And as for this “Cyclists need to follow the rules like everyone else, to help them remain safe on the road, and when they don’t they put their own safety at risk since they are the most vulnerable in a collision. They are all too quick to blame anyone else for the accident, when in fact it shouldn’t have happened because the cyclist shouldn’t have been there at that moment”

My friend was hospitalised for seven months by a driver on the phone who hit him and drove away – I suppose that was his fault by your logic? Fines should be the same for all and applied consistently, for all.

If we all stick to the rules/regulations then that should be sufficient to safeguard all road users.

Lets face it. Those whom choose to flout the regulations are the real cause of concern here.

I occasionally drive a car in central London, and especially during rush hour, the constant weaving and unpredictable actions of cyclists makes driving extremely difficult. Buses and lorries have a much harder time because they have several blind spots, require much larger turning circles and are harder to stop quicklly. But buses and lorries, in my experience, almost always bahave predictably. Many times I see cyclists cycle alongside a lorry that is either turning, or is about to, because they see an opportunity to make progress themselves, not showing any consideration to others on the road.

I may have more sympathy than most, because I myself hold amotorcycle, car, and PCV driving licences,.and I understand the difficulties each face when driving in traffic.

Cyclists need to follow the rules like everyone else, to help them remain safe on the road, and when they don’t they put their own safety at risk since they are the most vulnerable in a collision. They are all too quick to blame anyone else for the accident, when in fact it shouldn’t have happened because the cyclist shouldn’t have been there at that moment. Sure there are bad drivers, but not as many as the cycluist would like you to believe. I think stricter regulation for cyclists and fines when they break the rules would make London a safer place for all.

Incidentally I cycle to work everyday in central London, and hold many London cyclists in quite low regard.

”None of which make anyone more or less accountable for breaking of the law”

A test in theory should improve standards, insurance improves the chances of reinbursement, a registration plate ultimately leads to greater accountability via traceability.
As you state ‘all road users can be fined’ but cyclists are not traceable unlike dvla registered motorists.

Interesting:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=brodog

”taxi drivers who don’t care if they pass you by just to stop right in front of you 10 meters later”

Hi Fistiee,

You know those things on your handlebars…..no, not the bell which I doubt you actually have …The brakes.

If you squeeze them then your bike will eventually come to a halt……give it a try some time. If you cannot get your bike to stop in 30ft distance then you really need lessons on how to do it properly.