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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

to ask you what do I DO? Cyclists, one way streets.

95 replies

LRDtheFeministDragon · 03/08/2012 18:39

There's a street near where I live which is one-way. It has cars parked on both sides, just space for one car through the middle, and a blind turn off to one side, so you can understand why it is one way. I have before driven down it (at 20, which is the limit, or less - often more like 5 or 10) and found a cyclist coming the other way at speed, often turning in at the end. It is really scary. You do not have much time to see them and slam on the brakes. I do honk when they do this (if I have the time to react), because plainly they haven't seen me (and don't know it's one-way).

Today, three cyclists came riding triple-file down the middle, the wrong way. I slammed on my brakes and honked, and because I'd come to a complete stop and my window was open, I called 'it's one-way!' to them.

One of them laughed, and said:

'Don't be stupid - I live here! It's only you who honks!

I said it's one way and it's illegal what you're dong.

'I don't think it's illegal! It's not illegal. No-one cares! Do you know what speed limit it is?'

I said 20, and I hadn't been doing 20.

'Oh, I think so, I think you were.' (I wasn't. I wouldn't have been able to stop for them if I'd been much over 20, which is why I wasn't. I'd been doing mayb 5, because another bike going the right way had been in front of me. He seemed to find all of this very funny).

At this point one of the others slammed his hand on the back of my car. They were all laughing and shouting.

Ok, I know probably it was pointless to stop, or to argue. I am still shaking.

What can I actually do about it? They obviously either don't know, or don't care what the law is. One day they are going to get themselves killed, or me, or some other driver, killed.

I don't have the first idea what to do but I want to do something.

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 03/08/2012 18:44

Well they are breaking the law. Police are unlikely to be interested. I'd feel like ripping someone a new arsehole if he slammed his hand on my car but in reality I'd probably just call him a cunt and steam off.

Don't think you can do much about it. A car should always be going slow enough so that it can stop to avoid hitting a cyclist coming the other way. They shouldn't be doing it, but then it could be a child running out, etc. You should be able to see them easily if they're coming towards you.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 03/08/2012 18:45

I know I've banged on about this before, but ... I don't know what to do and I'm so sick of it. There's no way to avoid all the one-way streets living where I live, it's not something I can just steer clear of.

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WelshMaenad · 03/08/2012 18:47

YANBU. I hate bloody cyclists.

Even if you HAD been going 20, that would be fine because ghat us the speed limit!

If someone had the audacity to bang my car I'd be out if it and snacking them in the face before they had time to wipe the dust off their palm. Fuckwits!

LRDtheFeministDragon · 03/08/2012 18:47

viva - yep, pretty much what I did, though I didn't call him a cunt, I came out with the spectacularly eloquent (not) line 'when you kill yourself, you'll think you were a twat'.

Whoops.

I was going slow enough to stop. I did stop in time. It's just it's really scary. I also stopped for a little lad whose ball bounced into the street earlier - he didn't go for it but I thought he might - and that didn't get me shaky or upset. It's totally different. It's the fact they think it's funny and clever that really upsets me.

You can't see them coming easily, btw, because of the blind corner halfway down - you can't see them turn out of it fast and you can't see them turn in fast. If they're flat on the middle stretch, it's easier.

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LRDtheFeministDragon · 03/08/2012 18:48

welsh, if I'd been going at 20 I think I would have hit them. I don't want to find out.

Sorry, but it just scares the fuck out of me. If I didn't know that road, I probably would have been going at 15 or so.

OP posts:
WelshMaenad · 03/08/2012 18:50

If you had, it wouldn't have been your fault. Not saying I'd actively aim for them who the fuck am I kidding, I'd open my car door to flip one off their bike after they'd spoken to me like that but that the fault would be theirs. You know?

It does make you a bit shaky when you have an incident like that, I hope you're feeling ok.

Northernlurker · 03/08/2012 18:54

You can ring the police on the non emergency number and tell them the one way is being repeatedly flouted and what are they going to do about it? There is a street near dd's school which isn't one way but is no entry at one end except to cyclists who have a special bit carved in to the pavement. This is continually flouted by motorists and periodically police come and ticket people who do it.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 03/08/2012 18:56

Thanks welsh. I know it wasn't my fault, it just gets me every time.

I am ok. It's just this happens every few weeks, and mostly it's not a near miss, but when it is, it scares me every time - which is daft.

It's especially shit during the day when half the cars that normally park there are gone, so they weave between the main bit and the kerb, and will suddenly appear from behind a van or something, swerving out into the road in front of you.

I know the police would think it was daft to mention, I just wish there was something I could do.

OP posts:
LRDtheFeministDragon · 03/08/2012 18:56

northern - realistically, would they listen? Did people near you have to ask and ask, do you know?

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WelshMaenad · 03/08/2012 18:59

They shouldn't think it daft! Won't be too bloody funny if someone gets hurt, will it? I would contact your local PCSO. they won't be able to take much action themselves but will be able to signpost you and act as your liason, if they're any cop. Cop. Baaaaaahahahaha. Our new PCSO is awesome and has helped me with a traffic issue.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 03/08/2012 18:59

PCSO?

I'll google if I know what the abbreviation is - thank you!

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WelshMaenad · 03/08/2012 19:02

Also, do your local force run PACT meetings? Worth going along and raising this.

quoteunquote · 03/08/2012 19:02

I've been warned not to cycle down a one street the wrong way, by a policeman,

I thought it was funny as it was about 4am, in Bath on a monday morning, nothing around just me and a policeman, he didn't find it amusing,and started to get annoyed, so I had to get off and push for the 300 yards of one way.

I didn't see another person or vehicle all the way across the city.

WelshMaenad · 03/08/2012 19:02

Police community support officer, sorry, I have my local councillor head on!

LRDtheFeministDragon · 03/08/2012 19:05

Thanks, welsh, you're wonderful. I'll check, and have a see.

quote - gosh, that's terribly helpful, thanks for that comment.

Since these guys did meet someone else, ie., a car, coming the opposite way, I think we can say it isn't quite the same as your oh-so funny anecdote.

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WelshMaenad · 03/08/2012 19:07

No worries! Www.police.uk is a good starting point.

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 03/08/2012 19:10

"I hate bloody cyclists"

And so it begins.

Northernlurker · 03/08/2012 19:11

I don't know how much people had asked but I know they had iyswim. I agree - definately something a PCSO can look at.

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 03/08/2012 19:11

What I meant was, your suggestions (which were good ones) would carry so much more weight and be a lot more credible, if you hadn't written that.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 03/08/2012 19:15

Thanks again, welsh.

And thanks northern, I'm glad to know you got a positive result. It makes it easier to make the phonecall without feeling a twit!

ariel - sorry, but frankly, right now, I hate these cyclists too. Not all cyclists, and I won't hate these ones in the morning, but right now I do.

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WelshMaenad · 03/08/2012 19:16

If you think so. I do actually hate cyclists, though. Maybe in some parts of the country they ride sensibly, obey the rules of the road, don't try to mow down pedestrians (because obv they can go speeding along pavements when it suits them), and generally don't make a fucking nuisance of themselves. Please let me know where thus us fo I can visit?

I'm equal ops, btw, I bloody hate motorcyclists too.

StunningCunt · 03/08/2012 19:19

I hate car drivers.

Bastards, utter fucking bastards.

All of them.

Northernlurker · 03/08/2012 19:19

You can come and vist me Welsh. I'm a well behaved cyclist.

WelshMaenad · 03/08/2012 19:24

Educate your people, northernlurker!

I try to stay away from the north, my inlaws are there? Maybe shoot me some video?

My small (disabled, mobility impaired) child was knocked down on a pavement by a cyclist, who then told me she should have stayed out of the way, so it's not an irrational loathing.

StunningCunt · 03/08/2012 19:24

I also hate poor people.

Because they don't have enough money.

Damn them.