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?

It’s the motorists who are entitled imo

Some of them, certainly. That's pretty clear on this thread.

@YewHedge

People form their opinions based on their own experience. I live in a rural area. Roads are single lane, you cannot overtake cyclists. Trouble is nowadays there are LOADS of cyclists. I get stuck behind one about 7 times out of 10 whenever I leave or try to return to my house. Now I like cycling and I sometimes cycle myself but I PULL OVER when a car is behind me. I would say only about 1% of cyclists pull over and I find it so frustrating to be stuck behind one for 2 miles (distance from larger road to my house) nearly every time I go out or come home. (I need to drive to pretty much every where because of the rural location). Because of my negative experiences of cyclists I don't have a very high opinion of them. Same goes for other people who have a negative view of cyclists - it is because they have had bad experiences with them.

Agree with all of this.

I am a super chilled driver. I don’t beep or gesticulate. But frankly I do find myself scowling at cyclists now just because there’s so many of them. I have no issue with being behind tractors or horses because where else would they be? You want to get fit and do time trials stick to dual carriageways or velodrome’ s.

I would guess that if they’re ‘blocking cars’ it’s because it’s a really bad place for you to overtake them. I do it all the time because many car drivers are really bad at making good decisions, mush easier to take that opportunity for them to make a bad decision away from them. I will move over when the time is right

Let’s be clear here.

It’s motorists and vehicles with more than 2 wheels that hold up traffic and cause congestion. Is a constant mystery to me why others can understand this 😂

can’t

We live on a country lane and the cyclists always choose to dump their litter outside our house.
Sadly, you are right, some cyclists do dump empty gel packets, inner tubes etc. However, I don't think they are responsible for all the fast-food packaging, beer cans, carrier bags etc that line most of our country roads. Nor are they responsible for all the building rubble, broken appliances, furniture etc. fly tipped along the same roads. That's all done by motorists, the people calling cyclists cunts.

It is annoying being stuck on country lanes behind cyclists where there is nowhere to overtake (plenty of changes for them to pull in mind, but they never seem to), but I have never hurled abuse from my car for them going about their business as they have every right to. However, I did shout abuse at a man who even admitted after to thinking 'only cars stop for zebra crossings' who broke my leg cycling into me on a crossing. He wasn't even close to it when I started crossing, so plenty of time to stop. Another held onto the back of my car at traffic lights, when they turned green, for some reason he didn't let to. I didn't want to just start driving as I guessed that would be dangerous for him, and tooting the horn might have scared the life out of him; so I did wind my window down and not ask overly politely for him to let go. He said ah sorry my mind was elsewhere

@JacobReesMogadishu

Why on earth would it be inconsiderate to do 20mph on a bike? Not on a pavements obviously but on a road? I frequently get well over 20mph, even over 30mph!

It’s pretty inconsiderate when it’s a 60 road tbh...

“We make an effort to disrupt traffic a little as possible, use mostly very quite roads (because cycling those is far more pleasant) and pull over often to let traffic pass,”

I don’t remember ever seeing a cyclist pull over to let traffic past...

I don’t abuse cyclists, but tbh I do think the abuse when I’m caught up in a huge queue of cars having to do 20 on a 60 road because cyclists don’t pull over or use the cycle path next to the road.

You want to get fit and do time trials stick to dual carriageways or velodrome’ s

The recent uptake in cycling isn't about time trials, and it's not even so much about getting fit.

It's more about being able to get to where you want to go, when you need to be there, and reducing the risks associated with public transport.

Our local bus service went down to hourly, and they were only allowing a quarter of the seats to be used. She was two hours late for work more than once when she had to wait for the third bus as the first two were full. She got a bike, and had only got back on a bus in the worst of the weather as she now gets to work quicker.

From what I am seeing on cycling forums, people are more likely to have taken to cycling for transport rather than for racing or fitness.

I don’t abuse cyclists, but tbh I do think the abuse when I’m caught up in a huge queue of cars having to do 20 on a 60 road because cyclists don’t pull over or use the cycle path next to the road

On a busy road, if a cyclist pulls over to let cars past, how long do you think it will be before they can join the traffic again safely? And some cycle paths are frankly more dangerous than taking to the road. There's a cycle path here where we are expected to cross two fast dual carriageways that don't have any crossing signals. It is much safer to join the traffic on the road than to attempt that.

Oh fuck yeah. Cyclists and zebra crossings. My favourite one was one who, cycling on the right and talking on her mobile, nearly hit me and then abused me.

My other favourite was a woman out cycling as part of a family group. Coming up to us on a little track on a hill above a river they all rang their bells to tell us to get out of the way. We pressed into the side of the track and they attempted to ride past us with no concern for our safety - they didn't even acknowledge us until the woman ran over my partner's foot. He was wearing steep-capped boots so he wasn't concerned, but she went sideways down the hill and eventually arse over tit. Apparently it was our fault ... !!!

@ChangeThePassword

What's grim is when they aren't wearing underwear and you can see everything

Tough! Cycling shorts are meant to be worn without underwear. I am more curious as to why you are checking that out in the first place, it's not something I have ever noticed!😂

Because I'm supposed to be monitoring the road while driving and combined with that arse in the air posture in front of the windscreen I can't avoid seeing someone's clearly visible genitals. Maybe it's not a bad thing if it keeps the drivers attention on them

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.

You might do this, but you’d be very much in the minority. I can think of only once in all the years I’ve been driving behind cyclists on windy country lanes that a cyclist has had enough decency and consideration to pull over.

I wouldn’t should abuse out loud to cyclists, any swearing at cyclists selfishness is done quietly and stays within my own car. But cyclists do behave selfishly, and if a group of people are going to be so obviously selfish so frequently out in public, then it’s natural that some people won’t tolerate it easily.

Because I'm supposed to be monitoring the road while driving and combined with that arse in the air posture in front of the windscreen I can't avoid seeing someone's clearly visible genitals

Sounds like you might be driving too close, how much detail can you really see from a safe distance.. 🧐😉

I'm generally fine with cyclists on the road as I am a horse rider so I'm also in one of those road users groups who can have aggression directed towards them however I am not fine with the sheer number of cyclists who have taken to cycling on the only bridleway that leads from our yard (particularly during lockdown) that have no idea how to behave around horses, speeding past, ignoring when we ask them just to say hello so the horses know they are there, mumbling at us as they've gone past, if they do get off they hide in the bushes when we ask them not to...
I've lost count of the number of times I've been sworn at or nearly crashed into because one of them has silently cycled right up close behind me and my horse has noticed at the last minute!
I am vigilant whilst riding on that path as it is a canal so is narrow and I look out for cyclists and pedestrians and slow when I approach but it should go both ways too, we've ridden on that path for years and just because you've recently discovered it doesn't mean that you can be annoyed by the horses! It's also in the highway code that cyclists should dismount and give way to horses on a bridle way but I doubt any cyclists actually know that.
The path has also been badly churned up by the bikes too which means it's difficult to ride on, and as it's the only one it's a bit sad really!

I know that horse riders are often viewed in the same vein as cyclists (and I've been annoyed by rude riders I've seen whilst driving!) But I try to be polite and keep out of everyone's way, say hello to everyone I meet and it wouldn't hurt to have a bit of politeness back.

Coming up to us on a little track on a hill above a river they all rang their bells to tell us to get out of the way.

Get this a lot on the tow path by the canal as well, only there isn't anywhere to go! So basically when they ring the bell with no intention of stopping, they mean can you please jump into the bushes so I can cycle past at full pelt. I see the appeal of cycling down them, but some are far too narrow, unless you're expecting the person on foot to put a lot of effort into squeezing into a ridiculously tight and branch laden area.

@ChangeThePassword

Because I'm supposed to be monitoring the road while driving and combined with that arse in the air posture in front of the windscreen I can't avoid seeing someone's clearly visible genitals

Sounds like you might be driving too close, how much detail can you really see from a safe distance.. 🧐😉

I can sometimes see enough to make me want to 🤮. I don't think they always realise how sheer their shorts are when actually on the bike.

@FinnyStory

It's been covered here before but cycling two abreast is safer for everyone and usually better for motorists. If you couldn't overtake a car in the space, it's probably not safe to overtake a cyclist. It's much easier to overtake two bikes side by side than it is to over take two bikes behind one another.

That might work in the countryside but it doesn’t work in the city. There is often plenty of room to overtake one cyclist in the city but not two (and by riding two abreast one of them is outside of the cycle lane).

But cyclists do behave selfishly, and if a group of people are going to be so obviously selfish so frequently out in public, then it’s natural that some people won’t tolerate it easily

Some cyclists, just like some drivers, use roads in a selfish manner.

This thread has its share of selfish drivers that don't want to allow cyclists space on the road.

The behaviour of the cyclist mentioned above not stopping at a zebra crossing is awful, for example. But a friend of mine is permanently disabled because of a driver doing the same. She was in hospital for months afterwards.

But for some reason, its okay to tar all cyclists as the same, when nobody does it with drivers.

I know that horse riders are often viewed in the same vein as cyclists (and I've been annoyed by rude riders I've seen whilst driving!)

I've never come across a rude horse -rider ever. I don't know what it is you are supposed to do when you pass them in a car, but whatever it is my partner does it and they say 'thank you'. We've happened across ones that are inexperienced and look terrified from time-to-time.

Cyclists are allowed to cycle outside of the cycle lane.

I’ve got a previously unmentioned reason!!

Round here there are lots of mamils. We’ve also got a lot of coffee shops reopening and trying to carve out some kind of profit again. Every single day the outside tables are taken up by cyclists who meet up with fellow mamils and sit for at least an hour over a couple of coffees (some just order water!) and take up tables. Locally we all want to try to support the cafes and people are regularly turned away from buying lunch or whatever due to lack of space. Meanwhile the cyclists take up seats to drink water. Selfish.

There is often plenty of room to overtake one cyclist in the city but not two (and by riding two abreast one of them is outside of the cycle lane)

There must be narrow roads in your city, as two bikes take up similar space to a car. In the centre of the city where I live, the bus lanes are also the cycle lanes, so there's plenty of room for two. Cycle routes tend to be off the main roads in my city, which does make it easier.

I'm very much a solo cyclist though so never do that (unless I'm overtaking a cyclist). 😇

OP do you cycle in a busy cycle area , eg parts of Surrey? The abusive drivers may well have been stuck behind cyclists for most of their journey. It’s pretty frustrating to have to do most of your journey at 20mph rather than 40 or 50. Doesn’t mean they should be abusive but there are some areas where it literally takes twice as long to drive anywhere as it should do, particularly on a Sunday! That’s really frustrating if you are trying to get somewhere.

Yes the rubbish that is left has also increased .
I know friends who live in country lanes are sick of the endless amount of cyclists that stop to take gels and eat their peanuts butter sandwiches and then think it's okay to traipse into people driveways and put their rubbish in their bins.
It's common courtesy to dispose of rubbish in public bins or take it home like everyone else does.