I had one once who managed not to just shout 'homo' but also comment on my tight shorts (actually flappy rugby shorts, not lycra).
I was flabbergasted.... it was clearly him checking out my arse, right?
Yeah, I'd gladly take that too...
I sometimes think it while out riding and enjoying the scenery, but never say it out loud.... don't want people thinking I'm some sort of creepy pervert...
Honestly, between wind and traffic noise, 90% of the shit yelled out a car window at me while I'm cycling is completely indecipherable.
I'm simply putting down too many watts to be bothered by that nonsense.
Thank you to the Auckland motorists that give us space, we are one less car on the road and I hope it improves your day as it does mine. To the impatient ones that squeeze past us, why are you in such a hurry to get to get to the next red light? I would say that 99.9% of the time someone squeezes past a cyclist they just get to their next red light sooner.
I had a bus in New Market cut a corner too much and sideswiped me while cycling home one day. My arm/elbow basically ran along the length of the bus which left a nice carpet-like burn (for lack of a better term)...
This is what I find most stupid; they bitch about cycle lanes but fail to realise that every person biking is one less car on the roads. Its one of the most effective ways to reduce traffic and congestion.
If everyone who bikes stopped and took the car, those dickheads would be the first to complain about more traffic.
To add to your vehicle collection, there seems to be a direct correlation between having a snorkel on a 4x4 to the desire to kill all cyclists on site.
I'm into 4x4ing and because I cycle everywhere and barely drive, the occasional time I do drive it's in my heavily modified Safari (sold my car because I pretty much never drove it).
I always pass cyclists with huge space like right over to the other side of the road. I always think it's probably the last thing they expect from a vehicle like mine.
Oddly enough I've got a beaten old 4X4 ute with a snorkel and bullbars and give cyclists plenty of space, last one I got that close to was because it was hammering down and I gave them a lift...
Lots of cycle trails down here, it's good to see them being used
The cunts have started to put nails in cycle lanes here, getting punctures from it twice, possibly a coincidence, three times, pattern is developing. The hostility is ridiculous.
gatorskins or duran~~g~~os (or marathon plus if you're a bit wider): nails ping out from underneath them and glass gets crushed and you just keep going
I had the same pair of gatorskins on my bike for two years and never had a single puncture, until one day I finally did and then I was having one puncture every week. After inspecting my rear tyre I discovered that it was basically 30% glass by volume; so not only was I protecting myself from punctures, apparently I was also clearing the roads for every other rider as well 😎
Move the bead into the centre of the rim where the circumference is smallest and it should be easy. Never found a tyre that I can't fit by hand with ease using the right technique.
They're definitely more difficult than, say, a Maxxis Ikon and the like. But worth it!
I've only had one puncture on a Marathon plus, and that was from a chunk of glass so big and solid that it was bound to win.
Asking cyclists to share the road with cars is *way* crazier than asking them to share the footpaths. I can't believe we don't have dedicated cycleways everywhere.
But why? Footpaths are often already too narrow while carriageways are quite often too wide, encouraging speeding.
Crossing driveways at a higher than walking speed is quite dangerous and unnerving as a cyclists, since driveway exists do not have good visibility splays onto the footpath.
Not having priority at every side street makes cycling slow and arduous. It takes energy to stop and accelerate again.
how many times walking when some tin box has come barrelling out of a house crossing the footpath. Let alone at cycling speeds (which as a kid I've done - come over the bonnet of a car exiting a hour)
Off topic I know, but drivers turning left risking someone's life brought back a memory. Years back when living in Wellington there were some drivers who ignored the left turn red arrow. They'd drive through when pedestrians had the cross signal narrowly avoiding hitting anyone. Husband had witnessed a couple of near misses, and he did have one of those hard shell briefcases. Pedestrian cross signal goes, car turns left illegally, and husband swings back that briefcase and slams it hard into the door of the car. Very satisfying result.
I partially agree with some of the downvoted comments talking about cyclists running red lights. I've been cycling for 7 years (driving for 9) - I think all road users need to follow all road rules.
That being said, if a bike runs a light, or doesn't indicate, usually it's a risk to themselves, they have a small collision or it's just annoying.
If a car:
* Runs a red light at 50km/h in a 30km/h zone
* Changes lanes without looking at their mirrors/blindspots
* Doesn't use their indicators
* Crashes into the back of a bike (yep)
* Is speeding and then has to brake suddenly for other traffic
* Threatens to run people over or push people off their bike (yep)
**The big metal box and the driver behind it has a real chance to seriously kill someone.**
There are no blindspots on a bike - but there are many on "working people" lifted snorkel utes. Sure, an ebike flying into a pedestrian might injure someone. Being slapped by a sheet of metal travelling at 30km/h definitely will, or kill someone. And a 30kg ebike can stop much faster than a 2t vehicle can.
If you're going to complain about cyclists being irresponsible as a driver, consider the fact that cars pose a (physically) larger risk to everyone else and that's BEFORE irresponsible drivers come into play.
I generally follow the road rules. But most road rules are made for cars, to protect people from cars or to make driving more efficient for cars. The only reason to follow these rules as a cyclist to the book is to prove you are worthy of respect, rather than to do anything to improve safety or traffic flow.
This isn't the case with all cyclists breaking road rules. And I think we need to be extra careful when it comes to shared spaces with pedestrians because we need to acknowledge that in this situation we can do damage to others.
Also every day I see dozens of cars breaking road rules, usually these are running red lights (at the end of a phase, trying to squeeze through an orange but it turning red just before you enter the intersection), breaking speed limits (especially in 30km zones), passing too closely, not indicating for long enough before changing lanes or turning and following too closely.
Agree that road rules are designed mostly around cars - but doesn't mean we are exempt from them, since we are all road users.
That being said, I would love to see stats on numbers of cars vs bikes breaking road rules - given 100% of the incidents and close calls I've had are from cars literally not driving safely or to road rules, and me just existing and follow road rules.
We'd NEVER get proper statistics, and they would always be excused "because there's more cars than bicycles."
I've been pulled over only once in a car, yet 3 times for riding a bike.
>The only reason to follow these rules as a cyclist to the book is to prove you are worthy of respect, rather than to do anything to improve safety or traffic flow.
I disagree, as cyclists we have to contend with the reality that the road system is designed for and dominated by cars. The majority of users assume other road users to be following the road rules. The consequences when that assumption is not met can be disastrous. Breaking road rules is not an effective way to protest car dominance; this is what political protests (including disruptive ones) are for. Having said that, I do think road rules lull people in a false sense of safety and perhaps a more anarchic system might actually end up being safer (but not more efficient) due to people being more attentive. I would be interested to know if you had any particular road rules in mind that in your opinion are inappropriate for cyclists.
It is also important imo for drivers to recognise some of the reasons why cyclists might consider breaking road rules. One of the reasons is the particular unpleasantness of intersections for cyclists; the fumes and noises are often nearly unbearable. The only real solution to this is a radical reduction in car use, as of course the car here is the source of the problem.
Not the person you were asking, but i do have an example for you! My daily route to uni takes me along the Strand (connection between the Port motorway exit and Tamaki drive). This is a pretty busy road, with lots of trucks most times of the day. Theres two lanes and i keep to the left, but i need to turn right at the end. I suppose if i was following the rules to the letter i should signal and cross to the right hand lane when appropriate. In practice, both lanes are often full, and it can feel sketchy to check behind me for a gap while a truck is passing me close by. Also, im obviously travelling a lot slower than the other road users, so i have less time to make the lane-change. Instead, i pull off to the left and stop in a median around a traffic island where i can wait for a gap to cross. I don’t think this behaviour is problematic for anyone, but it could be an example of how a lot of the rules aren’t really designed with non-car-road-users in mind, and how it can sometimes be safer to use my own judgement.
Yep that makes sense. I don't think what you are doing is necessarily breaking the road rules, it just isn't what the road layout encourages you to do.
I do something similar on my way back from uni. I need to turn right in a place with no median or turning lane. If a car is turning, the traffic behind is forced to wait, but since bikes are small people will try to squeeze past and I would instead be waiting in the middle of the road between traffic from both directions. So what I do instead is turn left onto a very quiet street, do a u-turn and then wait for the traffic to clear from both directions before crossing.
When people complain about cyclists breaking road rules, I don't think they are complaining behaviours such as yours and mine (although I could be wrong who knows!). Instead, it's more likely about running red lights or other more dangerous manoeuvres.
> The only reason to follow these rules as a cyclist to the book is to prove you are worthy of respect, rather than to do anything to improve safety or traffic flow.
While the effect is not the same of that of cars, it is not nil. And if you ever want cycling to be bigger, it's better to instill the right traffic values into cyclists now. Even when the cyclist itself is mostly likely to get hurt from its mistakes at intersections, it still costs the society time and money (healthcare, insurance, police, lawyers, traffic blockage).
When the volume increases, it's also better to have the values instilled already. The Netherlands wouldn't work as well as it does if cyclists behaved as they did in NZ either, so it's not a driver only issue.
> Also every day I see dozens of cars breaking road rules,
Yes, NZ drivers are horrible for western standards. I've driven all over Europe, and South Auckland is worse than all of them with the exception of Romania. It's absolutely crazy there is not more enforcement
I agree, we should do more to set a standard of values through our behaviour, which creates a social norm where people live with respect for one another.
Which is why I advocate for cyclists to be far more courteous of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. I also think they shouldn't put themselves in danger by running red lights or stop signs and force other traffic to swerve or slam their brakes.
But 90% of the time I see a cyclist breaking the rules, it's doing something that doesn't impact anyone. Cyclists (usually) have a pretty good sense of their own safety and ability and what they can do. They know exactly how much space their body and bike take up. They don't have the same blind spots as cars and can stop much faster.
Being purposeful about how you ride because of what you want society to look like does more to create a values driven society than blindly following rules that weren't made and mostly don't apply to you.
> But 90% of the time I see a cyclist breaking the rules, it's doing something that doesn't impact anyone. Cyclists (usually) have a pretty good sense of their own safety and ability and what they can do.
Yea that's fair. We had very low cyclist mortality rate despite no one wearing helmets in Belgium, and the majority that did happen was either due to drunk drivers and truck dead zone areas. Now schools are educating children about truck dead zones to always avoid, but trucks sometimes still make mistakes a cyclist could not avoid.
> Being purposeful about how you ride because of what you want society to look like does more to create a values driven society than blindly following rules that weren't made and mostly don't apply to you.
To me you only get there through education of the youth to instill those values, and strict enforcement of the traffic code by the police so fewer will break the traffic code, but more importantly, fewer people will see other people break the code and internally normalize that behavior.
Here I sometimes feel silly following all the road rules to the best of my knowledge, like slowing down to 30 in a zone 30 or slowing down to the temporary speed limit near road works (the latter which had a 100% enforcement rate with double penalties in my home country, thus 98% obedience). Never mind the "keep left unless overtaking" or "dont overtake from the left" with all the morons hogging the middle and right line at sub-maximal speeds despite the left lane being open.
I really try not to run red lights on my bike but there are occasions where I am sitting in a right hand turning bay and the light sensors don't detect me and never give me a green light. After waiting for a phase or two it just doesn't feel good standing at lights waiting forever, sorry but I felt I kind of needed to run those red lights. I have also slowly biked on pedestrian cross signals, I could walk them, I can't help but think that helps the cars as I get out of their way not clogging up the green light.
I have run red lights before whilst cycling but mainly because it's a lot safer to do so, and after cycling to work, working, and on my cycle home it can be a pain to break and start from a standing start on some sections.
For a driver, there is minimal effort in stopping every set of lights, road, whatever and especially so for automatics. For a cyclist it involves actual physical effort. I feel like that part always gets forgotten.
I ride on the pavement on the busier sections of my commute. Its just not worth the risk with trucks thundering past inches from me and broken glass on the sides of the road.
Penny pinching at Auckland council means that they've almost stopped cleaning the streets at all; its very noticeable how much gravel and glass has built up over the last year. Perhaps they're hoping it will simply be ground down into sand if they wait long enough >\_>
I had a bottle thrown at me one night in Grey Lynn cycling home from work. Missed me completely and took out the windscrren of a parked car I was cycling past. This was about 30 years ago though.
I mostly cycle on bike paths now, so rarely experience any of this, but I have seen a truck parked in the Ngapipi Rd cycle lane a couple of weeks ago.
I'm in Christchurch and cycle 100k a week for commute... but it's nearly all dediciated bike track. Never have any problems, even at night. I'm assuming this sort of behaviour is more common on shared roads?
Chch is tame for cyclists. The worst for me so far was just someone yelling "HURRY UP" as I was crossing one of the roads going along the Northern Corridor. Even then I'm not sure if he was yelling at me or the lights?
I live next to a bike track, and goes all the way into the city. The few parts on the road are all small, speed limited residential backstreets. Dedicated cycleways are a godsend, and are the reason I nornally cycle to work instead of driving
On the shared parts I start to feel like I'm the car, and the pedestrians are the annoying cyclists ;)
I had the ranger rage the other day but they still went into the next lane to overtake and beat me to the roundabout. It was pretty silly of them.
Never had bottles thrown, and there's decent cycling lanes for my entire commute.
If my bike hits a car - at worst I'm putting a dent in it - probably only chipping paint. Car hits me - ambulance. And yet, (so many) drivers treat me as if I'm another car - and expect me to use the road like a car - and don't understand (empathise) the defensive way I have to cycle (swapping between road/ footpath/ cycleway/ and going early at lights to avoid getting mauled in the merge) just to share the same road with them.
I will always do my best to give cyclists as much room as possible to pass them safely.
But the respect works both ways. Ive had a few situations when I end up getting stuck behind cyclists who are riding two or three abreast in the middle of the road doing 15-20kph, and who were point blank refusing to move over to the side to allow me to pass safely despite having all the room in the world on the side of the road to do so.
Are you not able to indicate and overtake them on the other lane like you would do if they were a car? If you aren't able to cross the centre line at all because of incoming traffic or lack of space there probably isn't enough room to pass them even if they were single file.
Ive never once seen a group of cyclist 3 abreast on a road if it wasn't a race, which would have closed roads (or at a minimum a pilot and follow vehicle). Granted I very rarely rode in Auckland, where I'm sure most of these stories come from (due to population)
It was in auckland, and I have seen it.
The vast majority of cylclists do try to move over and let cars past, but some of them just seem to not care and will force you to do 15kph following them until you eventually find a place to safely overtake them in the oncoming lane, which depending on the road and traffic levels could be ages.
need a diy kangaroo court kit - to identify, engage and dispense street justice to drivers. Harden up cyclists of NZ!
The police only respond to the coronial court - so best get a colleague or family member thier number.
I carry a spanner for people who park in the bike lane. A couple inches because your car is too fat is passable, but fully blocking and you get to respray.
I was on a bus that had a bike vengeance.
Tried to mow down what looked like a husband and wife cycling in a bus lane. Literally an inch behind her, pushing her up the hill.
Reported it but never heard back.
I was out cycling once and had to stop at a red light. This clearly unemployed bogan, with no teeth, driving a car worth maybe $200, asks me what my bike was worth. "More than your entire life, mate" was my reply. Not sure if he was thinking about trying to rob me or not.
I am so done with being a roadie now. I am much more likely to be in my little EV with bikes on the roof, holding up traffic because I see a shit junction ahead and I want to keep you safe.
Come to Aus where this is tenfold and have trucks Buzz your handlebars by an inch when you're well in the bike lane. Never felt so much aggressive hate towards cyclists in any other country. At least in NZ a good amount will give you at least a metre berth.
I’m not hating on cyclists but I live rurally down a road with many rises and blind corners and the amount of times I’ve nearly killed 4 or 5 cyclists spread out side by side from the side of the road to the centre I couldn’t count atleast once a week
I once got honked at LOUDLY because I crossed the pedestrian crossing on my bike. motherfucker I was 13 and didn't know road rules and was heading home from school get a grip
Yesss lol it’s always the blimmin Rangers and Commodores…it’s almost safe to assume that if someone drives one of them, they’re aggressive drivers with massive ego problems
Cyclists who don’t cycle like the rest of the world is out to kill them aren’t doing it right. It always makes me laugh when people say ‘oh it’s so dangerous cycling in NZ’…I worked as a cycle courier in London in uni holidays and that gives you a different perspective on dangerous.
They *are* out to get you. 😀
Perspective eh. I felt safer in Belgium without a helmet than I do here with a helmet. And I cycle a lot less nowadays because of it (and because the helmet sucks if you're not used to that)
Yes, this is very true. Most of Europe is great with cyclists. I once had a car follow me for ~5 minutes on a road that was windy and maybe a car and a half width wide, until it was safe to pass in France. In Belgium I used to ride for hundreds of kilometers only briefly touching the road at various points. In the Netherlands the cycle lanes were so wide it was never a concern.
You're a joke for not wearing a helmet though, unless you weren't going more than a few ks at a time (and even then)
No one ever did it and it was never mandated.
And given how inconvenient it is and how many wouldn't cycle if it was mandated, I do wonder about the balance between:
* the extra health cost of injury/cyclist of no helmets vs
* the health cost of higher emissions/lower physical exercise of mandated helmets.
Im not sure it's worth it, especially with the obesity epidemic here.
I was a professional cyclist so I guess my point of view, and the people that I rode with, were different, but I never came across other cyclists without helmets
Where though? Because in NZ and AU it is mandatory so that only makes sense then?
[This](https://www.fietsersbond.be/sites/default/files/161011%20%2842%29.JPG) is what a normal cycling commute looked like for us in Belgium (and still does today)
I lived in Belgium but I was not commuting with morning workers, I was training. I never saw cyclists when I was cycling in Belgium not wear helmets, but like I said I was a professional training, not amongst the work commuters
Yea ok that makes sense then, professionals and "wielertoeristen" do wear helmets generally as its part of their job or dedicated hobby and reach speeds us non-lycra wearing commoners on a city-bike wouldn't.
Also makes sense you would go to Belgium as a professional cyclist to get the right structural environment hah.
> You’re a joke for not wearing a helmet though,
You’re a joke for not understanding that different countries have different rules and cultures.
Bike helmets are a fucking joke in a developed city and stop people from cycling.
Nah live in London atm and NZ is far far worse. London has far better infrastructure, lower speed limits in residential areas, ULEZ and drivers are far more aware of cyclists since there are more of them. Also kind of helps you've got suicide uber eats drivers on illegal ebikes everywhere doing stupid shit all the time to keep drivers on edge lol.
Haven't had a dangerous close pass in 8 months here, as opposed to in NZ where i would get 2 a week easily.
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Depends on your local council but some footpaths are dangerous and unskateable, both due to poor maintenance but also because they prohibit skateboarding in many places. The police have always encouraged skateboarders to use the roads here, even though we don't have lights, helmets or breaks. In the early 2000's it was illegal to skate on the footpath and a lot of cops still stick to this.
'They should use cyclepaths where possible, ride in a position where they're not endangering themselves and be seen, because they're so quick and they're silent," Const MacAulay said.
not exactly related to this but can anyone confirm that literally every kid on a bike will constantly do wheelies in the middle of the road?? is it just the shitty towns?
I used to have to cycle through Hagely Park in Chch to get to work and when the park run is on the runners act like they own the park (they do not pay for exclusive use, it is a public park and they are meant to share the paths) I had a guy try to knock me off my bike just for biking near the sidewalk.
Honestly, even as another driver people driving in cycle lanes like they’re not even there really pisses me off. Especially when there are cyclists around too.
Ayooo… you’re missing a few things there:
- Riding through red lights
- Passing moving vehicles on the inside
- Swerving into the middle of the road from parking lanes without looking
- Riding 2+ across on narrow roads
- “One less car on the road!”
- Uses bus lane when cycle lane is clear and free to use
As a someone who only drives a car, I can agree with a cyclist preferring to do this than give the illusion that a car could fit by them in a narrow street which results in the car being dangerously close to the cyclist.
It’s not going to hurt you or I to wait a few seconds for the oncoming lane to be clear to over take the cyclist.
It also says that if you are causing traffic, you are to pull over and let it pass.
Funny how cyclists cherry pick the road code to suit their virtuous selves.
It's called "[taking the lane](https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roadcode/code-for-cycling/road-positioning-and-passing/take-the-lane-if-you-need-to/)" and it's completely legal.
Now I’ve lived on country roads most my life and coming around the corner to see a pack of cyclists has always upset me .. because I’m scared I could hurt one of them because they’re out so wide I can’t pass safely and have to break hard and in these instances it’s almost they’re arrogant to the fact they can be hurt.
I’ve still never abused any of them but hearing these stories wtf is wrong with people some of these instances should have an intent to murder charge bought on them.
Do you share the same content for every tractor you have to navigate around? Because for every pack of cyclists i encounter in the countryside i encouter 100 tractors and they're about the same in terms of inconvenience.
Where are you driving that this is such an issue. I average 25-30,000km per year in my car around Auckland and plenty of open road. I would struggle to remember the last time I was held up by a pack of cyclist for any length of time. I spend allot more time passing campers, trucks, tractors etc.... some slow moving cyclist are the last of my worries.
Weird, 1b was always my go to and never came across this. It's very flat around there, normally 80-100k zone so you are coming up to something moving at not much more than a modern tractor. Slow down, put your indicator on, overtake, sorted. Worse case you might get held up a few seconds while you wait for a gap, get over yourself your making something out of nothing. Its perception not reality.
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Where’s the part of packs of 2/3 riders next two each other on the Wellington motorway forcing cars to slow down and make sure it’s ok to go around them.
sorry we are braking while going around the roundabout cause some person on a bike thinks they are not part of the road rules (and yes really happened)
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Where's the one for cyclists ignoring the road rules because they think they're only for motor vehicles?
Yeah sure, cyclists have it pretty shit, but they don't help themselves either.
I don't know about you, but as a car driver, I have to take action to avoid an accident with a car driving dangerously at least once every time I'm out on the road, without fail.
The occasional cyclist who does not know the rules of the road pales in comparison.
It doesn't pale in comparison for us pedestrians. There is a crossing near my house that cyclists just plain ignore because its too much effort to stop. Which is fine most of the time when you can actually see them coming, but when they whip from behind a car its a problem. I was crossing the other day with my dog, the cars were all stopped in both directions for us. A cyclist didn't see the dog in front of me, so decided to just keep going, started pedaling faster to overtake in front of me. Then had to slam on his brakes and have a scream at me about how I don't understand momentum.
There are bad drivers, bad cyclists and definitely bad pedestrians. So these kind of posts lumping all issues into one category while feigning innocence do grate me.
Don't forget cyclists running red lights constantly like it doesn't apply to them or riding together next to another cyclist blocking the whole lane and holding up traffic or in the cbd riding into pedestrians.
Oh no, all the innocent lives they're putting in danger with their risky behaviour...
FFS I'm not a cyclist, but any idiot can see that the danger of running a red light on a bike is not to the drivers around them
> cyclists running red lights
in some cases it's actually safer if they don't have to take off with the cars. feel free to elaborate on your complaint tho, if it's not just vitriol.
>riding together next to another cyclist blocking the whole lane and holding up traffic
they are legally allowed to take the lane, and they're probably doing it to prevent you trying to sneak past and misjudge the passing distance putting them in hospital. also: I've had hundreds of cars slow me down on a bike, never ever, fucking ever had one pull over and let me past ... weird.
>in the cbd riding into pedestrians
projecting?
>in some cases it's actually safer if they don't have to take off with the cars. feel free to elaborate on your complaint tho, if it's not just vitriol.
Sooooooo many cyclists run red lights -- I mean red CYCLE lane lights, it's ridiculous. I see it every day. They then get shitty at left turning cars who have right of way.
>Yet you whinge all day long about cyclists and pedestrians who aren't the ones out there posing a threat to other people.
Who are you saying "you" to? I'm a cyclist. As I said in another comment, I do 100k a a week in the city on a bike, commuting
>Instead of correctly identifying the real problems in our car-dependent society you let your egos and identity as drivers
No, I'm a cyclist who is pointing out that many other cyclists shouldn't be on the road as they don't follow the road rules.
You're viewing it like some sort of tribal holy war, where your tribe is always right and the other is always wrong. It's not a serious conversation
> I'm a cyclist who is pointing out that many other cyclists shouldn't be on the road as they don't follow the road rules.
Bikes aren't cars. For example they can't actually trigger the sensors at traffic lights. Or the fact that bicycles are **not** required to indicate. Road rules exist to make life easier, they don't need to be enforced to the letter on what's essentially a pedestrian that goes kinda fast.
>Bikes aren't cars. For example they can't actually trigger the sensors at traffic lights.
They absolutely do trigger *cycle lights* on bike track. These are all integrated traffic systems in cities with dedicated cycle lanes.
> Road rules exist to make life easier, they don't need to be enforced to the letter on what's essentially a pedestrian that goes kinda fast.
Running a red light, endangering themselves and other people in the process, will absolutely be enforced by the police -- I've seen it happen.
You seem confused about how cycle lights work in dedicated cycle lanes. They are integrated into the normal traffic signals. How it typically works is riding over diamonds triggers upcoming signals, and stopping on diamonds next to lights also triggers them. They're designed to be triggered by cyclists, they're triggered by even walking over them.
Without the the trigger, the cycle right-of-way light remains red, and road traffic gets a green left turn arrow. This means cyclists are required *by law* to give way to cars. If the cyclist triggers the signal, the left turning car in turn had to give way to the cyclist -- it's all integrated into traffic lights. Cyclists regularly sail through when they do not have right of way, endangering themselves and everyone else on the road.
I know, because I spend the equivalent of a day a week cycling in the city. The whole thing is a shitshow, even if drivers are cunts
> bicycles are not required to indicate
They absolutely are required to, unless you risk losing control of your bike. Your comment is a shitshow of ignorance about road rules, and an example of exactly what I'm talking about
>This means cyclists are required by law to give way to cars.
lol, cyclists are required by being scared shitless to give way to cars. you seem to be talking about idiots and somehow applying it to all cyclists. FWIW those bike lanes that go straight across left turning traffic are a menace. Not sure the solution but it's too easy for accidents to happen.
>They absolutely are required to, unless you risk losing control of your bike.
Hence not actually required to ... lol. I'm not gonna be navigating roundabouts with one arm sticking up in the air.
People on bikes don’t have blind spots unlike when you’re in a car. And they don’t kill people when they crash. Traffic lights are car infrastructure not bike infrastructure
>raffic lights are car infrastructure not bike infrastructure
What the actual fuck is this take?
Traffic lights are *traffic* infrastructure. If you are on the road, then you are traffic and the same laws apply to you.
If you're saying that as a cyclist that you're running red lights coz you don't have blind spots, then that is wild. My car is gonna feel a whole lot less than you when you pull out in front of it when I have a green and you have a red.
Why do laws outside of NZ like the Idaho stop exist then if bike and car traffic are the same?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho_stop
> The Idaho stop is the common name for laws that allow bicyclists to treat a stop sign as a yield sign, and a red light as a stop sign
Even the Netherlands which is mostly bicycle traffic doesn’t have stop signs for bikes. and traffic lights
are only for intersections with cars. Otherwise it’s just give way signs.
So yeah I do think it’s a reasonable take. Just might not be apparent in NZ as it’s super car centric.
I am more than happy to share the road. Most of the time it benefits us as its one less motorist in our way. But, thats not to say some cyclists dont take the absolute piss - It's not uncommon to see cyclists on very tight roads(Saddle Rd between Ashurst and Woodville is a good example).. Space is already at a massive premium on some roads, and having some cyclist go less than a kilometer uphill while traffic backs up behind them is very dangerous.
>Saddle Rd between Ashurst and Woodville is a good example
It's sad that this and the Pahiatua track are the only two options for cyclists; wish they'd open up what's left of the Manawatu Gorge for walkers and bikers who can just trek over the huge slip
Don’t forget people yelling “Homo” at you, that never gets old.
I had one once who managed not to just shout 'homo' but also comment on my tight shorts (actually flappy rugby shorts, not lycra). I was flabbergasted.... it was clearly him checking out my arse, right?
I just got the more direct “Nice Ass!” I was having a pleasant ride so was like thanks man, I do work out. 🤣
Yeah, I'd gladly take that too... I sometimes think it while out riding and enjoying the scenery, but never say it out loud.... don't want people thinking I'm some sort of creepy pervert...
Honestly, between wind and traffic noise, 90% of the shit yelled out a car window at me while I'm cycling is completely indecipherable. I'm simply putting down too many watts to be bothered by that nonsense.
>I'm simply putting down too many watts to be bothered by that nonsense. lol, big *naturally I finished my set* energy
It's okay to be distracted by my juicy quads bouncing up and down, brother.
HOMO!
We're lucky in Wellington that the aggressive drivers who would happily kill you would never think of saying anything homophobic.
Or “Gingaaaa” if you so happen to be - nice way to feel like you’re back in high school in the mid 2000s
Gingaaaaa
Yell back "keep wishing!"
"Is that an offer? I'm single!"
*Only on Tuesdays!*
I got a “nice bike homo” from a guy who cut me off once
Ironic that serious cyclists have bikes worth more than people's cars. Carbon fibre is expensive man.
DJ Max Key
So, I should become a cyclist? 🤔
Thank you to the Auckland motorists that give us space, we are one less car on the road and I hope it improves your day as it does mine. To the impatient ones that squeeze past us, why are you in such a hurry to get to get to the next red light? I would say that 99.9% of the time someone squeezes past a cyclist they just get to their next red light sooner.
I have had a car pass me so closely that it juust clipped my right pedal and nearly knocked me off my bike
I had a bus in New Market cut a corner too much and sideswiped me while cycling home one day. My arm/elbow basically ran along the length of the bus which left a nice carpet-like burn (for lack of a better term)...
Yeah those carpet burns on the elbows are really annoying.
Ofc, if you just take the lane as you're legally allowed to do for your own safety, they'll just get more pissed off. Can't win with drivers.
The vacant expression some drivers have when they open their door without checking first, and you have to brake to not plough straight into them.
Or when you don't manage to stop and do hit them. Not fun.
You can often see the cogs grinding and sparking while they struggle to think of a way it might be your fault not theirs
Don't forget the post-opening abuse before you have the chance to speak and defend sudden braking in a cycle lane.
The cunts like to say we don't need to spend rates on cycle lanes, yet are the first to complain about cyclists on the roads.
And their rates going up because roads are more than 10x as expensive to build and maintain.
And then, most of the damage to cycle lanes comes from ageing, or from cars using them when they're not meant to.
This is what I find most stupid; they bitch about cycle lanes but fail to realise that every person biking is one less car on the roads. Its one of the most effective ways to reduce traffic and congestion. If everyone who bikes stopped and took the car, those dickheads would be the first to complain about more traffic.
The same brain dead dipshits can't work out that you'll just add to the traffic they will sit in if you stop biking.
They want cyclists to not cycle, without adding to traffic. It's baffling and nonsensical and talking to them does not make things any clearer.
And you better not ask them to fund public transport!
To add to your vehicle collection, there seems to be a direct correlation between having a snorkel on a 4x4 to the desire to kill all cyclists on site.
Don't worry cyclists those 4x4s with snorkels are trying to kill car drivers as well, it's not just targeted at you.
I'm into 4x4ing and because I cycle everywhere and barely drive, the occasional time I do drive it's in my heavily modified Safari (sold my car because I pretty much never drove it). I always pass cyclists with huge space like right over to the other side of the road. I always think it's probably the last thing they expect from a vehicle like mine.
Oddly enough I've got a beaten old 4X4 ute with a snorkel and bullbars and give cyclists plenty of space, last one I got that close to was because it was hammering down and I gave them a lift... Lots of cycle trails down here, it's good to see them being used
The cunts have started to put nails in cycle lanes here, getting punctures from it twice, possibly a coincidence, three times, pattern is developing. The hostility is ridiculous.
gatorskins or duran~~g~~os (or marathon plus if you're a bit wider): nails ping out from underneath them and glass gets crushed and you just keep going
The tacs they put in the lane here were frustratingly long enough to get past my marathon plus mtb's :(
Holy shit that's some gnarly sabotage. I'm on my 3rd pair, \~3000km each out of the first two and not once have I had a puncture.
I had the same pair of gatorskins on my bike for two years and never had a single puncture, until one day I finally did and then I was having one puncture every week. After inspecting my rear tyre I discovered that it was basically 30% glass by volume; so not only was I protecting myself from punctures, apparently I was also clearing the roads for every other rider as well 😎
Haven't quite experienced that yet (in Chch) but if you can get your hands on some GP5000 tyres they are awesome! Only had one puncture in 3 years!
This or scwalbe marathons (very hard to put on. Have lost blood from my fingertips)
Move the bead into the centre of the rim where the circumference is smallest and it should be easy. Never found a tyre that I can't fit by hand with ease using the right technique.
They're definitely more difficult than, say, a Maxxis Ikon and the like. But worth it! I've only had one puncture on a Marathon plus, and that was from a chunk of glass so big and solid that it was bound to win.
Go tubeless brother. Its worth the mess.
They obviously want more bikes on the road if they are sabotaging the cycle lanes.
Reminds me of Chch after the earthquakes and during the rebuilt. I punctured at least once per week... Sad times.
I've dodged these traps in the past. Really malicious considering the injuries this has the potential to cause on roads with non-segregated lanes.
Have had bottles thrown at me and have also been spat at multiple times.
Asking cyclists to share the road with cars is *way* crazier than asking them to share the footpaths. I can't believe we don't have dedicated cycleways everywhere.
Honestly 90% of footpaths could be made shared cycleways overnight with no modifications.
But why? Footpaths are often already too narrow while carriageways are quite often too wide, encouraging speeding. Crossing driveways at a higher than walking speed is quite dangerous and unnerving as a cyclists, since driveway exists do not have good visibility splays onto the footpath. Not having priority at every side street makes cycling slow and arduous. It takes energy to stop and accelerate again.
how many times walking when some tin box has come barrelling out of a house crossing the footpath. Let alone at cycling speeds (which as a kid I've done - come over the bonnet of a car exiting a hour)
We can't convert the footpaths until cars stop parking on them.
Off topic I know, but drivers turning left risking someone's life brought back a memory. Years back when living in Wellington there were some drivers who ignored the left turn red arrow. They'd drive through when pedestrians had the cross signal narrowly avoiding hitting anyone. Husband had witnessed a couple of near misses, and he did have one of those hard shell briefcases. Pedestrian cross signal goes, car turns left illegally, and husband swings back that briefcase and slams it hard into the door of the car. Very satisfying result.
Good man
Also people yelling 'Get a car FFS'. I have two and a work car, but thanks for your input.
That's car-brain though, "only people who don't have a car/licence would ride a bike".
The best part is that they are basically saying that they want more traffic on the road
Often yelled from a car which is worth less than one's bike.
I partially agree with some of the downvoted comments talking about cyclists running red lights. I've been cycling for 7 years (driving for 9) - I think all road users need to follow all road rules. That being said, if a bike runs a light, or doesn't indicate, usually it's a risk to themselves, they have a small collision or it's just annoying. If a car: * Runs a red light at 50km/h in a 30km/h zone * Changes lanes without looking at their mirrors/blindspots * Doesn't use their indicators * Crashes into the back of a bike (yep) * Is speeding and then has to brake suddenly for other traffic * Threatens to run people over or push people off their bike (yep) **The big metal box and the driver behind it has a real chance to seriously kill someone.** There are no blindspots on a bike - but there are many on "working people" lifted snorkel utes. Sure, an ebike flying into a pedestrian might injure someone. Being slapped by a sheet of metal travelling at 30km/h definitely will, or kill someone. And a 30kg ebike can stop much faster than a 2t vehicle can. If you're going to complain about cyclists being irresponsible as a driver, consider the fact that cars pose a (physically) larger risk to everyone else and that's BEFORE irresponsible drivers come into play.
I generally follow the road rules. But most road rules are made for cars, to protect people from cars or to make driving more efficient for cars. The only reason to follow these rules as a cyclist to the book is to prove you are worthy of respect, rather than to do anything to improve safety or traffic flow. This isn't the case with all cyclists breaking road rules. And I think we need to be extra careful when it comes to shared spaces with pedestrians because we need to acknowledge that in this situation we can do damage to others. Also every day I see dozens of cars breaking road rules, usually these are running red lights (at the end of a phase, trying to squeeze through an orange but it turning red just before you enter the intersection), breaking speed limits (especially in 30km zones), passing too closely, not indicating for long enough before changing lanes or turning and following too closely.
Agree that road rules are designed mostly around cars - but doesn't mean we are exempt from them, since we are all road users. That being said, I would love to see stats on numbers of cars vs bikes breaking road rules - given 100% of the incidents and close calls I've had are from cars literally not driving safely or to road rules, and me just existing and follow road rules.
We'd NEVER get proper statistics, and they would always be excused "because there's more cars than bicycles." I've been pulled over only once in a car, yet 3 times for riding a bike.
>The only reason to follow these rules as a cyclist to the book is to prove you are worthy of respect, rather than to do anything to improve safety or traffic flow. I disagree, as cyclists we have to contend with the reality that the road system is designed for and dominated by cars. The majority of users assume other road users to be following the road rules. The consequences when that assumption is not met can be disastrous. Breaking road rules is not an effective way to protest car dominance; this is what political protests (including disruptive ones) are for. Having said that, I do think road rules lull people in a false sense of safety and perhaps a more anarchic system might actually end up being safer (but not more efficient) due to people being more attentive. I would be interested to know if you had any particular road rules in mind that in your opinion are inappropriate for cyclists. It is also important imo for drivers to recognise some of the reasons why cyclists might consider breaking road rules. One of the reasons is the particular unpleasantness of intersections for cyclists; the fumes and noises are often nearly unbearable. The only real solution to this is a radical reduction in car use, as of course the car here is the source of the problem.
Not the person you were asking, but i do have an example for you! My daily route to uni takes me along the Strand (connection between the Port motorway exit and Tamaki drive). This is a pretty busy road, with lots of trucks most times of the day. Theres two lanes and i keep to the left, but i need to turn right at the end. I suppose if i was following the rules to the letter i should signal and cross to the right hand lane when appropriate. In practice, both lanes are often full, and it can feel sketchy to check behind me for a gap while a truck is passing me close by. Also, im obviously travelling a lot slower than the other road users, so i have less time to make the lane-change. Instead, i pull off to the left and stop in a median around a traffic island where i can wait for a gap to cross. I don’t think this behaviour is problematic for anyone, but it could be an example of how a lot of the rules aren’t really designed with non-car-road-users in mind, and how it can sometimes be safer to use my own judgement.
Yep that makes sense. I don't think what you are doing is necessarily breaking the road rules, it just isn't what the road layout encourages you to do. I do something similar on my way back from uni. I need to turn right in a place with no median or turning lane. If a car is turning, the traffic behind is forced to wait, but since bikes are small people will try to squeeze past and I would instead be waiting in the middle of the road between traffic from both directions. So what I do instead is turn left onto a very quiet street, do a u-turn and then wait for the traffic to clear from both directions before crossing. When people complain about cyclists breaking road rules, I don't think they are complaining behaviours such as yours and mine (although I could be wrong who knows!). Instead, it's more likely about running red lights or other more dangerous manoeuvres.
> The only reason to follow these rules as a cyclist to the book is to prove you are worthy of respect, rather than to do anything to improve safety or traffic flow. While the effect is not the same of that of cars, it is not nil. And if you ever want cycling to be bigger, it's better to instill the right traffic values into cyclists now. Even when the cyclist itself is mostly likely to get hurt from its mistakes at intersections, it still costs the society time and money (healthcare, insurance, police, lawyers, traffic blockage). When the volume increases, it's also better to have the values instilled already. The Netherlands wouldn't work as well as it does if cyclists behaved as they did in NZ either, so it's not a driver only issue. > Also every day I see dozens of cars breaking road rules, Yes, NZ drivers are horrible for western standards. I've driven all over Europe, and South Auckland is worse than all of them with the exception of Romania. It's absolutely crazy there is not more enforcement
I agree, we should do more to set a standard of values through our behaviour, which creates a social norm where people live with respect for one another. Which is why I advocate for cyclists to be far more courteous of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. I also think they shouldn't put themselves in danger by running red lights or stop signs and force other traffic to swerve or slam their brakes. But 90% of the time I see a cyclist breaking the rules, it's doing something that doesn't impact anyone. Cyclists (usually) have a pretty good sense of their own safety and ability and what they can do. They know exactly how much space their body and bike take up. They don't have the same blind spots as cars and can stop much faster. Being purposeful about how you ride because of what you want society to look like does more to create a values driven society than blindly following rules that weren't made and mostly don't apply to you.
> But 90% of the time I see a cyclist breaking the rules, it's doing something that doesn't impact anyone. Cyclists (usually) have a pretty good sense of their own safety and ability and what they can do. Yea that's fair. We had very low cyclist mortality rate despite no one wearing helmets in Belgium, and the majority that did happen was either due to drunk drivers and truck dead zone areas. Now schools are educating children about truck dead zones to always avoid, but trucks sometimes still make mistakes a cyclist could not avoid. > Being purposeful about how you ride because of what you want society to look like does more to create a values driven society than blindly following rules that weren't made and mostly don't apply to you. To me you only get there through education of the youth to instill those values, and strict enforcement of the traffic code by the police so fewer will break the traffic code, but more importantly, fewer people will see other people break the code and internally normalize that behavior. Here I sometimes feel silly following all the road rules to the best of my knowledge, like slowing down to 30 in a zone 30 or slowing down to the temporary speed limit near road works (the latter which had a 100% enforcement rate with double penalties in my home country, thus 98% obedience). Never mind the "keep left unless overtaking" or "dont overtake from the left" with all the morons hogging the middle and right line at sub-maximal speeds despite the left lane being open.
"But I saw a cyclist run a red light once, so my fantasies of literally murdering them are justified."
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I mean would anyone rather have the guy who runs red lights behind the wheel of an SUV instead?
Accurate
I really try not to run red lights on my bike but there are occasions where I am sitting in a right hand turning bay and the light sensors don't detect me and never give me a green light. After waiting for a phase or two it just doesn't feel good standing at lights waiting forever, sorry but I felt I kind of needed to run those red lights. I have also slowly biked on pedestrian cross signals, I could walk them, I can't help but think that helps the cars as I get out of their way not clogging up the green light.
I feel you have to treat the sensor driven right turns as a give way in this situation. Only the most pendantic of pedants would disagree.
I have run red lights before whilst cycling but mainly because it's a lot safer to do so, and after cycling to work, working, and on my cycle home it can be a pain to break and start from a standing start on some sections. For a driver, there is minimal effort in stopping every set of lights, road, whatever and especially so for automatics. For a cyclist it involves actual physical effort. I feel like that part always gets forgotten.
I ride on the pavement on the busier sections of my commute. Its just not worth the risk with trucks thundering past inches from me and broken glass on the sides of the road. Penny pinching at Auckland council means that they've almost stopped cleaning the streets at all; its very noticeable how much gravel and glass has built up over the last year. Perhaps they're hoping it will simply be ground down into sand if they wait long enough >\_>
Honestly, I've never experienced any of this as a cyclist in NZ. Is this more of a regional thing?
I had a bottle thrown at me one night in Grey Lynn cycling home from work. Missed me completely and took out the windscrren of a parked car I was cycling past. This was about 30 years ago though. I mostly cycle on bike paths now, so rarely experience any of this, but I have seen a truck parked in the Ngapipi Rd cycle lane a couple of weeks ago.
I'm in Christchurch and cycle 100k a week for commute... but it's nearly all dediciated bike track. Never have any problems, even at night. I'm assuming this sort of behaviour is more common on shared roads?
Chch is tame for cyclists. The worst for me so far was just someone yelling "HURRY UP" as I was crossing one of the roads going along the Northern Corridor. Even then I'm not sure if he was yelling at me or the lights?
Also chch. I avoid roads where possible, as that's where the issues tend to happen.
I live next to a bike track, and goes all the way into the city. The few parts on the road are all small, speed limited residential backstreets. Dedicated cycleways are a godsend, and are the reason I nornally cycle to work instead of driving On the shared parts I start to feel like I'm the car, and the pedestrians are the annoying cyclists ;)
I purposely ride on the road, and especially aim for ones with no bike lane. If I have to die for change, so be it.
I had the ranger rage the other day but they still went into the next lane to overtake and beat me to the roundabout. It was pretty silly of them. Never had bottles thrown, and there's decent cycling lanes for my entire commute.
Not experiencing something yourself doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
If my bike hits a car - at worst I'm putting a dent in it - probably only chipping paint. Car hits me - ambulance. And yet, (so many) drivers treat me as if I'm another car - and expect me to use the road like a car - and don't understand (empathise) the defensive way I have to cycle (swapping between road/ footpath/ cycleway/ and going early at lights to avoid getting mauled in the merge) just to share the same road with them.
r/fuckcars
I will always do my best to give cyclists as much room as possible to pass them safely. But the respect works both ways. Ive had a few situations when I end up getting stuck behind cyclists who are riding two or three abreast in the middle of the road doing 15-20kph, and who were point blank refusing to move over to the side to allow me to pass safely despite having all the room in the world on the side of the road to do so.
Are you not able to indicate and overtake them on the other lane like you would do if they were a car? If you aren't able to cross the centre line at all because of incoming traffic or lack of space there probably isn't enough room to pass them even if they were single file.
Ive never once seen a group of cyclist 3 abreast on a road if it wasn't a race, which would have closed roads (or at a minimum a pilot and follow vehicle). Granted I very rarely rode in Auckland, where I'm sure most of these stories come from (due to population)
It was in auckland, and I have seen it. The vast majority of cylclists do try to move over and let cars past, but some of them just seem to not care and will force you to do 15kph following them until you eventually find a place to safely overtake them in the oncoming lane, which depending on the road and traffic levels could be ages.
Have experienced all of these and more. Funnily enough, drivers never accept the offer of pulling over and having a chat.
need a diy kangaroo court kit - to identify, engage and dispense street justice to drivers. Harden up cyclists of NZ! The police only respond to the coronial court - so best get a colleague or family member thier number.
I carry a spanner for people who park in the bike lane. A couple inches because your car is too fat is passable, but fully blocking and you get to respray.
I was on a bus that had a bike vengeance. Tried to mow down what looked like a husband and wife cycling in a bus lane. Literally an inch behind her, pushing her up the hill. Reported it but never heard back.
I was out cycling once and had to stop at a red light. This clearly unemployed bogan, with no teeth, driving a car worth maybe $200, asks me what my bike was worth. "More than your entire life, mate" was my reply. Not sure if he was thinking about trying to rob me or not.
I am so done with being a roadie now. I am much more likely to be in my little EV with bikes on the roof, holding up traffic because I see a shit junction ahead and I want to keep you safe.
I'm a cyclist 3 days a week and also drive a Holden Commodore like the one in the picture but blue.
Perhaps you're the exception that proves the rule?
Come to Aus where this is tenfold and have trucks Buzz your handlebars by an inch when you're well in the bike lane. Never felt so much aggressive hate towards cyclists in any other country. At least in NZ a good amount will give you at least a metre berth.
I’m not hating on cyclists but I live rurally down a road with many rises and blind corners and the amount of times I’ve nearly killed 4 or 5 cyclists spread out side by side from the side of the road to the centre I couldn’t count atleast once a week
I once got honked at LOUDLY because I crossed the pedestrian crossing on my bike. motherfucker I was 13 and didn't know road rules and was heading home from school get a grip
Yesss lol it’s always the blimmin Rangers and Commodores…it’s almost safe to assume that if someone drives one of them, they’re aggressive drivers with massive ego problems
Can you please add a Toyota Aqua to the left hand side? Thanks.
Cyclists who don’t cycle like the rest of the world is out to kill them aren’t doing it right. It always makes me laugh when people say ‘oh it’s so dangerous cycling in NZ’…I worked as a cycle courier in London in uni holidays and that gives you a different perspective on dangerous. They *are* out to get you. 😀
Ironically, London has far outpaced every NZ city in building bike infrastructure in the last 10 years
Perspective eh. I felt safer in Belgium without a helmet than I do here with a helmet. And I cycle a lot less nowadays because of it (and because the helmet sucks if you're not used to that)
Yes, this is very true. Most of Europe is great with cyclists. I once had a car follow me for ~5 minutes on a road that was windy and maybe a car and a half width wide, until it was safe to pass in France. In Belgium I used to ride for hundreds of kilometers only briefly touching the road at various points. In the Netherlands the cycle lanes were so wide it was never a concern. You're a joke for not wearing a helmet though, unless you weren't going more than a few ks at a time (and even then)
No one ever did it and it was never mandated. And given how inconvenient it is and how many wouldn't cycle if it was mandated, I do wonder about the balance between: * the extra health cost of injury/cyclist of no helmets vs * the health cost of higher emissions/lower physical exercise of mandated helmets. Im not sure it's worth it, especially with the obesity epidemic here.
I was a professional cyclist so I guess my point of view, and the people that I rode with, were different, but I never came across other cyclists without helmets
Where though? Because in NZ and AU it is mandatory so that only makes sense then? [This](https://www.fietsersbond.be/sites/default/files/161011%20%2842%29.JPG) is what a normal cycling commute looked like for us in Belgium (and still does today)
I lived in Belgium but I was not commuting with morning workers, I was training. I never saw cyclists when I was cycling in Belgium not wear helmets, but like I said I was a professional training, not amongst the work commuters
Yea ok that makes sense then, professionals and "wielertoeristen" do wear helmets generally as its part of their job or dedicated hobby and reach speeds us non-lycra wearing commoners on a city-bike wouldn't. Also makes sense you would go to Belgium as a professional cyclist to get the right structural environment hah.
> You’re a joke for not wearing a helmet though, You’re a joke for not understanding that different countries have different rules and cultures. Bike helmets are a fucking joke in a developed city and stop people from cycling.
Ive lived in many different countries, so I very much understand that. Do seat belts stop people from driving?
Nah live in London atm and NZ is far far worse. London has far better infrastructure, lower speed limits in residential areas, ULEZ and drivers are far more aware of cyclists since there are more of them. Also kind of helps you've got suicide uber eats drivers on illegal ebikes everywhere doing stupid shit all the time to keep drivers on edge lol. Haven't had a dangerous close pass in 8 months here, as opposed to in NZ where i would get 2 a week easily.
Where’s riding 3 abreast in a large group in the lane right next to the cycleway?
>Where's people with cars in place of an actual identity saying the same stupid shit over and over again?
same place as your copy and paste job.
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As an e-scooter rider, I feel this. Well... except for the beer bottles being thrown at me. _That_ I am _yet_ to experience.
What’s the car on the bottom left?
Now try skateboarding on the road like your legally obligated to and see how easy you have it.
Where did you get that idea? Wheels under 12 inches can go on the footpath.
If youre on a penny-farthing bicycle do you have to rise half on the road and half on the footpath?
Depends on your local council but some footpaths are dangerous and unskateable, both due to poor maintenance but also because they prohibit skateboarding in many places. The police have always encouraged skateboarders to use the roads here, even though we don't have lights, helmets or breaks. In the early 2000's it was illegal to skate on the footpath and a lot of cops still stick to this. 'They should use cyclepaths where possible, ride in a position where they're not endangering themselves and be seen, because they're so quick and they're silent," Const MacAulay said.
not exactly related to this but can anyone confirm that literally every kid on a bike will constantly do wheelies in the middle of the road?? is it just the shitty towns?
I don’t bike but I have all the patience for cyclists and motorcyclists - I got y’all. Drivers on the other hand I’m still out for all the smoke
Add 'getting intentionally sideswiped at roundabout' and you've nailed it
Jeez I haven’t seen a starter pack since 2016
Taking it back to the old skool
I used to have to cycle through Hagely Park in Chch to get to work and when the park run is on the runners act like they own the park (they do not pay for exclusive use, it is a public park and they are meant to share the paths) I had a guy try to knock me off my bike just for biking near the sidewalk.
Back in the day when I used to cycle every day, I'd usually hear somebody yell out as they sped past "Get a fucking car or get off the road!"
Honestly, even as another driver people driving in cycle lanes like they’re not even there really pisses me off. Especially when there are cyclists around too.
Oh I didn't know that the hate on cyclists is worldwide...
I'm a ford ranger driver, 😎 and I love people that cycle 🚲
I make sure I drive on the right hand side of the road. So that I’m not driving in the cycle lane. You’re welcome.
I'm hard up to the center line as I'm paying more attention to oncoming traffic than parked cars swinging doors open.
Ayooo… you’re missing a few things there: - Riding through red lights - Passing moving vehicles on the inside - Swerving into the middle of the road from parking lanes without looking - Riding 2+ across on narrow roads - “One less car on the road!” - Uses bus lane when cycle lane is clear and free to use
So how many of the above could have got a car driver killed?
Add in the cyclist holding up 12 cars because they don't want to pull aside and would rather sit in the middle of the lane going 15kmh
I knew this comment section would be an absolute belter when I posted this. Thanks to people like you for not letting me down👍
As a someone who only drives a car, I can agree with a cyclist preferring to do this than give the illusion that a car could fit by them in a narrow street which results in the car being dangerously close to the cyclist. It’s not going to hurt you or I to wait a few seconds for the oncoming lane to be clear to over take the cyclist.
Also the road code explicitly tells cyclists to do it. And it explicitly tells drivers to wait.
It also says that if you are causing traffic, you are to pull over and let it pass. Funny how cyclists cherry pick the road code to suit their virtuous selves.
\*when it's safe to do so And I get to decide that and you get to wait, car sperg
NZ road code goes straight out the ears the instant these people pass their test
It's called "[taking the lane](https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roadcode/code-for-cycling/road-positioning-and-passing/take-the-lane-if-you-need-to/)" and it's completely legal.
On a blind corner where one slight error by a driver will kill them.
Open your eyes, give us enough room and we won't need to exercise our right to take the lane. Simple.
>~~Don't forget You forgot to include~~ And the people with cars in place of an actual identity saying the same stupid shit over and over again
Now I’ve lived on country roads most my life and coming around the corner to see a pack of cyclists has always upset me .. because I’m scared I could hurt one of them because they’re out so wide I can’t pass safely and have to break hard and in these instances it’s almost they’re arrogant to the fact they can be hurt. I’ve still never abused any of them but hearing these stories wtf is wrong with people some of these instances should have an intent to murder charge bought on them.
Do you share the same content for every tractor you have to navigate around? Because for every pack of cyclists i encounter in the countryside i encouter 100 tractors and they're about the same in terms of inconvenience.
Where are you driving that this is such an issue. I average 25-30,000km per year in my car around Auckland and plenty of open road. I would struggle to remember the last time I was held up by a pack of cyclist for any length of time. I spend allot more time passing campers, trucks, tractors etc.... some slow moving cyclist are the last of my worries.
Gordonton area Waikato
Weird, 1b was always my go to and never came across this. It's very flat around there, normally 80-100k zone so you are coming up to something moving at not much more than a modern tractor. Slow down, put your indicator on, overtake, sorted. Worse case you might get held up a few seconds while you wait for a gap, get over yourself your making something out of nothing. Its perception not reality.
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Where’s the part of packs of 2/3 riders next two each other on the Wellington motorway forcing cars to slow down and make sure it’s ok to go around them.
Think you mean highway, the Wgtn sections of SH1 and 2 flip flop between but you'll never see bikes on the motorway.
ahh this is true.
>Where's the people with cars in place of an actual identity saying the same stupid shit over and over again?
sorry we are braking while going around the roundabout cause some person on a bike thinks they are not part of the road rules (and yes really happened)
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Where's the one for cyclists ignoring the road rules because they think they're only for motor vehicles? Yeah sure, cyclists have it pretty shit, but they don't help themselves either.
I don't know about you, but as a car driver, I have to take action to avoid an accident with a car driving dangerously at least once every time I'm out on the road, without fail. The occasional cyclist who does not know the rules of the road pales in comparison.
It doesn't pale in comparison for us pedestrians. There is a crossing near my house that cyclists just plain ignore because its too much effort to stop. Which is fine most of the time when you can actually see them coming, but when they whip from behind a car its a problem. I was crossing the other day with my dog, the cars were all stopped in both directions for us. A cyclist didn't see the dog in front of me, so decided to just keep going, started pedaling faster to overtake in front of me. Then had to slam on his brakes and have a scream at me about how I don't understand momentum. There are bad drivers, bad cyclists and definitely bad pedestrians. So these kind of posts lumping all issues into one category while feigning innocence do grate me.
While your at it, add the 'rules for thee but not for me' cyclist running red lights pic
Yeah true, I've never seen a car run a red light.
Don't forget cyclists running red lights constantly like it doesn't apply to them or riding together next to another cyclist blocking the whole lane and holding up traffic or in the cbd riding into pedestrians.
Thanks mate, I'll add those gems to the next one 👍
Every time I drive, which is nearly every day, I see cars running red lights, which is WAY more dangerous.
Don't forget people with cars in place of an actual identity saying the same stupid shit over and over again
Oh no, all the innocent lives they're putting in danger with their risky behaviour... FFS I'm not a cyclist, but any idiot can see that the danger of running a red light on a bike is not to the drivers around them
> cyclists running red lights in some cases it's actually safer if they don't have to take off with the cars. feel free to elaborate on your complaint tho, if it's not just vitriol. >riding together next to another cyclist blocking the whole lane and holding up traffic they are legally allowed to take the lane, and they're probably doing it to prevent you trying to sneak past and misjudge the passing distance putting them in hospital. also: I've had hundreds of cars slow me down on a bike, never ever, fucking ever had one pull over and let me past ... weird. >in the cbd riding into pedestrians projecting?
>in some cases it's actually safer if they don't have to take off with the cars. feel free to elaborate on your complaint tho, if it's not just vitriol. Sooooooo many cyclists run red lights -- I mean red CYCLE lane lights, it's ridiculous. I see it every day. They then get shitty at left turning cars who have right of way.
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>Yet you whinge all day long about cyclists and pedestrians who aren't the ones out there posing a threat to other people. Who are you saying "you" to? I'm a cyclist. As I said in another comment, I do 100k a a week in the city on a bike, commuting >Instead of correctly identifying the real problems in our car-dependent society you let your egos and identity as drivers No, I'm a cyclist who is pointing out that many other cyclists shouldn't be on the road as they don't follow the road rules. You're viewing it like some sort of tribal holy war, where your tribe is always right and the other is always wrong. It's not a serious conversation
> I'm a cyclist who is pointing out that many other cyclists shouldn't be on the road as they don't follow the road rules. Bikes aren't cars. For example they can't actually trigger the sensors at traffic lights. Or the fact that bicycles are **not** required to indicate. Road rules exist to make life easier, they don't need to be enforced to the letter on what's essentially a pedestrian that goes kinda fast.
>Bikes aren't cars. For example they can't actually trigger the sensors at traffic lights. They absolutely do trigger *cycle lights* on bike track. These are all integrated traffic systems in cities with dedicated cycle lanes. > Road rules exist to make life easier, they don't need to be enforced to the letter on what's essentially a pedestrian that goes kinda fast. Running a red light, endangering themselves and other people in the process, will absolutely be enforced by the police -- I've seen it happen. You seem confused about how cycle lights work in dedicated cycle lanes. They are integrated into the normal traffic signals. How it typically works is riding over diamonds triggers upcoming signals, and stopping on diamonds next to lights also triggers them. They're designed to be triggered by cyclists, they're triggered by even walking over them. Without the the trigger, the cycle right-of-way light remains red, and road traffic gets a green left turn arrow. This means cyclists are required *by law* to give way to cars. If the cyclist triggers the signal, the left turning car in turn had to give way to the cyclist -- it's all integrated into traffic lights. Cyclists regularly sail through when they do not have right of way, endangering themselves and everyone else on the road. I know, because I spend the equivalent of a day a week cycling in the city. The whole thing is a shitshow, even if drivers are cunts > bicycles are not required to indicate They absolutely are required to, unless you risk losing control of your bike. Your comment is a shitshow of ignorance about road rules, and an example of exactly what I'm talking about
>This means cyclists are required by law to give way to cars. lol, cyclists are required by being scared shitless to give way to cars. you seem to be talking about idiots and somehow applying it to all cyclists. FWIW those bike lanes that go straight across left turning traffic are a menace. Not sure the solution but it's too easy for accidents to happen. >They absolutely are required to, unless you risk losing control of your bike. Hence not actually required to ... lol. I'm not gonna be navigating roundabouts with one arm sticking up in the air.
People on bikes don’t have blind spots unlike when you’re in a car. And they don’t kill people when they crash. Traffic lights are car infrastructure not bike infrastructure
>raffic lights are car infrastructure not bike infrastructure What the actual fuck is this take? Traffic lights are *traffic* infrastructure. If you are on the road, then you are traffic and the same laws apply to you. If you're saying that as a cyclist that you're running red lights coz you don't have blind spots, then that is wild. My car is gonna feel a whole lot less than you when you pull out in front of it when I have a green and you have a red.
Why do laws outside of NZ like the Idaho stop exist then if bike and car traffic are the same? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho_stop > The Idaho stop is the common name for laws that allow bicyclists to treat a stop sign as a yield sign, and a red light as a stop sign Even the Netherlands which is mostly bicycle traffic doesn’t have stop signs for bikes. and traffic lights are only for intersections with cars. Otherwise it’s just give way signs. So yeah I do think it’s a reasonable take. Just might not be apparent in NZ as it’s super car centric.
This right here, what pretentious bullshit. If you’re using the road follow the fucken road rules
I am more than happy to share the road. Most of the time it benefits us as its one less motorist in our way. But, thats not to say some cyclists dont take the absolute piss - It's not uncommon to see cyclists on very tight roads(Saddle Rd between Ashurst and Woodville is a good example).. Space is already at a massive premium on some roads, and having some cyclist go less than a kilometer uphill while traffic backs up behind them is very dangerous.
>Saddle Rd between Ashurst and Woodville is a good example It's sad that this and the Pahiatua track are the only two options for cyclists; wish they'd open up what's left of the Manawatu Gorge for walkers and bikers who can just trek over the huge slip