Psycho bus driver

[rogerzilla]

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/23349765.stagecoach-bus-driver-alleged-road-rage-attack-cyclist/

Given the lamentable state of fitness of the average Swindon bus driver, they'd better not start on me.

[diapsaon0]

The argument about the cyclist not using the psychopath is a red herring.  It's not compulsory and the paths are so badly designed and maintained that they're often totally impractical and dangerous.

[fd3]

Just because it#s utter bollox doesn't mean that it isn't perceived wisdom by many/most drivers.

I had a student say that she had no issue with cyclists, unless they're cycling in the road when the pavement is empty ... why aren't they on the pavement?
 

[matthew]

Just because it#s utter bollox doesn't mean that it isn't perceived wisdom by many/most drivers.

I had a student say that she had no issue with cyclists, unless they're cycling in the road when the pavement is empty ... why aren't they on the pavement?
 

At which point the Engineering Pedant in me wants to reply "Oh but they are using the pavement, you mean why aren't they using the footway?"

The pavement is the hard surface that typically extends across both the width of the footway and the carriageway from one fence line to the opposite fence line. And it should be obvious that as cyclists are not on their feet they wouldn't use the footway.

[rogerzilla]

Pavement in USian generally means the road.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Which points us to the historical development, just as "roads were not built for cars" they were also not first paved for wheeled vehicles but for pedestrians. At least in the "modern era" ie post-Roman times.

[Jaded]

Horses?

[Cudzoziemiec]

The pavement was the raised, hard surfaced bit at the sides for people to walk on, keeping their feet out of the mud and horse shit on the road. Hence you also found or sometimes even still see a cobbled strip across the roads at junctions – again for people to walk on. Horses don't object to muddy feet but people do, especially in posher areas.

[DaveReading]

Pavement in USian generally means the road.

And at US airports, the term also used to describe the aprons and the runways ...

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

Which points us to the historical development, just as "roads were not built for cars" they were also not first paved for wheeled vehicles but for pedestrians. At least in the "modern era" ie post-Roman times.

Its official:

Pedestrians are a menace to motorists

The Chief Constable of Leicester, in his annual report, deals with the question of motor accidents, and says: "As the volume of traffic grows, so will the number of accidents increase until a certain section of pedestrians use far more thought, care and intelligence than at present. "There is a continual outcry in regard to accidents to pedestrians and almost invariably the drivers are blamed. From police reports, however, I can say with authority that in the overwhelming majority of accidents to pedestrians it is not the fault of the motorists, but of the pedestrians themselves."

1927

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

The argument about the cyclist not using the psychopath is a red herring.  It's not compulsory and the paths are so badly designed and maintained that they're often totally impractical and dangerous.

They most certainly are in York.  Simply meant to clear cyclists out of the way of the motorist in very many/most circumstances.