AIBU to bloody hate cyclists

[FortyAndFlagging]

I have just trailed three cyclists during the course of the day. Honest to God, why don't they just pull over and let people pass?

Cars rarely hit pedestrians

Really?

From 2012 to 2016, 2,120 pedestrians were killed by a vehicle in Britain—0.8% of these involved a bicycle, and 66% involved a car

It's the car you need to be worried about, stats like pedestrians hit per million miles travelle are meaningless, against these figures.

@Tara336 - i thought you meant an over taking car forced you to swerve, not a group of cyclists, so yes they were bang out of order, New Forest does have a bad reputation for cycling in groups, a lot of cycle events are held there.

Look i get what you mean, but i witness atrocious driving that can result in death and injury almost every bicycle ride and car journey i do, if you'd not reacted quickly, you would have had a dented car, those cyclists would be in hospital or a morgue.

@jasjas1973 this is the problem, we live on the edge of the forest and walk/drive up there all the time, it’s come to the point where I don’t want to drive up there in the summer as the amount of club cyclists/organised events is ludicrous. It’s lovely to see everyone enjoying the forest but these large groups spoil it for everyone. Maybe if they put somethings in place to limit the groups with a permit system (easily policed as the rangers are always about) it would be nicer for everyone (maybe a code of conduct/forest bylaws given with the permit). I’m pretty sure these cyclists would be equally upset if they couldn’t visit their local beauty spot due to it being overrun by people behaving selfishly/badly.

Threads like this make it more dangerous for people who ride bikes. It directly contributes to the culture of antipathy in this country towards people on bikes, and legitimises those who then act accordingly. I have been: spat at; shouted at; passed dangerously close; been forced off the road by a bus; and more, all for no reason other than being on a bicycle.

So I mean it quite sincerely when I say:

• Fuck you if you think bicycles don't belong on the road.
• Fuck you if you moan at people being two abreast on bicycles.
• Fuck you if you judge people based on the clothing they choose to cycle in.
• Fuck you if you don't understand that it is perfectly ok for people on bicycles to filter through traffic. (Oh and a double fuck you if you follow it up with a "They think they can give 30cm clearance when passing my car but moan if I pass them that close.")
• Fuck you if you say things like "Cyclists think they own the road."

I could go on, but I should probably stop for now.

Fuck you if you think bicycles don't belong on the road

Round here cyclists (and people who wanted to get involved) campaigned for a cycle lane. The road was narrowed, and the pavement widened to include a cycle lane. It couldn’t be more clearly signed, and yet majority of cyclists still cycle on a much narrower road.

THAT is a reasonable criticism.

I don’t have an issue with cyclists as a group. I have an issue with people doing stupid things!

majority of cyclists still cycle on a much narrower road

Do you know why, Jacques?

If a cycle lane is well designed then it will be used. If it's not then it won't. Your criticism belongs to the designers of such a scheme.

If a cycle lane is well designed then it will be used. If it's not then it won't. Your criticism belongs to the designers of such a scheme.

It's a bit like a ring road. If by some cock-up if design it takes twice as long to go round the ring road as it does to go through the town centre traffic will use the town centre. There's a choice.

Tara336

I do believe some events have been stopped due to complaints in the New Forest.

Though even now, there are only 6 events between April and October, that doesn't stop people complaining though.
www.sway-pc.gov.uk/16880

I go to Mallorca every year with my partner, instead of moaning, the Spanish have embraced cycling and used it to boost their tourist season, which now starts in March and extends it through to October, if you think there are a lot of bikes in the NF, go to Puerto Pollensa in April!!!

I've never been hit by a cyclist and if people don't report it then how do you know its happening? From mumsnet? Tara - if you live near a forest, no better way to see it than by bike. Dump the old polluting banger.

Good point Vulpine
New forest is pretty flat and even if your not very fit, there are some great electric pedal assist bikes out now which will give you some exercise without wearing you out.

A shit cyclist is simply not comparable to a shit driver

And this is the key point. In nearly all cases a rubbish cyclist will only hurt themselves. Whereas a bad driver can kill themselves but also take others with them.

OP get off your lazy arse and start cycling then see if you are still BU

Op is not lazy, s/he is very busy which is why s/he can not be held up by cyclists.

If a cycle lane is well designed then it will be used. If it's not then it won't. Your criticism belongs to the designers of such a scheme

It was designed by a committee of planners and the local cycling clubs they made a huge song and dance about its opening and that it was a “cycle lane for cyclists designed by cyclists”.

A shit cyclist is simply not comparable to a shit driver

Well that depends. The incidences of shit cycling I take most exception to, are nowhere near any traffic. So in those incidents, they’re in fact worse than a shit driver, because there are no drivers.

I was quite excited when they build a cycle lane on a busy road where I live. What a disappointment! It's full of holes and dips, and makes for an extremely unpleasant ride. Recently, a young girl was almost hit by a car as she rode on it, tried to avoid a bump and almost ended up falling on the main road.

I cycled on a cycle lane in France recently, what a different experience. What's the point of building a cycle lane and make it so unpleasant to ride on it?

As a cyclist I don't agree with the statement that a shit driver is worse than a shit cyclist. Even if the cyclist is more likely to be seriously injured or killed, I really wouldn't want to live with the knowledge that I've killed a cyclist driving even if they were proven to be fully in the wrong.

It was designed by a committee of planners and the local cycling clubs grin they made a huge song and dance about its opening and that it was a “cycle lane for cyclists designed by cyclists”.

But if cyclists are avoiding it I'm guessing they're doing so for good reason rather than cutting off their noses to spite their faces and to be awkward! The problem must be with the design.

The problem must be with the design

I genuinely can’t see how. It’s a long stretch of very wide pavement, clearly split by a channel, nice and wide, no potholes, no parking on it.

See this is the problem, you criticise some cyclists and the mental gymnastics to try and explain why they’re no way going to be at fault ensues

I genuinely can’t see how. It’s a long stretch of very wide pavement, clearly split by a channel, nice and wide, no potholes, no parking on it.

There is one of these near me. I don’t use it because in addition to the above it also includes pedestrians. A lot of pedestrians who don’t acknowledge that it’s a bike lane, thereby rendering unsafe for bikes. In addition, it starts and stops in awkward places, chucking you back out into free flowing traffic on the wrong side of the road. Much safer just to ride on the road.

Also, I can’t believe you think cyclists are riding on the road just to be awkward! How completely ridiculous.

I don’t use it because in addition to the above it also includes pedestrians. A lot of pedestrians who don’t acknowledge that it’s a bike lane, thereby rendering unsafe for bikes

The thing is, the local town council started a consultation as to whether they should remove it and return to no cycle lane other than on the side of the road. Nope, cyclists up in arms.

It’s a farce at the moment. I’m really hoping the council just push through and remove it, which seems the most sensible course of action.

Also, I can’t believe you think cyclists are riding on the road just to be awkward! How completely ridiculous

Sure - show me where I said that with a quote please? Or, just maybe, is this the mental gymnastics I referenced before

Ok here’s another problem we have a lot.

I live next to a tow-path. There are two tunnels with exceedingly narrow stretches of tow-paths which have poor visibility. There are very large, very clear signs stating cyclists must dismount.

75% are perfectly reasonable and do. The other 25% totally ignore the instructions.

Now I’m sure there’s going to be a myriad of reasons why I’m unreasonable in criticising the 25%....

Or the cyclists who choose to cyclist in the areas of the country park designated as no cycling.

Do I think all cyclists are a menace? No.

Should you be allowed to criticise those who behave dangerously? Yes!

Hello Jacques!

The problem must be with the design

I genuinely can’t see how. It’s a long stretch of very wide pavement, clearly split by a channel, nice and wide, no potholes, no parking on it.

At this point you cease to be a credible witness! You are asking us to accept that a significant proportion of cyclists go out of their way to avoid a route which is actually better for them simply to make the lives of motorists harder