So long, and thanks for all the road tax!

[powerkitemad]

Is there such a thing as road tax?

[TangoDown1bat]

I have to be honest this video is abit daft.

I cycled everyday to work but lets be honest whats amazing about cycling in strong wind and rain and the blood freezing cold before you even start work and then do it all again when you've finished work.

Obviously driving is an utter rip off but it certainly beats cycling.

[jugglerjim01]

It's good to see a fellow cyclists video that doesn't whine about selfish drivers and also doesn't show the cyclist riding like he owns the road :)

[qothesa]

Why drive a car? Get to listen to music or the radio, chill out in my own world in a nice comfy seat..put the heater on when it's cold, or air con on when it's hot. Maybe have something to eat or drink..all whilst watching cyclists getting pissed on by the rain in Edinburgh.. Yea you fly past us in these built up bits..but we always end up overtaking you eventually. Why do you do it? It's funny how its never occurred to cyclists to ditch the bike. Weird. Or maybe you can't afford to drive? Shame

[bidefordrfc]

Im not being funny but i think cyclists get complacent at having their own lanes that they begin to think everyone should give way to them...

As a car driver I am aware of when other drivers make mistakes i.e misjudge my speed and pull out which results in me having to slow slightly as i catch up to them (something which would result in the failure of a driving test for them!)...

cyclists on the other hand take a kamikaze "i'll keep my speed and make a big deal out of their mistake"

[catbells69]

@bidefordrfc "i'll keep my speed and make a big deal out of their mistake"

It doesn't matter what speed you cycle as motorists aren't bothered. It's not a "kamikaze" attitude on the part of cyclists, it's a selfish and/or dangerous attitude of the motorist.

[bidefordrfc]

@catbells69

no it really isn't... I'll try and re-word what I said...

if i am driving along a road and a motorist pulls out and starts driving down the road and i have to brake *i.e me slowing down* that driver would have failed his driving test. It's an error on his part, however in order for me to avoid a crash EVEN THOUGH HE PULLED IN FRONT! i should would slow down. Cyclists on the other hand will swerve passed and make a big hand gesture or a big yell"

Each side has its idiots!

[catbells69]

@bidefordrfc Driver error where it impacts on a cyclist is more serious than the other way around.

As you point out, each side does have its idiots.

I don't have a horn, so I will yell at idiots who endanger me.

[bidefordrfc]

@catbells69

.....right but sometimes you guys yell at people when it really doesn't require yelling or a horn, it requires being a careful road user yourself and perhaps driving a little more carefully and defensively than adopting the kamikaze attitude.

I think a lot of it stems from the fact that once you slow you have to pedal harder to get going again, so most cyclists would rather maintain their speed until the last minute....

reckless road using in my eyes!

[catbells69]

@bidefordrfc I don't speak for others who may yell. I do so when it warrants it. I'm still alive only because I am a careful, very experienced and highly skilled cyclist.

This "kamikaze attitude" and "reckless" speed belief (ironic, or what?) are smokescreens. Over the course of many years I've seen the numbers of cars increase dramatically and behaviour of motorists worsen drastically. This in turn is promoting defensive militancy in cyclists. The numerous videos on Youtube evidence this.

[bidefordrfc]

@catbells69

For insurance purposes many cyclists have video cameras on their helmets... not for entertainment purposes or youtube! The videos on youtube showing bad motorists are much like saying "most shark attacks occur in 1.5m water" really the fact people are posting videos of motorists messing up does not hide the fact that a large majority of these cyclists themselves have messed up and declined to put this on youtube.

its easier for a car to accelerate therefore we tend to brake more!

[catbells69]

@bidefordrfc There is no reason to upload a video to YouTube for insurance purposes. These videos are here for one reason only.

It's not a fact, it's speculation on your part. Where are the equivalent videos uploaded by motorists?

I'd bet I have to brake more than the average car because I have to to avoid these clowns in their metal boxes! Many motorists in these videos show the behaviour you accuse cyclists of prefering to "maintain their speed ". It's selfish and dangerous.

[bidefordrfc]

@catbells69

...you seem to have missed the point.. the reason most cyclists HAVE cameras is due to insurance purposes!

90% of these videos online involve cyclists NOT getting hit....

there are actually a few equivalent videos by motorists about if you search for them, 90% of car owners do not have a cameras set up!

So if you have to brake more then why do cyclists tend to brake at the very last second? its due to the fact you have to pedal harder to accelerate!

[catbells69]

@bidefordrfc I know. You're missing the point. They don't have to upload them.

Who says "why do cyclists tend to brake at the very last second?" If I brake at the last second it's because some clown has pulled out at the last second. You're still speculating. Whether it is harder to acclerate a bicycle than a car has no bearing on whether you believe cyclist brake at the last minute. There is no relationship between the two sentences.

[bidefordrfc]

@catbells69

lol, it is far from speculation. It has plenty of relevance, if I am driving and i see a red light up ahead i tend to drift up with it slowing as i go in the hope that by the time i get to it it turns green again, meaning i can go from 30mph down to 15mph (light turns green) and back up to 30mph again... rather than going straight up the the light at 30mph, breaking heavily to 0mph, then accelerating up again to 30....its common sense... and i have seen cyclists do the same thing!!

[catbells69]

@bidefordrfc Your claim is absurd. All I ever see is the same as you - a slowing in the hope that a full stop will not be required.

[bidefordrfc]

@catbells69

Right, so why do we see cyclists riding right into an obvious situation when they could have merely applied the brake to avoid it with a "I'd rather be right and dead, than wrong and alive"

I have seen just as many cyclists doing ridiculous manoeuvres at traffic lights, not paying attention as they have their headphones in, not signalling before moving, as I have bad motorists!

[catbells69]

@bidefordrfc "I'd rather be right and dead, than wrong and alive"

Absurd. Who'd rather be dead? Where are these videos. What I've seen is idiot car drivers.

So have I. But when a car driver does it, it's more dangerous. If I see a cyclist wearing headphones, I'll gesture at him to take them off. The same goes for car drivers on the phone.

[bidefordrfc]

@catbells69

I've seen then for real when I've been driving, no one would rather be dead, its a figure of speech about how some cyclists seem to adopt this "i'll prove you wrong and make you realise you were wrong etc even if it kills me!" sort of attitude.

sigh.... im growing tired of talking to you.

[catbells69]

@bidefordrfc I came across several car drivers like you today. Several too many.

[bidefordrfc]

@catbells69

Wow, fantastic comment, really shows great smacks of maturity... I was unaware you have seen how I drive.

[catbells69]

@bidefordrfc You're a moron who deflects blame. That's what makes you dangerous on the road.

[bidefordrfc]

@catbells69

Once again maturity shines through, when do i deflect blame? I never said if a car does something wrong its not his fault.... i merely said cyclists often do less to avert an incident! I'm glad you once again prove yourself an idiot by not having a clue about my driving skills :)

[catbells69]

@bidefordrfc You're an idiot.

"i'll keep my speed and make a big deal out of their mistake"

I'd call that blaming the cyclist and not the cause of the incident.

Saying cyclists deliberately endanger themselves is just stupid. I can judge your driving from your comments. Like many drivers, you don't or won't take responsibility and instead prefer to deflect blame on the cyclist's speed.

You really are a twat aren't you.

[bidefordrfc]

@catbells69

Back to name calling again?

Well thats very interesting, that is obviously where you differ from me, because I WOULDN'T call that blaming the cyclist.... So in all reality, you're blaming me for your own false interpretation!

Oh, and just for a bit of information, I have never had an accident through my fault or not my fault, I have never clipped a cyclist, I have never even bashed wing mirrors on a car.

So ofcourse continue to falsely judge my driving abilities :)

[localSickened]

you must be brainwashed by the government, dont you know taxes are a scam, they get rich of you

[utrapzab]

@localSickened who is 'they'?

[localSickened]

@utrapzab the ones laughting at you with their fancy business suits and million dollar hair cuts

[localSickened]

@utrapzab didnt mean that but i think the government gets rich off us, lots of people pay

[utrapzab]

@localSickened i see where yu are coming from but id rather think that the ones making a fortune are above the government, those who lobby the governament who are in big business - banking, military hardware, IT - they are the ones profitting

[couchpotato43]

i would run you down just for fun i hate wankers like you ,,if you dont find the roads safe stay in the fucking house you big baby ,,fucking winging like an old woman ,,someone run this cunt over just to allow him to justify his fucking sad exsistence

[catbells69]

@couchpotato43 Problem - how to make the roads safe.

"i would run you down just for fun" and "i hate wankers like you" and "someone run this cunt over"

Clearly you and those like you are the problem and that's why you're subjects of these videos.

The solution - keep scum like you off the roads.

[ideasoner]

now thats why i ride bikes and dont own a car...

[Agent1W]

Here in the state of Texas, only the drivers pay for road taxes. Do you Scots have your drivers pay the tax or all?

[EdinburghFixed]

@Agent1W local roads like these are maintained by a levy on every household (the motorways through general taxation).

There is also a pollution duty surcharge (VED) that most drivers have to pay, unless they own a clean car, which is free.

[Agent1W]

That seems fair since Texas has a lot more drivers. However, I don't like the pollution surcharge. Our government regulates emissions quite enough as it is!

[HLaB75]

Excellent Vid

[deedidee]

It's insane for people to whine about road tax > fuel tax...

cyclists are is some ways scapegoats

[lsmike]

Very good!

[jonredhornet]

Excellent vid EF, the comments were great :)

I used to cycle past long queues of stationary traffic every day on my old commute (I've since moved offices). I could never understand why the same people would sit in the same traffic, and watch me go past them on two wheels every day. It never occurred to them to ditch the car. Weird.

[WheelyGoodFun]

Especially seeing as - if they ditched the car - they would no longer be paying 'road tax'. : )

[downfader2]

I reckon half want a sofa that drives itself to work, JRH. The other half of drivers (not counting vans or busses etc) con themselves into thinking that driving is fast and free.

[lsmike]

Have you seen the video of the bedstead driving along?

[downfader2]

I have indeed! :-D