Protection of vulnerable road users from motorised traffic (both perceived and actual)

You’re again mixing up some things. Taking liberties with someone is not the same thing as not abiding by traffic rules. Whatever their - other traffic participants - reasons are (ignorance, indolence or whatever), my attitude as a driver is to wait till is safe to overtake them and avoid to come too close, tailgate, honk etc. But you do you.

I think quite a few of them are bullies and rely on this laissez faire attitude.

Agreed.

There are many reasons why they may choose to do so, including garbage in the gutter, uneven, slippery or other hazardous metalwork (think slotted drain covers, for example); just because you’re unaware of them doesn’t mean they’re not there, and they may have spotted something ahead, maybe even a parked car a couple of hundred metres away, such that if they move over to let you pass they’ll have to push out into the traffic again to avoid it. I used to do this all the time when commuting, then let them past with a wave when I deemed it appropriate.

The point is that they have every right to do so, and you have no right whatsoever to expect them to move over just because you don’t possess the patience to wait until they deem it safe to move over.

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Fair enough, I just overtake them when I deem it appropriate.

(Also, I can’t help but notice but I’ve almost never seen a cyclist sitting in a traffic jam - for some reason then the bike lanes become perfect for use and even driving in the gutter becomes acceptable!)

It’s appropriate when you can overtake the cyclist safety with at least 1m clearance at low speeds (20-30Kph) and much more at higher speeds.

If this means you need to wait a bit longer before overtaking then so be it - you’re not some impatient child, are you?

Sure. But if it’s an open road and there is no reason for the cyclist to be in the middle of the lane then I probably won’t be as fussed about his 1m clearance.

(It’s probably not a coincidence that cyclists are often stereotyped as selfish, inconsiderate, arrogant, entitled, arseholes etc.)

Stinky bait.

Just for science.

Have you noticed a difference along the seasons of the year?

There’s some people out there who only take the bike out of the storage a few days a year in the summer. Not surprisingly, they swerve and it looks like they’re going to crash at any moment due to lack of practice.

Also, these “cyclists” display very poor spatial awareness. Near my flat there is a lovely bike path next to a small river and shaded by trees, you may even call it idyllic. This bike path is somewhat parallel to the road with cars and large milk trucks delivering to an Emmi factory. During summer days, you’ll find the twice-a-year cyclists on the road with large trucks…only half a minute away from the beautiful and protected bike path.

I’m super careful with the twice-a-year cyclists because it looks like they’re going to fall at any time and I don’t want to run them over with the car. I’m happy I don’t live in a tourist area where you’ll find them year round.

That’s my anecdote. Nice weather days come along twice-a-year cyclists. Rain or lower temps come and you’ll only see cyclists that practice often enough, good balance and that have an idea of what they’re going, optimizing paths, etc.

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You really don’t get it. It’s sad that people like you are allowed to drive.

It’s on the open road where I’ve nearly been killed a few times.

Many of the 80km/h roads in Switzerland are so narrow that two cars can barely pass - but some people will still try and overtake a cyclist when a car is coming the other way - giving inches between the car’s wing mirror and the cyclist.

The only way to stop this is to cycle further out. It’s not a problem for most drivers as they know they need to give at least 1.5 or 2m gap when they overtake a cyclist at that speed which will take them right across the other side of the road anyway.

So it doesn’t matter. The problem isn’t the cyclist - it’s you and your entitled sense that people shouldn’t get in your way. They are not in your way - they are using the road and if you can’t handle that then you shouldn’t be driving.

Many other European countries have recently introduced laws which effectively mean people like you have a very real chance of having their driving licences taken away from them.

The sad thing is you are not the only one here who thinks the way you do. FFS do something about your stinking attitude.

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We have a similar bike path near us, and this beautiful brand-spanking new, wide, smooth path is literally NEXT to the (80 km/h) road. Does this entice the cyclists to use it? Absolutely not.

I’ve had a razz on it a few times on my bike and it’s a beaut!

I’m guessing it cost millions to build it. Just for me! :wink:

FWIW, I have recently spent a bit of time road biking in Germany that has a 1.5m minimum passing distance law. I did not have the impression that cars keep any more of a distance than here in Switzerland. Violating the rule also carries a fine of 30 Euros as far as I know. 100 Euros in case of an accident.

You’re a cyclist - it enticed you. Or do you consider yourself not a cyclist?

I always use cycle paths where I can - many don’t. Many do. It’s not black and white.

I’ve tried to understand why some people don’t.

Some add a few kilometres on to a journey compared with a straight line route and I could understand people not using these on a commute but they are up in the hills so it’s not that.
They are lovely, thought-out routes with hardly any, or no vehicle traffic.

I know some cycle routes are difficult to find.
I’ve been on some by chance but have had trouble finding them again and have, on many occasions, given up and gone on the main road (with cycle lanes marked).
Perhaps some of the sign-posting needs looking at with a fresh set of eyes.

Perhaps there’s someone on the forum that sees things different and prefers the roads. Perhaps they could explain why?

Not in Switzerland. In Germany, I found the bike routes often to be in poor shape (potholes etc.) and switching from one side of the road to the other very often.

30 Euros is nothing.

In the UK, in some areas where the Police have been pro-active, and online reporting is allowed via uploaded bike camera video, the changes are, apparently noticeable.

The punishments:

If motorists don’t obey, they are guilty of ‘careless driving’ and will be liable for 6 penalty points and a fine of £100 under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

If taken to court, (if a driver contests the fine) drivers can receive up to 9 penalty points of between 15 and 50% of their weekly income, or even a discretionary disqualification from driving.

You can sometimes get a driver improvement course instead.

If you get 12 points, you get your licence taken away and as many people have had three points taken away for a minor speeding offence, there’s quite a chance of losing one’s licence.

Its not a lot, but its 30 EUR more than what a cyclist would get fined for driving in the middle of the road.

I’m a goddess upon my twin-wheeled steed of speed. “Cyclist” wouldn’t even cover it… :princess: :bike:

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Wrong. There is a 15 Euro fine for this. In theory.

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Are your @KingKong’s buddy? Or just as stupid?

I have never, ever, seen a cyclist cycle in the middle of the road.

In the middle of the lane yes, - called the primary position and necessary, for example, in some towns where the lanes is narrow and cars are parked along the side of the road.

I might be stupid, but this has nothing to do with bikers riding in the middle of the lane, which happens and is not an infrequent occurrence. You can invent all kinds of gimmiky terms for it, but its dangerous, arrogant and entitled.

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