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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cyclists without helmets

168 replies

Freedi8 · 31/05/2021 21:39

Driving around my local town today which was heaving and was quite lovely to see everybody having a good time.

Anyway, as we were driving, there were 3 cyclists who didn't appear to be experienced cyclists - 2 men and a woman.

They were riding in the middle of the road, they had no helmets on, they were trying to over take cars when cars were turning (a few near misses from different cars), they were weaving in and out of cars, and they were not concentrating on the road but pointing at buildings as they cycled in the middle of the road.

The thing is, we would sigh a sigh of relief whenever we got past them, just for them to catch up at traffic lights.

The worst 2 incidents were:
The man and woman got through an amber traffic light turning right and it turned red before their friend got through. Their friend decided to go through the red light and almost got hit by an oncoming car.

Second was, in a queue of traffic lights ready to turn left, when the cyclists come through on the left side of the cars and as i'm about to turn left they coming straight past me on the left side wanting to turn right.

My patience was wearing a thin and I couldn't believe they weren't wearing helmets when they were riding their bikes with such carelessness.

OP posts:
secular39 · 31/05/2021 22:18

Having worked with patients who have sustained traumatic brain injuries. People who ride without helmets are idiotic at best.

colouringcrayons · 31/05/2021 22:18

[quote Freedi8]@colouringcrayons i'd expect experienced cyclists would atleast know how to stay safe on a road[/quote]
You don't know much about cycling though, so does your view count?

There is evidence that drivers are more careful around cyclists without helmets.

Original poster
Freedi8 · 31/05/2021 22:18

Putting the helmet debate aside, i'd expect every road user to know how to stay safe on the road, including cars, motorbikes, cyclicists etc.
The three today riding through red lights and over taking whilst cars are turning should be just as much likely to be stopped by the police for absolutely silly cycling

OP posts:
Original poster
Freedi8 · 31/05/2021 22:19

@colouringcrayons how do you know how much I know about cycling? Hmm

OP posts:
CandyLeBonBon · 31/05/2021 22:20

Inexperienced cyclists, just like inexperienced drivers, make mistakes. Unfortunately if you're an inexperienced cyclist facing irate drivers, you are definitely likely to come off worst. I speak from experience l. Whilst it's irritating op, how can anyone improve other than with practice?

Annoyed and impatient car drivers aren't going to help, are they?

Original poster
Freedi8 · 31/05/2021 22:21

@colouringcrayons The highway code advices helmets and a securily fit one at that. I don't get how you've presumed I have no cycling experience by my thread?

OP posts:
WildWaterSwimmer · 31/05/2021 22:22

My bugbear is cyclists who wear dark clothing. I'm often out driving early in the morning or in the evening and so many cyclists are completely invisible to motorists in their dark clothing with no lights.

Please wear fluorescent clothing and light up cyclists, for your own safety.

CandyLeBonBon · 31/05/2021 22:22

Advises. Not advices. (Yes I know I'm THAT poster but it jars every time I read it, sorry).

Original poster
Freedi8 · 31/05/2021 22:23

@CandyLeBonBon I completely understand that and everybody starts somewhere.
My stomach was doing flips the amount of near misses these three had today, and all they did was laugh and speak to each other and point at things.

I think everybody on the road needs to take responsibility for safety and this includes the cyclists knowing the highway code for themselves also

OP posts:
Original poster
Freedi8 · 31/05/2021 22:23

@CandyLeBonBon I corrected myself straight after in the next post; i'm typing too fast Grin

OP posts:
CandyLeBonBon · 31/05/2021 22:23

[quote Freedi8]@Oenanthe so when the adult cyclist went through the red light to turn right and the oncoming car almost hit him, it's the oncomings car's fault for driving a car? Hmm[/quote]
No one can comment on who was at fault without knowledge of that specific road layout

colouringcrayons · 31/05/2021 22:24

[quote Freedi8]@colouringcrayons The highway code advices helmets and a securily fit one at that. I don't get how you've presumed I have no cycling experience by my thread?[/quote]
Because you seem not to know that plenty of experienced cyclists don;t wear helmets!

PurpleDaisies · 31/05/2021 22:24

@CandyLeBonBon

Advises. Not advices. (Yes I know I'm THAT poster but it jars every time I read it, sorry).
Which was corrected by the op in her next post. Didn’t you bother to read beyond the grammar mistake or did you get too excited at the opportunity to feel all superior?
schoolfinder007 · 31/05/2021 22:24

@Oenanthe

Cycling is a safe, enjoyable, healthy and completely benign activity.

It's cars that make the danger. No motorist has the right to pontificate when it's entirely their choices that introduce the risk.

Have you ever driven regularly around central London?

It is certainly not just the cars that make the danger. The cyclists are crackers!

colouringcrayons · 31/05/2021 22:24

@CandyLeBonBon

Advises. Not advices. (Yes I know I'm THAT poster but it jars every time I read it, sorry).
Oh, do pedant off!
Original poster
Freedi8 · 31/05/2021 22:25

@CandyLeBonBon ayyy? Going through a red light either way is not allowed Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
Freedi8 · 31/05/2021 22:26

@colouringcrayons I still don't understand how stating a lot of experienced cyclists wear helmets makes me have no experience of cycling?
I didn't say EVERY experienced cyclist does.

OP posts:
Onceihadaname · 31/05/2021 22:27

A previous boss was an a&e Dr with a specialism in head injuries.
They had very firm opinions on the need to wear helmets when cycling.
For me there is no debate as I defer to their direct experience and have always taught the kids that helmets are non negotiable.
People are cocky and over confident on the road these days (cyclists, drivers, pedestrians alike). Yeah, the majority of helmet free cyclists will be fine, but I do have sympathy for the families of the rest.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 31/05/2021 22:27

In regards to making it a law that cyclists must wear a helmet, I wonder how many drivers would actually wear a seat belt or not drink alcohol if it was **always optional 🤔? I ride a bike without a helmet but like the mask wearing - I would have no problem if I was forced to do so.

CandyLeBonBon · 31/05/2021 22:27

[quote Freedi8]@CandyLeBonBon I completely understand that and everybody starts somewhere.
My stomach was doing flips the amount of near misses these three had today, and all they did was laugh and speak to each other and point at things.

I think everybody on the road needs to take responsibility for safety and this includes the cyclists knowing the highway code for themselves also[/quote]
I agree. I was shoved off the road last summer by men in a car who decided my riding style didn't suit them, and as an inexperienced rider I really do find it hard to swallow complaints from car drivers safe in their metal boxes

ichundich · 31/05/2021 22:27

[quote Freedi8]@CandyLeBonBon ayyy? Going through a red light either way is not allowed Hmm[/quote]
So have you never crossed a road as a pedestrian whilst the traffic light was red? Because if you have (and most people in the UK seem to do this all the time), you're just as bad.

GillianAnderson · 31/05/2021 22:28

I know a guy who got knocked off his bike by a car and he was wearing a helmet. He said that if you aren't wearing a helmet this effects your claim (payout)

It's common sense to wear a helmet. Why do you think cars have seat belts and airbags? Why do ppl who work on their knees a lot of the time, plumbers, tilers, etc wear knee pads?

Protection

I know a girl in her mid twenties who fell off her bike and suffered a very serious head injury, she wasn't wearing a helmet. She simply lost control and fell off, no cars etc involved. It's completely changed her as a person, her personality has totally changed now, it's done irreparable damage and ended her marriage

KarmaViolet · 31/05/2021 22:29

I think everybody on the road needs to take responsibility for safety and this includes the cyclists knowing the highway code for themselves also

Every motorist on the road takes responsibility for what their car might hit, because they (we) are there by permission.

Obviously it would be nice if those who are there by right would behave in a way that makes it convenient for us as motorists, but our convenience does not take precedence over safety, whether that is a cyclist, a pedestrian, a lost child or a stray sheep. Any of these might be a bit annoying, but if we have the privilege of a driving licence, that is because we have been taught to navigate these obstacles in a safe way. They haven't. (even if we think they flipping well should learn or suspect that they too may have a driving licence. maybe not the sheep.)

CandyLeBonBon · 31/05/2021 22:29

At ease @PurpleDaisies and @colouringcrayons

Op has replied for herself!

colouringcrayons · 31/05/2021 22:30

[quote Freedi8]@colouringcrayons I still don't understand how stating a lot of experienced cyclists wear helmets makes me have no experience of cycling?
I didn't say EVERY experienced cyclist does.[/quote]
You don't need to worry about my POV really, you just sound like you've never met a cyclist, the way you are posting!

Plenty of experienced drivers drive like twats for example, this can;t be a surprise to you that some cyclists don't wear helmets.

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