The hatred towards cyclists/horse riders etc

I have bad experiences with people on race bikes in a town where I used to live. I have been nearly rammed by them a bunch of times, even when I saw them coming and left a lot of room for them. They still managed to nearly hit me at full speed. My heart nearly jumps in my throat with how close they get while not slowing down.

Thankfully, when I live now they have more sense. I see them often, but they keep well clear and even slow down when needed.

How do we reach this mythical extensive network of bridleways when most don't join up with each other?

Are you aware of how many bridleways we have lost in last 10 years due to land being sold off for housing?

I don’t hate horse riders; I live in the city and barely see any, and it’s always nice to see a horse.

But sorry, it’s irrational, unreasonable, and unfair, but I really hate most cyclists. I’ve rarely driven past one without cursing. It becomes really prominent when I’m driving to visit family. It’s a busy country road, narrow, lots of large lorries. And there they are, trucks whizzing past them, risking life and limb to hold everyone up.

I complete accept this makes me unreasonable and an awful person but I feel I have to be honest.

I often walk tbh I just see these crazy cyclists and horse riders causing mayhem.

I have no objection to horse riders personally. I always find them sensible and courteous. The same cannot be said for cyclists, specifically male cyclists. They consistently jump red lights for a start and don't give a flying fuck about pedestrians, despite their loud and proud green credentials.

This.

Then maybe join a petition to stop landowners selling off bridleways!
I don't want to ride on the road but I have no other way of reaching the bridleways without doing so.

No I can't box 200m down the road to a narrow lane as thar would mean parking the horsebox in the middle of the road to load and Unload, which is illegal.

I suggest you move to a town if you don't think horses should be on roads!

The issue isn’t horses or bikes per se, it’s that roads are not designed to share the space with extra vehicles or animals so a slow moving bike (eg 1mph up the steep hill near me) can quickly cause a 1/4 mile tailback and can cause accidents because cars are not able to drive so slowly easily. Same stretch before the hill has stables and it’s narrow, no middle line, and the owners get cross if you pass at just 10mph. Animals scared of traffic should use the extensive network of bridal paths there and bikes should use the designated cycle paths

Honestly anyone who doesnt relate to the unreasonable answer is lying im convinced!

If the roads are so narrow and congested, why do we put up with driving ever larger cars down them?

In the case of the road I mentioned above, the shortest alternative route involves driving through a congested town centre, which can take ages, and is over 50% longer in distance.

I'm mystified as to why cyclists prefer the road, tbh. Several years ago, the county council spent a 6-figure sum building a cycle and pedestrian route that irouhgly parallel to the road and runs alongside fields and the river. I'd have thought it was much more pleasant than riding along the road, it has a really good surface and is more level.

Why don’t you take the bus, and then you won’t need to be annoyed by cyclists?

Few cyclists do all the things you say you do. In the city you wait an age to get by then stop at lights and they squeeze up the inside of you then you have to wait an age to get by again. Hog the country roads. Horses are a bit different, they are desperate to just get out of the way and have you past as quickly as is safe and once you are past that’s it. They also aren’t travelling along faster than the speed you are legally allowed to over take them. You get the odd one that doesn’t say thank you but none of the arrogance of many cyclists ime

Man alive.

A lot of motorists don't seem to realise, or care, that in fact roads are for everyone, not just them. And in fact they're the only ones who are there 'under licence', as cars are so much more dangerous.

It may boil the piss, or dent the ego, but people on horses and people on bikes have as much right to their journey as motorists. They are not the 'hazard' - self-centred twats in high-speed two-tonne boxes are.

I drive and I cycle. There are the occasional cycle'way' where I live, but they are rare. Mostly we're grudgingly given six inches of green tarmac, filled with parked cars, broken bottles and potholes.

Well that's a bit unpleasant isn't it?

I'm semi rural. We get a lot of it round here, ive seem more horse riders struggling to control spooked horse than hot dinners.

I like horses, just not on a road with cars, tractors and buses. Recipe for disaster.

I have no objection to horse riders personally. I always find them sensible and courteous. The same cannot be said for cyclists, specifically male cyclists. They consistently jump red lights for a start and don't give a flying fuck about pedestrians, despite their loud and proud green credentials. Bloody hypocrites.

My unreasonable answer - the sinking heart feeling I get after crawling behind a cyclist for what feels an eternity after a long day at work, eventually overtaking and then coming to a red light so they catch up and the whole thing starts again. I don’t take my annoyance out on cyclists and am very cautious, but I’m not so much of a saint I don’t get irritated.

The reasonable answer - my frustration that as a pedestrian in parks, etc., I’m expected to just get out of the way and never cause a cyclist to have to slow down. I used to enjoy walking along my local canal but between the cyclists and running groups it’s a miserable experience now. Somehow they seem to enjoy precedence over both drivers and pedestrians!

Drivers are the greatest nuisance.

I dont think people saying that mean they personally hate the people who happen to be cycling, and drivers should absolutely make sure they are considerate and safe towards cyclists. Reality is though its annoying AF being stuck behind a cyclist, on some roads theres little chance to safely overtake for a prolonged period, I dont think the remarks are much deeper than that. Drivers who let that annoyance to translate into dangerous overtakes and putting the cyclists in danger is another matter.

Under the law horses have every right to be on the road and we are classed as vulnerable road users. Therefore the responsibility is on drivers to make sure they drive carefully and respectfully around us.
Sorry you don't like that!

There are miles of cycle paths where I live. Never see anyone on them but every weekend there is a stream of cyclists on the road that runs next to the paths. These were put in at huge cost to the taxpayer.

You may be considerate cyclist but the one that rode straight at me pushing my DS in his pram and the other who cycled through a no-entry sign as pregnant me crossed the road….

1 being that poster!

Like I said, roads are safe for horses. It's entitled arrogant drivers who make them unsafe.

Not I'm just big on road safety.

Do you really think we don’t know that we are taking our lives in our hands every time we mix with traffic? Believe me if we had any other choice other than to not ride at all, then we wouldn’t be there. It’s fucking terrifying and incredibly depressing how many people don’t want to take 20 seconds out of their day to keep another human being safe. There are some horrible people on the roads.

I feel disgusted when I see parents with small babies on the back of their bicycle, cycling on a main road!

Its not even hate, people on the road, not in a vehicle or motorcycle gear, causes additional hazards, which makes driving more stressful. Its just dangerous.