to be irritated at cyclists on the North Circular?

[Maria2007loveshersleep]

I know the arguments for cycling more, and I agree with most of them. However, I drive on the North Circular (in London) to go to work, and almost every other day, during rush hour too, there's invariably a cyclist there who makes driving really dangerous: everyone has to change lanes quickly (there's no space to pass the cyclist while remaining in lane).

So: am I being unreasonable to feel cyclists just shouldn't be on high speed roads as they make driving conditions there more dangerous than necessary both for them & for drivers too?

Northern - as I've tried to explain above (as PlumpDog), virtually noone drives at 40/50mph on NC. Drivers who do drive at 40mph might as well switch on their hazard lights and are treated as if they should have done so by droves of other drivers.
We hear you WRT to text book driving, really we do, and I guess all those drivers on NC must have at some stage passed their tests, so they're probably aware of the principles you're talking about but you know, if you were actually familiar with NC you might have more idea about where OP is coming from on this thread.

Wow going for gold in patronising there!

Look - the problem with this road is the people driving on it not the people cycling on it. Everybody driving on it makes a choice to drive in that way. Nobody is forced to do so. You do not get behind the wheel of the car and lose all control of yourself!

Eh? So because people who know the rules of the road break the law and don't follow them, those who are not breaking the rules shouldn't be allowed to use the road because it inconveniences the former and requires them to drive according to the law.

Well that seems fair

YABU. I drive regularly on the NC and it is without a doubt the most arsehole-ridden road I have the misfortune to use. I wouldn't cycle on it because I would be afraid, and I'm a confident cyclist in traffic. But that doesn't mean the cyclists on it aren't worthy of consideration and decent driving. It's hard to change lanes on that road sometimes. It's not impossible. If you have to wait, wait.