To ask cyclists to follow the rules!!!

[summeriscomingsoon]

Nearly hit by a cyclist going through a red light again as I was crossing the road. We have numerous offenders doing this.

Also going on the pavement to avoid traffic jams.

Cycling has increased so much since lockdown and great health benefits but some of them make me mad!!!

Aibu to expect them to behave as if they were a car on the road and stick to the rules.

@oldsu

Many sympathies for your niece's horrible accident.

I think it's really unpleasant to see people on here moaning about being delayed by 5 minutes when another poster has been talking about a life-altering accident.

The OP is not unreasonable. Cyclists should follow the rules. The legally required rules. These include stopping at red lights and cycling on pavements.

I will say that as a cyclist and a driver, it is easier to forget the rules of the road as a cyclist. You are having to concentrate on pedalling. I can think of two occasions on the last year when I have been totally in the wrong when cycling. Thankfully the drivers around me were aware and, while rightly annoyed, stopped. This isn't an excuse, and I'm sure that 99% of those cyclists you see breaking the law are the ones who have chosen to do so. I think there should be better enforcement, especially about cycling on pavements. Sadly, given the new prevalence of electric scooters, which are outright illegal anywhere, I think enforcement is unlikely to improve.

Ok, I’ll say it slowly.

I don’t expect anyone to put themselves out for me, but nor do I expect others to hold me up when they don’t have to. Its not the same thing. The only reason I’d expect a cyclist to stop is when they are causing the problem

That’s not the same as expecting them to put themselves out for no reason.

That's not so much saying it slowly as changing what you were saying .

Now you do expect cyclists to put themselves out for you, but that's ok because they are causing "the problem".

Said problem being that you can't drive exactly as fast as you want to for five whole minutes.

Yup. Selfish and entitled.

You share the road. Sometimes someone, whether a cyclist or another driver or a pedestrian, will inconvenience you. Sometimes you will inconvenience them. Yes, it's nice if a cyclist chooses to put themselves out for you so you can blast along your merry way but it's a courtesy not an obligation, and the more cyclists have to deal with entitled drivers the less courteous they feel towards all drivers. If you can't accept that, you really should not be driving at all.

@NailsNeedDoing but why should a cyclist lengthen their journey for you. Their time is just as precious.

@NailsNeedDoing it doesn't matter how slowly you say it, you're still entitled and need to learn that your journey isn't the most important.

Hopefully you'll read that slowly and then understand?

Just a reminder I was talking about my experience of cyclists as a pedestrian not as a driver.

As a pedestrian it is, in my opinion, a growing problem due to the increase in the number of cyclists.

When I drive I do try to be very considerate to cyclists as they are far more vulnerable. I wish cyclists showed the same category me as a pedestrian.

but nor do I expect others to hold me up when they don’t have to.
I'd like to bet that most cars in town didn't HAVE to make their journeys. They chose to when there are practical alternatives. Each one contributes to the traffic jams.

I'd say that my getting to work on time is just as important to me as you getting your coffee is to you. In fact if I'm late enough to affect my start time, my employer gets fined £45 per minute. So I leave early enough to account for sheep/hedge trimming/roadworks etc.

@PrelovedWithValue

Were there any houses with gates that an innocent pedestrian would walk through and not realise that a bike was coming towards them

No

Just NO really? well what did I expect from such an ignorant person such as yourself with your shoot me and ignorant emoji , no empathy, no realisation of what could have happened, (take it you didn't read my post) just NO? well that says it all

Oldsu what happened to your niece is shocking

@Blockedoff

I'm very sorry about your niece *@Oldsu* and that particular cyclist acted dreadful. But it's not a reason to be angry with every cyclist. Blame the ones that don't follow the rules, but don't have this infantile all cyclists are idiots/dick heads/should be shot attitude!

That's bloody ridiculous.

People have an awful attitude towards cyclists and it goes to extremes.

Here is an example of it.

www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-03/sydney-man-jailed-for-eight-years-over-cyclists-death/8672666

And where have I said all cyclists should be shot etc I haven't said that at all, in my original post I said that I challenge cyclists on the pavements, the post I was replying to was a post from someone who freely with a 'shoot me' and infantile emoji admitted to cycling on the pavement, but I don't think her ignorant and entitled attitude (especially her reply to me) is shared by every cyclist. If my Niece had walked into the road without looking or was walking on a cycle path without checking for bikes, none of my family would have blamed the cyclist, if she had got up and walked away with a few bruises I doubt that I would have even posted on this thread.

YANBU to ask cyclists to follow the rules. We should expect all road users to follow the rules as they are there for a reason. I absolutely hate to see adults cycling on pavements, running red lights, not stopping at zebra crossings and cycling dangerously on shared paths.

However I also hate to see cars vans and trucks pass cyclists too close, left hook, sitting in a bike box at lights, running red lights, overtaking on blind bends and parking in cycle lanes.

I also hate to see pedestrians using extendable dog leads on shared use paths, large groups of pedestrians refusing to make way, pedestrians walking in bike only lanes with a footpath right next to it.

We all need to be considerate of all other road/path users. I find that the people who don't follow the rules with common sense and consideration all round are just selfish people in all walks of life and it's nothing to do with what type of transport they use.

So YABU to ask ONLY cyclists to follow the rules.

Just NO really? well what did I expect from such an ignorant person such as yourself with your shoot me and ignorant emoji , no empathy, no realisation of what could have happened, (take it you didn't read my post) just NO? well that says it all

No, it really doesn't say it all. But it was 3.30am, I was at the end of my break at work, so I didn't have time to post anything longer. I was hacked off (at the time) at the suggestion that you thought I would think a laughing emoji would be an appropriate response to your post but due to the awful thing that happened to your niece I didn't feel it appropriate to make a big deal of that. So I went with answering your question. I wasn't rude, and it's said a million times on here, no is a complete sentence.

You asked me one question. I answered it honestly. I'm not sure what else you want me to say. It is an awful thing to have happened, but nothing I say will change that in any way. I can't change what happened to her. If I could I would.

And I can't acknowledge that 'could have happened', as there are literally no gates that come out into that pavement. None. It's lined with high hedges and fenced, the other side is gardens, but their access is via a small road that runs parallel.

I just hate the way some ignorant people here lump all cyclists together.

When I go out on a narrow country Lane near me if a car comes behind me I know it can’t pass unless it puts two wheels on the verge. I always pull in at the next gateway.....the road is 4 miles long and narrow all the way. I don’t expect the car to stay behind me for 4 miles!

Guess I could say it’s the car with the problem for being so wide. Guess I could expect them to mount the verge. But I’m sensible and considerate and don’t. People always wave thanks, nobody seems pissed off with me even if they had to wait a minute until I reach a gate.

When I’m on wider roads I’ve had numerous close passes over the years. I don’t start a thread slagging off drivers and saying I wish they would follow the rules.

OP

Some cyclist clearly have a death wish by running red lights etc. and they are obviously putting themselves and pedestrians at risk of serious injury.

Some pedestrians clearly have a death wish, darting across the road when there's a red man signal and stepping off the pavement without looking behind them. Putting themselves and cyclists at risk of serious injury.

Some drivers clearly have a death wish running red light, and speeding down residential streets putting ALL OTHER ROAD USERS, Pedestrians, cyclists and other car drivers, at risk of serious injury.

@PrelovedWithValue

Just NO really? well what did I expect from such an ignorant person such as yourself with your shoot me and ignorant emoji , no empathy, no realisation of what could have happened, (take it you didn't read my post) just NO? well that says it all

No, it really doesn't say it all. But it was 3.30am, I was at the end of my break at work, so I didn't have time to post anything longer. I was hacked off (at the time) at the suggestion that you thought I would think a laughing emoji would be an appropriate response to your post but due to the awful thing that happened to your niece I didn't feel it appropriate to make a big deal of that. So I went with answering your question. I wasn't rude, and it's said a million times on here, no is a complete sentence.

You asked me one question. I answered it honestly. I'm not sure what else you want me to say. It is an awful thing to have happened, but nothing I say will change that in any way. I can't change what happened to her. If I could I would.

Even if you hadn't read my post your emoji and shoot me comment were out of order (although I appreciate your sentiments in the last sentence) many other people have expressed concerns about safety and you were replying to them as well.

If you had posted about your experience but ended it with something like 'I was lucky there were no pedestrians nearby, I would have got off and pushed if I thought I might hit someone' something along those lines, if you had said something like that your post could have shown that.

A From a cyclists POV there are times when they have no choice but to leave the road and that in your case you thought it was the correct thing to do and people do need to understand that.

B. That you would have done everything in your power to minimise the risk even if there were few visible pedestrians at the time of your incident and that you would do the same if it happened again

If you had posted that way I wouldn't have responded to you, but you chose to end it the way you did and in my opinion showed a very ignorant and entitled attitude

I wasn't lucky there were no pedestrians nearby. I have eyes. I know the area where I live. I was safe, and showing consideration for other road users with my actions. There was nobody on the pavement (well there was further up, but they were going in the same direction as me and I was back on the road by the time I reached them).

I always slow down as I pass pedestrians. I always thank people for moving side for me. I stop when I need to.

You reaction to my post (which was not in any way related to your post, and not comparable either, although you weren't to know there were no gates at that point) is skewed because of your experience. It's understandable, but you can't blame every cyclist.

My riding on the pavement in the place that I was with the circumstances I was in, was the safest option for both me and the people around me, and showed the most consideration I could.

There was nothing wrong with the emoji and the 'shoot me'. I wasn't responding to your post. If I was then there's no way I would have posted that.

But all road users have to do their bit to keep everyone safe, and sometimes that means breaking the rules. The blanket 'cyclists shouldn't ever' isn't always best.

I understand why your attitude towards cyclists isn't all sunshine and flowers. But you can't blame us all for the fact that your neice ran into the path of one that was somewhere they shouldn't have been. And that incident could not have happened where I was.

@PrelovedWithValue

I wasn't lucky there were no pedestrians nearby. I have eyes. I know the area where I live. I was safe, and showing consideration for other road users with my actions. There was nobody on the pavement (well there was further up, but they were going in the same direction as me and I was back on the road by the time I reached them).

I always slow down as I pass pedestrians. I always thank people for moving side for me. I stop when I need to.

You reaction to my post (which was not in any way related to your post, and not comparable either, although you weren't to know there were no gates at that point) is skewed because of your experience. It's understandable, but you can't blame every cyclist.

My riding on the pavement in the place that I was with the circumstances I was in, was the safest option for both me and the people around me, and showed the most consideration I could.

There was nothing wrong with the emoji and the 'shoot me'. I wasn't responding to your post. If I was then there's no way I would have posted that.

But all road users have to do their bit to keep everyone safe, and sometimes that means breaking the rules. The blanket 'cyclists shouldn't ever' isn't always best.

I understand why your attitude towards cyclists isn't all sunshine and flowers. But you can't blame us all for the fact that your neice ran into the path of one that was somewhere they shouldn't have been. And that incident could not have happened where I was.

You really are incredibly ignorant, first of all My niece did NOT RUN INTO THE PATH OF A CYCLIST. Secondly read posts - I actually said 'even if you hadn't read my post your emoji and shoot me comment were out of order (although I appreciate your sentiments in the last sentence) many other people have expressed concerns about safety and you were replying to them as well' so I do know you were not just responding to me. You can try and justify your own actions any way that makes you feel better about yourself that's your prerogative but your post with emoji and shoot me were totally out of order in every way possible and have no place on a discussion board but you are not going to see that so I am not wasting any more time on you

I apologise. I thought she must have ran or stepped out into the cyclists path without looking, but that was an assumption I shouldn't have made.

I appreciate you not 'wasting any more time' on me, as to be quite honest I feel the same way.

[quote Blockedoff]**@NailsNeedDoing* but why should a cyclist lengthen their journey for you*. Their time is just as precious. [/quote]
Because my journey doesn’t inconvenience anyone. Their journey can inconvenience plenty of people.

Because they are the ones doing significantly less than the speed limit and causing the tailbacks. My journey doesn’t do that.

@CovidCorvid

I just hate the way some ignorant people here lump all cyclists together.

When I go out on a narrow country Lane near me if a car comes behind me I know it can’t pass unless it puts two wheels on the verge. I always pull in at the next gateway.....the road is 4 miles long and narrow all the way. I don’t expect the car to stay behind me for 4 miles!

Guess I could say it’s the car with the problem for being so wide. Guess I could expect them to mount the verge. But I’m sensible and considerate and don’t. People always wave thanks, nobody seems pissed off with me even if they had to wait a minute until I reach a gate.

When I’m on wider roads I’ve had numerous close passes over the years. I don’t start a thread slagging off drivers and saying I wish they would follow the rules.

You sound like a nice, considerate human being. If more cyclists were like you, I wouldn’t have any reason to dislike them.

Ah, bigotry at its finest

You sound like a nice, considerate human being. If more cyclists were like you, I wouldn’t have any reason to dislike them.

Do you know how ridiculous you sound "I don't like cyclist"!

It at least shows you up as so so stupid, that your opinion is of no consequence.

@NailsNeedDoing I don't like stupid people.

There goes that hypocrisy again.....

Because my journey doesn’t inconvenience anyone. Their journey can inconvenience plenty of people.

Because they are the ones doing significantly less than the speed limit and causing the tailbacks. My journey doesn’t do that.
The average speed in central London is 7.1mph. I can imagine that most of central London's roads consists of 30mph limits (with maybe the odd 20 thrown in) so why is the average speed half what a perfectly ordinary cyclist could manage?

I'll give you a clue, slow speeds and tailbacks there are not caused by cyclists. So the next time that I'm on a bus in London, crawling through traffic, I'll have to remember that someone on the internet reckons that cars don't inconvenience anyone.

Not just in London, mind. I was cycling through rural North Wales last autumn when I had to double back and divert up some very steep hills. Why? There had been an RTA ahead serious enough to require an air ambulance. The victim wasn't using pedal power. But no, apparently motorists never inconvenience anyone.

But I think most cyclists are like me. There’s a minority which give cyclists a bad name. Like there’s a minority of bad car drivers.

I drive as well as cycle. Sometimes I’m stuck behind a cyclist on a wide road due to bends or oncoming traffic and can struggle to get past for a bit. But I don’t expect them to pull in for me.....I have to wait for the road to be clear the other way and it will be even if it’s a couple of minutes. Maybe drivers who don’t cycle have different unreasonable expectations and would expect them to pull in. Which is daft...with a busy road they could be stopping more than they’re cycling and they have every right to be there.