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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To worry about seeing little cyclists on busy roads

120 replies

heartstornastray · 18/08/2017 11:03

It's nice that family's all get to go out cycling and learn how to be responsible on roads but there's no way i'd have a small child cycling behind me on a busy road like i often see. You really can't depend on car drivers seeing the child. Also if something's overtaking on the other side and a car has to pull in the child would be killed. Surely if they must cyvle on busy roads the child would be safer in front.

The other day we passed a man with two children, both cycling behind him and the smallest one (about 6) was wobbling precariously trying to keep up with dad, he could so easily have fallen into the path of a car, and the father wouldn't have even been aware, why put your children at risk.

OP posts:
Original poster
heartstornastray · 18/08/2017 12:24

But that's just part of the problem.

OP posts:
TooDamnSarky · 18/08/2017 12:48

My point is that very many drivers overtake dangerously with apparently no awareness that they are putting our lives at risk.

And the "cyclists should get off the roads" is spectacularly unhelpful.

Just because we can all agree that some cyclists behave like twats doesn't make it ok for so many drivers to regularly put out lives at risk because they can't be arsed to way 30 seconds for a safe place to overtake.

TooDamnSarky · 18/08/2017 12:51

And yes there is a huge element of victim blaming when it comes to cyclists.
I've been hit by a car twice (low speed). In both cases there was absolultly no way it could have been my fault. And yet so many people's response to these incidents was to start telling me about all the fuckwit cyclists they had ever seen. Like that was somehow relevant to the fact that a car had just randomly swerved onto my side of the road and then driven off.

craftsy · 18/08/2017 13:21

I'm not much of a cyclist and have been an ardent pedestrian most for my life. But I've always felt cyclists should be able to cycle where they feel safest and if that's the footpath, that's where they should be. Since starting to drive last year, I've doubled down on that opinion. The roads are way, way too dangerous for cyclists. They are so, so vulnerable that they should never be expected to share a road with a tonnes of hurtling metal. Cyclists can hurt pedestrians but the don't present a fraction of the risk to us that cars and trucks present to them so I'd far rather share my footpath with cyclists than have them forced into a potentially fatal situation.

BlurryFace · 18/08/2017 13:31

Good for you craftsy, but I disagree strongly. The narrow busy pavements here are no place for cyclists, though it doesn't stop all the French tourists giving it a good shot then looking confused when I won't move for them.

CMOTDibbler · 18/08/2017 13:33

If you worry about cyclists safety when they are riding on the road (and as there is precisely 1 bike path within a 7 mile radius of my home, thats where ds rides with me), then ensure that you are a responsible driver and ensure that you always give cyclists the room they are entitled to - thats 1.5m from the bike, 2.25m from the kerb as a minimum when you overtake. If that means waiting, wait.

As for having the adult at the front, it depends on the situation - dh or I will go ahead to junctions, behind on bits when we won't have one for a while. If there are two adults, we sandwich the children.

The solution to dangerous roads is not to take cyclists off them, it's to get car drivers being more respectful and get more cyclists on the roads!

Original poster
heartstornastray · 18/08/2017 14:16

My example of bad drivers overtaking causing drivers to have to swerve was just one of many ex smoked of the dangers facing cyclists. Even if all drivers drove perfectly a cyclist (especially a little one) can so easily become unbalanced (e.g. by potholes) and fall into the path of a car. Only the other day i saw a little boy struggling to keep up with his father who looked as if he was going to do exactly that. I was fuming with the stupid father.

OP posts:
Original poster
heartstornastray · 18/08/2017 14:17

ex smoked? examples

OP posts:
AngeloftheSouth84 · 18/08/2017 14:20

You really can't depend on car drivers seeing the child

They shouldn't be driving, then

megletthesecond · 18/08/2017 14:20

Yanbu. I won't cycle on the road and certainly wouldn't make my children do it either. Our roads aren't fit for cyclists and drivers, and there's too many bad drivers out there. (I tend to walk everywhere, far less hassle).

LuxuryDrinks · 18/08/2017 14:20

I'm getting sick of the phrase 'victim blaming' to be honest...

I agree cylclistbdknt always realise the dangers. I don't think children should be allowed on the roads.

Spudlet · 18/08/2017 14:27

So many drivers have no idea how to overtake anything safely. I was following one home today, they were truly appalling and a danger to themselves and others. I would like to see safe overtaking made into a manoeuvre on the driving test, just like parking or turning in the road or whatever.

I would also like to see the introduction of (I think is is the correct term) presumed liability, so that if you hit a more vulnerable road user, it is presumed to be your fault unless it can be shown otherwise. So car vs cyclist would be presumed to tube the driver's fault, bike vs pedestrian the cyclist' fault, lorry vs car the lorry driver's fault and so on. There is no disincentive for drivers who put us at risk at the moment, and expecting them to do the right thing is a fools errand I fear. They just don't care.

Ds is nowhere near cycling yet but when he does, I think we'll be going two abreast most of the time, then probably me behind but to the outside (my road positioning is already fairly assertive, I can't see that changing with my little lad to look after).

KidLorneRoll · 18/08/2017 14:27

"Even if all drivers drove perfectly a cyclist (especially a little one) can so easily become unbalanced (e.g. by potholes) and fall into the path of a car. "

Yes they can, which is why it behoves drivers to give cyclists sufficient space so that if they do that, they don't get hit.

Much in the same way that if you can't stop a car in the road you can see, you are going too fast. There should be no such thing as something "suddenly" getting in the way of a car that they cannot react to in time.

louiseaaa · 18/08/2017 14:35

victim blaming is "exactly" what's going on in this thread.

I ride a bike, have done since I were a wee lass. The two (serious) accidents that I've been involved in both times, were the car driver's fault. The ones where I was responsible caused little harm as I wasn't travelling at speed.

I agree with spudlet.... I know that I'm really careful behind cars when driving as I know that if I hit a car from behind, it's my fault.

As to the issue of children cycling on the road, it's the car driver's responsibility ALWAYS to take care. If you hit a pedestrian, it's your fault, if you hit a cyclist, that's your fault too.

LuxuryDrinks · 18/08/2017 14:36

Sorry, but I've seen a cyclist fall due to poor road surface. They don't fall in a little neat pile, they fall either into the pavement or road. No car can give enough space for a falling cyclist without giving them the whole road.

Why can't you understand accidents happen and a car driver is safer in the case of an accident than a cyclist?

TooDamnSarky · 18/08/2017 14:40

Yes accidents do happen. But the vast majority of serious injuries to cyclist are caused by dangerous driving. The roads are dangerous for cyclists because of bad driving.

imaddictedtomn · 18/08/2017 14:42

This is worse ... there was a man who would cycle round our town during rush hour in the winter (so it was dark) with 2 small children in one of these trailers. I used to cringe every time I went past him after watching massive lorries inches next to those little children and so low down!

These trailers are great at centerparks but not on main roads!

To worry about seeing little cyclists on busy roads
megletthesecond · 18/08/2017 15:03

yy, the trailers make me feel sick. My friends used to take one on the road and I couldn't bear to look.

Testarossa1 · 18/08/2017 15:03

Some cyclist's do seem to think they have right of way though. For example my DP (who is a cyclist himself) and I were out driving on a Sunday morning, going up a 1 in 4 hill on a windy road, so going slowly, came up behind a cycling club going slowly up the same hill, we didn't race up behind them, rev the car etc. Most of the riders moved to the side gradually, so we could slowly and carefully pass them, (we weren't being aggressive at all, taking our time, passing the cyclists when and where sensible) except for one guy, towards the front, he purposefully began to weave right across the road, from one side to the other, causing us to slow to a snails pace and preventing us from passing, whilst all the time waving a hand up and down at us, (No idea why) considering we were still climbing the same steep hill, it was all my dp could do to prevent the car stalling. When said rider deigned to let us pass he flicked 2 fingers at us!!! If cyclists showed respect for drivers; may be drivers might show more respect for them. Though admittedly I know this guy was probably an exception, and we shouldn't tar them all with the same brush.

On a different note, it freaks me out when I see cyclists on busy roads without a helmet on. Helmets really aren't expensive and could be the difference between a concussion and brain damage.

KidLorneRoll · 18/08/2017 15:03

"No car can give enough space for a falling cyclist without giving them the whole road."

Utter bollocks. Just don't drive up their arses and give them space when overtaking. It's not hard.

minisoksmakehardwork · 18/08/2017 15:07

Yes you can give them enough room. Pass them as you would overtake a car. If there isn't room for that, then you shouldn't be overtaking them.

louiseaaa · 18/08/2017 15:10

actually, if you can't stop in time before running the fallen cyclist over - you are too close

TooDamnSarky · 18/08/2017 15:12

Well Said KidLorne

ShotsFired · 18/08/2017 15:15

There is a really simple rule of thumb you can use when overtaking someone on a bike:

If you are passing me, and I suddenly slipped and fell over sideways, would my head go under your wheels?

Yes - you are too close. Give me more room please.
No - thank you, I'll probably get to keep my brain in my skull.

(And massive yy to pp who suggest that all drivers should be made to sit on a bike and experience the effect of a close pass before they pass their test.)

Spudlet · 18/08/2017 15:16

Give us the whole road. Seriously. I get over as far as I possibly can when overtaking cyclists and I very much appreciate drivers who do the same for me on my bike.

Or carry on squeezing past and hope that the inevitable time you knock someone off doesn't result in a life on your conscience, if you prefer.

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