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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have cycled into a cat

314 replies

Rhododendron · 30/03/2014 21:39

Background: I'm new to cycling and not very good at it yet.

I was cycling along, fairly slowly, when a cat ran into the road ahead of me. Since it would be so much more manoeuvrable than me, I carried on, assuming it would avoid me. But it ran straight under my front wheel!

I don't think it was (hope not, anyway!) particularly hurt since it carried on running and disappeared through a gate. (I stopped.)

Was I BU? Should I have tried to avoid it?

Bit confused since I thought cats were rather more sensible than that? DH (experienced cyclist) says he's never needed to avoid a cat.

OP posts:
TTTatty · 30/03/2014 21:42

I would have thought it would have got out the way but it was not okay to run it over! You should have realised it wasn't moving or avoiding you and gone round or stopped.

HuskyBlueEyes · 30/03/2014 21:43

Im more confused how you can have levels of experience for biking to avoid cats.

GlitterFingers · 30/03/2014 21:48

GrinGrinGrin At husky!

You should really have stop some cats are dim my sister has one that won't move even if you stood on him Hmm luckily he is a house cat otherwise he would be dead. Live and learn and all that but this is very unlikely to happen again hopefully

SerialCatKisser · 30/03/2014 21:49

Did you not think to slow down at all?

No offence, but if you are really that unconfident on a bike, maybe you shouldn't be riding on the road yet?

ivykaty44 · 30/03/2014 21:51

Dogs and cats are not aware really how cycling works and you need to be able to stop using brakes so as not to hurt an animal or a person

SerialCatKisser · 30/03/2014 21:51

oh an yes, of course ywbu, you should have tried to avoid it.

TheReluctantCountess · 30/03/2014 21:51

You cycled over a cat? I hope you never encounter an inexperienced lorry driver.

skinnyflatwhitetogo · 30/03/2014 21:52

Use your brakes?

I hope you aren't in London OP, you won't survive the week on a bike with that mindset...

AnnieMaybe · 30/03/2014 21:53

Why didn't you slow down or stop?

Were you in traffic that made it difficult to swerve around it?

HeyNonny · 30/03/2014 21:53

YANBU. The cat should have looked both ways before crossing the road...

Megrim · 30/03/2014 21:54

I would put it down to experience. Better that the cat found that running under a bike wheel was not a great idea than running under a car wheel. You do need to watch out for dogs though, as they can skittle you and not in a good way.

WitchWay · 30/03/2014 21:55

Poor cat Sad it may well have been quite badly hurt - sorry - 5kg of cat being squashed by 50-70kg woman through the stilletto-heel footprint that a cycle wheel has Sad You ought to have braked - you do know how to brake?

gamerchick · 30/03/2014 21:57

I did once years ago.. it ran into the side of me out of nowhere and went under my back wheel and ran off into some bushes. There was no way I could have avoided it.

It's probably wise not to assume whatever is in your way has the sense to stay out of it though.

Wolfiefan · 30/03/2014 21:57

Please stick to walking. Poor cat.
Really? AIBU? You have to ask? You ran over an animal.

mercibucket · 30/03/2014 21:57

oh ffs
if you cant brake, you shouldnt be cycling
is this even a real post???

fortyplus · 30/03/2014 21:58

A dog ran in front of me - wouldn't have occurred to me not to try to avoid it even though I very nearly fell off my bike. It's what makes us human, isn't it? Having compassion for other living creatures and trying to avoid harming them?

FanFuckingTastic · 30/03/2014 22:02

Pretty sure you don't expect them to run right under the wheels. I'd be shocked and surprised if that happened to me too. Have had some near misses on the pavement with kids and animals on my mobility scooter, so learned to avoid busy times. Terrifies me when you don't technically have proper brakes, only forward and not-forward. It's not like they are silent either, make loads of noise, and thought walking pace was pretty safe.

Alisvolatpropiis · 30/03/2014 22:03

Of course ywbu!

coppertop · 30/03/2014 22:04

If you're unable to control a bike safely and confidently, you really shouldn't be on the road.

K8Middleton · 30/03/2014 22:06

Bit confused since I thought cats were rather more sensible than that?

People riding bicycles are supposed to be considerably more sensible than cats.

babybat · 30/03/2014 22:06

If you're just getting the hang of cycling, lots of councils provide free/subsidised cycle training. I did it when I started cycling to work and it's great as they get you confident signalling, going round corners, using your brakes etc. Might be worth looking into?

EnlightenedOwl · 30/03/2014 22:07

If I saw someone cycle over one of my cats I'd be bloody livid.

FustJantastic · 30/03/2014 22:07

I'm a cat lover (got a few sat next to me now) but I did lol at the OP, I once ran over a Jack Russell when I was practicing riding my bike in the park - I would definitely think a cat would have the sense to get out of the way!

Poor thing, I'm sure it's fine!

LumpySpacePrincessOhMyGlob · 30/03/2014 22:07

You brake! What would you do if you saw a kid? Why didn't you just stop?

MysweetAudrina · 30/03/2014 22:08

The cat must have been thinking the same about you. Tbh I would be worried about you ability to expect the unexpected. Maybe cycling is not for you.