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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to think drivers and cyclists are all idiots!??

44 replies

user1487519954 · 04/04/2017 10:38

Not so much an AIBU but a rant, and wondering if people feel the same?

I regularly cycle and drive around where I live (smallish-sized city with lots of cyclicts), and I am constantly amazed at poor road behaviour!

I regularly see all of these things:
Cyclists: cycling on the pavement, without lights, the wrong way up a one-way street!
Drivers: overtaking cyclists too near, overtaking where there are solid middle lines... Yesterday I was driving, going slowly behind a cyclist, as the road both had a bend and went over a bridge (double solid lines in the middle), and the idiot in the car behind honked at me for not overtaking!
Pedestrians: wandering into the road without looking, wearing headphones so they can't hear what's coming, - I have nearly hit a pedestrian several times (on my bike) because people just don't look!

Is it just me that gets so annoyed?? Why is everyone so stupid? Don't they realise how dangerous their behaviour is?

OP posts:
Original poster
user1487519954 · 04/04/2017 10:39

excuse the typos!

OP posts:
IHeartDodo · 04/04/2017 13:15

bump

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 04/04/2017 13:18

I assume that everyone else who has the cheek to be on MY road is about to do something stupid.
This means I am a) prepared and b) delighted when they don't

GeillisTheWitch · 04/04/2017 13:18

YANBU. I recently got a dash cam because there are too many idiots on the road that don't pay attention. And that's before you even get to the aggressive, tailgating arseholes.

Lottapianos · 04/04/2017 13:20

No, its definitely not just you. I'm a pedestrian and I see all of this all the time. Cyclists on the pavement absolutely boil my blood and will be first to get the flamethrower when I'm in charge. A lot of pedestrians act like headless chickens too - wandering about in their own little bubble, ambling out in front of traffic, taking their good old time about crossing the road even when three lanes of traffic are heading towards them. Its thoughtless stupidity and drives me crackers. No idea what the answer is though Hmm

araiwa · 04/04/2017 13:21

so youre an idiot

yanbu

brasty · 04/04/2017 13:22

Now days the driving test is about defensive driving. This means assuming that everyone else on the road is an idiot, and driving accordingly. Try it, will might make you feel more relaxed about it too.

Original poster
user1487519954 · 04/04/2017 15:13

obviously not everyone - may have exaggerated slightly in my ranty excitement!

OP posts:
IHeartDodo · 04/04/2017 15:14

well... my mum always said when I was learning to drive: "it's not you I'm worried about, it's all the other idiots"

Meekonsandwich · 04/04/2017 19:39

Ive worked in retail my whole life, I am a cyclist and a driver.

90% of people are idiots.

And they dont even realise.

Pacific · 04/04/2017 19:51

You should try riding a motorbike...the idiots just try to kill you!

SteppingOnToes · 04/04/2017 20:16

I agree but...

Cyclists, pedestrians and horseriders are 'exempt' from one-way rules.

Mumski45 · 04/04/2017 20:20

Not sure that's true Steppingontoes. What makes you think that?

SteppingOnToes · 04/04/2017 22:00

Not sure that's true Steppingontoes. What makes you think that?

Because it's in the bloody highway code

carefreeeee · 04/04/2017 22:23

Because it's in the bloody highway code

Eh?

Cyclists aren't exempt apart from if there's a sign. Pedestrians are obviously exempt as they are from everything more or less (except if there's a no pedo sign). Not sure about horses.

There are similar numbers of idiots in all walks or life, professions, social classes and transport modes - just the ones driving a tonne of metal are a lot more dangerous to everyone else!

OwlOfBrown · 04/04/2017 22:44

It bloody well isn't in the highway code Steppingontoes. Quite the opposite!

Highway Code - Rules for Cyclists - Rule 69 www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82

Highway Code - Rules about Animals - Rule 53
www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-about-animals-47-to-58

Original poster
user1487519954 · 04/04/2017 22:47

Steppingontoes not sure about that - where in the highway code? (the rules are numbered)

OP posts:
Original poster
user1487519954 · 05/04/2017 11:19

I think this proves my point nicely! How can people follow the rules if they don't even know them!

OP posts:
heron98 · 05/04/2017 11:20

I think you need to relax. I really couldn't care less if someone cycles on the pavement. it's not the end of the world.

corythatwas · 05/04/2017 11:28

I used to be all on the side of the cyclists (environment and all that) but I can't help noticing in myself that if I am about to cross at the pedestrian green lights and see a cyclist approaching, my first reaction is to hold back; with a car driver I just assume they are going to stick to the law and stop. Many years of experience here.

I also feel very Hmm about the way that cycling is advertised in some circles as something that gets you through traffic quicker than driving. Hmm yes, if you have no qualms about randomly mounting the pavement or cutting up cars or sailing through lights it does. The problem with this argument is that it seems to breed an attitude where cyclists feel entitled to passing through any obstacles, because they have chosen the mode of transport that means (so we are told) that they should never have to wait for anyone.

Plenty of good reasons to cycle: good for your fitness levels, good for the environment. But so as to ensure you don't have to give way to other people, dubious.

MaidOfStars · 05/04/2017 11:38

I'm a driver, a cyclist, a regular pedestrian and a running pedestrian. Every group annoys me at some point if I'm currently occupying one of the other categories Grin

whatsthecomingoverthehill · 05/04/2017 11:44

Yeh obviously you should give way when you need to and follow road signs, traffic lights etc. But cycling is normally quicker because you can go past queueing cars, whether that's in a cycle lane or by filtering. Some people seem to think that it is illegal to filter at all.

But I disagree with the OP. Most people are perfectly fine. Problem is that it's the minority who are idiots who stick in your head. e.g. I went for a ride yesterday on some narrow lanes, wasn't holding up anyone up for very long (just say going round a corner etc and never had more than 2 cars behind me) and drivers were being very good holding back till it was safe to overtake, I was thanking them when they did so. All very nice. Then one woman leans on her horn as she went past, gesticulating at me. No idea why. She's been behind me for less than 30 seconds. Can only assume she was one of those who just hate cyclists.

Mulledwine1 · 05/04/2017 11:49

Cyclists on the pavement absolutely boil my blood and will be first to get the flamethrower when I'm in charge

Really - you think this is worse than driving when drunk/texting?

There is a very short stretch of pavement (50m or so) which I cycle along sometimes because otherwise I would have to cross an extremely busy road twice. If there is a pedestrian, I get off the bike and walk (even though I am actually taking up more of the pavement doing that). I really can't see how this can possibly deserve a flame-thrower ;)

I'm a driver, a cyclist, a regular pedestrian and a running pedestrian. Every group annoys me at some point if I'm currently occupying one of the other categories

Yes, me too. Though runners only bug me when they run in the road when there is a perfectly good pavement next to them.

Mulledwine1 · 05/04/2017 11:52

Some people seem to think that it is illegal to filter at all

There is a very narrow margin between legal filtering and illegal undertaking - and in my view, most cyclists fall within the latter category.

There is a very good book which explains this - called Cyclecraft. It's very good if your kids are doing bikeability and in fact for car drivers to understand why cyclists do some of the things they do.

Lottapianos · 05/04/2017 12:25

'If there is a pedestrian, I get off the bike and walk '

Well there's absolutely no problem then, is there? No flamethrower for you. I'm talking about people who cycle, at speed, weaving in and out of groups of pedestrians like they own the place. Its actually bloody scary to have a cyclist come tearing past you from behind, and I'm fit and strong and my mobility is not compromised in any way. I yelled at a cyclist who was coming towards me and my partner, on the pavement, at great speed, actually doing wheelies, and told him to get on the jeffing road. He looked so shocked (as he whizzed past), like it had never occurred to him that he was behaving like a total muppet and a dangerous one at that. Its the lack of consideration for other people that drives me bonkers.

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