To get wound up at cycle races on public roads

[Ilovemyself]

It is so annoying to me when I am on a journey and come across a gaggle of cyclists on an organised race. Quite often they are 3 or 4 abreast and all over the road.

Racing on the public highway foe motorists is a serious offence. Why are cyclists allowed to race.

Try two weeks of motorcycle races twice a year. It can be a pain getting anywhere, you're playing dodgems with all the bikes when driving and if you live on the course you're stuck during races/ practice.

On the other hand it can be great fun with lots of events one and things to do.

Probably just revealed where I live to anyone interested in bikes

I take it you were not impressed by the British cycling team and all their success during 2012 then ?

We get regular races/time trials here, it tends to be a bit of an event and rarely bothers anyone tbh...
We're also within farting distance of the second stage of next years Tour De France, even people who aren't that bothered about cycling are getting excited!

I think, to be fair, the best thing for cyclists wanting to use the road would be a compulsory test and insurance (imagine the cute little licence plates bikes could have!).

A small minority do, occasionally, ruin it for a sensible majority, and I think it would be great for everyone involved if all road users had to undertake relevant training and testing, and be able to financially reimburse someone should they damage their property.

Before anyone jumps on me and tells me all about how stupid and reckless drivers are, yes, I agree, some can be. But they've passed a test and have a licence that can be taken away if they are caught behaving like dickheads, and also have insurance should they damage property or injure someone. It seems only fair that everyone using the road should do the same.

We get time trials on a nr motorway quality dual carriageway round here. It can be hairy when you're driving along at 70, suddenly come up with someone doing half your speed on a bike, and have someone in your blind spot preventing you from passing.

A lot of major routes through the county are popular for packs of cyclists (and motorbikes). They're not easy roads to pass safely, and as you pass one pack after biding your time for a couple of miles, you then find yourself behind the next.

I'm happy sharing the road with sensible cyclists, particularly those dressed appropriately, but the numbers involved make it hard for sharing the roads safely. I want to get to my destination iin good time and I don't want harm to a cyclist to be on my consicience.

A lot of cyclists ride two or three abreast because they need to stop motorists squeezing past them when it's not safe to overtake. If they are three abreast, cars can only overtake when it's clear to do so. A lot of Car drivers do seem to be ridiculously intolerant of any tiny hold up they come across - cyclists, horses, caravans, pedestrians, slower drivers. There are idiots in all these groups, but the fact is, cars KILL and they kill in much larger numbers and much more easily than any other method of transport, and yet many drivers are totally cavalier about this fact.

Ballinacup, it is not a question of fairness. Motorists are licensed because cars are one of the leading causes of premature death and cause billions of pounds of damages each year.

Bicycles are not.

If you want to drive a 3-tonne car at 70mph (and the rest), you need a licence + test.

if you want to ride a bicycle you do not.

What would bike insurance be for? You couldn't claim because I held you up for 20 seconds, which seems to be the main gripe. There are some idiot cyclists, but to be honest licensing hasn't exactly got rid of idiot drivers.

I don't understand the anti-cyclist arguments, if I wasn't commuting on my bike, I would be in my car and adding to the traffic, can't imagine that's what people want.

If you "suddenly" come up to someone doing half your speed you were going too fast, you should be going at the speed that is safe for the distance and obstacles you can see, if you can't see far ahead due to a bend etc slow down

I have once or twice been quite happy to be stuck behind a cyclist so I can perve at his cute bum in those tight shorts!

I do think that as part of learning to drive each potential motorist should be made to ride a bike on a busy road, so that they experience the sheer terror faced by cyclists on a daily basis.

I ride alongside my twins at times, to ensure motorists have to give them a little space - the number of times I have had cars come straight at them! Especially with those chicanes that are designed to reduce speed! They are a fucking nightmare for cyclists. Cars have to give way to oncoming cars, but think nothing of squeezing past a cyclists.

My twins are 8 - one is very proficient, and can do right turns and roundabouts now, the other is still learning and it scares him when a car comes towards him on HIS side of the road, and he wobbles. Not because he can't ride a bike, but because he is still learning how to ride safely and courteously on the road. Unfortunately motorists don't always show him the same respect.

It's this overall attitude to cyclists that prevent people from using bikes these days. So many adults or older kids now cycle on the pavements - of course they then get moaned at for that too! Apparently we should all jsut use our cars.

Requiring license and registration would be further discouragement for people to get out and use their bikes. The money would be better spent on educating motorists. Or even better - maybe we should ban cars for journeys shorter than 3 miles, thus freeing up the roads for cyclists, runners, and horse riders.

CointreauVersial - Me too!!!! They are all over the place here, aren't they??!!

Thegrad, how silly. I was thinking cyclists could be registered and insured for when they damage a vehicle by squeezing up the inside of waiting traffic, rather than waiting. Or for personal injury compensation when they plough into a pedestrian.

Chops, I drive along a singletrack road to work in the morning. If there is a cyclist coming towards me, I slow right down or stop, as I feel I'm too close to them to drive past. The times I've been beeped at by other drivers behind me!

I am often amazed at the risks some cars take in my area just to get past a cyclist [shocked]

People are so impatient, I've been tailgaited & flashed/honked because I slow down behind a cyclist and only overtake on a clear stretch if its safe etc.

Most of the time the ones who overtake and harass the cyclists end up behind them at the lights further along anyway as there is a cycle red patch thingy in front of the cars at the lights

Well, you think that's bad. They close the roads for the London Marathon! Bloody runners, thinking they can close down 26 miles of roads for a day, and inconvenience everyone else. They should be forced to pay road tax. At gun point, probably.

And that bloody Queen, with all her guards stomping up and down the place, stopping the traffic. Mow'em down with machine guns, I say!

Hooters are wonderful, they transfer the stress from you to the eejit in front

(Waits for all the harrumphing to start....)

"the other is still learning and it scares him when a car comes towards him on HIS side of the road, and he wobbles. Not because he can't ride a bike, but because he is still learning how to ride safely and courteously on the road. Unfortunately motorists don't always show him the same respect"

He should not be on a public road.

I do think drivers need some sort of cycle awareness part of their tests. I am a driver and twice in the last week I have nearly been hit by impatient drivers wanting to get passed bikes. The best was the one who overtook me when I was stopped because the cyclist infront of me was indicating to turn right thankfully the cyclist saw the idiot and didn't turn.

ballinacup

'in 2009, the most recent year for which figures are available, no pedestrians were killed in Great Britain by cyclists, but 426 died in collisions with motor vehicles out of a total of 2,222 road fatalities.

Indeed, bike riders insist it is they who are vulnerable. Of the 13,272 collisions between cycles and cars in 2008, 52 cyclists died but no drivers were killed.'

cyclists simply aren't dangerous in the same way cars are!! And it's worth noting that nearly all cycle/pedestrian incidents happen on the pavement. I do think cycling on the pavement is wrong, and should be clamped down on, but the roads need to be safer for cyclists. we need more cycle lanes, apart from pedestrians and more space.

Regarding cars in queues, cyclists are supposed to overtake on the right where it is safe to do so, same as anyone else, and I teach my children this. If you want to stop cyclists undertaking you, move closer to the pavement. It will give them room to go round when possible, and stop them squeezing past, but be prepared to let them move back in when traffic starts flowing again.

It infuriates me too - especially the time trials, coming across a cyclist every minute when you cant overtake is infuriating when you have to be somewhere. I have no issue with cyclists using the roads to commute, or for pleasure individually. Great groups (we get loads near where I live) are irritating as its always on narrow uphill roads where overtaking is impossible.

I ride horses, so I'm all for sharing the roads. But horse's dont race on roads in large packs and hugely inconvenience everyone else. Nor do cars, or motorbikes, or anything else that uses the roads.

And a goose course. Sirzy. I live near two ponds with lots of ducks and geese. They often cross the roads, and don't even look to see if there are any cars coming.

There have been times when I have stopped to let them cross, and cars behind have tried to overtake me.

But if one motorist is a wanker, they are a wanker. If one cyclist is a wanker, they represent all cyclists. These are THE RULES.

I think you'll find it cars that travel in huge packs.

Lazyjaney - so how is he ever going to learn? He can ride a bike fine, he has been cycling on two wheels since he was 3, he has cycled miles with me, he just needs to learn the confidence to hold his road space, which he can ONLY learn by being on the road.

There are always going to be inconsiderate arseholes that won't give cyclists space, and it IS scary, which is why so many people (even adults) do ride on the path. But an 8 year old, going at 10mph+ down the path is too dangerous to pedestrians and should not be on the pavement.

There are no cycle races on public roads. It doesn't happen
Oh no?
And its not just racing there are also time trials.
The thing is, everyone needs to show consideration for everyone else on the roads.
Im a horse owner. We show consideration. We dont string ourselves out over 100 yards making overtaking impossible. (cyclists)
We dont spread ourselves across both sides of the road, confusing people as to our intentions, (walkers)
We dont carry on, regardless of our huge rattling traliers and the fact that people coming towards us are terrified, or will be run off of the road, (tractor drivers)
We do ride two abreast. This prevents accidents.
If everyone looked at everyone else on the roads and considered their requirements and safety, then everyone would be a lot happier!