A motorist must bear much more responsibility on the roads because
his/her mistakes have far more consequence than a cyclists.

Motorists break the law pretty well every time they drive. Every time
someone sets us a radar gun outside a school zone (eg. newspaper, local
P&C group) they invariably note about 90% of drivers speed. Motorists
come up with all sorts of "it wasn't my fault" / "the devil made me do
it" excuses. "I didn't know the time", "the huge signs and painted
yellow boxes on the road were too subtle". Try this, stand at an
intersection for a while and see the vast majority of drivers also stop
over the line. See how many don't quite stop at the stop sign. See how
many accellerate through the yellow light.

When I'm riding on a multi-lane road where I take the left lane, MOST
cars squeeze past without fully changing lanes (illegal).

There is probably little difference in the rates of bad behaviour
between cyclists and motorists (incl motorbikes). What is different - is
the consequences of the behaviour. A motorist is very likely to kill
someone whereas a cyclist is likely to injury him/her self and annoy
others. I'd rather be annoyed by someone than killed.

Yes, all raod users should learn to respect and behave. However, where
bad behaviour leads to death - that needs to be prioritised over that
which only annoys.

SCotty


Zebee Johnstone Wrote:
In aus.bicycle on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:21:56 -0000
Baka Dasai wrote:
And that's what this is all about - a minority of ratbags who get
incensed and subsequently violent when their car gets caught within
the
mass. That's the rationale for corking as I see it, and corking is
the
only significant law-breaking in CM, and it's law-breaking supported
by
police, and occasionally performed by police.

Is it supported because of 4 wheeled ratbags or because of 2 wheeled
ratbags? Do the cops allow it because they agree there are 4 wheeled
ratbags or because they know that otherwise riders will do it anyway,
or do silly things, and because riders can't be easily called to
account it is better to manage them this way?

I also dispute that corking is because there is a huge chance of
problems with aggro drivers getting caught between 2 masses of law
abiding, careful, riders....

However... few cyclists will admit there are 2 wheeled ratbags,

Nah, ratbags are everywhere, even astride bicyles. One big
difference
though is how much more dangerous a car-driving ratbag is than a
bike-riding ratbag.

IT is one difference, but then bike riding ratbags tend to rely on car
drivers to behave well.

As someone who doesn't identify as "cyclist" any more than as
"pedestrian" or "motorcyclist" or "eater of apples", I have no problem
in noting that there is a really strong sense of entitlement amongst
the cycling activist community that casts all others as unworthy, and
a strong feeling of "I can so I will" amongst many riders of bicycles
which they would condemn in anyone else.

That there's a difference in kerb weight is undeniable. That there's
no difference in ethics is also undeniable....

Zebee


--
scotty72