Another twunt

Porgy

fast as fupp wrote:

frankly cyclists who dont have a full driving license should have to take some sort of test- like a cbt for motorcyclists- to prove their competence on the road

but people with full driving licenses - ie, can drive a car - are deemed able to cycle safely? How does that work? :?:

At what age would you make it compulsory?

Would children below that age be banned from cycling?

How would you enforce it? would you have the police pulling cyclists over at random or would we be forced to attach registration plates?

Not disagreeing, mind you, just interested in how you'd get it all to work.

fast as fupp

to get a driving license you have to pass a test- show some road sense- and have knowledge of the highway code

12-16?

no- children under a certain age are allowed to ride on the pavement or cycle paths or be accompanied by an adult

with lethal force :evil:

guinea

Sigh.

That's exactly what we don't need - another barrier to entry.

Same for horse riders and pedestrians too?

Pokerface

There definitely should be some sort of breeding test/license!

DavidBelcher

Porgy wrote:

fast as fupp wrote:

frankly cyclists who dont have a full driving license should have to take some sort of test- like a cbt for motorcyclists- to prove their competence on the road

but people with full driving licenses - ie, can drive a car - are deemed able to cycle safely? How does that work? :?:

I'm not always convinced that some folk who've managed to pass a test can drive all that competently on a day-to-day basis, either. :?

David

freehub

Half the drivers I encounter appear to not deserve a driving license. Some woman pulled out in front of me yesterday, only to not go above 10mph and about 10meters on pull into a property on the right. I had my headphones in and I'd still not do something as dumb as that. I had drivers passing too close, all sorts of assholes. I never took cycling proficiency but I don't think I need to. Riding through Manchester is enough of a test. The curry mile... thats a test indeed. I have hands ready to brake all the time down there.

DavidBelcher

freehub wrote:

I never took cycling proficiency but I don't think I need to.

I did (when I was 11, in the summer between changing from junior to secondary schools) and definitely think it's helped in the long run.

David

freehub

It helps when your a kid, but since I started cycling in april last year I've probs done around 12,000 miles and learnt as much as you would in cycling proficency.

shockedsoshocked

I cycle with headphones in and I don't give a shit.

Porgy

freehub wrote:

The curry mile... thats a test indeed. I have hands ready to brake all the time down there.

Methinks that might be a bit like cycling between Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway - and that is a bit of a test for any cyclist.

Porgy

ShockedSoShocked wrote:

I cycle with headphones in and I don't give a shoot.

8)

Headhuunter

freehub wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

This amuses me somewhat. A while ago we had a series of threads slating RLJ-ers. I admitted I RLJ-ed and stated my point. However I would never, ever wear headphones when riding. Whilst riding through traffic all you have is your sight and your hearing to help you, personally I would not want to disable or partially disable one of those senses.

It amuses me that so many people jumped on their high horses about RLJ-ing which somehow seems to represent the biggest sin in the cycling world. We had people here calling RLJ-er anything from twunts to far worse, yet so many people are happy to block their ears and ride in rush hour traffic!

Just seems a stupid paradox to me!

I don't block my ears, headphones don't actually do that, ok some do, mine don't, but if I was RLJ'ing then I'd certainly not wear headphones as thats very dangerous, but I stop when the lights are on red and go when they're on green. I admit, I go through if it's on amber.

As I mentioned, "Cycling into a headwind? You deserve to die."

Headphones are at the very least going to partially inhibit your hearing, whether you wear in ear or over the ear 'phones. Obviously the higher the volume the more disbled your hearing becomes.

Anyway, it's up to you, I just find it amusing that RLJ-ing is somehow considered to be the evil to top all evils, yet some many people are happy to overlook cycling with headphones as a non-issue, which to me seems far worse.

Porgy

Headhuunter wrote:

Headphones are at the very least going to partially inhibit your hearing, whether you wear in ear or over the ear 'phones. Obviously the higher the volume the more disbled your hearing becomes.

Anyway, it's up to you, I just find it amusing that RLJ-ing is somehow considered to be the evil to top all evils, yet some many people are happy to overlook cycling with headphones as a non-issue, which to me seems far worse.
.

have you thought they may not be the same people?

freehub

RLJ'ing is far far FAR more dangerous than cycling with headphones. You can adjust headphones so you can hear your surroundings, I'm totally aware of my surroundings when listening to music. Cycling in a headwind can be like having earphones turned up loud, you can't hear much around you sometimes cause of it, then what are you going to do?

Only an idiot would jump a red light on a busy road. When ever I see it I think to myself I hope they get ran over it'll teach them to not do it again. Now someone arguing against cycling with earphones could come out with a similar statement.

If cycling with earphones is banned, then I'll stop wearing them, but untill then I won't as I have no doubt in my mind that they don't impact my concentration.

Porgy

I'll accept them being banned when they ban car stereos.

Besides - fecking engines are so loud sometimes you need something in your ear to stop permanent damage.

freehub

When will loud engines be banned?

Porgy

freehub wrote:

When will loud engines be banned?

when we all go electric?

ride_whenever

you mean enforced...

Headhuunter

freehub wrote:

RLJ'ing is far far FAR more dangerous than cycling with headphones. You can adjust headphones so you can hear your surroundings, I'm totally aware of my surroundings when listening to music. Cycling in a headwind can be like having earphones turned up loud, you can't hear much around you sometimes cause of it, then what are you going to do?

Only an idiot would jump a red light on a busy road. When ever I see it I think to myself I hope they get ran over it'll teach them to not do it again. Now someone arguing against cycling with earphones could come out with a similar statement.

If cycling with earphones is banned, then I'll stop wearing them, but untill then I won't as I have no doubt in my mind that they don't impact my concentration.

Well that's your view. IMO is damn stupid and no matter what you say, your hearing is disabled to a greater or lesser extent. RLJ-ing (as has been discussed) in some situations is far safer than waiting for red lights. "Only an idiot" would wear headphones when riding.

pedylan

Pokerface wrote:

There definitely should be some sort of breeding test/license!

An intellectual means test. If you fail it you don't get to vote, drive, post on cycling forums, use the internet, clog up the bandwith, travel abroad, keep pets or use mobile phones in public.

Apart from that I'd generally be happy to take a tolerant view of the range of abilities possessed by my fellow citizens. :evil:

Now, where were we regarding wearing earphones.

Porgy

pedylan wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

There definitely should be some sort of breeding test/license!

An intellectual means test. If you fail it you don't get to vote, drive, post on cycling forums, use the internet, clog up the bandwith, travel abroad, keep pets or use mobile phones in public.

Apart from that I'd generally be happy to take a tolerant view of the range of abilities possessed by my fellow citizens. :evil:

Now, where were we regarding wearing earphones.

anyone who wants to use a mobile phone - in public or not - should automatically fail the test and be made to work as a road labourer until they drop down dead.

freehub

Headhuunter wrote:

freehub wrote:

RLJ'ing is far far FAR more dangerous than cycling with headphones. You can adjust headphones so you can hear your surroundings, I'm totally aware of my surroundings when listening to music. Cycling in a headwind can be like having earphones turned up loud, you can't hear much around you sometimes cause of it, then what are you going to do?

Only an idiot would jump a red light on a busy road. When ever I see it I think to myself I hope they get ran over it'll teach them to not do it again. Now someone arguing against cycling with earphones could come out with a similar statement.

If cycling with earphones is banned, then I'll stop wearing them, but untill then I won't as I have no doubt in my mind that they don't impact my concentration.

Well that's your view. IMO is damn stupid and no matter what you say, your hearing is disabled to a greater or lesser extent. RLJ-ing (as has been discussed) in some situations is far safer than waiting for red lights. "Only an idiot" would wear headphones when riding.

No it's not far safer unless unless it's an empty road, if cars are coming it's not safer end of. If someones concentration is lowered that much by wearing headphones, then well, even without headphones they're simply not concentrating enough anyway, with headphones on, I can still see behind me, to the sides and in front, I always look behind, I'm always aware of cards indicating, or not....., I follow the rules of the road, not wearing headphones won't change a single thing.

drewfromrisca

What if a car beeps his horn to warn you of some impending doom??? :twisted:

freehub

drewfromrisca wrote:

What if a car beeps his horn to warn you of some impending doom??? :twisted:

What do you think will happen? I'll hear it of course...

Why does everyone assume you only have one volume setting that must be 100%?

Mothyman

its all about minimising the possibilities of having an accident.
if I never use my ears as a warning then I might as well have earphones in them..although the presence of my favourite tune might reduce my general attention and awareness. If I am driving and I reach for another bonbon from the packet I am minimally reducing my attention span.....
A far greater factor is the general awareness of road safety - some seem to have it and others ignore it...
I actually use my ears for traffic behind so wouldnt want earphones in...but its one of many factors

Porgy

drewfromrisca wrote:

What if a car beeps his horn to warn you of some impending doom??? :twisted:

i'll ignore it anyway just like i ignore all the beeping horns i hear on my commute

Headhuunter

freehub wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

freehub wrote:

RLJ'ing is far far FAR more dangerous than cycling with headphones. You can adjust headphones so you can hear your surroundings, I'm totally aware of my surroundings when listening to music. Cycling in a headwind can be like having earphones turned up loud, you can't hear much around you sometimes cause of it, then what are you going to do?

Only an idiot would jump a red light on a busy road. When ever I see it I think to myself I hope they get ran over it'll teach them to not do it again. Now someone arguing against cycling with earphones could come out with a similar statement.

If cycling with earphones is banned, then I'll stop wearing them, but untill then I won't as I have no doubt in my mind that they don't impact my concentration.

Well that's your view. IMO is damn stupid and no matter what you say, your hearing is disabled to a greater or lesser extent. RLJ-ing (as has been discussed) in some situations is far safer than waiting for red lights. "Only an idiot" would wear headphones when riding.

No it's not far safer unless unless it's an empty road, if cars are coming it's not safer end of. If someones concentration is lowered that much by wearing headphones, then well, even without headphones they're simply not concentrating enough anyway, with headphones on, I can still see behind me, to the sides and in front, I always look behind, I'm always aware of cards indicating, or not....., I follow the rules of the road, not wearing headphones won't change a single thing.

Well of course jumping a red when traffic is coming the other way is not safe, but carefully jumping a red when nothing is coming is fine in my opinion. Wearing headphones blocks one of the 2 senses that you need in cycling. Not a lot better than a motorist driving whilst on the mobile if you ask me.

freehub

wearing headphones does not blocks hearing totally, and you have the ability to change the volume, you could have it at a wisper if you wanted, also talking on a mobile is legal if you use hand free.

fast as fupp

freehub wrote:

wearing headphones does not blocks hearing totally, and you have the ability to change the volume, you could have it at a wisper if you wanted, also talking on a mobile is legal if you use hand free.

its the equivalent of riding with one eye shut

you wouldnt do that would you?

freehub

It's not