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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask cyclists to follow the rules!!!

321 replies

summeriscomingsoon · 18/03/2021 16:14

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.

OP posts:
TooBored1 · 18/03/2021 19:13

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

The common denominator is people.

Actually the common denominator with shitty cycling is cyclists. It's okay to talk about shitty behaviour from one subset; we don't always have to talk about the entire human race.

You are aware that the vast majority of cyclists are drivers too? A shitty cyclist will be a shitty driver and a shitty driver will be a shitty cyclist.
FFSAllTheGoodOnesArereadyTaken · 18/03/2021 19:14

I'm a cyclist. Yes sometimes I go on the pavement if there is a traffic jam and the pavement is open and pretty much empty. I go slowly and if pedestrians are on the pavement I'll stop etc. I'm getting annoyed at cyclists too. In the past week I almost got knocked down by a man tearing round a blind corner (tall hedges) on the fuckinf pavement. He was going about 20mph. I was so shaken up. And my 3 year old almost got knocked down by an absolute batshit crazy lady who saw us crossing at a pedestrian crossing, smiled at us and my daughter running on ahead, and then just ploughed on regardless though the crossing, swerving onto the pavement just after. I watched her after and she went through some red lights, and through a junction on the wrong side of a busy road for about 20m as a short cut. No helmet. It was honestly one of the worst pieces of driving of anything (car or bike) I've seen in my life.

PattyPan · 18/03/2021 19:14

I’ve never run a red light but there is a thing about some of them which is frustrating as a cyclist and that’s the way some of the sensors are set up. If you cycle up to one slowly it doesn’t always register you so you’re sat there waving your arms to try and get it to pick you up and hoping a car comes along soon to trigger it/wondering if it would be quicker to dismount and use the pedestrian crossing. There’s one by the ADC theatre in Cambridge which is bad for this.

OooPourUsACupLove · 18/03/2021 19:25

@Laiste

So many who, when reminded to abide by the rules, immediately look around for someone else to point a finger at.

The whataboutery here is astounding!

Hmm

Tell you what... you stand in front of a selfish dangerous driver and I'll stand in front of a selfish dangerous cyclist. After all, one is just as bad as the other, right?
Ratched · 18/03/2021 19:29

I try, honestly, I do.
I am hard of hearing, not deaf, but I do have some difficulties. A cyclist, approaching me from behind on a shared path is a nightmare for me. I spend most of the walk looking backwards 😁
But, on the ither side, when I am driving, I always try to be respectful of cyclists.

On Sunday, I overtook one on the fountry lane I live on. To paint an accurate picture, there are a LOT of horse riders around me, so perhaps what I did is coloured by that, but when I overtake any cyclist, I pull right over to the other side of the road and only pull back in when I am well past them.
On this occasion, I did just that, then stopped about half a mile further up the lane. The wonderful cyclist I had passed belted the top of my car and shouted at me
' I'm not a fucking horse you condescending cunt, its always fucking women'
Then cycled on his merry way.
Next time I will skim his hips.
Not really, but ffs.

PattyPan · 18/03/2021 19:32

@Ratched wow that is totally bizarre behaviour, what a knob he was! He definitely does not speak for all cyclists, normal people welcome plenty of space. You did exactly what you were meant to do, in the Highway Code it says to give horses and cyclists as much space as cars when overtaking.

DdraigGoch · 18/03/2021 19:47

[quote itstiktok]@PattyPan Blamed for it?! You could deliberately throw your bike in front of a car and the car driver would still be held responsible. That's part of why bad cyclists are so frightening.[/quote]
There is no presumed liability in UK law.

Ratched · 18/03/2021 19:51

Thanks @PattyPan, must admit, I was bemused by it.
I am usually full of self doubt and quite anxious that I have done nothing wrong. In this case I really was gobsmackedGrin

DdraigGoch · 18/03/2021 19:58

@Ratched he sounds batshit, you did exactly the right thing. When overtaking a cyclist you should treat them as you would a horse. Always move fully across to the other lane. If it isn't safe to move into the other lane, it isn't safe to overtake full stop.

Daphnise · 18/03/2021 20:01

Cyclists are a nuisance wherever they are- but equally cyclists consider everyone else a nuisance.

Kazzyhoward · 18/03/2021 20:02

@TooBored1

How about asking all people to follow the rules?

Every day, I see pedestrians stepping out without looking, I see cars jumping lights, speeding, going wrong way down the road, parking in the pavements etc etc. And yes, some cyclists break the rules too.

And let's not forget, the cyclist is probably a car driver too. And will be a pedestrian sometimes.

It's not about a particular GROUP needing to follow the rules, it's about PEOPLE needing to follow the rules.

Well said.

Idiots are idiots whether they're walking, cycling or driving.

Everyone needs to follow the rules and improve their awareness of things around them.

I'm a walker, cyclist and driver. It doesn't matter what I'm doing, idiots oblivious to their surroundings and idiots breaking the rules annoy me.

Today, I had the misfortune to have a cycle ride on a seaside promenade clearly marked one side for pedestrians, one side for cyclists - huge white markings on the pathway. The sheer number of walkers ambling along completely oblivious they were on the cycling side was astonishing - none of them had white sticks, so they simply must have been stupid not understanding what a large white painted cycle meant on the ground not to mention the blue/white signs on posts with pretty pictures of a cycle and a person divided by a white line! No matter how many rings of my bell nor polite shouts of "cyclist behind" they remained oblivious. I'm seriously thinking of getting one of those really loud air horns!

DdraigGoch · 18/03/2021 20:06

YABU OP and goady. I have had many near-misses with dozy motorists who pull out of junctions without looking, not to mention kamikaze pedestrians. Then there's the dangerous manoeuvre which is known as "left-hooking", where a car overtakes a bicycle and then immediately turns left, forcing the cyclist to emergency brake. I don't tar them all with the same brush, I treat them as what they are: an idiotic minority.

Dobbyismyfavourite · 18/03/2021 20:08

Some cyclist are extremely reckless. My DD is learning to drive and we had a teenager pelting along on the pavement straight onto the road as we were alongside them. This is not the first time this has happened on the school run but I despair as he could have easily ended up under our wheels. Plus he was dressed in dark clothes, hood up, ear pods in and no lights - madness!

Winifredgoose · 18/03/2021 20:19

On a different road moan, as a driver, cyclist and pedestrian, i am increasingly concerned by the amount of people who walk around wearing headphones and are seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. In the last week I have seen two near accidents where people just begin crossing a road without properly looking while wearing their headphones. They look like mindless lemmings and are 100% reliant on cyclists/drivers taking full responsibility for their safety. It is scary.
As far as cyclists go, as people above have said I see no more cyclists breaking rules than cars. In all honesty I think the most common infraction I witness is cars not stopping at zebra crossings.

united4ever · 18/03/2021 21:10

Cycling infrastructure is poorly planned. Bike lanes are pathetic in many cases and just come to an abrupt stop all too frequently. On shared cycle/pedestrian paths pedestrians sometimes interpret the bell as 'get out of my way' when it's being used to make the pedestrian aware that you are approaching. Will be interesting to see how the next decade or two pans out. I hope we go the way of Paris and encourage more active travel.

CuthbertDibbleandGrubb · 18/03/2021 21:14

I am imagining a column by Jeremy Clarkson if presumed liability was ever proposed.

jasjas1973 · 18/03/2021 21:16

Before you dickhead car drivers have a go at cyclists... maybe have a look at your own behavior?
i ride a lot, almost every time some tosser comes past at at 60 a metre from my elbow or pulls out in front of me.... car drivers kill 1800 people per year.
www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-01-29/shocking-moment-car-drives-straight-through-junction-and-crashes-into-cyclist

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 18/03/2021 21:43

You are aware that the vast majority of cyclists are drivers too? A shitty cyclist will be a shitty driver and a shitty driver will be a shitty cyclist.

That's not a logical conclusion, no.

TooBored1 · 18/03/2021 22:02

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

You are aware that the vast majority of cyclists are drivers too? A shitty cyclist will be a shitty driver and a shitty driver will be a shitty cyclist.

That's not a logical conclusion, no.

No less logical than trying to say all cyclists are selfish wankers because of the behaviour of a minority.
Macncheeseballs · 18/03/2021 22:07

Oh come on, drivers are and always be a far greater hazard on our roads, hands down

Ohforarainyday · 18/03/2021 22:10

I don't understand why cyclists get so furious about defending dangerous illegal cyclists who hurt people with their selfishness. If I started a thread about a drunk driver, it wouldn't be full of outraged drivers going "another driver bashing thread, typical!"

Cyclists should be more like horse riders. Horse people take no shit and are first in line to call out bad and dangerous riding. You'd never see horse riders defending illegal and dangerous behaviour from other horse riders. Yet cyclists act like owning a precious planet-saving bike puts you above criticism and get vicious and abusive at the mere suggestion that disabled or elderly people want to be able to walk down the pavement.

In past threads I've seen all sorts, cyclists defending breaking the law, saying they have to cycle on pavements or through red lights because it's safer or more convenient for them, saying that no one should walk on a pavement if they're unsteady on their feet or deaf, no pedestrian should ever wear earphones and if you do and a pavement cyclist smashes into you it's your fault for not "being aware", all manner of disableist abuse.

Pure arrogant entitled selfishness.

I've only seen a car blatantly charge through a red light at a pedestrian crossing that had people on it once in my life, and it was late at night and the driver was obviously drunk. (Reported to police.)

I see cyclists do the same multiple times a day. I once saw a cyclist decide to weave through cars and illegally cross a red light pedestrian crossing in Sheen when the traffic meant he couldn't see the crossing or if there was anyone on it until it was too late, and he smashed into a dog.

There's a different crossing in Hammersmith that's immediately after a sharp 'blind' corner, I never cross there because sometimes cyclists come haring round it at speed, ignore the red light, and because it's a blind corner there's no way for them to be able to see if there's anyone on the crossing until after they've turned the corner. I was once on a bus and witnessed a cyclist ignore the red light and take that corner at speed, notice there was a party of school children on the crossing, and have to hurl his bike down to one side (injuring himself) to avoid smashing into them.

The traffic light directly outside my house is another one I can't use because five or six buses use that road which means there are often buses stopped at the red light, and if a bus is the first vehicle stopped behind the light it's so big you can't see if there's a cyclist coming up on the inside about to race across the pedestrian crossing and smash into you, should you happen to be walking at the same time. I regularly walk a quarter of a mile to the other crossing just to avoid it.

It's not just the odd bad apple, it's clearly systemic. A change in cycling culture needs to occur.

Ohforarainyday · 18/03/2021 22:15

none of them had white sticks, so they simply must have been stupid

How horribly ableist. Many blind and VI people don't use white sticks. There are also plenty of people with conditions like dementia, which can affect balance and being able to read signs.

The mental image of an enraged cyclist complete with air horn screaming and tooting furiously at elderly people to get out of the way is not one that engenders warmth towards cyclists.

If you choose to share a path with pedestrians, some of whom will be elderly or disabled, then you have to learn patience.

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 18/03/2021 22:25

No less logical than trying to say all cyclists are selfish wankers because of the behaviour of a minority.

Good job nobody did that then!

TooBored1 · 18/03/2021 22:34

@Ohforarainyday

I don't understand why cyclists get so furious about defending dangerous illegal cyclists who hurt people with their selfishness. If I started a thread about a drunk driver, it wouldn't be full of outraged drivers going "another driver bashing thread, typical!"

Cyclists should be more like horse riders. Horse people take no shit and are first in line to call out bad and dangerous riding. You'd never see horse riders defending illegal and dangerous behaviour from other horse riders. Yet cyclists act like owning a precious planet-saving bike puts you above criticism and get vicious and abusive at the mere suggestion that disabled or elderly people want to be able to walk down the pavement.

In past threads I've seen all sorts, cyclists defending breaking the law, saying they have to cycle on pavements or through red lights because it's safer or more convenient for them, saying that no one should walk on a pavement if they're unsteady on their feet or deaf, no pedestrian should ever wear earphones and if you do and a pavement cyclist smashes into you it's your fault for not "being aware", all manner of disableist abuse.

Pure arrogant entitled selfishness.

I've only seen a car blatantly charge through a red light at a pedestrian crossing that had people on it once in my life, and it was late at night and the driver was obviously drunk. (Reported to police.)

I see cyclists do the same multiple times a day. I once saw a cyclist decide to weave through cars and illegally cross a red light pedestrian crossing in Sheen when the traffic meant he couldn't see the crossing or if there was anyone on it until it was too late, and he smashed into a dog.

There's a different crossing in Hammersmith that's immediately after a sharp 'blind' corner, I never cross there because sometimes cyclists come haring round it at speed, ignore the red light, and because it's a blind corner there's no way for them to be able to see if there's anyone on the crossing until after they've turned the corner. I was once on a bus and witnessed a cyclist ignore the red light and take that corner at speed, notice there was a party of school children on the crossing, and have to hurl his bike down to one side (injuring himself) to avoid smashing into them.

The traffic light directly outside my house is another one I can't use because five or six buses use that road which means there are often buses stopped at the red light, and if a bus is the first vehicle stopped behind the light it's so big you can't see if there's a cyclist coming up on the inside about to race across the pedestrian crossing and smash into you, should you happen to be walking at the same time. I regularly walk a quarter of a mile to the other crossing just to avoid it.

It's not just the odd bad apple, it's clearly systemic. A change in cycling culture needs to occur.

I don't see anyone defending dangerous, illegal or selfish cycling? Crap behaviour is crap behaviour, no matter your mode of transport and people should be pulled up on it.

I think it is justifiable to point out that bad drivers pose a far greater risk to life and limb though. That doesn't excuse bad cycling (or rubbish pedestrians) but if we want to make our roads safer, we need to start with the things that cause the most damage - uninsured, illegal drivers, dangerous drivers etc.

Grouping all cyclists together under the banner of selfish wankers will not make our roads safer. Nor does it reflect the reality that most cyclist are safe, law abiding and considerate. Just as most drivers are.

Let's all focus out energy where it's needed and pull people up on dangerous behaviour, no matter their mode of transport.

OooPourUsACupLove · 18/03/2021 22:43

If I started a thread about a drunk driver, it wouldn't be full of outraged drivers going "another driver bashing thread, typical!"

Because your drunk driver thread would be about a drunk driver not all drivers, while the cyclist bashing threads usually just moan about “cyclists”, blaming all cyclists for the actions of some.

Try starting a thread about how drivers are selfish and entitled for causing congestion, take up public space for parking their cars and make streets dangerous for kids. See how that goes in terms of outraged drivers responding!

Plus of course the very teeny weeny little fact that drivers kill and maim tens of thousands of people in the UK every year does tend to make cyclists, who don’t, feel a little miffed to be held up as this deadly road menace.

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