[CONSOLIDATED] Errant Cyclists Thread

[keenklee]

To pitch in my worthless 2 cents.

For the record, i both cycle and drive myself. Both for a good 7 years +.

The crux of the problem in the local traffic community by large, imho, divided broadly into 2 -

1. Nobody is general is willing to share the traffic enviroment.

2. Everyone is breaking rules when it suits them and then bringing out said rules when it don't as a bullet to shoot the other side.

Let me start on the cyclists 1st. I myself rode on road at the starting too but it was not too long i realise that the local driving culture is such that they dun welcome cyclist, law or otherwise. So i shifted off road and go on path where i can and i go on road only when i have to.

Now some cycling communities would be really insistent here about staying on the road but to these cyclists, do you line up back to back accordingly and a single file formation and then frequently check blind spots via ur own turning/cams/added side mirrors? Do you honestly keep left as much as possible? Or some of the cyclists pump out a notion that driving in the middle of the lane is defensive riding and thereby blockading off an entire lane along with the ability to left turn from time to time. Now i must be fair, left as possible here does NOT mean extremely left on the yellow markings. That area is dangerous for cyclists, it's where side road debris is and if the marking is wet due to weather/roadworks, it become an actual slip hazard. So extreme left here means a little bit to the right of the markings.

Then you have YP with speakers blasting music, riding like they own the road without helmet, zigzaging across lanes without checking blindspots, going through dangerous stunts etc.

Then you have solo riders who might be tired and not at 100% but insistent on wanting to push ''records'' on Strava.

Just a few example but these examples are primarily stupidity at it's finest. Granted most of the time, these are black sheeps. There ARE communities who place priority on safety be it on the road or otherwise, just so they can enjoy the trip and go back home safely. So to car drivers, ID the segment before you wack blindly.


Now drivers. It's ur rights to be on the road accordingly to the law, but so are cyclists at the moment. Now the common arguments here are as exampled - ''F off, you dun belong here'', ''no pay road tax GTFO'', ''we bang each other see who die 1st'' and the likes. Not exactly wrong in reasoning.

But not exactly right either. When you drive ur car, you pay attention to just about everything, from big boy tipper trucks to the smaller motorbike. Now the counter argument here is often these are motored power hence able to speed off etc etc. So what does this mean? It mean inherently driving cultures here do NOT like to stop, drivers tend to want to be able to move as much as possible. They feel like giving way is a waste of time to THEMSELVES, where by if said road users is NOT there, they would be able to move. Hence the not friendly road sharing culture i mentioned at the start.

Another thing about both drivers and cyclists is, we always like to plug laws and rule to justify certain things but does each segment follow theirs as well? Really? REALLY follow?

Already mentioned example for cyclist up there but for car drivers, do you 100% flip the car signal when you turn for each and every turn, as you are required by law? Even when it's 4am in the weekday morning and you are 250% sure nobody is there? Or is it a ''signal for ghost to see?'' mentality? Do car drivers keep a certain distance as required by law according to their speed? Or do you see cars pretty close to back to back driving at 100 on the xpressway? Where they should be keeping AT LEAST a good 1.5 car length EACH? Do car drivers slow down during Zebras at unearthly hours as they should by the law? Or they just normally zoom by late in the night assuming no rando will cross?


So you see, both side have the same issues. Nobody is keeping to the law but when the opposite side happens to ''disturb'' the norms, the rules and laws come flying in.

IMHO.
I just want to ask you something simple, how many cyclist change lane gives signal ? Do you ?

 

[kingsfall]

Why other countries cyclist can follow rules but our countrymen just can’t?

 

[Akky85]

This is exactly the reason why those cyclists are so insistent about staying on the road. Because they are not willing to share the traffic environment with slower moving traffic (like pedestrians) and they do not like to STOP and feel that navigating around those obstacles are a waste of time to themselves and an interruption to their riding. So they choose to ride on the road, slowing other ppl down is better than being slowed

Hence both of the same kind end up on the road and clash.

No sympathy for those ppl on both sides who get into altercations because they are not willing to exercise patience and prudence, esp for those that are breaking the rules.

The only grievance I have is on the govt. for failure to act. We cannot hope to encourage a car-lite society by just giving cyclists such a long leash. Anyone who wants to ride on the road should be regulated. Put number plates, buy insurance, get Class 1 riding license, have demerit points and hold every road users accountable to their actions.

Agreed that both sides need to be more gracious and thinking about the other side more then themselves. This applies to all road users including those peds that cross roads etc.

While i can understand the need for car-lite suggestions that you have mentioned as these are also already echoed by many others and i agree with those in general, i do want to project a little further ahead here.

Let's assume these demands are met, cyclists now have to have their plates registered etc etc etc.

They are now, firmly able to be on the road. That would also means all the complains about them being slow to start and maint, prone to death by accidents and all those mitigating reasons would still exist. But that would also mean now drivers have no choice but to stay behind or overtake via another lane etc instead of complaining or risk flouting the rules themselves. Are the rest of the road users willing to accede to that? That now they are likely going to be more ''slower human motorbike'' congesting their road on the left and slowing down traffic etc etc?

It's food for thought i think.

 

[Hello_Kitty]

why can’t ban them from the road???

 

[Akky85]

IMHO.
I just want to ask you something simple, how many cyclist change lane gives signal ? Do you ?

I do myself, even on PCNs late at night, it's a habit developed from constantly doing it. Of cos i will be the 1st to admit, sometimes it slips the mind, esp after cycling for a while. But turning head checking for blindspot is 2nd nature now and that carries into my driving as well.

 

[leongws]

I do myself, even on PCNs late at night, it's a habit developed from constantly doing it. Of cos i will be the 1st to admit, sometimes it slips the mind, esp after cycling for a while. But turning head checking for blindspot is 2nd nature now and that carries into my driving as well.

Glad that u follows the rules as a responsible cyclist. Not so for those who has their own rules.

 

[Akky85]

Glad that u follows the rules as a responsible cyclist. Not so for those who has their own rules.

I understand where Keen is coming from, becuz it is true not every cyclist do that. To which i did point out, the issues and problems are the same for both sides.

Just that both sides unwilling to admit.

 

[NiNao]

Agreed that both sides need to be more gracious and thinking about the other side more then themselves. This applies to all road users including those peds that cross roads etc.

While i can understand the need for car-lite suggestions that you have mentioned as these are also already echoed by many others and i agree with those in general, i do want to project a little further ahead here.

Let's assume these demands are met, cyclists now have to have their plates registered etc etc etc.

They are now, firmly able to be on the road. That would also means all the complains about them being slow to start and maint, prone to death by accidents and all those mitigating reasons would still exist. But that would also mean now drivers have no choice but to stay behind or overtake via another lane etc instead of complaining or risk flouting the rules themselves. Are the rest of the road users willing to accede to that? That now they are likely going to be more ''slower human motorbike'' congesting their road on the left and slowing down traffic etc etc?

It's food for thought i think.

If cyclists are properly regulated by law (registered license plate etc etc etc), of course drivers will LL have to follow the law right? This is Singapore leh, not some backwater 3rd world slum.

The best thing about regulating cyclists, if it were to ever happen, is that when cyclists break the law (just like how our friend AuraKUPO can suka suka decide whether he feels like stopping at the red light or not), there is a proper system in place to identity and punish these dangerous idiots. Once enough cyclists get punished by the law, the balls of other cyclists will surely shrink, which will lead to a safer road experience by everyone. Win-win for all.

 

[SuperGreenHorn]

Let's assume these demands are met, cyclists now have to have their plates registered etc etc etc.

They are now, firmly able to be on the road. That would also means all the complains about them being slow to start and maint, prone to death by accidents and all those mitigating reasons would still exist. But that would also mean now drivers have no choice but to stay behind or overtake via another lane etc instead of complaining or risk flouting the rules themselves. Are the rest of the road users willing to accede to that? That now they are likely going to be more ''slower human motorbike'' congesting their road on the left and slowing down traffic etc etc?

It's food for thought i think.

As long as cyclists on the road are no longer lawless - regulated, bears the same consequences for breaking rules, I will graciously accept them to share our roads.

** Btw I'm a cyclist too, but I'm too humji to cycle on roads, get onto PCN and pavements whenever possible **

That said, they are lawless now, but so what, they are still able to use the road legally and we can only suck thumb.

I can only blame the govt. for the situation we are in. Simi excuse, impractical to regulate, impractical to put number plates? So impractical then cars shd have no number plates too! Jiaoway!

 

[AuraKUPO]

I do myself, even on PCNs late at night, it's a habit developed from constantly doing it. Of cos i will be the 1st to admit, sometimes it slips the mind, esp after cycling for a while. But turning head checking for blindspot is 2nd nature now and that carries into my driving as well.

Me too bro. I gave hand signal when filtering lane and also look back when there's a turn left.

But I met many times before, the driver come close to me and then speed off to the next lane. This kind is purposely want to do harm. Suspect some of them are in this forum also.

 

[seeseelooklook]

Don't worry.

LTA is monitoring the situation.

But where's the truck when you need it?

 

[Akky85]

If cyclists are properly regulated by law (registered license plate etc etc etc), of course drivers will LL have to follow the law right? This is Singapore leh, not some backwater 3rd world slum.

The best thing about regulating cyclists, if it were to ever happen, is that when cyclists break the law (just like how our friend AuraKUPO can suka suka decide whether he feels like stopping at the red light or not), there is a proper system in place to identity and punish these dangerous idiots. Once enough cyclists get punished by the law, the balls of other cyclists will surely shrink, which will lead to a safer road experience by everyone. Win-win for all.

At the current point i can see the merit of this. But my opinion at this point of time is, the complain against cyclists in general will still continue, calls for cycling bans etc all will cont citing reasons like cyclists more vulnerable etc, even when fully regulated. Becuz the crux of issue for both sides remains unsolved - We are not gracious enough to share the road and accommodate each other willingly. There's always a reason to want to get the other party ''off '' to the sides.

But that's another big can of worms i can assure other road users will NOT want to open.

 

[jq75]

Oh well….

 

[Akky85]

Me too bro. I gave hand signal when filtering lane and also look back when there's a turn left.

But I met many times before, the driver come close to me and then speed off to the next lane. This kind is purposely want to do harm. Suspect some of them are in this forum also.

Black sheeps on both ends. Cannot blame drivers also, as they too face black sheep on the cyclist side, shaping their unfavorable POV on cyclists etc.

 

[Cowbellc]

What can the govt do?
Tot some MPs also cyclists? Wearing spandex cycle?

 

[AuraKUPO]

Black sheeps on both ends. Cannot blame drivers also, as they too face black sheep on the cyclist side, shaping their unfavorable POV on cyclists etc.

But cyclist won't harm driver's life since they are inside metal. The driver who came close to me with the intention to shock me can be life threatening.

 

[Lustgan]

If they got into accident,all the sad story will come,filial son la hard working man,good father….

 

[AuraKUPO]

Ban bicycle means ban food delivery. See how many here will starve to death if cyclist is banned. 555

 

[Kiwi8]

Really jialat sia

 

[SuperGreenHorn]

Black sheeps on both ends. Cannot blame drivers also, as they too face black sheep on the cyclist side, shaping their unfavorable POV on cyclists etc.

That's why the cycling community should advocate for cyclists to be properly regulated too, don't wait until its too late then govt. have another knee jerk reaction like PMD again, all of you kenna banned lagi more jialat right?

There was already a precedence, don't think it will never happen