. But, I don't care.