Road regulations

[dave c]

There has been some correspondence in the press, some of which implicates Clifton riders of going through red lights. I have experienced certain instances on club/training, rides of similar actions.

I think it is the responsibility of Clifton cycle club members to set an example and comply with all road traffic regulations which may help in improving cyclist-car driver relationships.

Dave

[PhilBixby]

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/features/rea ... mp_lights/

Indeed. People are generally well-behaved on group rides. There's always someone looking for a reason to give us a hard time - why give them the excuse?

[paulM]

Personally I wouldn't have lowered myself to respond Phil. If we've got a name on our backs we're identifiable and will be criticised no matter what we do. People who write these letters should get out more - possibly on a bike!

[StephF]

I like this response!

I think you meant to type: "They get in my way and stop me getting to my destination 30 seconds faster therefore they should not be allowed on the road because they inconvenience me".

[Dr Dave]

This guy is obviously a muck-raking s**t-stirrer/troll who doesn't really warrant a reply. Having said this, most people will appreciate a reasoned response that show the club to consist of considerate thinking people and not reckless 'lycra louts'.

[PhilBixby]

One thing I've learned over the years is that if untrue statements get repeated often enough, people start assuming they're true. Writing in only took ten minutes and it might remind a few car drivers that we ride with a bit of consideration. It would be nice if the original letter I responded to hadn't been published in the first place, but hey, that's The Press and its readership...

[bernard turgoose]

The writer of this letter is a regular contributer to the letters column of the Press and I think that the measured response that you have done Phil may just go some way to assuage other readers to think twice or thrice about this mans letter.
Bernard

[AndyM]

Here's a fairly on-topic article which I thought made a good read

http://michaelbarry.ca/2011/11/the-gro ... twitter

[paulM]

We shouldnt be wasting time on this trying to justify our existence on the roads. The guy who wrote that letter cannot even tell the time - he gets overtaken by cyclists at 0900 and put two and two together and makes five and somehow links this to Clifton CCs social ride which leaves at 1000? There are advanced stop boxes on nearly every jnc in York so why shouldnt he get overtaken? There's nothing wrong with Phils response its just that the silent majority will agree and say nothing but it will just fuel the fire of every freak and nutcase that feel the need to write letters to newspapers criticising a section of society and generally tarring everyone with the same brush. But now we really are in the spotlight - it will be interesting to see if there are letters in the near future announcing to the YEP readers of any minor Clifton CC misdemeanors?
Just stand at the side of a main road for 5 minutes and count how many drivers are on mobile phones, driving defective vehicles or speeding and you wouldnt even know how many more are drunk or driving with no insurance? Where's the balance - Surely this is much worse than turning left at a red light?

[craigdabrown]

This is actually quite a timely topic for me. By no means completely angelic whilst driving, walking or cycling, I’ve always attempted to obey the rules of the road or countryside and regard myself as pretty considerate towards fellow cyclists, drivers, pedestrians and walkers.

Having recently begun wearing Club Kit for the first time, I’m amazed at the added responsibility one feels when cycling in a Clifton top as opposed to a non-descript, branded one.

CraigB

[Flying Finn]

Same thing with me, since I have the Clifton CC Team Jacket, I feel much more responsibility, i is like a number plate. In my home village everybody knows me, here I am a nobody, but wearing the Team cloth make me obey the road rules much more than in "civil"!
The problem is everywhere the same, car driver accuse the bike-riders, especially the rider in club uniform, who take much more care of the traffic rules than the other, and then they get accused... well, Phils answer is very OK, and I will do my best to make "our" living with the cars much more confortamble!

[Karl M]

Guess if we have more of this:

Clifton riders of going through red lights. I have experienced certain instances on club/training, rides of similar actions.

… We might expect more of this too (recent “weekly roundup”):

some idiot actually drove AT us on purpose. Wish I'd got his number plate but I was too busy worrying about my escape route (ie the ditch)!

It's no fun "being taught a lesson" from a ton of steel made angry by a cyclist(s) the day before.