Not so fast,Glyn. Not everybody here agrees with you.
Why doesn't everybody just take a deep breath and calm down?
I have 28,000 miles on my Cobra and 21,000 on my road bike. I have encountered my share of "the road belongs to me" crowd. I'll address some of these issues one by one.
"Trespassers in the motorcars domain, they do not pay road tax and therefore have no right to be on the road, some of them even believe they are going fast enough to not be an obstruction. Run them down to prove them wrong."
No need to kill anybody. How could you advocate that? Feeling invincible in your vehicle? Contrary to what you may think, I do pay road taxes. I pay every time I buy gasoline.
"Now, I have to agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment, especially here in "Lance Armstrong's town". These people are EVERYWHERE in their yellow spandex outfits, fingerless gloves, goofy looking helmets, poofy little shoes, cluttering up the road, slowing down traffic and generally poluting the environment for us long suffereing motorists. I am preparing a short brief for the Mayor of Austin, and eventually the Governor of Texas to propose the following..."
No need to make fun of the clothing and equipment worn by cyclists. Just the proper attire for the activity, much like driving shoes, driving suits and helmets for a track day in the Cobra. I don't quite understand how cyclists "polute" the environment, though.
"1) All cyclists must pay a $50 per year road tax before they are allowed on ANY roads
2) They must pay to have their bicycles 'inspected' once a year at specially designated "CIP" locations (Cycle Inspection Posts). $10 inspection fee
3) They must get insurance before they are allowed on the roads. Insurance will vary depending on the age and experience and cycling record of said cyclist. Minimum annual charge of $100
4) They must buy a specially engineered bracket ($15) to display their inspection stickers and their road tax licenses"
If cyclists do all of that and can then ride ANYWHERE on ANY road, would you quit complaining? I doubt it.
"Just think of the increased tax revenue which would perhaps a) help pay for better roads and b) reduce the road fees WE innocent motorists have to pay.
The insurance companies would get more revenues (like they NEED that????) and perhaps reduce the insurance costs of us innocent motorists."
Innocent of what, "running them down?"
"We could increase employment with all the mindless bureaucrats needed to enforce the new regulations.
I see this as a complete win-win situation here...either that, or cyclists should be declared 'fair game', and we should be permitted to at least 'clip' them with a front fender on passing, just to serve them right!"
How long have you been a sociopath?
"Why is it that they don't at least have to pay road tax...they USE the roads don't they????"
How about pedestrians? Don't they use the road whenever they cross the street? How much are you willing to pay to display your "Walk on the Pavement " license, and where are you going to display YOUR stickers? Should pedestrians pay extra insurance, too?
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The smiley doesn't mask your resentment.
"Glyn"
Everybody pays a lot of tax money for things from which they get no benefit. Do all of you guys complain about that, too?
The guy who assaulted the cyclist and threw his bike off the cliff doesn't deserve cheers and applause, he deserves a stretch in San Quentin.
As far as the complaints about cyclists breaking traffic laws, has anybody here ever broken a traffic law? If so, pot, kettle, black. I obey the laws as much as anybody else. When I ride in the country and see cars rolling through stop signs at 20 MPH, should I feel guilty about rolling through at 10? Maybe you guys would be happier if we all bought combines and drove slowly. Or motorhomes! I'd bet you're not happy about a fully licensed and insured motorhome using "your" road, either. Best solution - buy your own road and keep everybody off of it. If you don't have the money, you'll just have to share. Sorry...
Wayne, NEVER? You just said they don't stop unless they are going to be mowed down. That shoots your "never" argument down, doesn't it? Having a car door open in your path can be a very dangerous situation, but you don't think about that in your car, though. How about if somebody opened their door when you're passing in your Cobra? Would that be okay? How about if you were on a motorcycle?
I wish I could say I was surprised about all the violent, foaming-at-the-mouth comments here, but I'm not.
Lighten up and please give the cyclists some room. It takes bigger cojones to get passed by a semi doing 60 mph only 2 feet from your elbow than anything you'll probably ever do.
Al
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