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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WTF cyclists in the snow

193 replies

lifeandtheuniverse · 01/03/2018 18:47

Cycling in the snow and ice, with no lights on and no reflective gear.

AIBU to think they should be arrested as a danger on the road.

Just had one fall off as lost back wheel on the snow,, car behind him managed to swerve round lost his back end and corrected. Me second car behind, I slam on brakes as he slides towards my front wheels - feet under my bumper. Car behind me ends up touching my bumper!

Then the moron has the balls to swear, berate me and demand my details.

OP posts:
PippinOrange · 02/03/2018 13:29

But yes generally speaking, agree cyclists should not be cycling in the snow !! Its dangerous !!

MrPan · 02/03/2018 13:29

As usual, it's the car drivers causing the death and chaos and costs on the road, not people on bikes.

But for some unfathomable reason you choose to highlight this singualr example. Whilst also claiming bike credentials. Yopu're no bike buddy of mine matey. Bike

MrPan · 02/03/2018 13:30

Conditions don't change in a second! There are things like warnings and forecasts and the like. Which drivers like to ignore because they are invincible in their warm cage.
Until they aren't.

MrsJoshDun · 02/03/2018 13:32

I don’t see why cycling in this weather is anymore dangerous than driving. I’ve seen plenty of pictures and videos of cars skidding about and in ditches. Haven’t seen any threads on here saying “drivers in the snow wtf”.

At least with a bike you won’t get it stuck on the road and have to abandon it.

Original poster
lifeandtheuniverse · 02/03/2018 13:33

cars can kill pedestrians and cyclists - not always at fault. there is no argument about that.

Can cyclists seriously injure and kill pedestrians - yes , fact and completely unrelated to what car drivers do. Why the cycle lobby ( of which I am one) always have to bring in cars is beyond me.

They are linked but not the same. The death of a pedestrian by a cyclist is as tragic as a cyclist killed by a car.

It does not excuse any of the users of our highways from responsibility. Am sure the dead persons family really think- oh well Mum died but she was hit by a cyclist, so it does not matter as much.

Was this cyclist ill prepared and upping the risk of self inflicted injury and involving others in his stupidity yes.

This morning same hill - cyclist on fat snow tires, bright red clothing and lights on - also had a helmet on!! no issues he was prepared - idiot MAMIL was not!

OP posts:
MrPan · 02/03/2018 13:34

Dangerous? We've had death and life-changing injuries. Caused by driving, not by riding a bike.

FreeNiki · 02/03/2018 13:34

At least with a bike you won’t get it stuck on the road and have to abandon it.

You might.

Cycling on ice is a bad idea.

The best option Ive found at the moment is the bus. Huge vehicle and more stable than a car.

MrPan · 02/03/2018 13:36

See OP, you just aren't convincing as a bike rider. Dubious post, and now focusing on someone wearing a helmet. I'd call you out for being a bullshitter.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 02/03/2018 13:36

You've obviously not been on my road then MrPan. I can assure you conditions do change without notice.

Lethaldrizzle · 02/03/2018 13:38

There are Muppet cyclists out there. There are Muppet drivers out there. I know which one I'm more afraid of.

Original poster
lifeandtheuniverse · 02/03/2018 13:39

breakingaway - please learn to read- I did not swear at the effwit, he swore at me.

The drivers involved exchanged details - no damage to any car, because we were having our number plates photographed and being told we were going to have our arses sued and which one of us was going to pay for his apple ear thingies which had come off when he fell.

I stopped over 20m from his bicycle

OP posts:
YetAnotherUser · 02/03/2018 13:46

No reason why a suitably equipped cyclist shouldn't be out in this weather, same as any road users should take appropriate precautions.

Plenty of idiots with 4 wheels and 2 on the roads though.

Keilninnock · 02/03/2018 13:55

Dickheads don't stop being dickheads because it's snowing.

Niceandwarmandhot · 02/03/2018 13:58

Why do cyclists think they might be unpopular with drivers and pedestrians?

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 02/03/2018 13:59

Too true Keil. That goes for both drivers and cyclists of course.

LoudBatPerson · 02/03/2018 14:03

I understand that you had a fright, however so did the cyclist, probably more so.

I must add though, as many have said, you were driving far far too close, as was the car in front.

In snow and ice you should be leaving 10x the normal distance between you and the car in front. So if the normal stopping distance for your slow speed was 5 meters (as you stated in an earlier post) the first car should have been a good 50m behind the cyclist and you another 50 m behind car 1.

If you had all been travelling at the correct stopping distance you would have been a good 100m behind the cyclist at least.

You obviously felt aggravated at the cyclist slowing you all down and even more aggravated his foot should end up under your bumper.

You need to take some responsibility for what happened.

Original poster
lifeandtheuniverse · 02/03/2018 14:06

MrPan - Please look at the stats - cyclists kill aswell.

just google it.

not focussing on the helmet , just another example of a poorly prepared MAMIL .

OP posts:
Original poster
lifeandtheuniverse · 02/03/2018 14:07

I did not make him fall off and I did not hit him - how am I responsible for anything!

OP posts:
Original poster
lifeandtheuniverse · 02/03/2018 14:10

his fright is of his own making, his anger is at his own stupidity and taking it out on people who did not cause his accident, injure him, kill him , swear at him and even offered him a lift home was not justified.

OP posts:
Original poster
lifeandtheuniverse · 02/03/2018 14:10

Agree he should possibly not be arrested but his bike should be impounded!

OP posts:
LoudBatPerson · 02/03/2018 14:11

I did not make him fall off and I did not hit him - how am I responsible for anything!

Responsible for ending up close enough for his feet to go under your bumper, which most likely scared him an awful lot.

If you had been driving at the correct distance you wouldn't have ended up close enough for him to slide under your bumper.

If the car behind you had left enough distance they wouldn't have ended up hitting your bumper.

.You and the other cars involved all drive too close.

Ringsender2 · 02/03/2018 14:14

As a cyclist and a car driver, I am both the recipient of crap driving and also observer of cyclists cycling badly and lacking visibility. Even if it's not 'the law' to wear high vis etc., it's something that cyclists (and pedestrians and other road users) should take responsibiltiy for. They are going to come off worse than cars in the event of an accident, regardless of whose fault it is.

Lethaldrizzle · 02/03/2018 14:18

Just think if he was sitting in a nice day car the roads would be even more clogged up

ElanorGamgee · 02/03/2018 14:20

Nothing wrong with cycling in the snow OP, it isn’t or me but DH runs winter/ice tyres with spikes on them on one of his bikes from November to February. He is a very experienced, sensible cyclist.

If everyone, driver or cyclist, was as prepared and could say the same there would be far fewer issues.

KidLorneRoll · 02/03/2018 14:23

"Conditions of the road can dramatically change in a second."

Yes, and as a driver it is your responsibility to react accordingly.

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