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Cyclists should have to pay road taxes

Monday, 3 August 2009

Should cyclists pay road tax? In my opinion they should! Every day I journey to work and back home again and I am sure to encounter cyclists who have total disregard for the road and others who use it.

On many occasions they cycle in the middle of the road causing traffic hold-ups and chaos especially at rush hour. They can’t seem to manage going up hills as they puff and puff like a demented hoarse dragon. From behind all I see is this calamity of a cyclist trying to get the bike to go more than 2mph but to no avail.

It would be easier if they got off and carried it! But no, they just puff and puff and hold up everyone trying to get past them.

If you happen to come anywhere close to their already wide space many scream at you and wave you on with fists of unwelcoming looks.

If the cyclist wishes to take up so much space on the roads these days then they should pay road tax like the rest of us.

They should also be regulated in what they wear and have the correct gears.

They should also be made to stop at traffic lights — how many of them hold up the traffic at rush hour, then, as the lights change and the rest of us have to stop, they puff along ahead in the hope they can get that much further on before the lights change again and we have caught up with them.

Many towns now provide cycle lanes (at car users expense no doubt) but do they use these? Oh no they don’t. They insist on being in the lanes provided for cars and weaving in and out, so just when you thought you’d got rid of them they appear in front of you wobbling all over the place.

We are forever being lectured on the ‘green’ issue of cycling to work and how it is good for the environment.

This is very true, but only if the majority of people are doing it. If they are not then it causes resentment for the car driver and makes no difference whatsoever on the environment.

Is it a democracy when thousands of car users have to put up with potholes and bumps etc on the roads when the occasional cyclist gets a whole new lane to themselves? Then they don’t even bother to use it.

It’s only fair that cyclists pay road tax and insurance and they should also be given a licence plate which says they are entitled to be on the road and that they have passed their theory test, hazards test and road safety test.

Tricia

Carryduff

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73 Comments

Have to say I have cycled all over the world and by far the most rudest impatient drivers have to be from N Ireland Co Down. The motorists don't give anyone a chance not even other motorists.
Have a look for your selves on your next outing in the car watch around you everybody is rushing not letting anyone past and weaving fists at one another this is an horrible place to drive never mind cycle. After being pushed of, shot with a peltgun, hit over the back of the head with a bottle and knocked of my bike I stopped cycling as the people here are to rude an ex cyclist.

Posted by Joe | 08.09.09, 12:05 GMT

LOL@Tricia, I have a motorbike and a car both of which I pay VED on (no such thing as road tax). The roads are paid for from your council tax, I think cyclists pay that too. Plus I have done two tests one for car and one for motorcycle; does that mean that I am allowed twice as much road as you?
Where would the license plate go?

Posted by Symo | 24.08.09, 17:21 GMT

Someone needs a chill-pill, don't they? When I pay full road tax, but then decide to commute to work on my bike, which is my actual scenario. Do I have to pay additional Road Tax in your world Tricia? I have not seen the rule personally, but have read somewhere, where it was mentionedand it does sound commonsense. If you are going to be moving at more than a certain speed (think 15 or 18 mph's were the figures banded about) then you should cycle on the road, and not on the cycle/walkway.

You must cut a very svelte figure, because you come across as very "sizest"...oooh, look at you!

Posted by Martin | 23.08.09, 16:28 GMT

Little Mr Sunshine,

given the choice between (1) taking a badly maintained, debris strewn C-road, traveling slowly, risking punctures and stopping every 100m for a junction and (2) taking the motorway and possibly, maybe inconveniencing another driver for 30s as they overtake you, am I to believe you are selfless enough to stick to the back roads just in case you slow someone down a touch?

Posted by John Girvin | 10.08.09, 16:26 GMT

Little Mr Sunshine, I do "suck it up". Despite it adding 2 miles to my journey I'll take the Sustrans cycle path along the M5 to avoid traffic (that's how I end up in Duncrue Street), and will use cycle paths generally where it is safe to do so.

What you and many people who have never cycled don't seem to understand is that cycle paths, because of the way they are (not) maintained and kludged on to the existing road network, are often dangerous to use. There's glass, litter, parked cars and potholes to avoid and they often just end suddenly and dump you into traffic anyway. It's safer to move with the main flow.

I crashed badly on a path a couple of weeks ago because of leaf cover than had not been cleared. They're not some idyllic super network. I wish they were. Try it yourself and see, please. I'm not making this up.

So I'm sorry, but my personal safety outweighs a 30 second inconvenience to you. If we all chose personal convenience over others' safety, where would we be?

Posted by John Girvin | 10.08.09, 10:51 GMT

John Girvin

"It's much easier to use the road". If we all chose the "much easier" option in life rather than the safer or less selfish one where would we be? Suck it up like the rest of us and put up with a bit of inconvienience rather than causing it for others.

Posted by Little Mr Sunshine | 09.08.09, 10:51 GMT

RE: Duncrue Street cycle path.

I use the road along here rather than the path as (1) the pavement surface is very bumpy making cycling difficult; (2) the pavement is always covered in glass fragments; (3) there are many entrances to the various yards along this road that, if you're on the pavement, you have to stop or slow down at to cross safely, whereas if you're on the road you have right of way over the entrances and can continue unimpeded. I've tried using the cycle path, but it's much easier to use the road.

It's a fine example of a well intentioned but ultimately badly planned cycle lane. Motorists will have no idea why the cyclists aren't using the lane.

Posted by John Girvin | 06.08.09, 11:11 GMT

I do not mind cyclists on the road, i do not drive a car either.

I chose to use a motorcycle for my travels.

This way I can pass cyclists safely, cut the costs of driving down and get from A to B without congestion.

Any car drivers out there which have problems with what you have to do/pay for use of the road... grow up and think of different possibilities on how to travel.

Posted by Sam | 05.08.09, 21:06 GMT

Would it be fair to say that Tricia's views are not supported by everyone?

Posted by Will Hawkes | 05.08.09, 17:19 GMT

Oh dear, Tricia. I guess if I start smoking 60 a day and drink 50 pints a week then I'll be entitled to be at the top of the NHS queue. After all I'll have paid more tax. Come to think of it I'm fairly sure I pay more 'road tax' and income tax than you so I'll be entitled to more of the road. Please can you therefore refrain from driving anywhere next Wednesday. Thanks.

Posted by Cycle Bear | 05.08.09, 12:59 GMT

Perhaps angry drivers Tricia are the real danger because clearly they can't be concentrating fully on the road!!

As my commute takes me through Carryduff I would be interested to know about where all these cycle lanes that are just for us are? All are shared use that I know off either with buses/pedestrians. Ravenhill Rd has a cycle specific lane however it is often littered with cars parked across it making it dangerous for cyclists as we would have to swerve in and out of the cycle lane!!

Posted by Eamonn | 04.08.09, 23:09 GMT

Perhaps it would help the traffic flow if we all drove our cars instead of our bikes?

Posted by Julian | 04.08.09, 22:56 GMT

Dear Nattie,

I ride on the road on Duncrue Street because it is less dangerous and I can make better progress. There are many intersections joining this road so having right of way is safer.The road is wide enough anyway for safe overtaking. I ride a road bike so less damage to wheels from all the up and down kerbs. I use the cycle path to go through a large signalled junction. If you only stopped to think or even tried cycling you would realise that cyclists are not the numpties you would consider them to be and there is a real reason for their actions. Learn to share the road, learn to read the road from the actions of others and you will improve your driving skills. I hope this enlightens you and rescues you from the depths of ignorance that you have unfortunately sunk too.

Posted by Guru | 04.08.09, 19:24 GMT

When will we read about Tricia on a bike? I'd love to see the outcome of her having a go. Must go now and overload with some O2 for the long wheeze home.

Posted by Ray Deans (formerly of Lisburn) | 04.08.09, 15:51 GMT

Hi Tricia,

Maybe you would like to arrange to go out on the roads for a cycle and then you may get to see your argument from another perspective?

I would gratefully assist you in this venture, feel free to contact me via the cycling ulster web site, under executive members.

Posted by Gary McKeegan | 04.08.09, 15:00 GMT

Listen Tricia, your ignorant attitude to both other road users and the rules of the road gives us female road users a bad name!!! If you had any idea of what it's like on 2 wheels, you might think before you rant!!!

GET THE BUS!!!

Cyclist, Harley rider and Motorist.

Posted by Ladybiker | 04.08.09, 14:33 GMT

I am a cyclist and I pay the same amount of VED as every other low/no emission car and vehicle on the road.

No need to thank us for our contribution, you're welcome.

Posted by Gary Hurdman | 04.08.09, 12:29 GMT

I think what we have here is an amazing example of why people should think before they open their mouths. I hope that "Tricia" reads these comments and realises a little research can go a long way.

Posted by Matt | 04.08.09, 11:52 GMT

All but the last paragraph of your letter reads as an ill-informed, childish whine about having to share your precious roads.

You paint yourself as a selfish, inconsiderate and dangerous driver who is ignorant of the issues faced by cyclists traveling on busy roads and of the benefits cycling can bring to the individual and society as a whole. I suggest you educate yourself by cycling to Belfast a few mornings before commenting further on something you clearly know little about.

"road tax" is an environmental tax that cycles are exempt from. Do you also think it's unfair that electric vehicles pay no road tax? Or that large cars and lorries pay more? What of passengers on public transport?

I agree though that better training for cyclists and motorists is required, for everyone's safety, and that insurance protection should be in place. Mandatory insurance for individual cyclists would be a backward step; some kind of Norwegian style blanket scheme would be a better solution.

Posted by John Girvin | 04.08.09, 11:11 GMT