AIBU Cyclist Twats

[TractorAndHeadphones]

Walking down lovely canals with DP. Supposed to be romantic - but every 5 minutes we were interrupted by a cyclists whizzing along! Some had the courtesy to ring the bell but even so they rode straight at us instead of around us.

This really boils my piss because cyclists always complain that cars overtake dangerously and that’s it’s their god given right to hold up traffic. But cyclists can ride straight through pedestrians?

There was enough space for a cyclist to ride alongside us if they’d been slower ; even so you don’t expect people to walk in single file on canal roads which are meant to be enjoyed slowly! There were families in front of us, mothers with prams etc. Thé cyclists were probably scared of swerving into the lake but if you can’t control your bike then dont bloody ride!
It really ruined my day.

This has also happened on pavements with people whizzing along in the middle. Even if the road is dangerous there’s no need to go that fast.
AIBU to think that cyclists are twats and should be licensed?
People often complain that cars are rude to cyclists but IMO people in general are twats. Cars can do more damage but they’re not behaving worse than cyclists.

[Macncheeseballs]

Thats annoying but not all cyclists are bad, some are considerate, bad drivers are worse because bad driving can kill

[Hopdathelf]

Bad cycling can kill in some circumstances.

[lastqueenofscotland]

Someone I worked with years ago was left wheelchair bound by a cyclist running a red light.
I agree about them on canal paths. I think paths that are designed to be shared with walkers and cyclists should have some sort of speed limit, most people on bikes on them are fine but people zipping down them on a £2k boardman ljke they are on a road is not ok.

[RunningStrong]

People always lump "cyclists" together.

The people riding down a canal tow path are not the same people you see on the road. Road cyclists wouldn't want that kind of a ride.

[WhatDidISayAlan]

I cycle 7 miles to work. In the summer when it’s light I ride down the canal into the centre of the city. That’s one less car on the road to slow you down on your commute, or school run. Don’t tar us all with the same brush - there are plenty more twattish drivers than cyclists - and for the avoidance of doubt I cycle and drive a car.

[SirChenjins]

We had exactly the same on our last 2 walks along the (very narrow) canal path. Some very considerate cyclists who rang their bells, slowed down as they went past and thanked us for moving off the path to let them past, others who barely slowed down - and one charmer who shouted 'MOVE IN PLEASE' as she came flying up behind us waving her arm to motion us to move in (no slowing down there at all).

Yes, I know cars are more dangerous blah blah, but cars are not on the cycle path - and the lycra-clad idiots who flew past us are no doubt the same ones who shout loudest about the need for shared spaces and 20mph zones.

[IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves]

They were selfish and careless.
There are twats everywhere.
Some are on foot, some on bikes, some in cars, vans, buses...

Lots of people are just selfish and don't seem to give a shit about how to use shared space considerately

[TractorAndHeadphones]

@RunningStrong

People always lump "cyclists" together.

The people riding down a canal tow path are not the same people you see on the road. Road cyclists wouldn't want that kind of a ride.

There’s no such distinction - several of these cyclists were also in the road.

Also by the same token you could say ‘people always lump all cars together’

[WhyOWhyOh]

Don't get me started on them riding two or even more abreast on a road 😡😡😡

[TastyToastie]

YABU for objecting to going single file to let others through. It's just common courtesy. You'd look a complete twat sticking religiously to your "right" to walk 2 abreast on a narrow path as a queue of cyclists, runners and faster walkers built up behind you.

[TractorAndHeadphones]

@WhatDidISayAlan

I cycle 7 miles to work. In the summer when it’s light I ride down the canal into the centre of the city. That’s one less car on the road to slow you down on your commute, or school run. Don’t tar us all with the same brush - there are plenty more twattish drivers than cyclists - and for the avoidance of doubt I cycle and drive a car.

How do you know that there are ‘more bad drivers than cyclists’?
That’s the point of my post. There are bad drivers and bad cyclists aplenty but the latter get given a pass. There’s no attempt to make sure that people are fit to cycle or held accountable. That’s why many are very brave.

I’m sure your statement comes from your anecdotal evidence but my statement also comes from mine. And while there will be worse statistics for cars Injuring people it’s because the damage done by cyclists isn’t recorded. Whom are you supposed to even report it to for it to go in the stats?

Also cars don’t slow anybody down on a commute. Cyclists do. I have no issue with that as they are also road users but somehow they have issues with pedestrians doing that.

[Dreamstate]

Yabu to say cyclists are worse than car drivers.

There are some bad cyclists just as there are bad drivers. Its not a competition on which is worse than the other.

Annoying for you yes but seriously grow up and get a mature attitude, whats the point on coming on here and doing another cyclist bashing thread wheb we all know that there are good and bad cyclists as there good and bad drivers as there are good and bad pedestrians.

That's life

[ColitisSucks]

I was nearly knocked into the canal in Nottingham by a cyclist.

I was there for a day, and discovered the path by the canal near my hotel. I was walking back from the town and got to the point where I needed to leave the side of the path to go back to the road. I changed direction slightly to move from the canal side of the path to the other side and go up some steps and suddenly there was a skidding of wheels begin me as the silent cyclist going god knows how fast had to take evasive action. I jumped back but was very close to being hit and ending up in the water.

There's no shared use paths where I live, so not something I've ever had to be aware of.

[coachmylife]

I HATE HATE HATE shared use paths.
When I bike i totally detest them - so slow, uncertain, stressful - toddlers, dogs, everything. I go slow slow slow, and everyone still hates me.
When I walk I hate them too - silent bikes, which even when going slowly surprise me and mean I can’t wander about.
Shared use paths benefit just one group - drivers - as they lump all the non motorised together and keep them off the roads. Bikes need proper space, not to be mixed w pedestrians.
Shared space really stinks.

[lochmaree]

@WhyOWhyOh

this is perfectly legal and provides safety for the cyclists. you should be overtaking in a manner that gives the cyclists plenty of space anyway so it shouldn't matter whether it's one or two side by side. it is also safer for cars to overtake two abreast than two one after the other, due to the time required to be on the opposite side of the road.

[LadyCatStark]

YANBU, cyclists are the worst thing about living in the countryside including bugs and cockerels! But cyclists will defend themselves to the death even when they are completely in the wrong so these threads never go well.

[Osrie]

Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! I accidentally voted YABU when I meant YADNBU!

The amount of inconsiderate cyclists on pavements (of all ages) and those cyclists whizzing by without thinking that the brake or slowing down is a safety feature for everyone to use and help us all be safe astonishes me.

[TractorAndHeadphones]

@TastyToastie

YABU for objecting to going single file to let others through. It's just common courtesy. You'd look a complete twat sticking religiously to your "right" to walk 2 abreast on a narrow path as a queue of cyclists, runners and faster walkers built up behind you.

Where did I say that I was walking in single file?
There were two of us side by side and plenty of space to pass at a slow speed. Car drivers are instructed to give cyclists the same amount of room when overtaking as they would a car because cyclists can swerve. Which is why they can’t pass a space that’s enough for walkers unless they slow to walking pace.

The point is though that’s it’s a leisure path meant to be shared.with signs about the wildlife etc It wasn’t a narrow country road. There were family with children walking, chatting eyc. What sort of day out would it be if they all walked religiously in single file and stayed silent just because some people wanted to get somewhere quickly?

The very same group that complains about cars wanting to get somewhere quickly

[Cam001]

I live rurally so encounter cyclists all the time in the lanes when I'm walking my dogs. Some are OK but the majority are arseholes who don't slow down and expect you to jump out of the way because they're on strava and that's the most important thing in the world. On the other hand car drivers always slow down to pass.

[Curioushorse]

We live in a scenic(ish) area, with good roads. It's a nightmare at the weekend. They ride in packs and actually look out for pedestrians crossing the road less than cars do- and that's significant because it's bendy roads, where people do cross (it's a village) and the bikes don't make a loud noise.

Also they block the roads, riding together, the width of a car- but obviously not as fast as a car. If you get caught behind a group on our twisty roads, they often don't separate out so you can get past, so you're stuck, going at whatever speed they're peddling at, for miles.

They are very unpopular here.

[gannett]

you don’t expect people to walk in single file on canal roads which are meant to be enjoyed slowly!

Not a cyclist but yes I bloody do. What boils my piss more than cyclists on narrow towpaths are people who absolutely refuse to go in single file even for a second to let someone faster overtake them - whether that's a cyclist or a runner or even just someone coming in the opposite direction. Those towpaths are often too narrow for people to pass each other comfortably otherwise.

You don't get to amble down them spread out and oblivious to the world around you. Have a crumb of awareness of who else is behind or ahead of you and make way if you need to. It's just common courtesy.

[TractorAndHeadphones]

@Dreamstate

Yabu to say cyclists are worse than car drivers.

There are some bad cyclists just as there are bad drivers. Its not a competition on which is worse than the other.

Annoying for you yes but seriously grow up and get a mature attitude, whats the point on coming on here and doing another cyclist bashing thread wheb we all know that there are good and bad cyclists as there good and bad drivers as there are good and bad pedestrians.

That's life

Nu-uh reading comprehension!
Cars are not worse than cyclists. Doesn’t mean that it’s the other way around.

Impact is a different matter but in terms of behaviour (wanting to rush and ignoring the needs of more vulnerable road users) they’re similar.

[BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand]

Also cars don’t slow anybody down on a commute.

I think you need to engage your brain.

What do you think causes traffic? Traffic is the main cause of delay when commuting by road.

[coachmylife]

Btw cars slow me (cyclist) down SO MUCH on my commute. Nearly twice as fast to cycle during lockdown when no cars - I was amazed.

They also slow me as a pedestrian taking the kids to school - several sets of lights that change sloooowly, while 10 of us wait on the pavement while car after car, w just one occupant, crawl past.

[TractorAndHeadphones]

@Curioushorse

We live in a scenic(ish) area, with good roads. It's a nightmare at the weekend. They ride in packs and actually look out for pedestrians crossing the road less than cars do- and that's significant because it's bendy roads, where people do cross (it's a village) and the bikes don't make a loud noise.

Also they block the roads, riding together, the width of a car- but obviously not as fast as a car. If you get caught behind a group on our twisty roads, they often don't separate out so you can get past, so you're stuck, going at whatever speed they're peddling at, for miles.

They are very unpopular here.

Exactly!
My logic is this :
If you expect to hold up cars then what’s the issue with being held up by pedestrians?
If you expect pedestrians to move then why don’t you extend the same courtesy to cars?
Pick one, not both!