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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

about stupid twatty cyclist I nearly ran over?

78 replies

BumpingFuglies · 28/03/2013 15:46

Dickhead on a bike on the path comes zooming round the corner and cycles across the pedestrian crossing. I screech to a halt, he starts swearing at me and throwing his arms around telling me I should look!

I'm not BU. You don't cycle, you get off and walk. Wanker.

OP posts:
KissMyGrits · 30/03/2013 08:55

According to the high way code cyclists should dismount to cross a zebra crossing. Although it's not illegal to cycle across it can be used as evidence of dangerous cycling or put them at fault in the event of a collision.
Link

A couple of times I've noticed a cyclist behind me, so indicated in plenty of time that I'll be turning left and as I've slowed down to turn they've still tried to under take me. I think some cyclists have a death wish or an 'I can use the road too' attitude which makes them believe they can do what they want. I do think you should be made to take a test before cycling on the roads, but don't know how practical it would be.
Most of the cyclists around here are safe though, apart from when they refuse to use the cycle path and instead ride on a busy, twisty 40 MPH road.

theodorakisses · 30/03/2013 09:34

why do pathetic little twats suddenly become so testosteroney when they ride a bike. They look stupid and just like a pathetic little twat with a silly hat on. Idiot.

CalamityKate · 30/03/2013 09:43

This happened to me a while back. Driving along and approaching a zebra crossing and in my peripheral vision was a young cyclist just a bit ahead of me on the pavement and I thought "I bet he's going to cycle across that crossing without looking" and sure enough he did. If I hadn't had that premonition* I'd have knocked him flying.

*When I say premonition I don't mean it in a woo way. I think it's a combination of experience and reading tiny signals. Like when you're driving along and you just know that the person in front is about to turn off suddenly without indicating etc.

TiggyD · 30/03/2013 10:32

"why do pathetic little twats suddenly become so testosteroney when they ride a bike."

I think it's because of the risk of death. And because you also have to compete with vehicles that weigh up to 40 tonnes and travelling up to 70 miles an hour. Meek cyclists riding in the gutter get killed. Riding in the middle of the lane is safer but quite confrontational.

It might also be the tight lycra squeezing the testosterone out of their shorts and into their body.

TomArchersSausage · 30/03/2013 15:47

People can be unsafe cyclists and people can be unsafe drivers. Not all cyclists or drivers are though.

But Hmm @ 'They look stupid and just like a pathetic little twat with a silly hat on. Idiot.' And the ever popular 'lycra clad..' has been sneeringly mentioned I see.

Why mention the clothing? It concerns me that people view cyclists with such derision and nastiness because of what they're wearing.

My dh would probably be viewed in such terms by some when he is in fact a considerate, safe cyclist and driver. The two are not mutually exclusive. Many cyslists are also drivers too.

He and people he cycles with have been practically mown off the road (two killedSad) because what they wear and do seems to inspire such anger in people controlling a couple of tones of metal.

I appreciate there are inconsiderate and dangerous cyclists (good cyclists are as irked by the things such people do as anyone) but please don't assume just because someone is wearing clothes you don't like that that automatically makes them a twat or an idiot. It's like perpetuating that old chestnut that all women are bad drivers. It's simply not true.

ElBurroSinNombre · 30/03/2013 15:58

At last a sense of perspective.
Completely agree Tom - I both drive and cycle and I know that you have to be assertive when riding a bike. That doesn't mean that it is OK to break the law or behave in a way that endangers others as stated in the OP. I have witnessed many incidents of bad cycling, but also and more frighteningly witness on a daily basis dangerous and inconsiderate driving. A car can kill easily, deaths from being hit by a bike are very, very rare. The bile being spewed on here about mulching cyclists, lycra etc. do not help. For the record I neither wear lycra or carry a saveloy.

Original poster
BumpingFuglies · 30/03/2013 17:19

I was doing 25 in a 30 ffs! Straight road, no pedestrians in sight. The cyclist rounded the corner on the path and shot across the crossing before I could blink. I was being VERY careful, I always am.

I am NOT a bad driver. Thanks to those who actually seem to understand.

OP posts:
Original poster
BumpingFuglies · 30/03/2013 17:21

Lycra doesn't make you a twat. Cycling across a pedestrian crossing does. He was probably going faster than me!

OP posts:
SpringHare · 30/03/2013 17:27

Well said TomArchersSausage (and love the name).

KissMyGrits the Highway Code says you should give way to users of cycle lanes when turning left.

chris481 · 30/03/2013 19:32

Springhare

I went looking for that bit of the highway code you mention, haven't found it yet, can you post a link?

On the other hand I have found the exact opposite instruction to cyclists:

Do not ride on the inside of vehicles signalling or slowing down to turn left.

www.gov.uk/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82/road-junctions-72-to-75

Toadinthehole · 30/03/2013 19:32

It's been some years since I left the UK but I was taught that when approaching a pedestrian crossing, one should always be prepared for an emergency stop.

So, the cyclist was BU.

One more remark. Strictly speaking it is true that both cyclists and motorists can be twats, but I don't like to compare the two. Motorists commit their twattery in a heavy metal box which kills people when operated negligently. Cyclists don't.

SpringHare · 30/03/2013 19:39

Here you go, chris: Point 183

183
When turning

keep as close to the left as is safe and practicable
give way to any vehicles using a bus lane, cycle lane or tramway from either direction.

CombineBananaFister · 30/03/2013 21:02

I just don't understand the animosity between cyclists and drivers its bloody silly. If, in this case, the cyclist was not following the rules then the op has a right to rant, as does a cyclist when it's vice-versa.
It's not about the million other times a cyclist/driver was wronged it's about ALL people just being bloody careful and following the LAW. People are getting killed for this silly power-play shit-it's not worth it.
As a famous person once said 'if you have the choice between being right or kind, choose kind'.

diaimchlo · 30/03/2013 21:33

YADNBU, the cyclist was definitely at fault and totally thoughtless as many that I have come across are.

The worst is a woman who transports her children to school every morning on a busy road, parked cars either side leaving a safe width for 2 way traffic, she has one child sat in a plastic seat on the front of the bike and 2 in a trailer, which in itself IMHO is a disaster waiting to happen. If I come behind her I refuse to pass and many times end up doing 5 miles an hour as she struggles up the long road which in parts is a hill........ I fear for the little ones.

Whilst I acknowledge there are bad cyclists and drivers I do find cyclists one of the biggest hazards on the roads

ivykaty44 · 30/03/2013 21:43

yabu as this was not a cyclist but a person on a bike and the two are not the same

person on the bike was in the wrong for riding bike on pavement
wrong for using a zebra crossing - they are for people crossing
the road on foot
wrong for shouting at you to look - the idea of a crossing that people travelling at 2.5mph use them not people on bikes travelling at 10mph using them - they are likely to get hit by cars not able to stop in time due to misuse by people riding bikes.

thing is most 90% of motorists are a joy to be on the road with, they treat cyclists with respect

cyclists are also a joy to be on the road with and treat motorists with respect

people on bikes are a flipping pain in the arse and give cyclists a bad name - much the same as joy riders in cars

ivykaty44 · 30/03/2013 21:46

diaimchlo - why will you not overtake the bike? seems strange of you to refuse to overtake and then blame the cyclists and I am left wondering why?

BoneyBackJefferson · 30/03/2013 21:46

Toadinthehole

As far as I can see one is as bad as the other. the level of "twattery" is of no real relevance

diaimchlo · 30/03/2013 21:54

ivykaty44 I don't overtake as it is a busy road 2 way traffic, there is rarely a safe space to overtake and tbh she does not cycle in a straight line, she can wobble a bit, so I am not prepared to run the risk of possibly hurting the little ones.

Binkybix · 30/03/2013 22:09

Toad - getting hit by a cyclist going fast can be very dangerous for a pedestrian.

Whilst we're on the subject, pedestrians can also be dangerous. DH was cycling the other day when someone just stepped out from pavement into his path, without even a glance.

So I guess it comes back to the fact that everyone needs to be more thoughtful.

Andro · 30/03/2013 22:19

YANBU...at all!

Dangerous car drivers are a menace, dangerous cyclists are terrifying - you can do everything right and a cyclist can still end up dead/seriously injured because of their own stupidity.

goodfreyedaysusan · 30/03/2013 22:27

a child hit by a bike can have horrendous head injuries.

KissMyGrits · 30/03/2013 22:33

springhare they are not in a cycle lane, there aren't any cycle lanes in my area. I do give way if they don't notice their mistake as its that or kill them.

ivykaty44 · 30/03/2013 22:34

so there are parked cars either side of this busy road - have you written to the council about parking? diaimchlo, if it is a busy road then possibly the parking is a problem and not the cyclist?

Have you considered she may not cycle in a straight line as the road is not an even surface as it is a busy road it may have not been worn evenly by motor cars and lorries -therefore leaving the camber a difficult ride? Again could you get onto the council about this?

Toadinthehole · 31/03/2013 00:23

BoneyBackJefferson,

If I survived being hit by a car at 25 MPH I might think the driver more of a twat than if I got hit by a cyclist at 25 MPH.

Next you'll be telling me that a naughty child with a catapault is no better than a naughty adult with a machine gun.

BoneyBackJefferson · 31/03/2013 11:03

Toad

A twat is a twat.

I agree that you could separate them in to levels of twatishness if you really want to.

A catapult can kill in the right hands, (A friend of mine lost the use of his eye due to a catapult).

A friend of mine is still in therapy because a cyclist killed themselves in front of her. (much more to the tale but its not mine to tell).

The only real difference between a cyclist being a twat and a car driver being a twat is that when they meet the cyclist will pay the price.