You're safer not wearing a cycle helmet, according to research...

[emmelinemay]

Bicyclists who wear protective helmets are more likely to be struck by passing vehicles, new research suggests.

and what i think is the crux of the matter...
Most adult cyclists know what it is like to drive a car, but relatively few motorists ride bicycles in traffic, and so don’t know the issues cyclists face.

There should definitely be more information on the needs of other road users when people learn to drive, and practical experience would be even better.

and this made me laugh -

To test another theory, Dr Walker donned a long wig to see whether there was any difference in passing distance when drivers thought they were overtaking what appeared to be a female cyclist.

Whilst wearing the wig, drivers gave him an average of 14 centimetres (5.5 inches) more space when passing.

Comments

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

the dangers of skipping red lights without checking to see if there are any pedestrians coming

This is a massive issue in cycling-geek-world. There's whole debates about it! The legal line is, we are traffic, and so should stop at red lights. But if we're traffic, we should have more rights on the road than we currently do have. I try to stop at red lights, as i feel like i ought to...i know i don't always though, if there's no one there. Which is naughty.

I possibly hate crap pedestrians more than cars. I have nearly hit people SO MANY TIMES who just don't look when they cross the road. They just walk straight out!! I've noticed that whee people are crossing a side road, they NEVER look behind and to the left, EVER, so if you ar a cyclist and turning into the side street, they walk RIGHT out in front of you. Arrrgh!

I nearly hit a woman last week who wsa walking her kid to school, along a road where the cars go pretty fast, and there's a zebra crossing 10 feet away. Suddenly, she swung out into the road with child, not looking to the right until i yelled out 'careful'. She got a proper shock, and yelled 'sorry' - but sorry isn't the point, is it? If i'd been a car, i would have hit her, as there was no time to stop, only swerve.

[liz-lowlife.livejournal.com]

Haha! I was typing the same thing at the same time!

[miss-glitch.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean - I try to make an effort to look out for cyclists as I know it must be really difficult/scary trying to navigate so much traffic! I don't have an issue with cyclists skipping red lights as long as there are no pedestrians, but speeding past pedestrian crossings without slowing down/taking any notice of people trying to cross is definitely wrong.

Similarly, pedestrians who ignore zebra crossings (especially ones with children!) have no right to complain. They don't seem to realise that if they get hit and end up dead, the driver/cyclist who hits them has to live with it for the rest of their life even if it wasn't their fault.

It would maybe be good if there were another light to give cyclists a head start (or just the amber light, I suppose) at crossings before the traffic is allowed to catch up with them, to stop them running red lights in order not to get hit by traffic.

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

i like the idea of a cyclist light! I fear turning left at major crossings. it's fucking terrifying. and yet strangely fun. but that may just be me.

[mr-bizarre.livejournal.com]

I've just taken up cycling, I do still ride my motorbike to work everyday as I wouldn't want to take on rush hour traffic with no means of acceleration. I know what you mean about jumping lights, it can be so frustrating having to stop and start all the time and if there is space....And seeing as cyclists don't pay any road tax (they still take up space) then why should they stop at the lights if it's safe to continue. It never bothers me when I'm on the motorbike and cyclists ride straight through.

One of my biggest peeves on the road is pedestrians walking across the road without looking, scary on a cycle, much worse on a motorbike as they're not insured! In 9 years of riding motorbikes I've hit 2 pedestrians, one of them needed a hospital visit, both times I was fine and both times there were witnesses that saw said 'walkers' make like lemmings. I've even had mothers push a pram out before themselves, possibly to 'test the water', utter insanity!!!