To think some cyclists are complete arseholes....

[Sophisticatedsarcasm]

I’m not blind to the fact that cyclists get grief from drivers, you’d think they’d give some thought to pedestrians. 3 Times today I came across douchebags who couldn’t be bothered to signal when turning and almost run me over, luckily I’m very aware when out walking. One of then tried to hurl abuse at me when I shouted back some very tasteful words along with the other women also almost knocked over. If you want to cycle in a busy part of town then you need to abide by the Highway Code of signalling so people know not to cross the road not just cycle along and spontaneously decide I want that turn no matter who’s there.
Another went up a one way street the wrong way then because a car was coming swerves and almost hits me on the pavement....and not a sorry in sight... which I kindly pointed out when I shouted your welcome really loudly... not that it mattered he continued on his ignorant way.
I like to cycle but I’m always weary of people and to me pedestrians are priority.... it’s a shame not everyone feels the same.
So tell me am I being unreasonable....

I've seen numerous cyclists run red lights and almost ran people over at the crossing. It's as if they think the rules don't apply to them

It's as if they think the rules don't apply to them
There always people in all walks of life who think rules don't apply to them.

Pedestrians who walk out into roads staring at their phones with head phones in.
Drivers who check their phone or make calls when driving.
Drivers who don't signal or use mirrors or get aggressive to others.
Drivers who squeeze past a horse or a cyclist rather than doing a safe overtake because they have a car so are big an important
Cyclists who jump red lights and mount pavements.
Pedestrians who wander down the middle of shared cycle paths/walk ways and then act outraged if a cyclist uses their bell or calls for them to move or put their dog back off the cycle side (saw this on my evening run yesterday. 2 women with dogs meandering around the place. I was running and could see the cyclist. Zero attempt by either of them to move off the cycle side. Then starting complaining loudly about 'who the fuck do they think they are?' Reality is they were being a bloody nuisance and as I approached them I had to try and squash around them as a pedestrian because them and their dogs on long leads were taking up the whole space).

I drive and cycle. There are knobs who do both. The consequence of unsafe and knobbish drivers is vastly greater and yet nobody starts a thread or posts about how they dislike all drivers because they've seen some bad driving.

The consequence of unsafe and knobbish drivers is vastly greater and yet nobody starts a thread or posts about how they dislike all drivers because they've seen some bad driving.

But they do.

You get threads about how a driver was a knob.
You don't get replies like 'I know 5 drivers and because they are a bit of a knob at times it changes my view of all drivers a bit'.

You can pretty much tell the one who are going to be arseholes though. It’s the ones who use the public highway to enact their own personal road race fantasy. Boy racers on two wheels. Twats.

I agree that it is middle aged male cyclists, often in lycra, who seem to behave badly. Rarely have any issue with female cyclists or male cyclists who are better dressed.

And I think the number of serious incidents for cyclists is not low considering the relatively small number of journeys taken by bike, and the likelihood that they will cause less severe injury than a car.

Also pedestrians do step out in front of cars and bikes. Especially elderly or partially sighted people who may have more difficulty judging distance. As a car driver I know I have to always be prepared to stop. Cyclists need to do the same.

And riding 2 or 3 abreast on windy country lanes is not easier to over take. It can be impossible to over take safely. That is why people complain about it as they are stuck behind for mile after mile.

agree that it is middle aged male cyclists, often in lycra, who seem to behave badly. Rarely have any issue with female cyclists or male cyclists who are better dressed
Lycra is vastly more comfy to ride in. Anyone I know who cycles for a hobby (male and female) rides in lycra.
When I'm riding I tend to find the people who jump red lights, cycle wrong way up streets, mount pavements etx are the non cyclists, general people on bikes in casual clothing.

Lycra folk are the ones where there is a minority who are a high-speed freak nutters. They irritate us all.

And riding 2 or 3 abreast on windy country lanes is not easier to over take.
If you can't overtake cyclists 2 abreast but think you could overtake 1 then it probably wasn't going to be a terribly safe overtake. (But I do think it helps as cyclist going single file if there's a place that gives a car a reasonable chance at a half safe overtake if the road is windy)

Agree with a lot here. Just as with shit driving though, there's no simple solution other than driving and riding respectfully.

"I drive along country roads a lot and have seen groups of them cover both sides of the road coming up to a bend. All it would have taken was one van coming round the other way."

There is a reason for this though. It does stop drivers from attempting an overtake into oncoming traffic. In that scenario, the dangerous driver would always wipe out the cyclists if a car appears.

Have almost needed to do this myself once. Approaching 90 degree blind bend with lights, can hear revving behind me approaching. So moved across my lane slowly to discourage a fucking stupid overtake. Driver proceeded to overtake on the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic. Just cause he couldn't wait for 10 seconds. If I'd not acted as I did he would definitely have run me over, cunt.

If you can't overtake cyclists 2 abreast but think you could overtake 1 then it probably wasn't going to be a terribly safe overtake.
Rubbish. Lanes can be wide enough to accommodate a cyclist and 2 cars. Two cyclists riding next to each other take up a whole lane usually, so you have to go totally into the next lane to over take. That simply isn't safe in many country roads.
I had a cyclist turn round and glare at me because I was driving (with plenty of gap) behind him and another person side by side, on a quiet country road. I understood that having a car going about 4 mph behind you for about 20 minutes probably wasn't fun, but no way was I going to over take when I could not see what was coming as it was a windy road.

And I see stupid car drivers stuck behind cyclists riding 2 or 3 abreast attempting dangerous over takes all the time, because they would not wait the 20 minutes I did to over take.
And cyclists never seem to pull in to let a long line of traffic behind them past. Driving a tractor I did this frequently.
I suspect cyclists get so fed up with dangerous drivers, they become dickheads on the road in response.

@bluebug45 how did you come to the conclusion I don’t cycle? I wasnt aware you knew me.
It is dangerous when there is a group riding 2-3 abreast. They also are too arrogant to pull over. I don’t ride my horse with 2 riders beside me as it’s dangerous so why any different for cyclists?
Around my way there are cyclists everywhere. They are really doing my head in

"Lanes can be wide enough to accommodate a cyclist and 2 cars."

Not safely, considering the cyclist needs room to avoid potholes, and won't necessarily be riding in a straight line.

Two cyclists riding next to each other take up a whole lane usually, so you have to go totally into the next lane to over take. That simply isn't safe in many country roads.

Highway Code states that's how you should overtake. If it's not safe to be in the other lane, what you're saying is you're going to overtake regardless of oncoming traffic. Probably why lots ride 2 abreast on country lanes!

@justabouthadituptohere I know someone similar. Neglects his wife and kids because every year he has a new ‘challenge’ which involves lots of training and several weeks away doing said challenge. He’s so obsessed that each time he starts a new job there is always drama about a bike shed and showers to the point it seems like the only thing he’s bothered about the new job is whether he can commute by bike there. Gives wrong impression

Lanes can be wide enough to accommodate a cyclist and 2 cars.
If a car wishes to squeeze past. Most roads are not wide enough for 2 cars and a cyclist safely with the approrpiate distance.
Two cyclists riding next to each other take up a whole lane usually, so you have to go totally into the next lane to over take.
You mean it makes a car do a proper overtake.
If a driver isn't confident doing an overtake going onto the other side of the road then it's not a safe overtake. If they are concerned about a car appearing round a bend so want to be 'their' side of the line then it is not a safe overtake.

I used to work rurally somewhere popular with cyclists. It's annoying slowing down but that's part and parcel of rural living. You get slow vehicles, tractors, horses and cyclists (not to mention your coaches too big for single track roads!)

maisy Slow vehicles such as tractors pull over to let a line of traffic by. Cyclists never do. So yes you get stuck behind them for ages going much slower than tractors do.

inabeautifulplace
Cross posted with you. Spot on.

It's like people getting annoyed when I'm cycling on the left side of the left lane but not in the gutter. I need space around me to manouve if something crops up, pot holes etc. I'm not riding in the gutter so that people can squeeze past (usually people who'll whine about cyclists taking up 'too much space' on the road which translates as 'because I have an engine I believe you should give way to me').

Where I live there are many single track roads
Some cyclists seem to think the rules of these roads don't apply to them! i.e don't pull over to let you pass safely, or stop in passing place for oncoming traffic.

I've pulled over to let cars past on narrow lanes. Far more preferable for me to control the overtake. Also used to switch to single file on them if out with a mate. Not always on wider roads though.

I'll pull across and wave people through if it safe to do so. I'm not coming to a standing stop every time a car is behind me to let them through. (Though I've also seen MN threads whining about the arrogance of cyclists who dare to wave someone through. The very existence of cyclists seems to piss off road users who think having an engine makes them a giant on the road).
And tractors don't stop every time there's someone behind them. Usually it's around the point of having 10-15 cars behind them. I get it. They shouldn't have to pull in just because a driver wants to be past. If the driver is in a rush then it's their own fault for failing to account for the fact their drive is rural on winding roads.

The cyclist decides where is safe to cycle. I am not expecting a cyclist to cycle over potholes - no gutter where I am talking about.
And many cyclists go way way slower than any other road user, so it is not comparable.

Also cycle lanes do not make car drivers leave a very wide gap before over taking cyclists.
Maisy I am not talking about every car. I have driven tractors and stop every so often to let people go by. I will not pass because a cyclist waves me by, if I can not see for myself that it is safe to pass. Cyclists have no idea about the power or lack of it of my car and therefore may make bad judgements. If they actually pull over, I will pass. But I have NEVER seen a cyclist do this.

I think a lot of them have a death wish tbh. We have a few cycle paths and some cyclists still use the road (I mostly walk so happily share the paths with bikes). You couldn't pay me to cycle on the road.

YABU to use the word “some”.
As a pedestrian and an occasional driver I would say say ALL cyclists are complete arseholes.
However, my view is biased as I have suffered injuries (twice) due to cyclists on pavements.

Cyclists are becoming a growing problem on our roads, British roads are narrow (modern cars are larger than they were when these roads were designed) there is more traffic on the roads too, with most people driving in modern society.

Cycling is gaining in popularity, with large groups of cyclists selfishly dominating the roads around where I live.

It's a huge problem that is getter by worse and worse each year.

The biggest problem, the biggest killer is the motor vehicle. Time to look at the bigger picture for the future.