Quoted message said:Quoted message said:Quoted message said:>> "FD" == flyingdutch <[email hidden]> writes:
FD> Why dont Cyclists Pay rego if they want to use the road?
Motorists pay rego to use the road because society has decided that the
risks posed by motorists to society warrants registering people who wish
to use a car. The same mechanism is used to monitor people who wish to
use firearms, both are capable of death and injury and need to be
controlled.
In ten years cyclists have collectively killed two people. On average
it takes motorists three days to achieve that, I guess that's one area
where motorists really are more efficient.
The lions share of the rego fee is in fact the TAC (Traffic Accident
Commission) contribution. This is necessary because motorists kill
hundereds, cripple thousands and injure hundereds of thousands every
year.
Cyclists do not.
FD> Why are taxpayers' moneys used to pay for cycling lanes/paths?
Why are taxpayers money used to pay for roads?
Roads are useful to society so the government collects taxes and uses
those taxes to build roads for the common good. Cycling lanes and paths
cost significantly less than roads and are useful to every able bodied
person in society; you do not need a licence to use a bike lane or path.
Everyone uses pavements and guess what? They're paid for by taxes too.
FD> Cyclists cause congestion
A road which can service 1000 cars an hour can service 8000 bicycles in
an hour. Clearly bicycles do not cause congestion.
FD> Bikelanes take up road space, leaving me with only one lane...
Bikes lanes are there to increase the flow of traffic for cars, not
bicycles.
Without a defined place for bicycles on the road motorists would use the
whole width of the road. On encountering a cyclist a motorist would
likely have to deviate from his course causing confusion and danger for
following motorists.
Bike lanes can be dangerous places for cyclists. It encourages unsafe
cycling by putting a cyclist in close proximity to parked cars and the
lane is rarely maintained to the same standard as the roads.
FD> Cyclists should get off the footpath
I couldn't agree more. Cycling on the footpath is far riskier than
cycling on the road, however it is legal for children under 12 and
adults accompanying said children.
FD> Cyclists take up a whole lane
On occasion yes, and that's to help motorists. Many motorists are
unaware of the width of their vehicle and lack judgement in how much
room to give a cyclist. By taking the whole lane when appropriate
cyclists make life easier for you by not requiring you to make a
decision which, if the motorist got wrong, could result in lethal
consequences. Even though motorists kill and maim on a daily basis
cyclists are aware that this is not intentional and are only too happy
to help motorists be good citizens on the road.
FD> etc etc
Keep em coming :-)
--
Cheers | ~~ __@
Euan | ~~ _-\<,
Melbourne, Australia | ~ (*)/ (*)
