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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

292 replies

jam17 · 19/10/2012 14:23

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.

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 19/10/2012 14:58

I don't think cyclists on mn could ever be made to look worse than the vitrol they find here already from a large amount of mners.

Dahlen · 19/10/2012 14:58

I think if you want to take the moral high ground about cyclists v cars (often with good justification - I feel your pain), you really need to be aware that under the Road Traffic Act it is an offence to ride at night without lights on your bike and it is an offence to ride on the pavement.

Sirzy · 19/10/2012 14:59

I thought green men where for PEDESTRIANS so why were you trying to cross at one?

mumnosbest · 19/10/2012 14:59

*fo? = do

whois · 19/10/2012 14:59

You're a fool for not wearing lights on your own. It's actually incredibly difficult to see bikes without lights against a background of headlights, traffic lights etc etc

JustSpidero · 19/10/2012 15:00

And btw - I have a massive problem with anyone cycling on the pavement - and frankly I couldn't give a shit whether you 'look cute' or not.

The pavement is for pedestrians, the road is for bikes and cars. I have lost count of the number of times my daughter and I have been walking along the pavement and nearly been knocked flying by entitled cyclists who should be on the bloody road!

And FWIW both my dad and DH are regular cyclists, who manage to use the road safely, and keep lights and high vis gear with them at all times.

SkippyYourFriendEverTrue · 19/10/2012 15:01

Yep, the OP is almost as ridiculous and entitled as some of the car drivers who say 'get off the fucking road' to cyclists.

Almost.

mrsfuzzy · 19/10/2012 15:02

this thread could go on and on and its getting boring, why doesn't everyone accept that they have different ideas about things? arguing among yourselves isn't going to make a blind bit of difference, and as for the person who keeps swearing at everyone, stop being so aggressive with everyone this is not good role model for your child,

missymoomoomee · 19/10/2012 15:04

If i have my child on my bike, i will cycle on the pavement

My son was hospitalised when he was 5 by some idiot cycling on a pavement knocking him over. Its illegal. You are making the choice to cycle, complaining its too dangerous and then endangering others to keep you and your dc safe.

Also your stupid comment about not using lights because you don't know its going to be dark in the evenings.... really

PumpkInDublic · 19/10/2012 15:04

"unlike you lazy bastards in cars"

Fuck that. Just because I'm sometimes in my hybrid car ("being a good human being and not polluting the planet" Hmm) doesn't mean you get to say why I'm driving or how well. Don't lump me in with a minority of dangerous drivers.

YABU.

Kalisi · 19/10/2012 15:05

Urgh! Yabu...and unpleasant...and irritating. This thread is ridiculous. And yet I comment on it. Sigh! Biscuit

Original poster
jam17 · 19/10/2012 15:05

Stop reading mrsfuzzy. Go and have a walk on the pavement and watch out for cyclists to give a piece of your mind to maybe?

Well firstly, i'm clearly not aggressive around my DS. The only time is when I'm on my bike and I'm fed up of people trying to kill us. So by educating you drivers of mumsnet, i'm actually protecting him from my rage Grin

OP posts:
TiAAAAARGHo · 19/10/2012 15:06

"Actually Jam17 people are not likely to respect cyclists more because of your posting. And that is not because they are idiots.

It is because you are aggressive and unpleasant in your manner and have spoken to swathes of people who drive carefully around cyclists as if they are unsafe and selfish."

I agree with Pagwatch. And OP - the other thread said that some cyclists have a death wish - which given their behaviour would appear to be the case. If you had said some drivers are idiots, I would have agreed with you, becuase that is also true. But instead you decided to insult a massive group of people, the majority of whom will be careful and responsible drivers. No single group is populated only by saints.

Original poster
jam17 · 19/10/2012 15:08

I've said the bit of road we cycle on is one of the main roads into manchester. There are no schools/shops/people really, except a few waiting for buses. No ones ever had a problem, and my point is if cars stopped trying to kill us then I woudn't go on the pavement.

OP posts:
Pagwatch · 19/10/2012 15:09

Still not educating though.
You can keep saying it but all you have done is reinforce the worst of the stupid stereotypes, not least that the world is divided into cyclists or drivers when many, shockingly, are both.

suburbandream · 19/10/2012 15:09

Of cours YABU. I agree with Pagwatch. There are plenty of good drivers out there and plenty of bad cyclists too. Why can't we all just get along? Smile

FolkGhoul · 19/10/2012 15:10

You just sound a bit stupid tbh.

You're not even annoying.

SkippyYourFriendEverTrue · 19/10/2012 15:14

There are some idiot drivers in this thread. Unfortunately the OP appears to be something of an idiot cyclist, so not doing much to redress the balance. And absurdly entitled to boot.

Kewcumber · 19/10/2012 15:14

I think perhaps people who don't realise it might be dark in the evening should not be allowed out on their own regardless of what mode of vehicular transport they use.

missymoomoomee · 19/10/2012 15:14

if cars stopped trying to kill us then I woudn't go on the pavement

So because the people driving are dangerous and endangering your life (although you still choose to do it, so it really can't be all that bad) its ok for you to do something illegal and endanger pedestrians. great double standards op.

PickledFanjoCat · 19/10/2012 15:15

People nearly kill you on a daily basis?

Come off it.

There are shit cyclists and shit drivers.

Original poster
jam17 · 19/10/2012 15:17

if any of you spent a day as a cyclist in manchester, no just one journey actually. you to would agree that all drivers are idiots.

it's not a case of 'lets get along' because i've now got to go and pick ds up (on the pavement we shall be!) and nearly get killed on the way.

Everyone has picked up on the fact i once didn't wear lights (once when i forgot how dark its gets october time) and cycling on the bike with ds.

NO ones mentioned the other points about getting killed every day, which are what people need to be aware of. It's not okay to run someone of the road when you're in a car and they're on a bike. Chances are, if you hit them, you will do some serious lasting damage if not kill them.

You can call me an idiot all you want but it's the truth. Drivers, nearly all of them, don't realise how close they get to cyclists or how intimidating it is, pulling out to turn when people are driving at you at 30mph!

OP posts:
Nancy66 · 19/10/2012 15:17

if your journey is that dangerous then why do it?

PickledFanjoCat · 19/10/2012 15:18

There is no way, that every single driver in manchester, is an idiot.

nonameslefttouse · 19/10/2012 15:18

Firstly I drive a car and am not an idiot, there are loads of drivers who irritate the hell out of me, as well as cyclists and pedestrians, why do red lights not apply to most cyclists for instance?

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