To think if you dive a car, you are an idiot

[jam17]

In reply to 'cyclists having a deathwish'. All these things have happened this week, no wonder we're an angry bunch! I cycle everyday to work and drop DS (18mo) off at nursery on the way

• IF I INDICATE RIGHT, DO NOT THEN OVERTAKE ME ON MY RIGHT HAND SIDE! thanks. If one more person overtakes me on my right hand side when i've indicated, i will purposefully fall off my bike and claim then knocked me off and sue them

• A cycle lane is for me to cycle in, not for you to park.

• a woman doing her make up in her mirror at 7:30am drove through a red light, when me and DS were trying to cross the road at the green man and clipped our back wheel, sending us flying. He is fine, thanks to a helmet. (cycle on the pavement at busy times when I have DS and pavements are empty)

• If you insist on driving your little darlings to school in a fucking ridiculous 4x4, it's not my problem to make way for you and you should drive behind me sensibly until it's safe to overtake and not drive me into the pavement

• When there are road works blocking half the road, i am infront of you and have right of way. I shouldn't have to stop and wait for their to be a gap so I can overtake roadworks, you go after me and don't try and run me over

-Me and DS always have helmets and lights on. BUT if i have cycled by myself to the gym in the evening, i may not have a highvis jacket on or lights because I was expecting it to be dark. You're issue, i'm going down a road with fucking lights everywhere, it's not an excuse not to see me. I shouldn't have to paint mysef flurouscent just because you're distracted.

• Crossroads? Deathroads. I have to wait for a car going the way i'm going to cycle alongside and guide me across safely, or i would be pummeled.

-If you are on your phone. text/talking, you deserve to be shot.

• Mostly, I am on a bike. You are on your ass in a car. I am cold. It is usually wet too. I have a baby on my bike. GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK AND LET ME CYCLE!

• If you ever shout at me out the window for being a good human being and not poluting the planet and excercising, unlike you lazy bastards in cars, then i will remember you. Just because you can drive off afterwards, doesn't mean you get the last word.

I can't even explain my fury, I am so angry at the other thread. i'm sure i've missed some off.

Thanks, RichMan! I spent the whole thread thinking the same thing!

I had also wondered about the crossing part. It's not called a pedestrian crossing for fun.

Q: Which types of road crossing can cyclists ride across?
A: The Highway Code advises that cyclists may not ride across the road at ordinary pedestrian crossings such as Zebra and Pelican crossings, but may cross on foot whilst pushing their bikes. However, Toucan Crossings and Cycle Parallel Crossings, where a green cycle is displayed to those crossing, cyclists may ride across. As the red man/green man/green cycle signals on a Toucan Crossing are advisory, cyclists may cross when safe to do so, even when the green cycle is not displayed. But at a Cycle Parallel Crossing, where cyclists cross on a separate crossing alongside the pedestrian crossing, a full red light is displayed and this must not be passed when lit. For more information see the Cambridge Cycling Campaign's Crossing Menagerie.

OP you sound like an idiot. The kind of idiot that gives proper cyclists a bad name.

It is illegal to ride on the pavement. Pedestrians will think you are a total twat. You cannot complain about cars parking in your cycle lane but then when it's busy choose to use the pavement.

Just because you have a baby doesn't mean everyone has to make special allowances for you. Similarly just because you are a twat motorists shouldn't run you over.

Saying you will fall off your bike on purpose to sue a motorist is incredulous. Even if they obliterated you their insurance premium would go up by about £50. In your case I would say this is worth it. Obviously you are just one of these money grabbing scum of the earth types who would happily endanger yourself, your child and others to get your hands on a bit of cash.

I have a 4x4 and I would guarantee I am fitter than you, and not at all lazy.

As for polluting the planet I think the only toxic gas is coming out of your mouth.

Idiot.

The majority of cyclists I encounter on the road are capable, prepared and responsible. It is unfortunately people like you that tar them all.

Alright all you smart arss drivers, just remember every cyclist you drive off the road, is likly to ride on the path and knock down your grannie or get a car and take the last parking space in the car park.

Cool so now drivers are to blame for shit cyclists to! Wow next we will be getting the blame for wars!

I am an idiot too, I drive to work instead of staying at home and claiming benefits.

There are some mad cyclists around. Last Saturday some were riding two abreast on a very busy winding country road. If I had a passenger I'd have asked them to take a photo, I was so sure they were going to be knocked off any minute.

I haven't read the whole thread, did like the bit about your baby being on the front and smiling. I'm assuming that you are cycling with consideration to pedestrians then I wouldn't have a problem with it, the safety of a child is paramount.

Please, please, please wear a high vis jacket or something. I pay attention when I'm driving, we are rural with lots of cyclists, horse riders, runners etc but if its dark I notice a cyclist in a high vis jacket seconds before I notice a cyclist dressed in black even with lights, although I'm not driving quickly those extra seconds are really important.

Wow next we will be getting the blame for wars!

I thought they went to war over oil for cars....

Well I've done 15 miles on my bike this morning. 6 of which on the road.

Got overtaken by a HGV on a quiet, straight country road, plenty of room for him to have gone right over into the other carriageway as no cars coming towards us. But no he passed me at 6omph about 2ft from me, soaked me with spray and nearly clipped me with the back of his lorry as he pulled back in.

2 miles up the road I was overtaken by a total twunt who had both hands on her head as she was putting her hair in a ponytail as she went past. I presume she was steering with her knees? She disappeared round a bend still doing her hair with both hands.

I on hte other hand have followed the highway code, wore a high vis jacket and when coming up to walkers on the bridle path dinged my bell so they heard me and thanked them for letting me past.

Not sure why I'm an idiot?

as I assume you encountered more than 2 vehicles over the course of the 6 miles it hardly suggests that all drivers are idiots either.

I have been out this morning and encountered 3 cyclists who must have had death wishes but I'm not going to judge all because of that

Wow its a jungle out there on the roads. I live in rural community and see plenty examples of both bad cyclists and terrible drivers so I think its about 50/50. Neither side can claim to be perfect

I do have one suggestion though cyclists should have to be insured as should any road user in this country even if it's a nominal fee.

Lets be honest during rush hour/school run/witching hour whatever we are all guilty of being selfish single minded and being in a rush wether we are one a bike or in a car and thats the real problem

theres not one of us ready for saint hood just yet despite our protestations

Sirzy, I'm not judging all drivers at all. And I completely agree that some cyclists are muppets. Sorry, I did make that clear in a post yesterday.

I was just trying to demonstrate that yes, it works both ways.

When I cycle I assume all the drivers are idiots and when I drive I assume all the cyclists are idiots. It keeps me safe when I'm on the bike and alert/ready for problems when I'm i n the car - best way.

I didn't see your post yesterday sorry!

I use a similar tactic of assuming everyone else on the road is an idiot, some days it feels like that is actually true!

At the end of the day cyclists are vunerable road users, more so than car drivers. So if I see a cyclist look they're about to do something stupid I hang back and let them get on with it while muttering under my breath.

I'd rather that than squish them. Its all very well been in the right legally but I'd still feel shit if I killed someone.

The other thread is full of reasoned arguments and politely given opinions.

As both a driver and a cyclist, I am offended by your tone and manner on this thread, OP. You are giving cyclists a bad name both by your needlessly aggressive posting, and lack of adherence to laws. There is no excuse for cycling without lights in the dark or cycling on the pavement - and whether you're carrying a child makes no difference to the laws you should be obeying.

As has been said already, some people are idiots. Some of those people drive, some cycle, some do both. Blanket generalisations don't help anyone and just make you look intolerant and foolish.

VivaLeBeaver

"So if I see a cyclist look they're about to do something stupid I hang back and let them get on with it while muttering under my breath.

I'd rather that than squish them. Its all very well been in the right legally but I'd still feel shit if I killed someone."

this is how all drivers should think. :)

The only accident that I have been in that has left me with a major injury was caused by a cyclist going through a red light and slamming in to the side of my motorbike at a crossroads. So even being a good driver/biker/cyclist won't help you if the person in control of the other vehicle is a nutter.

I'm fairly sure it's illegal to cycle on the pavement. Also to ride at night on the road without any lights.

My father always taught me to drive as if everyone else on the road is an idiot.

I use a similar tactic of assuming everyone else on the road is an idiot

Yes, to the point of only crossing a green light until I am pretty sure the cars are going to stop.

I think it's a good attitude throughout.

This woman knows that she puts her child in danger regularly,and illegally, but still does it anyway. wow.

Two abreast: on cycle training instructor courses, they teach you to take groups out two abreast as 6 cyclists each two abreast is easier to overtake (like, say, a tractor) then 6 people strung out over a long distance. The Highway Code says that cyclists should not cycle "more than two" abreast.

VivaLaBeaver is a rational voice amongst the noise btw on the main issues in this thread.

Some cyclists are idiots, some drivers are idiots. But some of the bad drivers will kill other people (including cyclists who share the road with them) whereas the bad cyclists may kill themselves but will never kill a car driver. It is not a symmetrical relationship.

Although they may not directly cause the death in the way a car would it is more than possible that stupidity from a cyclist could cause a crash which could be fatal for more than just a cyclist.

PART of the issue seems to be SOME cyclists expect everyone else to protect them rather than taking action to keep themselves safe.

I ride a bike every day with dd3 and I drive. It is very annoying when people overtake you whilst you're signalling right. I hate that and I shout at people who do it. I also hate cyclists who don't use lights. That's absurdly stupid. People who don't cycle on the road because they have dcs with them are also on my list of hates. Get a grip OP and be assertive on the road.

I agree about the insurance aspect: that's why I took out family membership of the CTC this year, which includes insurance ( and legal help if required). May have to change it next year to British Cycling as ds has started racing. He got his first year of Silver membership free but once that lapses and I need to pay for his membership, it may work out more cost-effective for all of us to join British Cycling.

pretty bird - can you let us know please whether it works out cheaper with British cycling as at the moment I have ctc insurance for three of us and BC insurance again for the third person as she also has silver membership free this year but will need it again next year as she is intending to race again