You are reading a single comment by @h2o and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@h2o
There are two arguments being conflated here, one about blame, t'other about brains.
On the blame side - the guys in the 2-ton (and more) tanks are in charge of dangerous machinery and should bloody well make sure they don't squash anybody with it.
On the brains side - the guys in 2-ton (and more) tanks are bloody morons in charge of dangerous machinery and you'd be best advised to keep your wits about you, or they'll squash you.
I think that there needs to be a shift in the social dynamics of road use to address the fact that drivers seem to think that it's their god-given right to drive how they like, and that somehow cyclists are inferior road-users. I'm very enamoured of the Dutch experiment in removing road markings and forcing road users to interact properly, though I suspect that London in partic and the UK in general lacks the kind of solidarity needed for that system to work. We all got too 'beggar-thy-neighbour' in the 80s...
I think also cyclists need to take more responsiblity for themselves, not because they're culpable, but just to stay alive/unhurt. The same 'rights' style of argumentation that drivers are guilty of, cyclists are also guilty of - but your 'rights' don't mean squat when you're a smear on the side of the road.
(As to red lights - treat as a Give Way sign, I'd argue)