To think there is a new generation of reckless cyclists?

[FuriousVexation]

In the last few years there has been a massive increase in cyclists. I have no problem with this at all! People cycling to work rather than driving can only be a good thing. And it is at least a healthy hobby for those who get a bit obsessed with their timings. (I get a bit obsessed with my strength training at the gym so can't judge.)

But over the last year I have seen an increasing number of young people, mainly teenagers, riding around and "popping a wheelie" as we used to say in the 1980s. (IE - leaning back on the seat and raising the front wheel off the road/pavement.)

More concerning, there seems to be a trend of teenage cyclists to just swerve into the road or across the road without looking for traffic. I can count 3 times in the last week that a cyclist has put their life in my hands.

For example, on Friday I was driving up to the side road I needed to turn into, had my indicator on. No obstructions in front of me. I saw a young lad cycling down the pavement of the main road, towards me, with his little sister (I assume) being given a backie. If I had only been paying attention to the road and other cars then he would have plowed straight into me as I turned into the road. Thankfully for us all I stopped as I reached the turnoff (as I had clocked him and that he probably wasn't looking around) as he sailed across the road in front of me without even looking.

Worst of all, the young people who I see doing this aren't wearing headgear. I know teenagers always think they're immortal - I did! But to ride without a helmet AND be so reckless just seems insane.

Has there been a TV programme or something which encourages teens to ride? and isn't too hot on safety?

What really bugs me are the cyclists who decide red lights are just for cars. At least twice a week I’ll almost get mown down whilst using the zebra crossing by my office. Twats.

I think at the end of every summer holiday there are kids ridding recklessly on bikes. I think it'll calm down to certain times of the day once school starts in September.

It’s not new for kids to do stupid things. That’s why the Highway Code warns motorists to be careful around them and treat them as a vulnerable hazard. This is a bit pearl clutchy, kids are reckless, always have been. 🙄

By the second post in and we've got two entries into anti-cycling bingo ...

Helmet wearing isn't compulsory, doesn't save lives and in countries where helmet wearing is compulsory, cycling rates reduce leading to poorer health outcomes.

Some cyclists run red lights. So do a lot of drivers. Also, a cyclist turning left at a red isn't inherently dangerous and is often safer for the cyclist. In Paris, cyclists are permitted to go through red lights.

Kids have always ridden bikes with abandon. We just see fewer now as the standard of driving is now so poor out there that parents don't feel safe allowing their kids out.

The kids riding like arseholes have been around a couple of years now. No idea why theyre so reckness. They just have no fear.

Just be extra vigilant op. Police etc have no power or cant be arsed to deal with rhem.

More concerning, there seems to be a trend of teenage cyclists to just swerve into the road or across the road without looking for traffic.

I’ve noticed this a lot too, it is worrying. Older cyclists are great around here for the most part, I think the problem might be that some teenagers don’t understand (or sometimes care) about road rules and are still riding their bikes like they would have done age 8 at the end of their cul de sac.

What really bugs me are the cyclists who decide red lights are just for cars

A cyclist screamed at me to fuck off when he came screeching around a corner on a red light and almost knocked me over.

Last week I was driving and a man was cycling along the middle of the main road, no helmet and headphones in

In our area the young teenagers ride in packs of 15+, in the road towards the oncoming traffic. I have to remember to lock the car doors as we start driving as their 'fun' new game is to try and open car doors as they cycle past.

By the second post in and we've got two entries into anti-cycling bingo ...

It's nothing to do with ‘anti-cycling bingo’. It’s everything to do with not wanting to be mown down when I’m crossing the road and have right of way.

Some cyclists run red lights. So do a lot of drivers. Also, a cyclist turning left at a red isn't inherently dangerous and is often safer for the cyclist. In Paris, cyclists are permitted to go through red lights.

I’m sure some drivers do. I never said there was no such thing as bad drivers. But we’re discussing cyclists - and it’s two of those who have nearly run me over twice this week.

What happens in Paris is irrelevant to how cyclists behave in the UK.

Well.. if 0.001% of cyclists are reckless maniacs, suppose in 2019 there are 5 million people who cycle regularly (compared to only 50,000 regular cyclists in 1989.

.001% of 5 million = 5000.
.001% of 50,000 = 50

So yes, if more people cycle then odds are there higher totals of reckless ones being spotted.

A way to prevent this is stop all immigration, then the total population will decline and the count will go down.

I'm wondering when helmets will become compulsory for car passengers & drivers. The safety case is pretty overwhelming. Once we all have auto-self drive cars then we can be strapped in like babies are now, for maximum safety (wearing helmets).

I'm not endorsing any of this, btw. But it's as productive a set of points to make as any other post so far on thread.

No. Definitely not being unreasonable.

I don’t hate cyclists but some of them go by their own rules.

A woman came flying around the corner in our village and hit a parked van. She ended up with a compound fracture.

I mean to say she was also on the wrong side of the road.

I've just returned from Tokyo and was amazed to see how easily cyclists and pedestrians co-exist on the footpaths there. It seems to be a mutual respect thing - they look out for each other, not looking to outdo each other. They were cycling st speed too but prepared to stop when needed.

It was also great to see how many people cycle there - especially parents doing the school run - we saw loads of bikes with parent and up to three children on it (one in back, two in front big basket thing).

There were no Lycra clad aggressive cyclists, just people calmly and peacefully going about their business.

Oh come on OP, surely you’ve been on MN long enough to know you dare not utter a word of criticism against cyclists.

Wasn’t long before we get “drivers do it worse” 🙄

Every year when tour de Yorkshire comes through here, we have weeks of dangerous cycling going on. I have to say the most scary are parents put with kids who arent confident riding behind them.

The other week a cycling club came round a corner with several members on the wrong side of the road nearly get knocked off their bike by a car coming the other way.

And year round there isseverla cyclists that go on the rural road at 7am, no lights in reflective. So in autumn/winter it's very dangerous. I pass them most mornings so know to expect them. One screams at anyone over taking him no matter how much room they give him.

That said theres a good portion of car drivers that are Incredibly dangerous. I just conclude that these people would just as bad in a car as on a bike.

Where I live there is a new trend for teenagers to cycle in groups of up to 100. They cycle towards oncoming traffic,try door handles and are abusive to anyone who tries to remonstrate with them.

One day a few weeks ago they did this for 6 miles. The police aren't interested and the ringleaders film it on headcams to put on u tube.

It's not about being anti cyclist. Most people, me included, get into their cars to go from A to B and not spend an hour or so stuck in a traffic jam caused by idiots playing silly buggers, risking their lives and trying to goad motorists.

What is the actual punishment for cyclists in Britain when they go over a red light and get caught? I am in Germany and a friend who got caught recently had to pay 170€ and got one point in Flensburg (the register for traffic offenses; you lose your driving license when you have 8 points)

I have to admit that I occasionally go over a red light when I‘m neither endangering myself nor others.

@pollywollydolly what do you mean by “they try door handles”? Do you mean of parked cars as they ride past? Just trying to picture it.

@YeOldeTrout - couldn’t agree more with you re the stats. Cyclist hatred threads popping up all over the place at the moment.

Cyclist hatred threads popping up all over the place at the moment

Don’t be daft. Are we never to mention poor behaviour from cyclists lest a cyclist be upset?

I’m a driver, I don’t get upset by threads about crap drivers because there are many, many bad drivers.

It should be ok to mention specific incidents without a myriad of excuses forthcoming.

But over the last year I have seen an increasing number of young people, mainly teenagers, riding around and "popping a wheelie" as we used to say in the 1980s. (IE - leaning back on the seat and raising the front wheel off the road/pavement.)

If it was called that in the eighties, why do you consider it a new thing now?

I must admit I'm always pleased to see people on bikes. You can't expect them all to be paragons of virtue at all times. Round here (rural area) we are plagued by young men speeding and tailgating in their cars. There are frequent accidents caused by speeding. The rural roads are not safe because they know there are not enough police to monitor them.

I would be so happy to see them do something like ride a bike instead. I agree your thread is pearl clutchy. I hate all the cyclist-hating threads and find them horribly anti-social, but no doubt this will turn into yet another one. Meanwhile, people get fatter and the roads more dangerous with speeding cars.

A couple of months ago I had words with a young teenager playing in the middle of a 30mph through route (wheelies, wrong side of the road etc) His retort was that he was good at it. I pointed out that the car drivers don't know that and he really doesn't want them to panic and crash into him because they can't predict what he's doing. I told him to head off to one of the multitude of side roads (cul-de-sacs) to practice his stunts instead.

I doubt it's a new problem. Young males (in particular) have always felt a dangerous level of invulnerability. It does tend to be male u21s who do treat public highways like a BMX track. Their preference for dark clothes, no lights etc really doesn't help the rest of the highway users to spot them safely.

I've said it before I'll say to again. I'm all for cyclists to be on the road but there needs to be a standardised approach

Cyclists should be required to have licenses, and pass the appropriate tests and be required to wear the appropriate safety equipment. Additional consequences attached to anyone who is reckless either on a bike or car.

I had to buy a effing fishing license the other day but there are no licenses for cyclists.

Go into London if you want to see reckless and arrogant cyclists lists, none of them teenagers!
Had friend mowed down on a red light crossing, broken shoulder, cyclist just got back on and cycled off, loads of damaged cars, being spat at, sworn at, Hate them!
I am 55 and a driver and cyclist in London, so am not being one sided.

Most of the awful, arrogant cyclists I encounter (as a cyclist) are middle-aged men. They go waaaaay too fast in city centres and on shared cycle/pedestrian paths