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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I doing something wrong here?

32 replies

GoGlobalGloria · 01/11/2016 15:27

I've NC so this is not connected to previous posts.

I'm a relatively new driver so I'm prepared to accept IABU if I'm doing something wrong, but I'm getting regular abuse from a cyclist as I'm leaving work and it's bothering me.

The entrance/exit to my workplace is on a fairly busy main road. To leave, I have to go up a steep hill, through gates that have a high wall either side and then pull out onto the road over the pavement (dropped kerb if that makes a difference). As I'm coming up the hill, I can't see the road, so I don't know if I can pull out or not, so can't wait on the hill if you see what I mean. I have to wait to pull out on the pavement.

Woman cycling on the pavement, stops and waits, visibly pissed off with me. The first time, she loses her patience and cycles off in front of me just as I go to pull off, and I have to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting her. She's not wearing a helmet so could have been badly hurt if I'd hit her. Cue a mouthful of abuse.

Today, traffic was bad so was waiting a while to pull off (but probably less than a minute all told) and she was there again, sighing and rolling her eyes constantly. Then cycled in front of me again with a very sarcastic "Thanks a lot!"

What am I supposed to do? Back down the hill again? Usually there's someone behind me and pedestrians usually wait or go behind cars that are waiting on the pavement.

WIBU to wait to pull out and make her wait too?

OP posts:
RB68 · 01/11/2016 15:36

If she is on the pavement and its not a cycle path then she is wrong. I don't think you are doing anything wrong - just ignore her and if it is a pavement she is on next time she says anything just say oh is that the pavement or the road you are on...

Original poster
GoGlobalGloria · 01/11/2016 15:38

Yes, she's cycling on the pavement!

OP posts:
Tangfastics · 01/11/2016 15:39

Well really you don't have right of way.

That said she's being a bit or an arse cycling on the pavement and being oblivious to the driving conditions around her.

If you don't feel ready to pull out I would wave her on.

ByeByeLilSebastian · 01/11/2016 15:40

Can you ask her what she's huffing and puffing at next time?

I hate people like that. Why can't they just have some patience?

NavyandWhite · 01/11/2016 15:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JenLindleyShitMom · 01/11/2016 15:46

Ok so the pavement 'breaks' to allow the entrance to your work? Meaning because she is on the pavement, she expects to just fly across the break without stopping to see if traffic is coming in or out? She is in the wrong. She should be stopping where the pavement drops to check it is safe.

Original poster
GoGlobalGloria · 01/11/2016 15:47

That's what I thought. It's less than a minute both times - there's traffic lights just down the road and I'm turning left so it's really not a long wait. My place of work has quite a bit of traffic pulling out of there and everyone waits on the pavement for a gap - they have to! Never had anyone moaning about it apart from this one woman. As I said, most people just wait or go behind the cars on the hill.

OP posts:
Original poster
GoGlobalGloria · 01/11/2016 15:50

There's no pavement break, but it does have a dropped kerb so people can pull in and out. Kind of like a huge driveway I guess, but it's very obviously an entrance/exit as my pace of work is well signposted and the exit is as big as a road. And as I said, nowhere for the cars coming out to wait except on the pavement as behind this you can't see the road due to the high walls and gate.

OP posts:
pigsDOfly · 01/11/2016 15:54

She shouldn't be cycling on the pavement, it's illegal.

Sounds as if you're doing nothing wrong. How else are you going to access the road.

MillionToOneChances · 01/11/2016 15:54

Highway Code

'Rule 64
You MUST NOT cycle on a pavement.

Laws HA 1835 sect 72 & R(S)A sect 129'

JenLindleyShitMom · 01/11/2016 15:55

I wonder does she realise if she was on the road where she legally should be then your presence would have no impact on her whatsoever. Next time have your window down as you exit and if she starts with her shite you can point that out to her.

CoraPirbright · 01/11/2016 15:55

She is in the wrong as she is a) cycling on the pavement and b) an impatient cowbag. Next time you are waiting to pull out and she is there, cheerily wave her across so that she knows you have seen her and that she is free to go on her way. (but privately I would want to make her wait and then flick her the V's and stick your tongue out. But then I do have the mental age of about 8).

I am sorry that, as a new driver, she is making you uncertain of yourself but she is behaving badly. From what yo have described, I am not sure how else she expects you to perform this manoeuvre given that you don't have a clear view of the road up until you pull out onto the pavement bit.

LovingWifeAndMother · 01/11/2016 16:05

The cyclist is in the wrong, just for the simple fact she is rolling her eyes etc, I HATE people who have no patience and get a cob on and make other feel bad. Angry

LockedOutOfMN · 01/11/2016 16:10

She shouldn't be cycling on the pavement and she should be wearing a cycle helmet.

Don't let her impatience compromise your or anyone else's safety (including, ironically, hers) by feeling you have to pull out quickly.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 01/11/2016 16:12

If you see her again, calmly ask her to cycle behind your car?

Tbh, if she's there at the same time everyday, I would leave work 5mins later just to avoid the bloody woman.

Pigeonpost · 01/11/2016 16:13

She shouldn't be cycling on the pavement. She should be cycling along the road from where you would wait for her as she would have right of way like a car does. YANBU. She is a knob.

Bogeyface · 01/11/2016 16:13

Print out that highway code bit above and hold it up to show her the next time she starts huffing!

DixieWishbone · 01/11/2016 16:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

maggiso · 01/11/2016 16:37

Is the pavement you refer to also a cycle path? If it is, she may have right of way perhaps.If there is any doubt I would just signal her to hurry across, so there is no confusion, and she is kept safe.

NuggetofPurestGreen · 01/11/2016 16:38

The entrance to my old apartment was the same OP, I had to creep forwards and would obviously stop if any pedestrians or cyclists were coming along the pavement but once it was clear I had to pull out and just wait on the pavement or how else would I ever get out of my house!

aintnothinbutagstring · 01/11/2016 16:46

If you see her again, wave her on before you pull out. Can't see that you're doing anything wrong. Surely she could just cross behind you? Some people just like to make a hoo-ha over nothing.

RebootYourEngine · 01/11/2016 16:47

I hate cyclists who cycle on the pavement. They always think that they have right of way between them and pedestrians. I got shouted at the other day by a cyclist coming towards me on a narrow pavements. He expected me to step off the pavement and walk on the road with passing cars so he could cycle on the pavement.

TheProblemOfSusan · 01/11/2016 16:48

She shouldn't be cycling on the pavement. She should be cycling along the road from where you would wait for her as she would have right of way like a car does. YANBU. She is a knob.

Seconding, cause that's exactly what I was going to say. She's being a complete twunt here - if she was cycling legally then she wouldn't have to wait for you at all because she'd have right of way and could sail straight past you, she's got not bloody right to be huffing and puffing like that.

If you're feeling brave, next time wind your window down and tell her. Disclaimer: I would not be this brave and would just ignore the daft sow.

dudsville · 01/11/2016 16:54

I've had a long day so take this work a grain of salt. My suggestion is you make her a sign and stick it in your bank window for next time. Something along the lines of
.. of I can see I can't word this politely. Ignore me.

blitheringbuzzards1234 · 01/11/2016 16:57

I've been a cyclist and now I'm a motorist and I know which I prefer. She probably knows that she's in the wrong by cycling on the pavement but is taking it out on you. If she could put herself in your shoes she'd understand your difficulties. Because you're new to driving your confidence is more easily rattled.

Definitely there needs to be a mirror/lower wall for greater safety. Do any of your colleagues feel the same? Just because they've put up with it for ages doesn't mean that it can't be changed. I'd get the discussion going IIWY. Maybe in the meantime leave a bit earlier/later to avoid her if it's really getting to you and you're not happy with being confrontational.