Please respect cyclists when out and about in your car

[DrNortherner]

My dh is a cyclist, he cycles everywhere, including performance cycling in the Dales.

So many cars do not give him space when over taking, refuse to hang back and speed past him on roundabouts.

Cyclists are very vulnerable on busy roads, they do not have an engine and go a bit slower than cars. So please just hang back a little.

This was prompted by dh's mum who picked me up from work on Tuesday then she sped up the arse of a cycling whilst bellowing "The day you pay road tax mate is the day I won't run you over"

But then she is a mad old cow
Thank you

[nickytwotimes]

And today's public service information comes from DrNorthener...
I have to say that while most cyclists round here are great, there are some who insist on rididng 2 a breast across the road. .

[peanutbutterkid]

Charming MIL!!
Most cyclists are also drivers, they DO pay road tax, it's not like road tax begins to cover the cost of roads and the associated environmental damage of motor vehicles, anyway.
When cycling, my DH chases down people who passed him to close to politely ask them not to do so next time. Or he takes registration numbers of delivery drivers who did and phones their employers to complain.

[peanutbutterkid]

2 abreast on the road used to be the official advice to cyclists in the Highway Code (less than 20 years ago).

If it's not safe to pass 2 cyclists, it's probably not safe to pass one, either. Cyclists often cycle 2 abreast to discourage dodgy overtaking.

[WaynettaSlob]

I respect all road users, provided they do the same - it's a two way street (excuse the pun)

[pagwatch]

and this very am DD and i were nearly mown down by a guy who decided that the red light at the crossing only applies to cars .

I always give cyclists plenty of room and love how many kids are starting to cycle to school locally. A heroic mum I pass every morning has a bike with one of those wheelie mini tents on the back with two hefty looking kids in the back. She must have buttocks like walnuts

[cupsoftea]

If everyone follows the rules then ok - but I do see cyclists going the wrong way down one way streets, going through red lights and cycling across pedestrian crossings (can they do this?)

[MadameCastafiore]

I have no feelings that are good about cyclists after being hit by one when I was pregnant whilst crossing the road - he skipped a red light - knocked me over and rode off - working in a big city you see it all too often.

Sorry!

[cupsoftea]

You've reminded me pagwatch those bike trailers with kids - would never feel safe using these on main roads.

[JackieNo]

I do try very hard to give loads of room. Unfortunately I do sometimes misjudge things, but not deliberately. I've got better as I've learned not to give a toss about what people behind me might think if I hold them up for a few seconds. I also have rather squeaky brakes, so when I gently slow down behind a cyclist, it often sounds as though I'm slamming the brakes on . I've had a couple of rather worried looks from them as a result.

[cupsoftea]

Oh yes - and more - was taking kids to school & we were walking on a pavement that was packed with kids, parents, pushchairs, dogs etc when I cyclist was cyxling on our pavement but in the opposite direction iyswim - and she came along ringing her bell and shouting for room - the road was clear of cars and is a small road only really used for the school. Can they do this?

[nickytwotimes]

peanutbutter, what are drivers meant to do then? Just form a massive tail back behind them? Tbh, most cyclists bug the hell out of me. I wouldn't go as far as the op's mil though!

[peanutbutterkid]

IIRC...All cycling on pavement by cyclists is illegal, cupofstea. That includes little children with stabilisers on their bikes, as well as ancient grannies on even more ancient shoppers, btw.

There is no simple mechanism for penalising pavement-cyclists under 16, but there are fixed penalty notices for adults.

[Blu]

So the fact that (some) cyclists (sometimes) behave badly makes it perfectly OK for people in powerful metal vehicles to run them over? In the considered opinion of Waynetta and Cups?

Of course cyclists should respect pedestrians and drivers should respect cyclists - and everyone should take masures to protect their own safety - but the more powerful / potentially dangerous the vhicle you use - whether legs, 2 wheels of 4, the more reposnsibility you need to take fo those more vulnerable.

Pretty obvious, really.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Cyclists aren't meant to cycle on pavements, cupsoftea. I do sometimes do it, but my rule is, if I'm close enough to any pedestrian that I could reach out and touch them (or within about 6 feet of any dogs or kids), I need to get off and walk. Pavements are for pedestrians, not bikes.

I don't think it's fair to say 'some cyclists are rubbish, so I'm going to be horrid to all of them'.

(I don't mind being overtaken, though, I try to tuck in and stay out of the way. That being said, I'm in London, mostly I'm overtaking cars, not vice versa!)

[cupsoftea]

pbk - that's interesting - she was in her twenties - looked like a teacher at the school just further up than ours.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Ooh, blu said it better than me, in her first para.

[peanutbutterkid]

Wait until you can overtake safely, nicky, just like you would behind any other vehicle.

It's funny how little dodgy overtaking you see past tractors, I can't think why!

I can match every story on here about nasty cyclists with equal stories about nasty drivers, alas. No idea why I'm feeling feisty today, will try To shut up now.

[cupsoftea]

The laws the law - but if I saw a small kid on a bike I wouldn't mind plus if it was reasonable. Once on the way back from school I saw a kid cycling home but going the wrong way on the road. I was driving but stopped and pointed this out. He wasn't from our school and I'd not seen him before. He got off his bike and continued on the proper side. What got me was that others had just driven past him & had done nothing to help.

[nickytwotimes]

pgk, I am laughing now because I must also be feeling unusually fiesty today as I can't even bloody drive. I'm a joy in the passenger side. Must be pmt, lol!
Fiest away!

[Upwind]

There really needs to be safety ads re. cyclists on the road - so many motorists seem to imagine that cyclists shouldn't turn right, overtake at traffic lights or keep to the outside of a rounabout. Safely overtaking cyclists should also find its way back into the highway code and into driving theory tests.

[Blu]

Bad behaviour of cyclists is entirely irrelevant to the question of how drivers should take sensible measures to avoid crushing thie skulls under their wheels.
I can't bear this whiny 'yeah but they were horrid to me, miss' squeal....from grown adults!

yes, some cyclist behave very badly...separate question - stary a thread appealing to cyclists to behave better - don't argue with an apeal f drivers to lok out ofr the safety of cyclists.

aaaaaargh - will have to hide thread!

[pagwatch]

agree with Blu
bad drivers and bad cyclists . But cyclists are the more vulnerable on the road. You should always give them loads of room.

If an adult cyclist is on the pavement
on the other hand that is absoloutely a free hit. I have a huge handbag just for that purpose.
In fact I loiter ever hopeful

[cupsoftea]

Blu - just spotted your remark - absolutely not. I give full respect to the driving laws & overtake in a correct manner - same for people on horses. Just that recently have seen some cyclists in a dangerous & stupid manner. Could say the same for car drivers as well. Today saw a van parked right across the pavement - why do that?

[DrNortherner]

Cyclists are not supposed to cycle on pavements no, but, my dh sometimes does on a VERY busy main raod near to our house becasue he is nearly knocked off his bike by cars razzing past him and not giving him room. It is a very dangerous road and sometimes he does not feel safe.

on one ocassion he was so cross about a car who was up his arse and then sped past him dh kicked their wing mirror.

But really, that was too close.

[peanutbutterkid]

Before someone pulls me up on it, of course cyclists can legally cycle on pavements that are dedicated cycle lanes, but many of these are designed so badly that nobody but little children would want to use them, anyway (and not even then, sometimes). There's a debate about giving local authorities powers to make it compulsory for cyclists to use some of these so-called amenities.

Cyclists are supposed to obey pretty much all rules of road that cars are. They shouldn't be jumping red lights, etc.

I think it would be lovely if everyone would be a lot nicer to all the other road users out there... Let Peace and Harmony Reign .