You're right, they do give you responsible cyclists a bad name. And being a responsible cyclist is dangerous enough on roads nowadays even though they wear a helmet, bright colours and have lights and hi viz reflective clothing at night.
I think the law needs to get tougher on those who ride without lights, and i think it should be made law that road riding cyclists wear a helmet and reflective clothing and have lights that work. And i think cyclists should have to be insured like all other vehicle users are.
I wear a helmet, but they should not be compulsory. There is evidence that cycling helmets offer little to no protection in a collision with a motor vehicle, and it some situations helmets can actually be the cause of neck injuries by acting as a lever against the the spine in a low speed crash. So much so that Cycling UK are on the fence about helmet; neither for or against them (
https://www.cyclinguk.org/campaign/cycle-helmets-evidence). Even the Highway Code says '
a correctly fitted helmet will reduce your risk of sustaining a head injury in certain circumstances', referring in general to low speed or stationary accidents.
Lights I agree with, and the compulsory reflectors (Red rear and Orange pedal), although I use SPD's which don't have reflectors, but my shoes do which isn't strictly to the letter of the law. High viz is recommended in the HC but again not mandatory. Personally I'm lit up like Liberace's Christmas Tree when I'm cycling in the dark depths of winter. In the Summer months I tend not to be out in the dark anyway.
As for Insurance I am insured for personal liability on a separate cycling policy, and my household insurance also covers me, but again that should not be compulsory.
Apart from that I had a cracking ride into work at 0630 this morning. Only a couple of minor incidents. One about 50yds from my front door when some guy backed out of his drive without looking and another 500yds later where a guy at a junction stared me in the eye as I approached and then as I was less than 10yds away and not going slow he just pulled out and turned right across my path.
A few high speed close passes which is pretty normal around here, but the weather was glorious and it's only getting hotter.
