CBT - does it do the job?

Just curious as to others' opinions on this. Seems to me that it doesn't. An hour or two practicing in a car park. About 5 easy questions (what are treads for, what do the light colours mean, how should you go about a roundabout yada yada). After that it's off onto the roads for a bit.

Just yesterday I saw a lad who was probably just about 16 swerving down a busy street whilst waving at his mates behind him on the other side of the road - being a fine and upstanding individual he pulled in after cutting across a pulling out car and braked/hit the curb to stop.

I'm not sure whether they should make it harder (which I suppose might put some riders off) or let natural selection take it's course. The only problem being the damage someone like the guy I saw might do in the process of removing themselves from the gene pool.

/endrant

My CBT was a bit of a trial by fire. Pouring rain, loads of traffic. I think the ethos was "If you don't hit a car by the end of today, you've passed".

I personally don't think it's enough to prepare you but then it should be up to the individual to take time out and gain experience and become the better rider. For every 5 17-yearolds on the road there'll be one who really needs the transport/independence but really can't afford the car licence. And to be fair, natural selection will soon sort the idiots out from those more serious about biking, so long as they don't take others out with them

That was my main worry. If someone wants to end up through a shop window then that's fine. Just as long as they don hit anyone on the way.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Vorkohnen

Just yesterday I saw a lad who was probably just about 16 swerving down a busy street whilst waving at his mates behind him on the other side of the road - being a fine and upstanding individual he pulled in after cutting across a pulling out car and braked/hit the curb to stop.

You can put 16 year olds through full IAM test and the odd few will still ride like complete knobs when they've finished.

Only way to stop it is to make it so expensive/difficult, but then you remove every 16 year olds independence. And lets face it you aren't realistically getting anywhere on public transport.

Solution is more police on roads to pull them over and give them a good b*llocking for being idiots.

I think we need more levels of bureaucracy and regulation.

Or damage the merchandise

I'm the latter of what you mentioned chris. And yeah, unfortunately natural selection may have a hand it wittling out those who aren't serious about biking. Although truth be told, most people with a CBT are nutters/chavs who want cheap transport for a year or two until they can afford a car and so don't bother to learn the proper road skills. I plan on biking for a very very long time so I'm not a nutter really

Wow that was meant to be after my previous post - good Internet I've got.

[dizzyblonde]

CBT is only there to provide the very basics. After that is when you really start to learn.