This hatred towards cyclists needs to stop

[OverlyFragrant]

This constant drip feeding from the media and online that cyclists are road vermin, dont pay tax, shouldn't be on roads etc needs to stop.
The last two days ive read about cyclists being pushed into dangerous situations by members of the public who feel entitled to hurt them, just because...
First a cyclist was pushed into a canal, the cyclist was still clipped into their bike pedals and couldn't swim. They very nearly drowned.
The second was pushed off a beach wall and needed urgent assistance from the ambulance and suffered serious injuries.
Words aren't just words, they have consequences and know two people have come to harm simply because they were riding a bike.

I have very few problems with cyclists on the road near me. I'll own up to tutting a little bit if it takes a while to overtake, but that's life.

I have massive problems with the cyclists on tow paths and foot paths who don't seem to understand that people can't always hear them coming up from behind. It would be ideal if they could use the words 'excuse me' or 'thank you'. As a minimum I don't expect them to call my 87 year old mother a 'fucking deaf old cunt'.

If you're cycling up behind pedestrians you have to behave like a car, you have to be able to slow down and maybe even put a foot down and stop for a second.

Leaving aside the rights and wrongs of cars v bicycles, one thing that I just don’t get is cyclists who strap small children onto seats on bikes. The sight makes me shiver. How the fuck could a parent expose a child to so much obvious danger? I wouldn’t do that if I were cycling in a bike-only place. All you need is a pothole or debris on the surface or a reckless fellow cyclist and suddenly you have an injured, possibly very badly injured, child.

The way cyclists riding in The middle of the road turn around to look behind them at the queue of cars and then face forward again, making no movement to move in at all - that pees me off.

I imagine them facing forward with a big grin on their faces, enjoying the “power”

@VimtoVimtoVimto I used to cycle 12 miles each way to work. Mostly country lanes, but for part of the route there was a shared cycle/pedestrian path. I used it a couple of times and it was horrendous.

Overgrown nettles and brambles on the "cycle" side. Pedestrians wandering into the cycle bit. Broken glass and dog shit which wasn't great for my tyres.

I switched back to cycling on the roadway and got serious abuse from drivers shouting at me to use the cycle path.

Most cyclists are also drivers, and most cyclists obey the road rules because they are very vulnerable if they don't. I would much rather cycle on safe, smooth cycle ways than share a road with drivers who seem to delight in menacing cyclists.

I don't live in an urban area so can't really comment on cyclists jumping red lights, breaking the rules of the road etc but every day I see drivers breaking the law, usually by speeding but also driving through red lights, undertaking on motorways etc. Which is far more dangerous.

@OverlyFragrant I completely agree with you. I actually think that no one should be allowed to apply for their driving test until they have cycled a minimum number of miles on a variety of roads. I think that would make drivers attitudes towards cyclists very different. I know that practically that would be impossible to mandate but I'd love to trial it.

Of course I don’t think all cyclists are the same and of course I am aware that bad drivers are much more of a problem and kill our ponies but this thread is about cyclists and public dislike leading to awful violence.

There are a number of lovely walking paths around me that I never use. Why? Because they are very narrow I have the dog and two small children. Cyclists zoom up behind me going DING DING DING . If it’s just me, that’s fine, I can squeeze into the bushes to let them past. But with the kids (4 and 6), I need to make sure they’ve seen the cyclist and get them safely out the way, plus pull on the lead (he’s always on the lead) to get DDog out of the way. The cyclists get absolutely furious (swearing, shouting) at having to slow down while I make sure they don’t mow my family. I have NEVER had one be polite about it. And I’m a fit 35 year old… I imagine an older person might be terrified.

@PhilippaGeorgiou seems like is getting regularly used though, 3 million journeys according to this?
https://westleedsdispatch.com/figures-say-cycle-superhighway-used-almost-three-million-times/

Vermin? Harsh description. What about the motorists around you driving without insurance/license, valid ved, car that's legal, driver in a state to be driving ie corrected vision, no drink/drugs involved?

I live near where this happened and the path concerned is about 15 ft wide, there is ample room for walkers, dogs and cyclists. The esplanade path is higher than the road or the beach and there is no barrier between the wall and the beach which is sand.
Peeps often walk near the edge about 2ft in dawping at phones and some tdoddlers are allowed to walk run along it. Tbh, I'm surprised there aren't more accidents, but as i said previously it is never that crowded and there is always room.

When mine were younger I used to sometimes cycle with them on my bike - DS2 went on my bike daily for the school/nursery run. I also used to sometimes strap them into the car and drive on motorways etc. A lot more children are injured every year doing the latter, but no one seems to judge me as a parent for doing that one... And as a motorist I'm exposing mine and other people's children to harm through the pollution I create every time I drive, but again no one seems to think I should worry about that.

What a disgusting attitude. Many drivers don’t obey the rules of the road either. Are they also vermin?

It's called taking primary position and the HC tells you about it. An over the shoulder check let's me know if there is someone behind me. I may be turning right so I need to know what is behind me. The same as if you would check your mirrors.

This isn’t about cyclists. This is about entitled men. And if they happen to be in ridiculous Lycra gear and on a bike blocking traffic or intimidating pedestrians then people will have ‘hated’ towards them. Stop the behaviours and people won’t be so antagonistic.

Thats hate speech... they are people, i know a paediatric surgeon who is a keen cyclist, lets hope you never have to call on his services.

What gives you the right to call me or any other cyclist "Vermin"

People like you shouldn't be allowed to have a driving licence, you js want the road to yourself, thats all, nothing anyone did or had would change your sick ideas.

Thanks. Sounds like the council need to put in a safety rail after this incident. It must have been very frightening for the cyclist.

We have massive problems on our canal towpath with cyclists going way too fast, not slowing down around walkers, and basically barging through them expecting them to leap out of their way. It's not something I'd do, but I can understand someone frustrated with them and pushing one of them in the water!

Of course, the vast majority of cyclists on the towpath ride at a sensible speed and do slow down and give polite "I'm here" warnings to walkers.

As always, it's the entitled minority who cause the problems.

I'm afraid I can't stand cyclists' hypocrisy. I live near lots of shared paths, used by pedestrians and bikes. Lots of dog walkers, tourists and kids strolling around. So many cyclists going fast and ringing their bell impatiently to get people out of their way. It's dangerous and annoying. How would cyclists like it if motorists impatiently beeped their horn at them to get them out of their way? So bloody entitled.

Your paediatric surgeon can cycle safely and in compliance with the law and still practice his profession. Just because he's a surgeon doesn't mean he's entitled to break laws and cause danger to others!

But more people drive and drive more miles than do cyclists. Stats on harm to children in cars is irrelevant. (And that’s leaving out the safety features of cars that constantly develop.)

I’m talking about the raw, obvious danger of carrying a small child around on an unsteady machine that can go quite fast and anyway is subject to gravity.

Also I commute using a shared pedestrian and cycle path (it's easily wide enough for both, and is clearly designated as dual use) and it is genuinely hard to know how best to pass pedestrians from behind - people react really badly to bells or any kind of verbal sign I'm there (which they interpret as me ordering them to move, which I'm not - if I can't safely pass without them moving then I don't) but I've also been shouted at for 'scaring people' if I just go past them with no verbal warning, even though I am careful never to pass closely. Despite the regular signs saying it's dual use you do also quite often get people telling you to 'get off the pavement'. But then there is also a lot of moaning locally about cyclists who opt not to use that shared use route and instead use the road next to it...

Yet if cars behaved the same way to them when they're cycling on the road, they'd be livid. Utter hypocrites.

Cyclists ate rude if they ring their bell.
Cyclists are rude if they don't ring their bell.
Cyclists can't win...

We are all subject to gravity 😂😂

No one is suggesting he’s entitled to break laws. Is this really how you interpreted that comment?

I completely support cycling as better for health and the environment. However- I think cycling groups need to treat pedestrians with far more consideration. As a driver, I have no issue whatsoever with sharing the road with cyclists. But as a pedestrian - I’m fed up with cyclists on pavements, jumping lights when pedestrians are about to cross, doing wheelies up and down the high street where I live and generally putting pedestrians at risk. Cyclists do need to be more accountable and respectful- my frustration is when they paint themselves as victims but completely ignore the impact of cyclist behaviour on pedestrians.