MAD CYCLISTS

[tmacl]

quote:Originally posted by falkirkdan

  They do not pay anything to cycleways, cycle lanes and yet they want it all.

What I want as an Edinburgh cyclist, don't know if I am a Brigade member, is to be able to cycle with safety on our roads.  I do not condone cycling on our pavements but have seen pedestrians and cyclists co-existing in many european countrys.  I can however understand why some may do it for safety grounds.

What I don't understand though is how we as cyclists don't pay for it.  I pay road tax for my car but chose, like many others, not to fill our roads and pay excessive parking charges.  I pay my council charge and a host of other taxes to local and national government.  I would applaud your call for all users of the thoroughfares to pay on a per use basis based on the damage they cause which would no doubt result in a refund to many cyclists and severe increases to all forms of taxation paid by those that choose to travel by oil powered vehicles.  And while we are at it can we get rid of all the subsidies that "public transport" receive so that we all pay the true cost of travel.

Alternatively appreciate that for every cyclist on the road (or pavement) that is one less car to block up the streets hence leaving the motor car, bus or taxi a free route to get to its destination.  Appreciate the fact that we are reducing the polutants in the atmosphere (as long as the hot air bridage shut up) and the fact that, with the exception of the pedestrians that we run down, we are reducing dependance on the NHS through being generally fitter and happier.  Now if we could only get the motorist to give us more space that may result in fewer deaths (there have been four this year in Edinburgh)and injuries on the roads and invest in cycle lanes - perhaps even shared paths or pavements.

[austin7]

As a former Edinburgh cyclist and now a Fuerte one I have to point out that it is far safer cycling here than in Edinburgh.  In the latter I've been knocked off my bike by taxis and a bus - I ran into the open door of a BMW when the woman opened it right in front of me, lots of damage to my bike, a bit of damage to me, but all the Beemer owner was interested in was the scratch on her paint...  fortunately the Plod got involved, and I got the damage to my bike paid for...eventually

So far here I have only fallen off once (hope this isn't tempting fate)and that was when I went into a very deep pothole, also I was hit from the side by a delivery persons sack barrow, which managed to break my rear axle and crack the frame on my bike... Otherwise it is only dodging errant pushchairists, and pedestrians...

[macb]

It always appears in these discussions and in this case it took some time before the "Bikes don't pay road tax and therefore forfeit any rights on the road" came up.
There is no such thing as Road Tax. It is Vehicle Excise Duty and now related to CO2 emissions etc. If you choose the right type of car, you will pay no VED so why would it be applied to any non polluting pedal powered transport.
No Argument There

[zedzedeleven]

Well said mac, it`s more about jealousy envy and resentment than anything. Those unhealthy unfit motorists sat fuming in their cars secretly want to be able to do what cyclists can do, even the pavement riding and the red light jumping, but they can`t. They are just too unfit, too apathetic and too frightened. Shame really because it isn`t too difficult. A modest two or three hundred quid will buy a good second hand hybrid for tootling around the locality and the odd trip out when weather permits.