Aibu to think it's high time some cyclist haters realised that for every cyclist on the road it means there is one less car.

[rottentomatoes]

On my bike this morning and as is so common a motorist shouted some abuse at me. Why? Because I held the driver up for about 20 secs until they could over take me when the road widened even though I was cycling absolutely legally.

AIBU to think it's high time motorists stopped this and thought about the fact that for every cyclist there is one less car or person squeezed on the overcrowded train system.

[LRDYaDumayuIThink]

I think a lot of cyclists get a rough deal and a lot of car drivers need to learn that cyclists are actually allowed to be doing things like riding two abreast, turning right, etc. etc.

However, car drivers have (at least in law) to pass a test and be insured.

Cyclists do not.

So no, I don't feel that brilliant about seeing numbers of cyclists 'instead' of drivers. I worry that they're cyclists who shouldn't be on the road at all. This is often the case because, like mavis, I'm in Oxford which is student central, and many cyclists are teenagers who have no clue about the rules of the road.

At the moment, in order to get to my house I go over a bridge where traffic is controlled into a one-way system with traffic lights. There is also a pedestrian footpath beside it. Many sensible cyclists use this system fine. Many other sensible cyclists, who are slow because it's up a steep hill and they're cyclist at rather less than walking pace, choose to push their bikes up the footpath instead (I'm not saying anyone should have to, just explaining that there are options).

And some twits run the lights.

On a one-way bridge.

Where there is literally no space for the bus to get out of their way.

The other day I came up behind two cyclists who had met going opposite directions on the bridge, who'd stopped to have a chat.



If those are people who could be in cars, I am thanking god they're not, I can't begin to imagine how dangerous they'd be.

[Fakebook]

Not really. Could be one less pedestrian too.

[Pennyacrossthehall]

Sparklingbrook
But Penny some motorists don't indicate so how is the cyclist supposed to know they are turning left?

Which is why I (and, I'd guess, the other posters on this thread who are evidently experienced cyclists) have to assess all traffic on the basis that the drivers are idiots, to allow for the substantial minority that are.

[xylem8]

nearly all the cyclists I see are 'sports' cyclists and so do not mean a car off the road.

[pinkmoomin]

I agree Hindsight is the packs of Lycra clad weekend cyclists that are a real road menace around leafy parts of the country.

[LRDYaDumayuIThink]

... Realizing how contadictory my grumpy post is.

I'd rather they'd just learn some common sense/rules of the road. I'm not sure it makes me 'glad' they're cycling as opposed to anything else.

[Gubbins]

Mavis,
It's often the lycra clad cyclists that will cycle next to a cycle path, in the middle of the road, etc.

Yes, because that's usually the safest place to ride. There are several cycle lanes I could ride in on my commute into work. The first is full of broken glass and is an incredibly bad, potholed road surface. The second is on the outside of a line of parked cars and would put me in the perfect position to be doored by one of them. The third I ignore as I turn right at the next junction so need to position myself for that and the fourth is full of pedestrians who seem to think it is an extension of the pavement. (It's an on road cycle lane, not a shared pavement.)

So I ride in the primary position in the centre of the lane, just where the highway code recomends. Don't worry, I shouldn't hold you up. The average speed of traffic in central London is 10mph and I can go much faster than that. Even if you can't pass me immediately, it's only going to mean you join the back of your next traffic jam a couple of seconds later.

[CloudsAndTrees]

Then I wouldn't mind waiting for you Penny!

It's when you go past little lanes or the front of drive ways that turn off the road where the cyclist could safely stop and allow cars to pass that it becomes frustrating. It just seems incredibly selfish.

[Pennyacrossthehall]

LRDYaDumayuIThink
...car drivers have (at least in law) to pass a test. Cyclists do not.

In general almost every single adult cyclist you come across will also be a driver. University towns might be an exception. I know many cyclists, but do not know any who do not have a driving licence.

I also redacted the insurance point. As soon as I am required to have insurance to cycle, I'll buy it. I suspect that it will be very cheap, because my potential to cause damage on my bicycle is very limited.

...some twits run the lights. On a one-way bridge.

I watched cyclists do essentially the same thing - riding round blind bends on the wrong side of the road - last weekend. I rode on the right (left) side of the road and wondered how often you could do that before you got yourself killed.

[edwinamerckx]

Penny agreed. A lot of cyclists could really benefit from using the OSM/PSL drill taught to motorcyclists and advanced drivers (as could a lot of car drivers...)

Regarding club cyclists, I'm surprised at some of the comments as group cycling is usually an extremely disciplined affair with the back marker responsible for keeping a lookout for cars and shouting "car back". Also, two abreast riding is not usual for group rides, although I suppose that the lead rider of a chain gang dropping to the back of the draft line could be interpreted as that - they should tuck straight into the line on hearing "car back" though.

Certainly in my club, running a light would get you a fine and a suspension, and failing to indicate (not just left and right, but slow down, pothole, hazard etc too) would get you a severe bollocking from the road captain.

[InMySpareTime]

When I'm going straight over at a junction with traffic lights, I make eye contact with the lead driver and indicate forward (arm pointing straight forward) so they know that I haven't just neglected to signal left.
Is this weird? I've never had any issues doing this, and I'd rather signal too much than too little.

[LRDYaDumayuIThink]

Well, yes, that's why I mentioned it was a university town, penny!

I'm well aware it's a very specific population of cyclists. I just don't come across anything like it when I go to visit my parents, or go off elsewhere. It does scare me, though, how unregulated it is. A lot of them simply shouldn't be on the road.

[Gubbins]

I've been beeped at by cars for not running the red light at road works with contraflows. I've also been shouted at by someone for not going the wrong direction down a contraflow cycle lane on a street that's one way for cars, two way for bikes. Apparently his need to go fast was greater than my need to not break the law.

Can't win!

[Eve]

I'm a horse rider & regularly get abuse from cyclists that I shouldn't be on the road.

II do point out to them that they are not in charge & I'm also a car driver of a massive 4x4 and would they like me to treat them with same attitude.

[MrsHoarder]

Clouds its most frustrating "safely stopping" your bike to let a car past, it takes entry to get back up to speed and as soon as you do there's another car there. Better to take the lane, keep peddling and let cars pass when there's space for them to overtake.

[edwinamerckx]

InMySpare not weird at all. I do exactly the same and usually get a cheery wave or a thumbs up back. The majority of drivers here are nice and considerate - lots of very posh 4x4s with cycle racks on the roof so maybe a bit more consideration for cyclists as there is probably one in the family (rich banker husband usually ) Some of the cheeky buggers try to chat me up at the lights, asking about my bike etc. :)

Its the white vans and kids in clapped out hatchbacks that are the most inattentive - not actively malicious but just incredibly poor at signalling, lane discipline and mirror checks.

[Aetae]

To be honest, what annoys me most about cyclists is their holier than thou attitude. Yes, it makes me cross when they run red lights or right on the footpath. Yes, it makes me cross when they don't follow the road rules. Yes, it makes me cross that they think it's ok for them to do 10 mph when a car doing the same speed would be loudly honked at for obstructing traffic.

But the most annoying thing is how most cyclists seem to think they're single-handedly saving the fucking planet and as a result should be given some special dispensation when it comes to road usage (when they don't pay for that road use nor do they have to pass any tests to prove they can use it correctly).

[edwinamerckx]

Eve really??? I always shout "'bike behind" when coming up to horses (human voice and all that), slow down, give a wide berth and get a cheery wave in return. As does every cyclist (and rider - many of them are both) I know. You must have some bloody miserable cyclists where you live.

[Pennyacrossthehall]

Eve
I'm a horse rider & regularly get abuse from cyclists that I shouldn't be on the road.

I would never abuse a person riding their horse and usually slow then call out that I am coming past to warn them. I am, however, wryly amused by the number of drivers that will storm past me on my bike with inches to spare then come to an almost complete halt behind the horses in front of us.


This does take us back to NotYoMomma's summary right at the start . . .

[weeblueberry]

For the cyclists who are saying it's only 10 seconds they're holding up a driver, wouldn't it then be fair sometimes if you have a MASSIVE queue of traffic behind you (which seems to happen a lot where I live due to quite narrow roads) to pull over for 10 seconds yourself and let the huge queue of drivers go past?

[BlessedDespair]

I like them if:

• They are insured
  
• They obey the highway code
  
• They don't think they are above everyone else
  
• They accept that not everyone wants to travel at 5mph and pull in where possible if they have a queue of vehicles behind them
  

The exact same thing can be said for ALL road users (including people on foot)

In the last week 3 cyclists have run a red light in front of me!

[Gubbins]

Do we? Oh. I have to say none of the many cyclists I know thinks they're saving the planet, but perhaps you know more than I do.

I let the 'paying for road use' comment pass as I'm sure you must be joking if you're trying to imply that you can still think that's the case with cars.

[Pennyacrossthehall]

I just remembered - on one occaision another cyclist and I came up behind a horse rider who was unable to control her horse and it sidled across the road until it was walking on the far right hand side. The rider in front of me, having slowed to walking pace, then went past on the left . . . to be greeted by a mouthful of abuse from the rider.

Again: see NotYoMomma's summary

[VinegarDrinker]

Love how the only actual stats on this are always ignored by posters

I had a twat in a sports car yell out of the window for me to cycle faster the other week. I was so flabbergasted I couldn't think up a witty reply. Luckily he had the grace to look somewhat shamefaced when I pulled up at the lights and he saw my 39 week bump and the toddler on the back.

If you doubt that random unjustified abuse by motorists is a very real part of life on two wheels just jump on a bike yourself and see.

[RoooneyMara]

I always say the same bloody thing on these threads.

Why are we fighting? I ride a bicycle, a motorbike and drive a car.

NO ONE is any better than anyone else, only that there are idiots and wankers on all forms of transport.

What is NEEDED is separate paths and roads for different types of vehicle...so more cycle lanes and paths, would mean cyclists would be safer and cars wouldn't get so frustrated with them.

A cyclist going up a long hill, on a narrow road, with a queue of cars behind them all in first gear is nOT environmentally sound, in the bigger picture.

But I think cycling is brilliant. I am very conscious as a cyclist of not getting in anyone's way.

Let's not fight - let's just adapt the world a little better so that everyone can drive or ride more safely.