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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:
loveisanopensore · 31/05/2021 22:30

@gegs73

I’d love for them to make it law for helmets to be worn by all cyclists. My teenage DS cycles, refuses to wear one and scares me to death. I have at least 3 friends who have fallen off their bikes or been knocked off and saved themselves from severe head injuries by wearing one.
There's no way you can know the helmets saved them. Perhaps we should address what is knocking them off and advocate for safe cycling infrastructure.

The only thing complusary helmet laws lead to is less cycling.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/12/mandatory-bike-helmet-laws-do-more-harm-than-good-senate-hears

HalzTangz · 31/05/2021 22:30

@Etulosba

I’d love for them to make it law for helmets to be worn by all cyclists. My teenage DS cycles, refuses to wear one and scares me to death.

So, you want all cyclists to be forced to wear helmets just because your DS not wearing one scares you to death?

Get lost. I don't wear one either.

No different to a driver being forced to pass a test before being allowed to drive, or forced to wear seatbelts. How utterly terrible to be forced to do something to help with your safety
Original poster
Freedi8 · 31/05/2021 22:31

@ichundich I look both ways when crossing plus the police will not stop a pedestrian for crossing when no cars are coming. There is no law and most peoppe are not stupid enough to cross a busy road.

This cyclist was stupid enougj to go through a red light on a busy day with cars and people everywhere

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

@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.

I think this is a little disingenuous.

I live in an area where there are a lot of cyclists at weekends. DH is also a keen cyclist. A lot of them use the roads with consideration for other road users.

However, there are a lot who don’t give any thought at all for other road users. On windy narrow roads, we’ve regularly come across groups of cyclists who have stopped for a break, but on a blind bend and on the road itself even when there has been a wide grass verge they could have stopped on. We’ve regularly seen one cyclist swerving out to overtake a slower one without looking behind him, and others who just stop at junctions for a rest, causing obstructions for others (including other cyclists).

Yes, motorised vehicles (I object to the blanket use of ‘cars’ as that infers private motorists are solely responsible), have a responsibility because they can cause more damage, but cyclists also have a responsibility not to be so fucking stupid as to all stop for a chat and a tea on a blind bend.

Livingintheclouds · 31/05/2021 22:32

Yesterday a family were out cycling, the kids were about 6 and 10. None were wearing helmets, and none seemed that experienced, the mother was a bit wobbly. The younger boy weaved a bit and stopped randomly to pick flowers or whatever, causing the mum t stop and look back and back up. It was on quite a busy, semi rural road.
Have to say I was pretty shocked. I know many adults choose not to wear helmets, but usually they make their young kids wear them, and certainly do not take them out on a busy road if they are not confident riders.

HalzTangz · 31/05/2021 22:33

Rubbish. The red light means all road users stop. Their was no mention of a right turn filter light. The cyclist was in the wrong

Dobbyafreeelf · 31/05/2021 22:34

Personally I think it's time for cyclist to have to follow a code of conduct on the road.

Hi vis to be worn,
groups no larger than 3,
have to stop at lights and zebra crossings etc
Have to have public liability

Way to many dangerous cyclist this week. Driving in town yesterday I stopped at a zebra crossing for some kids to cross and cyclists came down my near side and almost ran them down. One kid did fall. Cyclist just shouted sorry but didn't stop!!!

I've also had cyclist just pull out in front of me twice this week forcing me to do emergency stops. Both times I was well below speed limit. None of them looked.

Friend Had another woman almost have a head on collision with her. The woman was riding very fast down a very steep hill with headphones in. The hill was so steep she was in first gear going up. Woman came flying round a blind bend on a single track road. Friend had nowhere to go. She fortunately landed in the hedge and was just bruised. Friend was stationary by the time the woman fell.

Fortunately I drive around with a dash camera on and footage has been sent to police. So don't tell me cyclists don't cause accidents!!!

blobblob · 31/05/2021 22:34

YANBU OP there are just some posters on here who want to say that all cyclists are good and all motorists (especially you because you dared to comment on a cylcist) are Bad.

I'm a cyclist, a pedestrian and a motorist like many of us. It's important to talk about how we can all be safer on the road.

ichundich · 31/05/2021 22:34

[quote Freedi8]@ichundich I look both ways when crossing plus the police will not stop a pedestrian for crossing when no cars are coming. There is no law and most peoppe are not stupid enough to cross a busy road.

This cyclist was stupid enougj to go through a red light on a busy day with cars and people everywhere[/quote]
"You look both ways"? That's alright then! There is no "law" for cyclists to wait at a red traffic light either (as in they don't have to pass a driving test to cycle on the roads).

Original poster
Freedi8 · 31/05/2021 22:35

@HalzTangz Exactly! The cyclist clearly had no intention of stopping and wanted to go through with his friends;
I bet if a pedestrian was crossing during the red light and the cyclist hit her that some people on this thread would still see the cyclist as the all high and mighty Hmm

OP posts:
CandyLeBonBon · 31/05/2021 22:36

[quote Freedi8]@CandyLeBonBon ayyy? Going through a red light either way is not allowed Hmm[/quote]
Ok. Was there a filter light?

Original poster
Freedi8 · 31/05/2021 22:37

@ichundich you're wrong. Cyclists have to stop at red lights and can be stopped by the police if caught. There is a possibility of a small fine too.

OP posts:
Original poster
Freedi8 · 31/05/2021 22:39

@CandyLeBonBon oh my goodness, are some posters purposely being awkward?
Of course there was no filter light. I would've said otherwise and he wouldn't have almost got hit.

OP posts:
LimaFoxtrotCharlie · 31/05/2021 22:44

Pedestrians and occupants of motorised vehicles can also suffer traumatic head injuries if involved in a crash. Should they also wear helmets for safety reasons?

schoolfinder007 · 31/05/2021 22:46

OP, there are just some people on this thread determined to give you a hard time. Bizarre.

PrtScn · 31/05/2021 22:46

I’m an experienced cyclist and don’t wear a helmet unless I deem one necessary e.g. If it’s a bit icy out or I’m going mountain biking.

The helmet debate is a lot like the chicken and the egg. There’s plenty of evidence out there that claims wearing a helmet in an accident can cause rotational head injuries for example.

I prefer to make my own assessment of risk, and quite frankly if you get hit by a car doing 60 mph a helmet isn’t going to do shit, whereas if you fall off due to ice then a helmet might potentially save you a headache. Although the two or three times I’ve fallen off my bike over the years due to ice and snow, my head never went anywhere near the road.

Also a wanker on a bike is a wanker in a car. It’s the person, not the mode of transport. I call the people in OP’s post “people on bikes”because to me, they aren’t “real” cyclists.

2thumbs · 31/05/2021 22:48

@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.

But the risk isn’t solely introduced by the motorists. If a cyclist decides to pass a motor vehicle on the left hand side at traffic lights where the vehicle is (presumably) indicating a left turn, knowing full well that visibility of them in this situation will be poor, the cyclist must bear some responsibility for this risk.
Velvian · 31/05/2021 22:55

There are some weird responses on this thread. As a fellow driver, cyclist and pedestrian YANBU.

CovidCorvid · 31/05/2021 22:57

I think there’s a difference between “cyclists” and people,riding bikes. Sounds like you encountered the latter.

Nothing like a sunny BH weekend to bring people,out for their once a year bike ride. I pulled a 70yo out a ditch today after she’d wobbled off her bike. First time on a bike in ten years she said. Her hubby was oblivious and had carried on down the road!

Macncheeseballs · 31/05/2021 22:58

The biggest danger on our roads is cars, a couple of helmetless cyclists really is a drop in the ocean compared to the daily deaths and accidents from motor vehicles

Macncheeseballs · 31/05/2021 23:01

2thumbs - unless you're driving a lorry I'm not sure why you wouldn't see a cyclist on your left

CandyLeBonBon · 31/05/2021 23:05

[quote Freedi8]@CandyLeBonBon oh my goodness, are some posters purposely being awkward?
Of course there was no filter light. I would've said otherwise and he wouldn't have almost got hit.[/quote]
Sorry op. I was just checking! Blush

Macncheeseballs · 31/05/2021 23:06

Op - a cycle trip round town on a sunny day is far nicer way to see things, leave your car at home next time, you may have such a nice time, you'll not want to moan about other people enjoying themselves

SnackSizeRaisin · 31/05/2021 23:08

But the risk isn’t solely introduced by the motorists. If a cyclist decides to pass a motor vehicle on the left hand side at traffic lights where the vehicle is (presumably) indicating a left turn,

Well in your example the risk is solely due to the presence of a motorised vehicle. If the motorised vehicle was replaced by a pedestrian, wheelchair user, person on a bike, or nothing at all, there would be far less risk to the cyclist. It's the 2 tonnes of metal box that causes the risk, not the fact that someone travels safely and considerately. The best driver in the world is inherently a lot more dangerous to others than the worst cyclist. Hence why thousands of people die each year in the UK as a result of motor vehicle collisions and only about 3 from collisions involving bikes

LemonRoses · 31/05/2021 23:09

There were some dreadful cyclists out near here today. There were some pretty bad motorcyclists too. Nearer London there were a few dodgy drivers.
Good and bad regardless of mode of conveyance.

Helmets actually don’t protect from serious injuries. Reading university did research a long time ago that showed you are much more likely to be seriously injured if you wear a helmet.