Why are people so abusive to cyclists, what do they get from it?

[FinnyStory]

I'll start by saying it's not everyone by any means, the vast majority of motorists are patient and go on with their day. We make an effort to disrupt traffic a little as possible, use mostly very quite roads (because cycling those is far mor pleasant) and pull over often to let traffic pass, but it is occasionally necessary to use a busier road for small part of the route.

However, I rarely go on a bike ride without one person thinking they need to hurl abuse. The most frequent situation is when they've tried to overtake me on a bend and come face to face with another car, which is apparently my fault.

The most recent occasion was down a steep hill, we would have been doing at 25mph, speed limit 40, So yes we were slow and it was difficult to pass but not that slow. Traffic lights at the bottom and driver felt the need to stick his head out and yell something about how we should be on the pavement (Yes of course we should doing 25mph but that's another issue). My friend pointed to his bike mounted camera and the driver suddenly didn't feel the need to abuse us any more.

It must be exhausting to be so angry all the time, what do they think they gain from it?

Bells are mandatory on newly sold bicycles in the UK, really a strong indicator they are meant to be used to alert people to a cyclist's presence.

I don't get people getting angry at cyclists for using them; we're supposed to! So we don't startle people and shared pathways can actually be shared safely.

I don't think every cyclist is an issue, I think a certain type of very entitled person ( a middle aged bloke usually) has taken up hobby cycling and is causing problems for people who live and work in the areas they practice this hobby.

Yep, I suspect he’s an entitled pratt behind the wheel of his car too

I still do t get that people don’t understand that’s its other motorists that hold up the traffic, not cyclists

Being judgemental against the appearance of cyclists seems to be fine on MN when if such comments were made against anyone else the poster would be told off.

I frequently see a post where the OP has described a woman as old, middle aged, overweight, wearing odd clothes and someone will rightly ask why that is worthy of comment.

But cyclists can be sneered at as fat, middle aged, wobbly bits at the side, looking awful in lycra and nobody bats an eyelid.

@Kintsugi16

I still do t get that people don’t understand that’s its other motorists that hold up the traffic, not cyclists

Surely it can be either depending on the situation/location?

City = yes vehicles mainly cause the congestion
Area around Box Hill on a Sunday = groups of cyclists causing the congestion.

Yep, I suspect he’s an entitled pratt behind the wheel of his car too

Probably.
But he doesn't cause as many congestion issues in his car.

Living somewhere like Yorkshire dales mammils are a cause of congestion ( although caravans cause issues too)

I can readily accept that some car drivers cause problems it shouldn't be difficult for cyclists to accept the same.

I can readily accept that some car drivers cause problems it shouldn't be difficult for cyclists to accept the same

Oh I do readily accept that some car drivers cause problems

I think we all know that some cyclists can cause problems. Has anyone said otherwise?

The issue is that some drivers seem to see all cyclists the same way that the see the ones that cause them some problems, and they don't accept that some of the problems caused are not the fault of the cyclists - and are in fact down to lack of suitable infrastructure to ensure safe spaces for both.

Just as with drivers not all cyclists are the same nor equal and have different behaviour norms and attitudes so instead of stereotype into one bucket he is the bike snob's guide to cycling tribes:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/24/bike-snobs-guide-cycling-tribes

However surely most road users all dislike sectioned off “road works” with no road working to be the most unbearable road inconvenience? More than say slow farm tractors who in my experience always pull over to the side when practicable if slowing down traffic than be annoying holding up other road users. Cyclists just need to follow the Highway Code (at least sometimes) just like any other entitled road user!

But he doesn't cause as many congestion issues in his car

Of course he does, cars cause far more congestion than bikes. You just don’t notice it when you in your car are also the cause of the congestion.

If everyone rode bikes there wouldn’t be traffic jams.

Works both ways I find.

I've been knocked off my bike because of a driver not looking. Police attended and witnesses confirm that I was in correct road position and had right of way (roundabout)

It was awful

I can't believe some of these posts. Do you think someone stops being a human being just because they are on a bike???

Can you not be held up for 2 mins to allow for another road user, who perfectly entitled to use the road, to travel in safety????

Bonkers, the lot of you.

Can you not be held up for 2 mins to allow for another road user, who perfectly entitled to use the road, to travel in safety????

To be fair though it's not always just 2 minutes, the road I used to travel to work on there isn't anywhere to safely overtake, and as it's quite hilly and windy bikes tend to go pretty slow. You can easily be doing 20mph in a 40-60 (it changes) for miles on end. It is a busy road as the only other way to get from the town I'm in to there would be a huge detour.

I'd love to see these roads where you're held up for MILES because of a cyclist!!

And your journey must be so much more important than someone's life.

You need to get your priorities in order.

@Wishiwasrunning2

I'd love to see these roads where you're held up for MILES because of a cyclist!!

And your journey must be so much more important than someone's life.

You need to get your priorities in order.

Regularly held up over a seven mile stretch from our village. A few passing places but cyclists rarely pull into them. Driving as part of life does become frustrating when you have to follow a trail of slobbering cyclists wobbling up the hills two or three abreast. Sometimes getting to doctors appointments, the vets or just shopping is more important than a crowd using our villages as a velodrome. They also place our elderly walkers and playing children at risk

The only time I yelled at a cyclist was when I was crossing (using a crossing with lights) who decided it would be a good idea to dash in front of me (& many other people) - literally straight in front, within a foot but - if you are driving a tank (car) you do have to think about more vulnerable road users, which include cyclists & people attempting to cross road - so it can work both ways.

To be fair though it's not always just 2 minutes, the road I used to travel to work on there isn't anywhere to safely overtake, and as it's quite hilly and windy bikes tend to go pretty slow. You can easily be doing 20mph in a 40-60 (it changes) for miles on end. It is a busy road as the only other way to get from the town I'm in to there would be a huge detour

But as I said before, in a busy road if a cyclist pulls over to let cars past it could be ages before they can safely rejoin the traffic. This is often an issue of poor infrastructure, rather than cyclists doing something wrong.

@CherryPavlova frustration at your journey not going to plan does not excuse some drivers endangering cyclists lives with reckless and dangerous behaviour.

Around here you get stuck behind tractors or at canal bridges... i factor in more time when I have a deadline.

Cyclists are fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. A lot of car drivers seem to forget that... as demonstrated by the opinions on this thread.

“And your journey must be so much more important than someone's life.”

I’m not putting anyone’s life in danger by sitting behind an annoying cyclist thinking - bet you’re a selfish twat off your bike too as they cycle past several miles of passing places letting the cars behind them turn into a long stream instead of one car every few minutes.

I’m very very sure me thinking badly of someone doesn’t in fact kill them - or there’d be no politicians left for starters.

[quote Wishiwasrunning2]@CherryPavlova frustration at your journey not going to plan does not excuse some drivers endangering cyclists lives with reckless and dangerous behaviour.

Around here you get stuck behind tractors or at canal bridges... i factor in more time when I have a deadline.

Cyclists are fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. A lot of car drivers seem to forget that... as demonstrated by the opinions on this thread.[/quote]
Luckily I’ve not allowed my frustration to roll over into manslaughter yet. Of course they are fathers, husbands, wives, daughters etc etc. We give them water and let them use the phone or lavatory sometimes but it is still bed irritating to have inconsiderate gangs shouting at 7am on aSunday morning, throwing rubbish that villagers must pick up, delaying people going about their work and scaring elderly villGers with their speed around blind bends.

Sometimes getting to doctors appointments, the vets or just shopping is more important than a crowd using our villages as a velodrome.

This is very true.
We aren't talking about 2 minutes with people commuting to work on their bikes.
I've never said anything to these people but it doesn't mean I don't think they are entitled idiots.

This popped up on my Facebook feed today.

Edinburgh Council are paying money to tell cyclists to use their bell, so a great big 😝 to those of you that don't like it.

/childish mode off

Nothing wrong with using a bell as long as you don't use it as an excuse to crash into people if they don't hear or can't move quick enough like that twat in that viral video.

Oh, I totally agree. Not everyone thinks that way though.

They ding their stupid passive aggressive little bells when it is your right of way!

Can you not be held up for 2 mins to allow for another road user, who perfectly entitled to use the road, to travel in safety????

Goes both ways. Ie the cyclists that force pedestrians out of the way on pavements (where they shouldn’t even be cycling) or on shared paths. You do not have priority.