Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to throttle cyclists who run red lights?

241 replies

Millionprammiles · 05/04/2016 11:26

Just that really. Am sick of dd being narrowly missed when crossing at a green man (outside a primary school ffs) . Small children are especially at risk as cyclists can't see them when they're coming up on the inside of cars, so they assume its clear.
Not one cyclist has stopped to apologise.

I can't take a licence plate number. Unless one of them actually hits her I'm guessing the police won't be interested in looking at CCTV. Which is why cyclists continue doing it, day after day.
I think I'm in danger of running after one of them and pushing him off his bike.
(And yes its always been a male cyclist).

OP posts:
whatsthatcomingoverthehill · 06/04/2016 15:25

Of course the OP is not being unreasonable, cyclists who don't stop at pedestrian crossings are selfish twats. Anyone disagree? Good. Well that was a short thread,

Except this being a thread about cyclists it then expands to other cyclist misdemeanors, and how something must be done. With all the usual suspects in tow (I include myself in that category). I would repeat the same lines that I have stated before on such threads, but LoveBuzz has already said it very eloquently.

53rdAndBird · 06/04/2016 15:33

How many would be happy to pay for licensing (or whatever) in order to fund it??

I don't think licensing would be the best way to do this. I would happily pay higher taxes to get better active travel provision (and less congested/polluted/dangerous streets), though!

Original poster
Millionprammiles · 06/04/2016 15:46

acasual - nope it isn't. I mentioned it as most people (you would have thought) would take extra care when driving/cycling on crossings outside a school.

OP posts:
acasualobserver · 06/04/2016 16:21

Is there a difference crossing you could use on your route home?

acasualobserver · 06/04/2016 16:22

*different

LurkingHusband · 06/04/2016 16:28

The bottom line is cyclists, cars and pedestrians don't belong together.

In places where it is encouraged, all 3 are separated - a trip along the A4123 Wolverhampton-Birmingham route is the paradigm.

Original poster
Millionprammiles · 06/04/2016 16:34

acasual - no there isn't. We have to get across this particular (lengthy) road to get home. The next crossing further down the same road is a zebra crossing which feels even less safe.

OP posts:
acasualobserver · 06/04/2016 16:36

Are you saying there is absolutely no safe crossing place on this road? Anywhere?

acasualobserver · 06/04/2016 16:45

Except this being a thread about cyclists it then expands to other cyclist misdemeanors, and how something must be done.

Indeed, these threads are really about demonising cyclists.

ivykaty44 · 06/04/2016 16:55

How many would be happy to pay for licensing (or whatever) in order to fund it??

I would be very happy to pay the same as for any other vehicle on the road.

Which would = £0
Local roads are paid for by council tax, which I pay
Motorways are paid for from government funding and I don't cycle on as its illegal

I pay vehicle emissions for my car at the rate of emissions my vehicle produces, so I wouldn't pay for a cycle.

SarfEast1cated · 06/04/2016 17:11

Is there a difference crossing you could use on your route home?

Why should OP have to change her route because some road-users won't obey the laws of the road?

It really is not OK whether you're a cyclist or a driver to jump a red light.

acasualobserver · 06/04/2016 17:29

Why should OP have to change her route

She shouldn't. However, her child has been involved in a near miss experience at least once a week for two years. It may be time to think of a different solution.

ivykaty44 · 06/04/2016 18:22

I think borrowing a dog avery well trained dog would be good with an extendable lead

At the crossing let the dog go first, when the dog is half way across you walk across.

If the anyone trys to jump the red light they will come off the bike

You must be quick at letting g f the lead and the dog must be trained to stop on command

Anyone doing themselves a mischeif will only have themselves to blame

SarfEast1cated · 06/04/2016 18:34

ivy wouldn't that decapitate the dog?

ivykaty44 · 06/04/2016 18:36

Sarfeast

Not sure?

SarfEast1cated · 06/04/2016 18:36

maybe a rhino would be a better choice.

ivykaty44 · 06/04/2016 18:39

Not sure you can get retractable rhino leads?

thelostboy · 06/04/2016 19:15

As a cyclist, stupid behaviour like red light jumping really pisses me off. It's dangerous - in traffic, usually to the cyclist - it's illegal, and it gives ammunition to the anti cyclist brigade. If a rider does it when I'm riding nearby, I'll point this out to them, as if irate drivers aren't the least of my worries.

I appreciate the OPs concern in these circumstances. Talk to the local Police, and get other people with the problem to do the same. Film it - if it is genuinely a regular problem, the Po!ice will keep a look out and take action if possible. They are keen to be seen to do stuff with the commissioners up for re-election.

But for all the anti cyclists on here - just check the number of pedestrians killed and injured by cyclists, against the number killed by drivers - red light jumping, texting, eating, on the phone etc etc.

acasualobserver · 06/04/2016 20:54

Film it - if it is genuinely a regular problem, the Po!ice will keep a look out and take action if possible.

Excellent suggestion.

ivykaty44 · 06/04/2016 20:58

Film the bad law breaking behaviour and upload it to YouTube, take it to police use social media

ProudAS · 06/04/2016 22:14

YANBU especially with a pedestrian crossing involved.

Original poster
Millionprammiles · 07/04/2016 08:23

"Are you saying there is absolutely no safe crossing place on this road? Anywhere?"

Yes there is in theory a safe place to cross - the pedestrian crossing that I'm trying to use! How on earth do I cross the road (that we have to cross to get home) safely otherwise Confused

ivykaty - I have thought about filming but by the time I've got dd onto the pavement and got my phone out the cyclists are long gone. Not one of them has actually stopped to check dd is ok or to apologise.
I'd covertly film from the school grounds at rush hour if I didn't have to go to work or collect dd.

OP posts:
acasualobserver · 07/04/2016 08:40

Yes there is in theory a safe place to cross - the pedestrian crossing that I'm trying to use!

But in in practice this crossing is unsafe. Your child has had, by your calculations, more than 100 near misses. As I said before, isn't it time to consider another solution? After all, how much longer can your luck hold out? Sooner or later one of these cyclists is going to collide with your child.

backwardpossom · 07/04/2016 10:37

ivykaty - I have thought about filming but by the time I've got dd onto the pavement and got my phone out the cyclists are long gone.

Surely, if this has happened more than 100 times, you'd get your phone out ready before you even get to the crossing? I know I would...

Original poster
Millionprammiles · 07/04/2016 11:27

Tbh I'm concentrating on looking out for traffic/cyclists and the green man - not my phone.
And no, there is no other way to get home other than to cross this road without taking a 30 min detour (which involves 3 more ped crossings).

I see the distraction-technique has shifted from car drivers to my failures as a parent. On that note I think I'll leave this thread.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread