To think the vitriol against cycling has gotten a bit much?

[BuggersMuddle]

Obviously I'm a cyclist. I'm also a car driver, motorcyclist and pedestrian, so I can genuinely see all sides of the debate.

I've cycled to work on and off for years. In the past I could recount many tales of cars pulling too close, but very few real 'incidents'. Nowadays I could recount probably a couple a week easily (none on my weekend or non-peak time training cycles ).

My cycling ability has if anything got better not worse. I have more money, so my gear is certainly better and I have more hi-vis, better lights etc. the latter of which which you would think is good but apparently a cause for complaint as well

I do commute in Edinburgh, which does have transport issues since the tram debacle, so I don't know if this is colouring my view. All I know is I used to cover 10 miles by road a day and rarely had an issue. I now cover 12 miles (usually), of which half is on cycle path and seem to be open to all kinds of a abuse & general intolerance.

Not confined to me though, more friends have started wearing cameras in the event of incidents and the online abuse on Facebook groups / local papers in the event of cycling incidents or (god forbid) cyclists complaining just beggars belief.

AIBU? Am I just unlucky, or does the general public really seem to hate cyclists as a group? Or is it just where I live?

Indeed. We Brits are some of the most polite and courteous people on the planet but put us on the road and its carnage.

The amount of double standards is also crazy. Some drivers complain about cyclists running red lights but, whilst not as blatant, most drivers will gamble a changing light to save waiting (also an offence). Also speeding is so commonplace that it's normal to drive 40mph in a 30 zone. I'd also bet that every one of us has stepped onto a zebra and nearly been taken out by an idiot driver.

Cyclists can be just as reckless. The only difference is that cyclists aren't in charge of 1500kgs of steel. Thus people lose sight of the need to be significantly more careful when driving. The trouble is most drivers aren't.

Doh, post in response to voluptoagoodshag!

Anyone who runs red lights is a twat.

True, but would you say the same of people that speed too?

Both are antisocial and illegal. Unfortunaly, almost every driver on the road speeds regularly.

I used to have to drive in London on a weekly basis.
I'd often have cyclists a gnats breath from my truck on either side. It was bloody terrifying; and the abuse I got was horrendous.
I am a very vigilant driver but I think some cyclists think they have the God given right to flout the laws of the road and think they are a law unto themselves.
Whatever you drive, be it a 38 tonne truck or a push bike you have to be considerate to other road users, the same rules apply.
FWIW we need more cycle lanes but that isn't going to happen is it?
Too much like common sense.

I was run over by a bicycle when I was a small child. Hit and run. Still bear the scar. Consequently I prefer those who ride camels on oaths.

We could share the roads if we were all more courteous. Like in other countries.

motley I was run over by a bicycle too - though as an adult. On a footpath. 19 years later I still have the scars and bumps.

I cycle into the city centre everyday, its about 9 miles round trip, though varies a bit depending on where I park (I have to drive part way to drop of the children).

Just wanted to explain why I do a few things mentioned here - crossing at the green man. I do this when I get to the end of my cycle path and I have to turn right onto a very busy four laned road. I hit the pedestrian lights, cross with the green man onto the road, cycle as fast as I can, and find that by the time the traffic moves off again and catches me, I have just reached the next cycle lane. So this is much safer, and I will be continuing to do this!

There is one short section that I mount the footpath - I have never saw a ped here and during a large cycling event I asked the police about this and they agreed it was a safer place for me given the layout of the road and so long as there's NO pedestrians then its fine, just for a very short segment. At the end of the short stretch there is actually a cycle path on the footpath, so it makes sense anyway to do it.

I have a section where there's parked cars sporadically in the cycle path at the side of a busy road so I have to weave in and out. Drivers get The Rage when I join the traffic, but what am I meant to do? There's peds so I cannot go on the footpath and besides its too long a stretch to do that anyway. I physically cannot cycle over the parked cars so have to join the traffic for short sections to avoid the parked cars. Yet I get abuse for this on a DAILY basis, drivers swearing and shouting 'to get in the cycle lane'. What am I meant to do?

Anyway, just giving a few reasons why I do some things that apparently give drivers on this post The Rage.

Unless properly joined up and fit for purpose I personally think cycle lanes in towns and cities should be done away with for the exact reasons mentioned by Miss Duke. There is an expectation that a cyclist should stay in them no matter what so when they do have to move out of them they get abuse. They are also not wide enough so vehicles understandably pass a bike like a bike, not a small car. Only today I was cycling into town but had to make a right hand turn. There were two lanes of traffic so I had to get from the cycle lane right over pretty darn quickly.
PERSPICUOUS! A very good word which, as an improvement on conspicuous, not only means being visible but being obvious about what you are about to do next.

Round here, cyclists don't use the cycle lane! It seems weird that they prefer a busy road. There are no parked cars as it is a semi rural cycle lane and was clearly a waste of money!

Also, I am sick and tired of cyclists riding on the footpaths through the woods near me. These are rural ones so not particularly populated with "peds (ugh!!!) and they throw their bikes over the styles. We have so many bridleways and quiet roads, there is absolutely no excuse. Last night 20 threw their bikes over the style opposite my house. This footpath leads to a network of more footpaths. It is inconsiderate. They also travel through the village at much higher speed than any car. What should be a healthy recreational pastime has been taken over by Lycra clad louts. When I asked one not to go over the stile and ride on the footpath, I received a torrent of abuse.

Here's a thing. I mostly walk and have to cross various roads at designated crossing points. Why is it that many car drivers are less likely to voluntarily stop when it's pouring with rain? I've actually started timing it and counting the number of cars that pass because I thought it must be in my head. It isn't.

Milly, sorry if you find my shorthand 'ugh' (whatever that means), and your comment is a wonderful example of how we need to learn to be more tolerant of each other. Your further comments eg 'lycra clad louts' show very well what a judgemental and intolerant person you are.

Queen Tilly, it is crazy how aggressive people can get when driving in poor weather conditions!!! I would well believe what you say.

MillyMolly I'm intrigued as to what you mean by 'threw their bike over the stile'. I'm generally a roadie, but I have had the odd foray into Cyclocross / MTB and sometimes that means using a trail and going over a stile. I would no more throw my bike across than I would throw any other expensive possession, which is why I'm curious. Is it the crossing of the stile or the throwing that offends you?