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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think Bicycles should have wing mirrors?

60 replies

SlightlyJaded · 22/02/2012 13:00

I have always had a bike but used it mostly for pootling about / park and whatnot.

We have recently started doing the school run and more shopping on bikes in the interests of Doing My Bit.

The school run is a death race. I now understand why I have spent my whole life driving around and cursing cyclists. It's because they can't see what the fuck is happening on the road. As far as I can tell it's eyes front and hope for the best

If you do want to know whether you can swerve round a parked car or turn or whatever, you crane your neck back - instantly wobbling your course - and cycling blind for as long as you are checking behind you.

Obviously my in-built twatometer stops be attaching wing mirrors to my handlebars but actually I can't understand why bikes don't have wing mirrors.

Can anyone tell me?

OP posts:

SydneyB · 22/02/2012 13:31

We should all sign up for this - www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/contact/. Lots of very sensible suggestions for all.

redridingwolf · 22/02/2012 13:32

Saltire - yes, it can't hurt using a bell, but think cyclists need to be aware that the pedestrian may not hear it and it is their responsibility to pass safely. I also hate cyclists (over the age of about 5) on the pavement!

TadlowDogIncident · 22/02/2012 13:43

YABU, I had one for a bit and found it didn't make a huge amount of difference - you can't see enough to make it worthwhile.

mojitomania, the highway code applies to bikes as well as drivers. And I would say cyclists stick to it, on the whole, about as well as drivers do.

CelticPromise · 22/02/2012 13:44

That's me mojito.

I do follow the highway code though! And I find 99.9% of drivers very considerate when I am cycling with a child seat.

mojitomania · 22/02/2012 13:46

Cyclists should have to hold a license same as other drivers.

Original poster

SlightlyJaded · 22/02/2012 13:52

Right. I am going to get a wing mirror. But accept I will still have to do over the shoulder checks.

OP posts:

AThingInYourLife · 22/02/2012 13:52

Wow, we'd be in a real nanny state if you had to hold a licence to ride a bicycle.

TadlowDogIncident · 22/02/2012 13:56

Yes, and how would you deal with children on bikes? In your brave new world are people to be banned from learning to ride a bike till they're 17?

ProfCoxWouldGetIt · 22/02/2012 14:00

YABU - personally I thin kyou need to get yourself a bit more comfortable on a bike, if you're swerving and riding blindly when checking for traffic.

It's a simple quick over the shoulder check, and you shouldn't lose your balance or have no awareness of what is in front of you.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 22/02/2012 14:08

When you need to look behind, rather than turning your head, which turns your body, which makes you swerve kind of put your head down and look under to look behind.

I know I've worded it badly but it does help.

NotMostPeople · 22/02/2012 14:10

mojito - how about cars shouldn't be allowed to drive on the cycle lanes.

Pootles2010 · 22/02/2012 14:14

Frankly I think everyone needs to know highway code - maybe something in psme lessons or something? Am learning to drive atm, and there's so much that just didn't occur to me before!

inabeautifulplace · 22/02/2012 20:01

As above, I think it's key that all road users have an understanding of what's expected of them on the road. It would be useful to have more cycling and pedestrian safety training in schools. I'd like to see more in the driving test/training about what to expect from other road users and to put their perspectives forward. For example, lots of good work already done on the number of cyclists being killed by left turning lorries in London, due to poor behaviour by both groups. Education can certainly help.

WRT the OP, if you're swerving around parked cars you are maneuvering much too late. It feels a bit uncomfortable at first but to be safer I'd advise you to look at your road positioning a bit more. There is a good book called Cyclecraft which gives good explanations for safer riding. If you really are wobbling about though spend more time off-road practicing. One thing I always see inexperienced cyclists doing is pushing too hard a gear. This will make wobbling about worse because the force applied to the pedals unbalances the bike as the cranks turn. An easier gear is better for your knees, your heart and your safety ;)

If you feel like you want a mirror then you should get one. I don't have one on any of my bikes but I am very comfortable amongst traffic. I would think about one if I took my DD in a trailer, but that might be a case of overprotectiveness.

TheRealButtMonkey · 22/02/2012 20:05

Have you thought of using one of these - www.wiggle.co.uk/blackburn-helmet-mirror/ I've a colleague who swears by them

inabeautifulplace · 22/02/2012 21:36

"I've a colleague who swears by them"

He'll be swearing at them if he ever has an OTB crash A 6" long piece of thin plastic isn't a sensible thing to mount a few inches from your eyes...

cheesesarnie · 22/02/2012 21:37

ive got a mirror on mine so i can see ds in his trailer!looks bit odd but i can see him!

CaptainKirk · 22/02/2012 21:39

I nearly took out a cyclist with a death wish this morning who really needed wing mirrors. I was going down a 40mph road at the speed limit and two cyclists were ahead of me. I was probably going twice as fast as them with one gaining on the other and when I was only about 20 feet away the one behind decided to swerve out to pass the one ahead. He wound up in the middle of my lane and he didn't look back once. Luckily there was no oncoming traffic otherwise there would have been a dead cyclist on the road. I laid on my horn as I went by and he had the nerve to shout at me when he caught up at the traffic lights, which he proceeded NOT to stop for. This guy is going to end up an ex-cyclist if he keeps riding like that...

ooer · 22/02/2012 21:47

DH has a wing mirror but tbh they do get knackered by leaning the bike up against walls. He has gone through several [mirrors, not walls]

I am the "look over the shoulder" type - I do it a lot, prob almost as much as I would look in the mirror while driving, and certainly before I signal for a turn. I also think it helps drivers to know I know they are there iyswim.

inabeautifulplace · 22/02/2012 21:56

Clearly the last post demonstrates exactly why all road users need a bit more education!

Captain Kirk, that cyclist is riding like an idiot, but he isn't in the wrong to be overtaking the other cyclist. Sorry, but if you see one cyclist gaining on the other it's likely an overtake will commence. If you want to overtake you are responsible for the safety of the move. If there's no oncoming traffic then you should be on the other side of the road. He has a right to be in the middle of the lane, but he's a fool to not check behind to make sure it's clear first. Had you hit him I'm afraid you would bear some legal responsibility. I have no idea why some cyclists think red lights don't apply though, I've shouted at a few other riders for doing that.

CaptainKirk · 22/02/2012 22:01

I WAS watching him closely which is exactly why he eventually made it to his destination instead of onto my bonnet.

inabeautifulplace · 22/02/2012 22:08

Maybe I was a bit harsh, and well done for not creaming him! But (and I'm trying not to be critical here) if you see one cyclist approaching another wouldn't you assume that an overtake might happen, and thus either wait for a safe overtake or move over to the other side of the road so everyone has a bit more space?

Franziska · 22/02/2012 22:24

CaptainKirk, was it a single or dual carriageway? Did the cyclist leave a full lane or a cycle lane?

Franziska · 22/02/2012 22:32

To preempt your reply, had it been a single lane road, it wouldn't have been your lane he went into, it would have quite clearly been his lane.

CaptainKirk · 23/02/2012 05:23

It was a narrow single carriageway with cars parked on both sides. Just enough room for two cars to pass if there were no bicycles.

minimisschief · 23/02/2012 07:50

what this country needs is a bike lane on every road.

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