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.

We all have our issues, but don't pretend that you're saving the planet particularly. If you're cycling along a road then cars slow down to queue up behind you, then have to accelerate to pass you - all of which burns up extra fuel compared to cruising along (I have a visible difference on my 15 minute journey when I have to stop start for traffic vs. when I have a clear cruise).

Now I'm happy to share the road, I know that some drivers, some cyclists, some pedestrians, and some motorbikers do stupid and inconsiderate things sometimes, but just because you're on a bike doesn't mean that your net impact is lower once you take in to consideration everyone else's extra fuel.

totally off topic but i think hard drug users are dangerious idiots.

because of that i wouldnt either go to a crack den or take my baby to one.

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

That makes you an idiot and a law breaker. Quit frankly I can't be arsed to read anything else you say as you lost any kind of moral high ground.

Loved the bit where your ordered someone off your thread

You're a complete wally to say 'your issue' if you're cycling about in the dark withou any high vis or lights.

It's also a bit dim to respond to ignorant comments on another thread by starting another one just as ignorant.

It must be utterly horrible to feel endangered when you're cycling about with your son and other road users are behaving in a way that could put the two of you at risk. But it's just as horrible when it happens to people in other vehicles. I've had idiots, in cars and on bikes, put my son at risk by pulling out in front of us etc. when we're driving about. You don't have the monopoly on that just because you're sat on a bike rather than inside a car.

I drive through Manchester city centre most days. What a despicable, thicko cunt I must be.
I'd mention the millions of available cycle lanes but can't bear to hear the list of excuses there would inevitably be.

Watch your blood pressure op, you are cancelling out all of the health benefits of cycling by getting so very worked up. :)

It's quite easy not to see cyclists without lights wearing dark clothes. I used to do it too, but it's your risk and your issue not car drivers. Be prepared and take lights with you.

I agree with what Everlong says.

I do think it is stupid to condemn all drivers or all cyclists based on the bad behaviour of some. Yes, OP - I do mean that what you said in the thread title is stupid.

I dive a car..... ergo I am an idiot(!???!) You are tarring everyone with the same brush.

I have recently seen cyclists ride fast through red lights at pedestrian crossings. I, of course, diving (sic) in my car, stop, but I feel compelled to yell at the whizzing passing cyclist on the road who continues on their merry way 'Oy, red means you should stop too'. On one such occasion, I have no idea how the man on the bike (kitted out with all the serious cycling lycra and cycle helmet) managed to miss the young teenage girl crossing. Nice to see that he takes his own safety seriously by wearing a cycle helmet.

Do I assume, as per your generalisation, that as you cycle, you too do this and therefore I should tar you with the self same brush!

The other day, as I was driving through town (not to drop off a schoolchild, so presumably this was a legitimate journey in your eyes) I caught sight of a man (not a kid) cycling on the pavement on my left hand side, who then rode out onto the road (to avoid pedestrians on the pavement), cycling TOWARDS me on the main road, now if thats not suicidal, then I don't know what it.

Grrrrrrrrrrr..............

I reckon the blood pressure will get you before the car drivers do OP...
PS if you are going to the gym, why not take your lights anyway? All road users have a responsibility to be visible in the dark.

I nearly hit a cyclist once. :(

It was pitch dark, country lane, they were dressed in dark clothes, no bloody lights. And they were black too, all I could see as I drove past were the whites of his eyes and his teeth as he fell into the hedge.

Scared the fuck out of me, probably him too.

(I did stop and make sure he was ok)

I shouldn't laugh at that Stratters but DD just look at me funny when I read "the white of his eyes and his teeth as he fell into the hedge"

Most of what I wanted to say has been done.

But, no lights = stupid. We are rural here, and street lights are turned off late at night. Even so, you can't always see cyclists.

As for cycling on the pavement. Well, don't expect me to get out of your way. I would NOT be happy to move for you.

In fact you remind me of the self entitled twat who cycled into DD's pram when she was 2 months old. Even thogh she was strapped in, only quick reflexes prevented her from what could have been a serious injury.

Cycling on pavements, or in the dark with no lights, makes you a twat.

Your faux-Eco smuggery also makes you a twat. I'd live to cycle everywhere. Unfortunately I can't strap a 2 year old, a six year old and her wheelchair on a bike. God damn me and my polluting cuntery but I still need to get places.

I haven't read past the first page, so I assume you've all done this already.

Never mind, I feel the need.

Oh my fucking God, you think it's okay to cycle on the pavement, and cycle in the dark with no lights, and us car drivers are all the bad guys??

twat

If i have my child on my bike, i will cycle on the pavement. That makes you an idiot and a law breaker

Oh, but don't forget how incredibly cute they look in their matching helmets and winter coats...

Sorry: merged the two different quotes there.

OP I do sympathise, clearly there are some idiot drivers as evidenced by a minority of responses on this thread inc charlottehere who seems to think that the road is soley for her use.

Oh and your point about cars driving behind you until it is safe to over take, WTF? Why should they?

Well because we all share the road Charlotte, its not just for you and the alternative would be deliberately driving into a cyclist or another car...

However, as a cyclist and driver I actually think drivers are generally considerate and becoming more aware (as more people turn to bikes to avoid the crippling cost of petrol) and not all idiots. Some of the ignorance of road rules (such as that above) makes me angry too OP but such a provocative thread title probably wont help your cause.

It's the cuteness that got me.

Has she gone?

She was a bit scary wasn't she?

My XH is a keen cyclist. He's big on hi viz, and wears a fluorescent jacket and matching lycra trousers.

He looks like a big neon banana.

:o Scarah.

At least he's a safe banana.

True

regretfully thinks of the life insurance

I disagree with most of what the OP says as she seems a bit.....mmm, wrong. Riding on pavements, no lights, etc.

However it is right that if a car can't overtake a bike then yes they are expected to crawl along at 10mph behind the bike until they can safely overtake. Bikes have as much right to be on the road as a car.

I often ride a fairly short mile stretch on a busy 60mph road. It's not wide enough to safely get two cars and a bike together. If I rode right in the gutter I know that cars would try to pass, very fast, putting me in danger. So I take the primary position, more central in the carriageway. So cars behind have to wait until its clear the other way to get past me. Legally you're meant to leave a minimum of 1.5mtrs gap when overtaking a bike. So enough room so if they do wobble, etc you don't kill them.

I also ride on a really narrow country lane where a car can't pass me. I will Pull in and stop so cars can pass me. I can't do that on the busy road as I'd be stopping every 30secs.

ilovemydogandMrObama
"op, have you seen these really great laser lights for bikes? They create a virtual cycle lane by beaming out red light."

These?