Quote Originally Posted by Minstrel SE View Post
"Ello John Gotta New Motor?"

My take is that cars interest me less and less as a transportation medium.....maybe as a fun drive with the top down on clear roads but commuting in rush hour traffic leaves me cold.

There are bad cyclists just as there are plenty of bad drivers. I was thinking recently about drivers who seem to panic and get over safe when they see a cyclist. They hold back for ages not wanting to pass as if they cant judge what the hells going on or realise there is plenty of space to pass quickly and be on their way. Just as dangerous in my view as they ramp up the tension for me and impatient drivers behind them

A key point is the need for a passive cycling technique....not cycling like I own the road. Im never going to win against motor vehicles so I see no point in a racing bike and asserting myself on busy roads. There is a fine balance that comes with experience.

I have also noticed a rise in angry or very aggressive drivers...maybe it was always that way but the clogged up roads and cost of motoring has seemed to bring out a real road rage where these people think they are the moral guardians of the road system.

To be fair there are cyclists like that as well and it doesnt get anywhere but anger, assault and you tube videos

The deep issues are a road system that cant cope and car ownership ingrained in our culture. I get confused about it because I would love to drive my MX5 on clear roads.

The real answers are things that nobody seems prepared to deal with yet
Spot on Martin. Surrey's roads are probably far more clogged than Cheshire's?

Aggression, arrogance, me me me behaviour is prevalent everywhere, but when they are in charge of a lethal weapon it gets scary. I cycle sensibly but the antics of other road users beggars belief and is what makes cycling dangerous (leaving out the kamikaze TdeF style idiots who are a danger to themselves) Timid overtakers are often those that have zilch spatial awareness and/or road sense and are a danger to everyone.

Cars get bigger with every new model and in comparison to cars of the 70's when I first started driving, the most humble hatchback is far more powerful than anything around then, save big Jags/Mercs/ specialist sports cars.