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200 naked cyclists call for better bike safety

22:40 18/06/2017

Two-hundred naked cyclists pedalled the streets of Brussels on Saturday in a demonstration calling for better protection.

The 12th edition of the Cyclonudista ride set off from the Square Frère-Orban in the EU district with the aim of highlighting the vulnerability of cyclists on the city's traffic-clogged streets.

"There have recently been a lot of accidents involving cyclists," said organiser Jérôme Jolibois. "Often the driver of the car or truck involved hadn't seen the bike. By cycling naked, drivers can't ignore us."

He added: "Pedestrians and cyclists should have priority over cars - but the opposite happens. It's time for policymakers to make the necessary adjustments to road infrastructure. We need more - and safer - cycle paths."

Comments

John_B

Most of the "near misses" that I've had with cyclists have been cause by the cyclist making dangerous manoeuvrers. Like cycling behind the car as I reverse into a parking space or changing lanes at the last moment without signalling.

Jun 19, 2017 09:47
J C Hill

I agree with John B ... also completely ignoring traffic lights

Jun 19, 2017 14:13
tralala1

I can add a lot more to this but then it will turn out to be a book. But for example cycling in the inner and middle lanes of roundabouts, Schuman, Montgomery. My car has also been damaged by cyclists who cannot wait 1 minute and push themselves through lines of cars
, yes and then they can be hit by a car. We all have to be patient and adhere to traffic rules, cyclists too..I am afraid...

Jun 19, 2017 16:57
tralala1

"He added: "Pedestrians and cyclists should have priority over cars - but the opposite happens" Yes mister this is for a reason that pedestrians and cyclists do not have priority over cars. When a car hits a cyclists or a pedestrian they will for sure have more damage than the car. Therefore pedestrians jogging or walking over a zebra crossing without looking is a very very stupid thing to do.

Jun 19, 2017 17:00
lucian_stănescu

it should be said here that car drivers are no saints either! not by far. many really think the road belongs to them only and drive accordingly. they won't get hurt if they touch anything with their car, and they don't feel the need to protect others either. many don't really know how to drive that well, don't know how big their car actually is and how little/much space remains around them when driving...

the article above speaks about accidents - people on bikes getting hurt, but the comments below only seem to care about their cars...

Jun 19, 2017 21:51
justagirl

Tralala1 said "Yes mister this is for a reason that pedestrians and cyclists do not have priority over cars. "

You do realize that the rules of the road in Belgium give pedestrians priority over cars at zebra crossings, right? I'm not saying that they should not look before crossing the road but that does not change the fact that drivers need to slow down and check for pedestrians when they near a zebra crossing.

Jun 20, 2017 09:46
tralala1

Indeed when I read it back I realised it that I said it wrong. Yes they have priority. But still you need to look if it is possible to cross the street. People do cross over when the car is already very near the zebra crossing..without looking...or just thinking that the can car stop in 1 second...It all should be within reason

Jun 20, 2017 15:34
tralala1

Well no Lucan, like I said when a car hits a pedestrian or a cyclist then they are more damaged than the car. Therefore they should be more careful as most of them are. Some really think that they are invincible....wrong.. A cyclist should not push through 2 lines of cars and damage cars along the way. There should be other facilities for them. But mind...I have seen often enough that even when there is a good alternative that cyclists ignores this en take the dangerous route not catered for cyclist as they think it will save time for them... Basically Brussels is not a cycling city. And indeed there are mad car drivers here too, I do not deny this. BTW Brussels is the only city in Europe which allows cyclist to enter one way streets from both directions...that says enough..

Jun 20, 2017 15:39
lucian_stănescu

Dear Tralala1

- no, cyclists should not damage cars/anything.
- Brussels is not a very good city for cycling. Brussels is one of the most polluted cities in Europe. Should we not stop insist for prioritising cars and do more for safer cycling?
- I use one way streets from the opposite direction on my bike and never had a problem. If both biker and car driver take care/slow down a bit, there shouldn't be any problem.
- I'm still baffled at how fast some drivers try to drive. As if we don't all have to wait together at the next red light...

Jun 20, 2017 16:39
Mikek1300gt

Tralala1...I was a motorcycle courier for 10 years, made a lot of money! In those ten years I filtered between lines of cars all day long. Ten years of it. In that time, I brushed one cars wing mirror with my bag strapped on the back which has slipped over to the left. I stopped, got off, walked back, and popped the mirror back in to place. No damage.

That's it, in ten years full time with a wide and heavy bike capable of doing a lot of damage.

And yet here's a funny thing.....Those who get very irate at other people getting through the traffic faster than they do (cyclists, scooters, motorcycles) all tend to claim their car has been damaged and that these filtering vehicles are doing damage to cars all the time and of course, your car has been damaged.

I don't believe you, I think you are fuming because it drives you crazy that somebody is not stuck in your "queue".

Jun 23, 2017 12:41
tralala1

You do not believe me. Well...can I ask you to go one morning during peak hour on a sunny day to the Schumann round about and see it with your own eyes? BTW I am not talking about you. Also if you feel and hear a bicycle scratching along your car, yes then there is damage. Nothing to do with believing or not, it are facts. Or if he cyclist start hitting your car, whilst you are stuck in traffic and they cycle very fast away. Would that make you happy? :/

Jun 26, 2017 17:47
tralala1

I do not deny that you were one of the best motorcycle courier but here we are talking about about general traffic behaviour within Brussels. Therefore do not take it personally...

Jun 26, 2017 17:50
Mikek1300gt

I'm not claiming to be the best, I'm claiming that those who claim bicycle damage from those who filter through traffic are generally lying, because their real issue is people getting past the "queue" faster than they can. Are you lying? I don't know, but if I was a betting man... ;-)

Jun 29, 2017 00:34
MaryJane

We are both cyclists and drivers (mostly cyclists but own two old cars sitting in front of our house) and we try to follow the rules whether on bike or in the car. As much as my partner has been aggressed by cars not following road rules while he is cycling to work, I must say that the only damage ever done to us has been while sitting in our car at a stop light: the cyclist did not stop at the light on Chaussee de Wavre in Auderghem, tried to turn and scratched our door on the side with a huge dent. We didn't see this, got out of the car to help him because he had fallen after he crashed into us (again, we were at full stop, not moving at all), he brushed himself off, rode away and seconds later we noticed our car had been damaged. It was unnerving to say the least when it's someone's fault, you try to help and then they disappear and you're stuck with a repainting and repair job that the Lancia garage wants to charge 1,000+ euro for a 1-second negligent mistake. So hit and run accidents happen to cars by offensive cyclists too...

Dec 8, 2017 18:00
JT2015

Mostly a driver or pedestrian but also cycle sometimes. Brussels drivers are crazy. Cyclists are no more sensible, despite the increased risk to them. Just a cyclist swerved out blindly from behind a stopped van on his side of the road into my path. Every night I drive or walk past numerous invisible cyclists, dark clothing, no lights, headphones, mobiles and ignorant of their surroundings. Deliveroo riders are among the worst - speed across pavements and through red lights, no lights or helmets, all over the road looking for house numbers...

"Pedestrians and cyclists should have priority over cars" - in turn, "Pedestrians have priority over cyclists" - cyclists should remember this sometimes when they're complaining. Never been hit by a car, but knocked down by 2 cyclists on crossings, some glancing contacts and numerous near misses, thinking that standard highway code does not apply to them - in every case the reaction of the cyclist was aggressive and "why the hell are you in my way" attitude.

Jan 26, 2018 12:40
JT2015

Supposed to read "just last night a cyclist.."

Jan 26, 2018 12:41