The Road to Hell: Will the war between motorists and cyclists ever end? [Metro UK]

The more extreme among each group believe the road isn't big enough for the both of them, but do cyclists and motorists have more in common than they think? Or will they continue to be at loggerheads for the foreseeable future? Metro talks to both sides to find out.


In the way or right of way? Cyclists and motorists continually battle for the road (Pic: Getty)
Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/899593-the-road-to-hell-will-the-war-between-motorists-and-cyclists-ever-end#ixzz1vvsRLCsu

Every day, there is a battle waging across Britain. In the red lane next to the kerb, an unruly gang straddle their two-wheeled devils, ready to spring into attack mode. Out in the middle of the road, meanwhile, a cocooned rabble prepares to give their bidding to evil, four-wheeled monsters. 

Of course, that is a complete load of nonsense. But if blogs, radio phone-ins and Metro’s own letters pages are anything to go by, you could be forgiven for thinking that cyclists and motorists are at constant war with one another. 

Public forums regularly teem with anger from both sides at the other’s behaviour. Bike riders complain about getting cut off and hit by drivers, while motorists accuse cyclists of going through red lights and ignoring the rules of the road. In the past few weeks, the negativity has moved into a higher gear. 

First, the boss of taxi firm Addison Lee called for cyclists to be forced to pay road tax. ‘Get trained and pay up,’ said John Griffin, forgetting that the vast majority of cyclists already pay vehicle excise duty on the cars they also own. And that road tax was abolished… in 1937. 

His comments outraged cycling groups, who called for a boycott of the company’s services.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/899593-the-road-to-hell-will-the-war-between-motorists-and-cyclists-ever-end#ixzz1vvsOEE4x