To ask how we stop dangerous cyclists

I'm a cyclist, pedestrian and public transport user.

As a cyclist, I have the biggest problem with buses. They get right up my arse and don't pass with enough room. I will wait behind a bus to allow them to pull out (this is starting to sound smutty, apologies) on the drivers side giving them the signal to move but some of them are so bloody minded.

Car drivers are used to cyclists where I am. Lorries, Luton vans, flat bed trucks can be arsey but we give each other the finger, all good,

I can't abide those floating bus stops, not as a cyclist, a bus user or as a pedestrian. They are so bloody dangerous. I go slow past these on my bike because people who are crossing the bike lane quite often don't see me until it's too late. Other cyclists can pass me I don't care, but I will not be responsible for hitting a pedestrian near these things.

In London we have segregated bike lanes but they aren't very frequent so you have to use your wits a lot. A bit of paint down the side of the road where ALL THE POT HOLES ARE or you might share a very wide pavement which is clearly marked CYCLE LANE and WITHOUT FAIL either a jogger or pedestrian is walking along it. Cue lots of shouting and bell ringing. Usually they have their EarPods in, oblivious to the world.

I think we should bring in obligatory insurance to cyclists. I have insurance which includes accidents and damage to other vehicles. My bike is a pedal assist e-bike and has a top speed of 15.5mph. I could cause a serious accident if all the variables were against me. So yes, if you ride a bike, even a non-electric one, you should be insured. And I think having some kind of trace on each bike would be good too, in case the rider pegs it away from an accident before the emergency services arrive. A bar code or unique number, perhaps.

That’s really shit of them. And I’d like to think not normal in most areas. But I can imagine if it’s a bit of a famous route, especially a climb, such as Box Hill that it attracts lots of cyclists and does make it a nightmare for drivers. I must admit if I’m halfway up a steep hill I’m not pulling over as I’d never get started again. But I hate hills and any I’ve done would be very short and I’ve never done one where someone couldn’t overtake me mid hill anyway.

Whilst I totally understand the frustration when you’re driving and stuck behind a slow cyclist and not able to pass I often wonder do these drivers hate horse riders just as much? Or is it just cyclists?
Is it because cyclists often don’t pull over to let cars pass on hills? It’s very difficult to stop on a hill and get going again if you’re cycling. Should cyclists just not cycle on hills then?
Not sure there is an easy solution

I live, drive, cycle and walk in Cambridge where we have some terrible roads and lots and lots of cycling and pedestrians. I used to think I saw many more examples of bad cycling than bad driving. Recently it's shifting a bit and I see a little more bad driving. But pedestrians have always been a nightmare!

Yes i have. The cyclists on this road don't pull over, it's a bit of a challenge ride they like to do - quite steep so not so bad on the drive back as they go a fiar bit faster. Luckily I can generally avoid the road but it's a nightmare doing it on a weekend.

Because pedestrians do not want a bike cycling right behind them for minutes on end any more than the cyclist does.

I've got no problem with cyclist letting people know they are passing safely when their is a gap in incoming traffic but I do have an issue with arrogant twats blaring rape alarms expecting people to jump out their way.

well thankfully I don’t do that 😁

have you ever actually been stuck behind a cycle for 20km? Like really? Goodness you must have been there an hour. How irritating. Or did the cyclist pull over in a gateway, etc like I would do if there wasn’t a wider bit coming up. If there was a wider bit coming up then yes I wouldn’t pull over in a gate way. I’d know you could wait a minute or two and then get past. Like I happily do when driving.

The highway code indicates that drivers should "Give motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders, horse drawn vehicles and pedestrians walking in the road (for example, where there is no pavement), at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car" (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/road-users-requiring-extra-care-204-to-225#rule212). That is, at least 1.5 metres of space (when travelling at 30 miles an hour or below) or 2 metres of space (when travelling greater than 30 mph).

That will put the driver in the oncoming lane, and therefore they should observe the same behaviours and safety considerations as they would do overtaking powered traffic. If it's not safe for them to pull into the oncoming lane, they shouldn't do it, simple.

Have a heart! It’s very difficult to get going again if you stop on a hill. I’d pull over at the top and let you pass, though.

It’s also very difficult to cycle at walking pace, though obv cyclists can get off and push, which is what I sometimes do on crowded shared paths.

This. I truly don’t understand why the mentality isn’t considered the same.
Cars are not allowed to get irritated being stuck behind cyclists for ages. But cyclists aren’t expected to have to wait for pedestrians.

Near where I live is a long hill. Solid white line in the middle so no overtaking. Cyclists going up the hill can take forever. It’s close to a 4 mile road and the hill is about 2 miles. It’s a 60mph road. But I’m often doing 10mph behind cyclists and I have no choice but to just suck it up.

If I was to say “no way I’m getting stuck behind them” and started blasting my horn I’d be called all kinds of names. But it’s fine for cyclists to be impatient and blast rape alarms behind pedestrians!

Actually I am going to write to the Mayor about this (he lives quite near me and will be aware first hand of the issues). He could take steps to regulate the situation. Anyone else want to write to Sadiq?

The shared use path I use to get to work is literally 7 miles long with no wider points (tow path). Sorry but I am not staying behind someone at walking pace for 7 miles

I've been stuck driving on 20 km long roads with 80km/hr speed limit behind cyclists going 15 km/hrs - single white line windy road with no way to overtake legally or safely. What happens if I say no way am I being stuck behind someone at cycling pace?

I've got no problem with cyclist letting people know they are passing safely when their is a gap in incoming traffic but I do have an issue with arrogant twats blaring rape alarms expecting people to jump out their way.

Moral superiority! I think that’s in your head, not most cyclists’. I just want some exercise on my way to places, and to have an easier time ‘parking’. Where I live, lots of LTNs & 20mph streets, it’s usually only a few mins slower than driving.

Nope! It's easy to google. Are you capable of that?
https://www.brake.org.uk/get-involved/take-action/mybrake/knowledge-centre/uk-road-safety

As someone who drives and cycles (but mostly drives) I'm amazed the no 1 problem round your way is dangerous cyclists. How about we deal with all the dodgy drivers first?

I don't blame any cyclists for wearing a helmet cam and, if they're as dangerous as you say, you should be pleased that they are.

I think the last paragraph says it all for me.

I know pedestrians, cyclists and drivers all share responsibility and have good and bad eggs, but nothing comes close to the smugness and superiority of a cyclist who thinks they are saving the planet whilst the rest of us are killing it.

I find cyclists reckless and lacking in common sense due to a misplaced arrogance and I'm afraid unless we have a traffic system and society like in the Netherlands then being ' morally right' can still be fatal for cyclists in this country.

I don't think it's idiotic at all. What else am I meant to do when people have headphones in and don't hear a normal bell and are in the middle of a fairly narrow tow path. Stay behind them for 7 miles?

It's marketed as a bike bell, it just has a totally different sound and is louder. The ping of a normal bell doesn't carry very far and I like to make people aware from some distance. I don't get right behind them and then let rip with it! Even using a normal bike bell if you ping too close to someone it makes them jump. Giving people plenty of warning from further away is safer and more responsible. I've never had anyone respond negatively towards it.

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Oh dear, you obviously don't cycle. I will use my voice first, if that doesn't work then a bell, then a louder bell if necessary (people with headphones normally). The shared use path I use to get to work is literally 7 miles long with no wider points (tow path). Sorry but I am not staying behind someone at walking pace for 7 miles. I can get past them but it is very tight, if they know I'm there and stay to one side it's safe. People generally walk in the middle of the path though.

Using a bell is much better than going past someone who is unware that you're there. People don't always walk in a straight line and years ago I saw a pedestrian change direction at the last minute with their back to a cyclist and stepped right out into their path and was hit. I'd like to avoid that. People also seem to appreciate the warning to get loose dogs on leads.

The pedestrians I pass seem to appreciate it....I give plenty of warning and slow/stop to give them time to move or get their dog. I say thanks, they say thanks, everyone is smiling. Nobody has an issue with it.

Sometimes I walk on the same path and I always appreciate it if a cyclist uses their bell.

Funnily enough I was on a much wider shared use path once and 3 people were stood in a group chatting. They were facing me so I didn't use the bell. Went to pass them slowly with plenty of space and one of the men leapt at me screaming that I must use my bell!!!!! Can't please people it seems. I had an angry man cross that I didn't use it and then people like you who are cross that I do use it!

IDIOT !!!

Bike bells aren’t equivalent to car horns, they’re needed as bikes are silent. I appreciate cyclists using them so I have warning, though I am talking about a brief ding, not a constant hammering. When I cycle, I use mine only on shared paths coming behind pedestrians, to warn them I’ll be passing, I don’t ever use it to ask someone to move out of my way, and I appreciate they may not hear me. I don’t think I’m unusual.

• Red lights (I always stop at red lights, even though so many motorists floor it when they see them change)

I get that this will be area dependent. Everyone has different experiences. But while I’ve seen many many car drivers speed up to go through an amber or red light just as it’s changed, I don’t think in my entire life I’ve ever seen a car go through a red light while a pedestrian was half way across the road. In my experience in London I have also never been almost hit by a car on a pedestrian or zebra crossing. (Although I do admit the amount of cars not stopping at zebra crossings is increasing, but never while I’m already on it).
I have however almost been hit by many many cyclists. I’ve had them ringing bells at me while I’m half way across a zebra crossing. Ive felt them skim past me a speed while I’m crossing at a green man. I’ve been shouted at while walking on the pavement to MOVE. I’ve had my car scratched while stationary as they squeeze past me and then tell me to fuck off when I’ve pointed it out.
There’s a road near me with a dedicated (walled off so not shared with cars) cycle lane. At the end is traffic lights. The cyclists even have their own little set with red, amber and green cycle signs. I’ve almost been hit there as well when they had a big red cycle and I had a big green man.

Personally I’d love to cycle. But the reason I don’t/won’t is because of the danger from cars which I fully understand.

But as a pedestrian in London, I have personally had more close calls with bikes than I have with cars. I don’t worry about cars nearly knocking me down on the pavement or a zebra crossing like I do with bikes. As a car driver, other drivers annoy me more than bikes most of the time. Other than my car being scratched by a cyclist, I don’t really drive enough for them to bother me.

• Slowing motorists down (you know what causes traffic jams? Traffic. The solution? Viable alternatives to driving)

I never really get that bothered by being slowed down much by cyclists. But what does bother me is the hypocrisy when car drivers get told to suck it up but cyclists get irritated by being slowed down by pedestrians. Car drivers would get torn apart for beeping at a cyclist on the road. Yet cyclists can ring bells at pedestrians to get them to move because they are too slow and in their way.

Ah it must be the time of the month for bicycle bashing on Mumsnet. It comes around so quickly. OP didn't stick around after pulling the pin out of the grenade, I see...

Which squares in my bingo card can I check off?

• Red lights (I always stop at red lights, even though so many motorists floor it when they see them change)
• Slowing motorists down (you know what causes traffic jams? Traffic. The solution? Viable alternatives to driving)
• Lycra (not sure what clothing choice has to do with anything)
• Deliveroo (these are lunatics for sure, but why does that give you carte blanche to nearly kill me when I'm cycling to work?)
• Hi-vis (I was dressed up like a traffic cone, didn’t stop an absolute *#@£ in a pick-up from nearly knocking me off)

By the way, I am not a "cyclist". I'm just trying to get safely to work on my bike.

What? Why are you blasting alarms at pedestrians? How would you like it if a car came up to you on the road and continually beeped at you to get out of the way. If there is a pedestrian in front of you then slowdown and wait until it is safe to pass just like you expect cars to do when you are cycling on the road.

Why are you ringing a bell at them. Wait until it’s safe to pass.

What's that noise? Isn't that a rape alarm? Shouldn't we look to see if there's a woman in trouble?

Nah, it'll just be a cyclist.