Grab your pitchforks.......

[The Big Man]

That could be how the Forest of Cheem in Doctor Who started off.

[I, Cosh]

The other forum I spend my work time on is a cycling one. There's really only one word for people like this: CUNT!!

[TordelBack]

I'm actually in Spain at the moment (bloody freezing here), and people here are Not Happy About This.  I think Senor Sensitivity is probably going to need a lot more than â?¬30K to cover future repair bills...

[Mini-Bolt]

three words : NUMBER FOUR CARTRIDGE
goodbye stupid hit and run man.

[ThryllSeekyr]

Don't they have really funny driving laws in Spain?

[Peter Wolf]

 Obviously they do as the driver escaped prosecution  for driving over the speed limit and killing someone.We have the same "funny" laws here as well.


 The driver was most probably not charged because the cyclist was not wearing high visibility clothing   or adequate lights etc.Also take into consideration the fact that Spain mostly only has street lighting in built up areas.

 In the UK if you cycle at night on the roads without lights then A: Its totally illegal. B:Its bloody stupid and selfish and C:If you do and you have a collision with a vehicle then even if that driver was drunk or over the speed limit or whatever you are ultimatly responsible for that collision regardless by not having lights on your Bike.


 This doesnt excuse the driver for his claims for damages however or for driving over the speed limit recklessly in the first place but thats the law as it stands.


 Hope this clarifies things.

[the shutdown man]

In Ireland, the full responsibilty is on the driver, no matter what the cyclist is/isn't wearing in terms of safety gear, as far as I know. I've been trying to find out for certain, but government websites are not easily navigated. Anyway, it's generally understood that no matter what the circumstances, you always need to be able to avoid a collision with a cyclist or a pedestrian. I'd like to think it makes some drivers more careful, but I don't know.

I agree though, cycling at night without lights or reflective gear is stupid. I don't drive myself, but I've sat in many cars while drivers curse and spit at the cyclist who just appeared out of the darkness.

[Matt Timson]

A friend of mine got sued by a cyclist because his passenger opened the door to get out of the car and the cyclist ran into the door!  I'm not 100% sure without checking, but I think the cyclist was riding along the pavement at the time as well.

Anyway- back to the filthy, whining, Spaniard...

[johnnystress]

I was just talking to my law student girlfriend about this last night- as shutdown man says..in Ireland the cyclist will never get sued..they have no insurance so the driver will always carry the can

anyway back to the vitriol

They spawned Enrique Iglesias!

[johnnystress]

Link: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/01/30/spain.luxury.car/index.html" target="_blank">Update on this case

[the shutdown man]

Well, that's something at least.

[Matt Timson]

Having just read that again, I'm still amazed that anyone would be so callous as to try and leech money out of the dead cyclist's family.  What a heel...

[Peter Wolf]

I dont know if its the same everywhere but i find generally in Brighton that cyclists are a hazard and a liability.I am a cyclist myself but i try and avoid them if poss.The seafront promenade is used for cycling a lot instead of the road.

 For example i am cycling on the seafront going in one direction.Along comes another cyclist prattling along towards myself .Even if the seafront path is completely clear they still manage time and time again to very nearly cause a collision .Its almost like they are doing it deliberatly.Its very annoying as they dont seem to have any spatial awareness.so i just keep well clear of them as they are unpredictable.

 You get that business where a car door swings open into the road nearly knocking you off the bike as you usually get about a seconds notice to avoid it.Many a time i have said "For fucks sake ! " when that happens.Keep to a minimum safe distance I.E the length of a car door to avoid this.

 We *all* jump the lights and go down one way streets but its a case of using your judgement when its safe to do so.

 The other thing i notice from a drivers point of view is that the Cyclist never looks behind them to see what is going on in the road.time and time again they cause an obstruction and a queue of traffic forms because they dont look to see if they are obstructing traffic.I find it helps to be aware of what is going on around you but unfortunately they dont.


 Cycling is very safe if you have your wits about you but it can be fatal if you dont.


 A lot of people are prats and cyclists are no exception to this rule and  sometimes they are just as selfish as car drivers as you see them shouting at drivers and being stupid.


 

[Tweak72]

Ha ha ha! cheers johnnystress. looks like the tw@ had shafted himself on this one.

good i say