Has anyone else noticed (or perhaps not) the proliferation of idiots riding bicycles locally without lights on after dark?

They seem to be all over the place, oblivious to the risks.

And where are the old bill to deal with them...absent as far as I can see.

No. I haven't seen them.

Did you by any chance have an altercation with a cyclist?
Perhaps you can provide an account of the reasoning behind your post.
The old bill were probably dealing with proper criminals.

I've seen them, but often the fags they are smoking make them visible.

Yes

They don't care.

Who hasn't?

He probably has seen the many cyclists riding about at night in dark clothes with no lights and got annoyed about it as it is dangerous and thought he would bring it to others attention to see if they agreed with him?

Yeah right!!

As a cyclist I have had several altercations with badly driven cars. One is very vulnerable on a bike on the road. Without doubt there are irresponsible cyclists, but mostly they only put themselves at risk and present very little risk to anybody else.

The attitude of Biker1 illustrates exactly why the roads are unsafe for cyclists.

What's also fascinating was the comment about the old Bill. They never seem to apprehend the offenders 'we' want dealt with! You can't blame them I suppose, it's no win for them. Complain about drivers parking on pavements, a couple I know won't use the cycle way in Kiln Road for that very reason. Of course, if the enforcers did their job and book the drivers, they get called green meanies!

Can't say that I have seen cars on the footpath/cycle way in Kiln Road. I think that cyclists who cycle on the road when there is a cycle path should be prosecuted like drivers who park on the cycle way. Tit for tat really.

Thank the Lord you have no power.

I think he has a point. Where a cycle way is provided, its use should be mandatory.

Little wonder drivers can't see riders at night then, it my friends have a point! I must say, having just come back that way, the parked cars do seem to act as a chicane at the bottom of the hill and on the cycle path side, I counted five.

Perhaps if there was a cycle lane for every inch of road, but cycle lanes are often a hindrance and sometimes create their own dangers and what do you do about when a cyclist wants to turn right? It is a preposterous idea. Just make roads wider.

The proper solution would be to have totally separate routes for cyclists away from vehicular traffic, like they have in the Netherlands. Perhaps if they redesigned Newbury from scratch the planners could incorporate this. Meanwhile we're stuck with what we have.

It does help if you can see them, though.

I completely agree, but you will then have complaints of cyclists and pedestrians clashing.

I think that the cars which you suggest are parked there and causing a chicane are actually parked in a designated parking area and the van that was up on the kerb was off the road but not on the cycle lane or footpath, but I take your point. I also drove along the town end of the Andover Road and noticed a car parked by the side of the road which is over the cycle way, It is not protected by a kerb, just a green stripe on the road. What are the rules about that. I can't be bothered to google it.

Why do you say that? My "attitude" does not include putting cyclists in danger, many do that for themselves.
I have every respect for cyclists who obey the law and have consideration for other highway users including pedestrians.
(When I say "highway" that includes footpaths, bridleways and towpaths.)
Saw an unlit bike just in time tonight on the road across Hungerford Common.
He was close to coming a cropper with me as I didn't see him until he was 3 or 4 seconds away!
When you say " they only put themselves at risk and present very little risk to anybody else" how do you think I would have felt, and legally, who would have got the blame if I had hit him?
And why put himself at more risk than he needs to?

Or you may have put yourself and others in danger trying to swerve and avoid him!

What if it had been an unlit pedestrian? If you were only two or three seconds away, you were going too fast for the conditions.