For many years now, drivers have hated cyclist on our roads. It hasn't always been that way though. Bicycles had been more popular back in the late 1800s and the early 1900s, than it is today. It was a luxury to have a car back in those days and although cars have been around longer than bicycles, bicycles was the main transportation, other than the old horse and cart. Also back in those days, people in general had a lot more respect for each other and there was non of the "get off the f***ing road you cyclist".
Where we have gone wrong today, I don't understand. Are drivers in that much of a hurry to get from point A to point B? I get this a far bit, where a driver would speed past me to only slow down and cut me off to turn or stop in front of me. Like who do you drives think you are? You are no one important to cut me off, just because I might of slowed you down for a few seconds. Why not wait a few more seconds for me to pass, so I can safely go ahead. But all drivers think about are themselves and they don't care about anyone else.
I see a lot in the media and social media that drives don't like cyclist because:
- They run red lights or stop signs
- They hold up traffic
- They ride three or four abreast
- They weave through the traffic
- Don't stop at roundabouts
- Run red lights
- Don't give way to other motorist
- Don't give way to cyclist
- Don't give way to pedestrians
- Sit in the right hand lane and not over taking (or if in America, it's the left hand lane)
- Sit in the middle of an intersection, when they are suppose to be behind the white line. Also holing up traffic
- They don't know how to use a roundabout, considering that roundabouts have been in this country (Australia) for 30 odd years. Also holding up traffic, but you NEVER read that a roundabout holds up traffic!
- Don't indicate when changing lanes or turning
- Drink/drug driving
- Driving unlicensed
- Driving unregistered
- Texting or using their mobile phones while driving
- Speeding
- Racing
- Doing burnouts
- Speeding, loosing control, crashing and killing their best mate, child or someones mother or grandfather
- Not checking their mirrors or looking both ways when pulling out of a driveway, side street or changing lanes
My honest opinion is that drivers are the ones who shouldn't be on the road. I have been cycling on our roads for over 20 years and have seen some crazy things by drivers. Taxi drivers (and other drivers) who speed past me, to only have to stop at a red light 10 meters in front of me. I don't see the point in that. I see lots of drivers who sit in the middle of a intersection, blocking the cross traffic. I see a lot of drivers speeding, for what? I don't know!
Day in and day out, you'll read in the newspapers, see on the six o'clock news, that a drive killed a child in a school zone, a driver hit a mother and drove away, a driver was speeding and crashed and killed his girlfriend and the list goes on and on. One thing that you NEVER see on the news is that a cyclist killed a driver or a pedestrian, while speeding and drink riding. Drivers are our biggest killers on out roads, but they have the hide to say that cyclist should stay off the roads. WTF.
Drivers will argue that cyclist need a licence to be on the roads, because they don't know the road rules. In fact, cyclist are also drivers and have past the same test as all other drivers. If you read that handbook that you have to learn to pass your test, it will also tell you about what cyclist can and can't do and what drivers have to look out for. But drivers tend to forget everything in that 'Road Users' handbook and only think of themselves.
Drivers also hate truck drivers, taxi drivers, bus drivers and pedestrians. We need to learn to get along and respect one another and share our roads. You own your car, not the road.
If only Australians take the Netherlands approach and cycle more often. Not only cycling is good you and keeps you fit, it can benefit you and the environment in the future. Burn fat, not fuel.
The benefits of cycling.
Cycle away from stress. Cycling is slowly getting bigger here in Australia and people should enjoy it more. For me, I commute from work and get to see some amazing sunset. I use the cycleway and see the traffic building up. This may sound wrong to think this, but it puts a smile on my dial, knowing that drivers are stuck in that traffic. But you're the ones who put yourself there and there are other ways to get from point A to point B. With cycling, you can take more in of the view, as drivers have to concentrate on the road and can't take in that view, unless they pull over. Also, you feel so much better after a ride and less stress. I work in a bike shop and I hear the same from customers, customers who are also drivers. Yeah sure you go to the gym or play some sort of sport to relieve the stress, but you still have to drive home, which can add stress if some idiot cuts you off, so why not cycle instead!
All in all, cycling is FUN.
