Page 7 | Cyclists have made my home city too stressful to live in any more

valianttortoise · 2025-10-12T10:51:31+00:00

Cycling on the pavement (on e-bikes, racing bikes, whatever) at speed, silently, no lights often, no pausing for pedestrians to cross at zebra crossings or even green men. An e-bike nearly hit me yesterday while a policeman was literally standing there watching (outside a government building in case you're wondering where on earth I saw a live one) and he did nothing, just looked at me like "wow that was close!" I can't handle it any more it's miserable. I can't drive so it's not a car thing it's a pedestrian safety thing. I also think seeing that it's fine to do this, in balaclavas often, is sending a message that crime and bad behaviour in general are ok. No one will stop you. Some men (boys? hard to tell in balaclavas) on e-bikes provided by the council took an angle grinder into a busy central square last week and just calmly cut out bicycles from stands to steal them (obviously a crime I feel conflicted about in itself but how long until they realise they can just mug pedestrians at knifepoint? It was 3pm, bright sunshine). I find it kind of hard to believe what we're just supposed to live with now. No safe spaces for walking - forget about it if you're visually impaired. If you live somewhere with no antisocial cyclists where is it please as I'd like to join you.

ComedyGuns · 13/10/2025 01:09

Wow. I’m so sorry you’re experiencing this - it sounds horrible. I live in a big city in the south east, and there are a lot of people doing this, but it hasn’t affected our quality of life really, it’s just a case of noticing there are more people doing it than before really.

Funnywonder · 13/10/2025 00:46

Redpeach · 12/10/2025 11:57

How many minutes of an average day (16 hours awake) are actually affected by cyclists?

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What an absolutely ridiculous question. You could say that about any problem. Does something have to affect someone all day every day to be an issue?

TwistyTurnip · 13/10/2025 00:39

This sounds horrendous OP. Are you in London by any chance? The balaclavas and general lawlessness makes it sound that way. I think there needs to be more controls and rules around e bikes. They are very dangerous. Also balaclavas - no one needs to wear one. Your post reminds me of an unpleasant encounter with a cyclist in Bristol around 10 years ago. I was stood with a group of people at a crossing point and a well spoken women on a bike came carearing through shouting at us all to F off out of her way. On a separate note, I’m worried about the growing use of e scooters for the same reason. I worry about being knocked over or by one of my children being knocked over by one when we visit places like Bristol. I often see people racing along the road on them with no helmet. So dangerous.

suburberphobe · 13/10/2025 00:34

Sounds like Amsterdam.

Yep. It's terrifying trying to cross the road.

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 13/10/2025 00:25

valianttortoise · 12/10/2025 22:50

It's so frustrating. If cyclists are too frightened to go on the road then answer is to walk not to ruin life for those on pavements.

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Quite tight
Cyclists saying they are too frightened on the roads should not be then endangering and scaring pedestrians

They need to Walk or keep to the roads or cycle paths

Doingtheboxerbeat · 13/10/2025 00:02

I'm sorry you feel unsafe OP , truly , but more I want to thank the overwhelming sane, logical posters who have pointed out that this is an inconsiderate arsehole issue rather than a cyclist issue.

As an almost 54 year old woman cyclist and a woman of colour you have no idea the amount of abuse and near death I receive just for going about my business legally on my bike - but attitudes like this makes the hate I receive seem legitimate.

And fyi, I'm also a pedestrian, so I'm also a victim of terrible cyclists and drivers.

Curlewcurfew · 12/10/2025 23:31

DownThePubWithStevieNicks · 12/10/2025 12:04

Your city sounds like mine. The issue isn’t cyclists, or cycle lanes. It’s rampant anti-social, and often criminal, behaviour from youths.

It’s a massive societal problem, and it’s lowering quality of life in my city. Imposing any restrictions on all cyclists isn’t going to help, because the issue is poverty, toxic masculinity, poor parenting, lack of youth services, inability of police to issue consequences…

I have the same problem here in central London and it tends to be middle-aged male commuters and delivery men on bicycles, not youths.

They tear through the lights, often in groups 5 or more, making it dangerous to cross the roads. My DC's too scared to walk to the bus stop to school alone because of it.

OonaStubbs · 12/10/2025 23:26

Cyclists could push there bikes on the pavement if necessary. But cycling on the pavement should be outlawed.

Solmum1964 · 12/10/2025 23:03

OonaStubbs · 12/10/2025 14:25

Cycling on pavements should be banned outright and anyone doing it should face significant jail time.

Ebikes need to be cracked down on as many of them are really powerful and basically like motorcycles.

I disagree! There are plenty of pavements that are not particularly busy and it is perfectly possible for considerate cyclists and pedestrians to share, especially alongside busy roads.
I have been out with DH today to get a coffee from the drive thru about 3 miles from home. The majority of the route is on local residential roads/shared pathways/access roads but to get on them we needed to cross a busy road. I am not a very confident cyclist so we cycled maybe 100 metres in one direction on the pavement to cross at the zebra crossing then a little bit further in the opposite direction to get to the road we wanted to join. We didn't encounter any pedestrians but ride carefully and give way when necessary.
Illegal electric bikes are a different matter entirely. Legal ones you have to pedal. If they are whizzing along without pedalling they are illegal and we need more policing to stop this. However, as there are many issues of poor driving on the road that aren't picked up then I won't hold my breath for these dangerous bikes to be taken off the road.

Original poster

valianttortoise · 12/10/2025 22:50

Benvenuto · 12/10/2025 15:36

“Significant jail time” is rare even for driving offences even when the victim is hurt / killed. Defendants can also put forward special reasons to mitigate sentences - the local press reports of these are worth reading as they are quite eye-opening.

Cycling on the pavement is banned, but the police have stated that they will use discretion here as they recognise that cyclists can be too frightened to use the roads. Again it comes back to how your local council are designing your streets - if they aren’t designing safe cycle routes, the inevitable consequence will be cyclists on the pavement and police discretion.

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It's so frustrating. If cyclists are too frightened to go on the road then answer is to walk not to ruin life for those on pavements.

OP posts:

Kago2790 · 12/10/2025 22:35

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 12/10/2025 16:46

I think this concretes my theory that being a cyclist is a mentality. As in to be a cyclist is to be a certain way. It's to be a bully, arrogant, smarmy and intellectually bereft.

(I'm not including leisurely bike riders or the elderly who like to pop to the shops on their bikes.)

All of the traits that make for a miserable society. I think that cyclists and motorcyclists, basically anyone whose main mode of travel is on two wheels instead of four, became emboldened when the Highway Code changes took effect. That two wheels can legally sit in the middle of the lane and hold traffic up, because they apparently deserve to be higher up in the pecking order. More vulnerable road users because they chose to not surround themselves with metal.

Don't get me started on takeaway food riders, or as I call them slop couriers. I've had more than my fair share of nearly being knocked over by them or waxed across the street by them. They have no sense of direction.

Just my two pence.

Edited

This is the sort of us v them division that fuels road rage. Of course all people who ride bikes are the same.🙄

I ride to work, but sometimes pop to the shops or take a leisurely ride so am I excluded then or am I am I a smarmy bully? Am not elderly yet but good to know I will meet your approval in 20 years. I drive too and walk. We need a flow chart!

OonaStubbs · 12/10/2025 20:52

Why don't we have police on bikes to combat them??

LordEmsworth · 12/10/2025 20:38

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 12/10/2025 16:46

I think this concretes my theory that being a cyclist is a mentality. As in to be a cyclist is to be a certain way. It's to be a bully, arrogant, smarmy and intellectually bereft.

(I'm not including leisurely bike riders or the elderly who like to pop to the shops on their bikes.)

All of the traits that make for a miserable society. I think that cyclists and motorcyclists, basically anyone whose main mode of travel is on two wheels instead of four, became emboldened when the Highway Code changes took effect. That two wheels can legally sit in the middle of the lane and hold traffic up, because they apparently deserve to be higher up in the pecking order. More vulnerable road users because they chose to not surround themselves with metal.

Don't get me started on takeaway food riders, or as I call them slop couriers. I've had more than my fair share of nearly being knocked over by them or waxed across the street by them. They have no sense of direction.

Just my two pence.

Edited

Is this a joke? I can get to work more quickly on the bike than in the car, and therefore I have placed myself "higher up in the pecking order" and am therefore "intellectually bereft"??? If I spent 20 minutes sitting in stationary traffic on the road, instead of 15 minutes on the cycle paths, I would be a better person and society would be less miserable? Out of the two of us, I don't think I'm the arrogant bully.

I cycle on the road, stop at lights and crossings, have never knowingly worn a balaclava, and would not know one end of an angle grinder from the other. I really don't think I have ruined your life.

newire · 12/10/2025 20:25

OP I've been saying the same about my own town recently. its getting really bad with mostly adult men and teenage boys speeding around on pavements on motorised bikes and scooters. They seem to think they have right of way on the pavement when they shouldn't be on the pavement and scooters don't seem to be legal at all. The police don't seem to be interested at all and its like the wild west out there and increasingly so. Driving is also worse, with a driver almost running down as he fully mounted the pavement recently so he could drop someone off closer to their door. So selfish and dangerous.

2025VibeandThrive · 12/10/2025 20:23

Cantheowneroftheredcorsapleasemovetheircar · 12/10/2025 17:26

These people are not cyclists. Actual cyclists get enough shit from people without being lumped in with inconsiderate twats

Exactly and not all e-bikes are illegal and go fast.

Redpeach · 12/10/2025 20:02

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 12/10/2025 16:46

I think this concretes my theory that being a cyclist is a mentality. As in to be a cyclist is to be a certain way. It's to be a bully, arrogant, smarmy and intellectually bereft.

(I'm not including leisurely bike riders or the elderly who like to pop to the shops on their bikes.)

All of the traits that make for a miserable society. I think that cyclists and motorcyclists, basically anyone whose main mode of travel is on two wheels instead of four, became emboldened when the Highway Code changes took effect. That two wheels can legally sit in the middle of the lane and hold traffic up, because they apparently deserve to be higher up in the pecking order. More vulnerable road users because they chose to not surround themselves with metal.

Don't get me started on takeaway food riders, or as I call them slop couriers. I've had more than my fair share of nearly being knocked over by them or waxed across the street by them. They have no sense of direction.

Just my two pence.

Edited

As a pedestrian, 4 wheeled vehicles cause me far more distress

Redpeach · 12/10/2025 19:56

CandidLurker · 12/10/2025 15:54

I’m sick of teenage boys (and yes it is always boys) riding their bikes on the pavement. One coming towards me today on a narrow pavement but fortunately he had to stop as his phone fell out of his pocket.

So a bit of a non event then

TooBored1 · 12/10/2025 19:01

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 12/10/2025 16:46

I think this concretes my theory that being a cyclist is a mentality. As in to be a cyclist is to be a certain way. It's to be a bully, arrogant, smarmy and intellectually bereft.

(I'm not including leisurely bike riders or the elderly who like to pop to the shops on their bikes.)

All of the traits that make for a miserable society. I think that cyclists and motorcyclists, basically anyone whose main mode of travel is on two wheels instead of four, became emboldened when the Highway Code changes took effect. That two wheels can legally sit in the middle of the lane and hold traffic up, because they apparently deserve to be higher up in the pecking order. More vulnerable road users because they chose to not surround themselves with metal.

Don't get me started on takeaway food riders, or as I call them slop couriers. I've had more than my fair share of nearly being knocked over by them or waxed across the street by them. They have no sense of direction.

Just my two pence.

Edited

Are you aware that the vast majority of people who use cycles, also drive cars and walk? A prat is a prat no matter how they are moving around.

We've become normalised to dangerous drivers. Certain parts of the media take pride in whipping up fury against cyclists, yet remain blind to the exact same type of behavior in drivers.

Allthings · 12/10/2025 18:34

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 12/10/2025 17:47

You and your dog Wear something reflective and don’t move out of the way
I don’t, ever
You have priority

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Both dogs (large and medium) have high viz reflective coats. Regardless of priority, I valued my life too much and don’t bounce as well as I used to do. I also don’t want to have two dogs who become reactive to anyone on bike and like walks to be enjoyable. I now stick to walks in daylight.

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 12/10/2025 17:47

Allthings · 12/10/2025 17:24

Since we got shared pathways with no demarcation, cyclists appear to have taken to using any pavement to cycle on with little regard for pedestrians or dogs. I have had to stop going out after dark with the dogs as it’s virtually impossible to see cyclists in black with no lights coming towards me in either direction with the expectation that I would leap out of the way (and a mouthful of abuse at times if I didn’t). The walks were no longer enjoyable as I was constantly having to look over my shoulder and I didn’t feel safe.

You and your dog Wear something reflective and don’t move out of the way
I don’t, ever
You have priority

Cantheowneroftheredcorsapleasemovetheircar · 12/10/2025 17:26

These people are not cyclists. Actual cyclists get enough shit from people without being lumped in with inconsiderate twats

Allthings · 12/10/2025 17:24

Since we got shared pathways with no demarcation, cyclists appear to have taken to using any pavement to cycle on with little regard for pedestrians or dogs. I have had to stop going out after dark with the dogs as it’s virtually impossible to see cyclists in black with no lights coming towards me in either direction with the expectation that I would leap out of the way (and a mouthful of abuse at times if I didn’t). The walks were no longer enjoyable as I was constantly having to look over my shoulder and I didn’t feel safe.

BrownTroutBluesAgain · 12/10/2025 17:00

pinkstripeycat · 12/10/2025 16:50

What do you want a police officer to do? Chase a cyclist on foot? 😂

Or on an e scooter. There’s plenty about

ApplebyArrows · 12/10/2025 16:59

The hire bikes aren't a big problem in Cambridge (except for inconsiderate parking), it's illegal emopeds, including those ridden by Just Eat et al. Though these seem to have been less problematic recently following a police crackdown.

Even Holland is having problems with twattish youths on ebikes nowadays.

I think a lot of people's problems with cyclists are just down to not being bothered to look properly when walking/driving, not being considerate with the space etc. Real bad behaviour exists and is pretty commonplace, but is not as dangerous as many make it out to be.

CrossPurposes · 12/10/2025 16:58

Sparklesandspandexgallore · 12/10/2025 14:33

I have never, ever had a car drive at me on the pavement. Not saying car drivers are perfect but at least they use the bloody roads!

I have experienced this twice. Rare yes but it does happen.