Another Cyclist Killed
Sep 8th 2013, 10:26 am
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Another Cyclist Killed
because at 5am there isn't a car in sight on a Friday morning. We have support and its safe, notwithstanding some act like last week. Here there are massively wide roads and huge hard shoulders that they just don't have in the UK. I would wager that you are safer cycling on the 611 than cycling down Al Wasl Road.
You can call it stupid, that is your opinion. I risk assess everything I do in my work and life. Cycling and triathlon is a huge part of what/who I am. I wont stop. I the outcome of my risk assessment was negative, I wouldn't do it.
You can call it stupid, that is your opinion. I risk assess everything I do in my work and life. Cycling and triathlon is a huge part of what/who I am. I wont stop. I the outcome of my risk assessment was negative, I wouldn't do it.
Anyway, good luck to you -- each to their own and you take your chances. I just don't really see the point when there are dedicated facilities to do it.
Sep 8th 2013, 11:00 am
#32
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Another Cyclist Killed
drinking and smoking too much will likely kill you. Is it really worth it?
As I stated above. its a huge part of my life and who we are. I'm not going to stop cycling because one day a pissed driver may smash into me. he could also smash into me whilst I walk down the road on the pavement. Yet, you wont stop walking in public.
I recognize the risk.
As I stated above. its a huge part of my life and who we are. I'm not going to stop cycling because one day a pissed driver may smash into me. he could also smash into me whilst I walk down the road on the pavement. Yet, you wont stop walking in public.
I recognize the risk.
It's 'mad' to cycle on roads here (I generally agree with that notion) but the same tragic result could come if you had been jogging around Safa park.
It's pretty chaotic driving and you could have been hit by the drunk driver and killed in an accident.
Life in general can be dangerous and not doing something you love for fear is going to leave you with a pretty dull existence.
Rock on Commander and keep safe eh.
Sep 8th 2013, 1:09 pm
#33
banned
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,611
Re: Another Cyclist Killed
there is a dedicated facility for me to cycle to Ras Al Khaimah for a training weekend?
Sep 8th 2013, 1:09 pm
#34
banned
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,611
Re: Another Cyclist Killed
Good point.
It's 'mad' to cycle on roads here (I generally agree with that notion) but the same tragic result could come if you had been jogging around Safa park.
It's pretty chaotic driving and you could have been hit by the drunk driver and killed in an accident.
Life in general can be dangerous and not doing something you love for fear is going to leave you with a pretty dull existence.
Rock on Commander and keep safe eh.
It's 'mad' to cycle on roads here (I generally agree with that notion) but the same tragic result could come if you had been jogging around Safa park.
It's pretty chaotic driving and you could have been hit by the drunk driver and killed in an accident.
Life in general can be dangerous and not doing something you love for fear is going to leave you with a pretty dull existence.
Rock on Commander and keep safe eh.
Sep 9th 2013, 8:39 am
#38
MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Dubai
Posts: 6,370
Re: Another Cyclist Killed
Would we be having this debate if the pissed driver swerved round the support car, mounted a pavement and took out a mother having an early morning stroll with her kids?
The problem here is drunk drivers, not cyclists on the roads.
And believe me, Roy knew what he was doing and the main focus of his Triathlon group was training and racing SAFE.
The problem here is drunk drivers, not cyclists on the roads.
And believe me, Roy knew what he was doing and the main focus of his Triathlon group was training and racing SAFE.
Given this is one of the most dangerous places to drive in the world there's a gamble just going to work or popping to the shops. I bet most serious cyclists take more precautions than most expat motorists here who whine about the driving but don't indicate, don't drive defensively and within speed limits and who text and make calls (seen so many westerners doing that in my 13 years here but it still angers me in ways seeing other people doing it doesn't).
A drunk driver could kill someone just as easily in the UK...and they do. You can't stupid proof the world unfortunately. Just try to prepare for the worst and get on with things.
N.
Sep 9th 2013, 10:00 am
#39
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,467
Re: Another Cyclist Killed
I am mixed on the subject of cyclists on the roads. In the early morning on empty quite roads then knock yourself out. It's more the thinner twisty roads like up here in the mountains where they get me. In the winter they (group of 20-30 young Arabs) often train on the road back from my site going back into RAK. It's about 25Km and they are all in a bunch with a pick up following up their chuff. All good I hear you say, however, the pickup is stuck in the middle of the road and won't let anyone pass. This obviously pisses all the car drivers off an they don't wish to travel at 20-30km/Hr on a perfectly good road for 1 hour when they could be doing 60-80km (in reality 120km+) and do it in 10-20 mins. This leads to people getting impatient and that's what leads to accidents.
Either way, that's a different situation to what had occurred.
RIP to your friend. Hope the DUI guy gets bummed in clink.
As for banning dangerous things..... why? I've grown up doing dangerous activities, from rock climbing, snowboarding, yacht racing, scuba diving, caving, riding motorbikes (in Dubai) etc. If I cark it doing on of these then at least I was enjoying myself rather than wrapping myself up in cotton wool and being massively bored.
Either way, that's a different situation to what had occurred.
RIP to your friend. Hope the DUI guy gets bummed in clink.
As for banning dangerous things..... why? I've grown up doing dangerous activities, from rock climbing, snowboarding, yacht racing, scuba diving, caving, riding motorbikes (in Dubai) etc. If I cark it doing on of these then at least I was enjoying myself rather than wrapping myself up in cotton wool and being massively bored.
Sep 30th 2013, 12:48 pm
#41
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,611
Re: Another Cyclist Killed
Sep 30th 2013, 12:51 pm
#42
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Another Cyclist Killed
Sep 30th 2013, 1:16 pm
#45
Bored liberal
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Over there ----->
Posts: 13,713
Re: Another Cyclist Killed
Edited to add - have you noticed how the nationality of the driver has changed in the news reports?
Last edited by Meow; Sep 30th 2013 at 1:30 pm.