To think that some cyclists are being weird during lockdown?

[AngryBananaSund]

Perhaps its just where I live (or me!) , but while driving my NHS key worker wife to/from work (she's not driving at the moment) I've seen the following behaviour several times.

(1) Cyclists cycling down the middle of the road (literally, their tyre is on the white line) Sometimes they see me and move left (at least a little bit) sometimes they don’t bother

(2) Cyclists in a more normal 'left' position – who see me and move into the middle of the road (sometimes weaving in and out as if teasing the possibility of passing them.)

(3) Cyclists entering a main road without checking for cars or pedestrians

Just to be clear here. I'm not harassing these cyclists in any way, I'm not speeding or getting too close, I don’t have Drum 'n Bass turned up so loud the doors are flexing and when I do get to pass I give them the same room as a large car.

I'm just doing a necessary trip, but some cyclists seem to act as if there should be no cars on the road at all and they are providing a vital function by policing the roads

The safest place for cyclists to be is sometimes close to the middle of the road, in order to prevent drivers from overtaking them in a dangerous place where there is insufficient space or visibility.

They're reclaiming the roads like those goats in Wales. I've noticed it a couple of times as a pedestrian when crossing ie with right of way and a cyclist whizzing down the middle turns right without signalling straight on top of me. Annoying.

Bingo card at the ready...

80% of the ones I’ve come across during lockdown have been incredibly rude and entitled, not following 2m distancing. Never experienced it before and have nothing against cyclists in general. Most are usually polite and give way to pedestrians. All of my encounters have been on ‘public footpaths’ not cycle paths and they think they are above those on foot because they’re on wheels. Going at ridiculous speeds and overtaking pedestrians instead of waiting politely. Also every man and his dog seems to be a cyclist now there’s a lockdown it’s insane!

@FrustratedFrog that's true but there's fuck all traffic around right now. It's just standard mamil behaviour emboldened by lockdown.

There are plenty of weird people about not just cyclists.

Only a few and only those going top speed, in lycra and quite sweaty (guess from the effort of cycling so fast!!). Either they are reclaiming the roads like the goats or (because the roads where never solely theirs at anytime) think the low traffic levels means the can pretend they are in the Tour de France.

Mostly, I've noticed an increase in more leisurely cyclist - especially families out for thier bit of exercise. The low traffic levels have decrease the number of inpatient drivers and made the roads safer for them. Which I think is brilliant, it's almost a shame to think the roads will be jam packed again.

I think there's a big difference between "cyclists" and "people who are riding bikes".

The former (experienced Mamils included) know when to take primary position (in the middle of the lane) - this is self-preservation at danger points to make sure that drivers don't do silly overtakes, and when to tuck in to the left. Cycle safety dictates that you ride a metre away from the kerb when cycling normally.

The latter - they don't know about the rules, so they're hugging the kerb because they don't have enough confidence, riding too far out because they are unconsciously taking the position they would do in a car, and riding on the pavement because they think it's allowed. I even saw someone avoid a bus lane the other day because "he didn't want to get fined by the camera".

Just cut people a bit of slack - if someone impinges on your 2m then turn away, walk in the road if it's safe to do so, cross over, whatever. We're all just trying to keep sane and alive, and this nitpicking over cyclists, walkers, kids, etc isn't helping anyone.

As a cyclist, I can honestly say, all the world is full of first-time cyclists at the moment. I think a lot of people, who've never cycled, have taken to doing so recently and it's really obvious. A lot of them haven't a clue.

Just to add, I think it's great that so many people are riding (disclaimer - I worked in the cycling industry for a long time). So if you like it, join the CTC or British Cycling and get insurance cover for accidents, free legal cover, insure your bikes for outside the home (it doesn't usually cost much extra on your home insurance), do some free cycle training - your council will be able to provide (usually) free training for all ages, get your kids doing Bikeability, and lobby your council for more local bike lanes, quiet routes and off-road facilities so that we can all ride more :-)

There are a lot of dicks around now not just bikes but cars speeding around the "scowl police" (people who scowl at you because your out of the house despite the fact that so are they if you respond in kind they get snarky accuse you of "starting trouble")

The worst human beings are out in force right now the decent ones have stayed home 😉

We were out for our walk a few days ago, just around the corner from our house and there were 2 men on bikes who pretended not to notice my family of 4 people walking up the road, chatting away to each other whilst riding onto our side of the road and coming within inches of us, there was absolutely no need for it. Wankers.

Twice as many people are speeding in their cars, and I keep seeing pedestrians walking 4 abreast or stopping to chat with other pedestrians taking up the whole road and then refusing to move so that I can pass at a safe distance.
I haven't noticed any cyclists behaving strangely. Perhaps it's confirmation bias?

It's great that people can get out and cycle or walk without cars causing danger, noise and pollution. I just hope it continues after this is all over! Why should we all have to bow down in front of king car?

Some cyclists are and always will be twats

I'm cycling to work as alternative is taking a bus (no thank you) and I usually cycle to work fairly regularly anyway. My normal route along a clearly defined cycle path is now overrun by people walking like complete idiots everywhere. Zigzagging constantly across the path so you have no idea if they'll suddenly jump out into your path when you try and overtake, joining the path from concealed entrances without checking if anyone is coming first so I have to slam my brakes on so I dont hit them, walking bang in the middle of the path so you cant overtake, allowing their children/dogs to run around erratically so you have to slow down considerably just in case they jump in your way. Because I'm not an asshole, it means I have to constantly slow down to a walking pace to avoid hitting anyone. It's frustrating but nothing I can do about it so

This is normally a well used commuting cycle path to get into the city and in normal circumstances people know that and act sensibly, but now everyone just doesn't seem to give a shit

To pick up on the comment about pedestrians meandering all over the place - it would be good if both drivers and cyclists would give them plenty of space when they go out into the road to give people space. That doesn't mean people shouldn't look before they go in the road, but be sensible if you are approaching such a situation.

Why should we all have to bow down in front of king car Quite.

but now everyone just doesn't seem to give a shit

^^^

This

Perhaps everyone is being a bit weird because the normal rules have been suspended and everyone is making it up as they go. So you have weird cyclists, pedestrian pinball to maintain the two meter rule, some motorists doing 1000 miles per second and fist fights in the cereal aisle

It doesn't matter what pedestrians are doing the cyclists are still assholes, I've lived in the countryside all my life we know how to walk up a fucking road single file and neither do we go for little strolls along cycle paths - cyclists seem to get enjoyment from doing their best to wind people up in my experience. We were all single file on our walk, if we'd have been any further over we'd have fallen over the hedge into farmers fields, 2 cars passed us with FEET to spare but the cyclist has to come close enough to touch. WTF?

I've overheard cyclists saying that the empty roads give them a chance to improve their times.

A lot of people who have no idea about how to do it safely are biking at the moment. Just be careful and give them plenty of room.

I sometimes end up in the middle of the road due to the absolutely massive pot holes around here

Cyclists are not supposed to drive to close to the left. Imagine if a parked car door opened?

When I'm on my bike and there's a car behind me, if it's safe to do so I will move in to let them pass...but WHEN AND ONLY if it's safe for me to do so.

It sounds like:

• they are in the middle to distance from pedestrians (and maintain this position even without pedestrians so drivers don’t come and box them in by the kerb)
• they are probably cycling where they always cycled - in the middle of the lane- which is the current safety guidance to stop drivers trying to squeeze past and avoid car doors
• you are suddenly noticing this as there are fewer cars and people are more conscious of others outside
• there are lots of people with confirmation bias about cyclists doing bad things. Keep an eye out for drivers running red lights instead of cyclists and suddenly you’ll see sooooo many drivers doing it.

@cologne4711 I always keep an eye out at the concealed entrances on this particular path as theres always people who walk onto it without thinking (just more of them now than before), and also slow down if I see someone approaching it because I dont trust they wont rush out in front of me. Its still really irritating when it happens though, the amount of pedestrians on this particular road who have no common sense and blindly walk out into the middle of a cyclist/jogger/even another pedestrians path

@BusyProcrastinator

I’m not sure if your comment was aimed specifically at me (the OP) but I’ll try and answer

they are in the middle to distance from pedestrians (and maintain this position even without pedestrians so drivers don’t come and box them in by the kerb)

Not in my case, at 07:30 this morning there were no pedestrians or other cars (parked or mobile) on this piece of road

they are probably cycling where they always cycled - in the middle of the lane- which is the current safety guidance to stop drivers trying to squeeze past and avoid car doors

If they cycled in the middle of this road on a normal day they would be road pizza

you are suddenly noticing this as there are fewer cars and people are more conscious of others outside

Possible, but again they just could not do this on a normal day