AIBU Cyclist Twats

[TractorAndHeadphones]

Walking down lovely canals with DP. Supposed to be romantic - but every 5 minutes we were interrupted by a cyclists whizzing along! Some had the courtesy to ring the bell but even so they rode straight at us instead of around us.

This really boils my piss because cyclists always complain that cars overtake dangerously and that’s it’s their god given right to hold up traffic. But cyclists can ride straight through pedestrians?

There was enough space for a cyclist to ride alongside us if they’d been slower ; even so you don’t expect people to walk in single file on canal roads which are meant to be enjoyed slowly! There were families in front of us, mothers with prams etc. Thé cyclists were probably scared of swerving into the lake but if you can’t control your bike then dont bloody ride!
It really ruined my day.

This has also happened on pavements with people whizzing along in the middle. Even if the road is dangerous there’s no need to go that fast.
AIBU to think that cyclists are twats and should be licensed?
People often complain that cars are rude to cyclists but IMO people in general are twats. Cars can do more damage but they’re not behaving worse than cyclists.

Petuniabutterworth, as a pedestrian, driver, and cyclist, it's the latter I've been most abused as. I'll take your one cunt insult and raise you tenfold

@Curioushorse

We live in a scenic(ish) area, with good roads. It's a nightmare at the weekend. They ride in packs and actually look out for pedestrians crossing the road less than cars do- and that's significant because it's bendy roads, where people do cross (it's a village) and the bikes don't make a loud noise.

Also they block the roads, riding together, the width of a car- but obviously not as fast as a car. If you get caught behind a group on our twisty roads, they often don't separate out so you can get past, so you're stuck, going at whatever speed they're peddling at, for miles.

They are very unpopular here.

Same here!!!! As well as talking in large groups outside our house on Sunday morning We're at the end of a hill and all come hurtling down at 50 mph on 20 mph road... and all stop and wait for each other TALKING REALLY LOUDLY

I've never worn padded lycia in my life, I've cycled many miles

@WhyOWhyOh

Don't get me started on them riding two or even more abreast on a road 😡😡😡

I’m a driver and a cyclist and I agree with ps that there are a lot of twattish cyclist and a lot of twattish drivers.

When I cycle I will cycle side by side at times. It can make you easier to see. However I am very conscious of holding cars up and will Slip behind my fellow cyclist, pull over or motion past any cars depending on the road.

Yesterday I drove miles folllowing two cyclists who were riding next to each other. It was not safe to overtake two bike as the road was narrow and twisting. I would never have inconvenienced drivers like that. I thought they were right knob-heads. I would have pulled over at some point if I were them. Presumably they though their recreational bike ride was too important for them to lose a few moments letting all the cars and lorries that were queuing up behind them past.

I also cycle along tow pasts. I am always considerate and polite. If it’s busy I hop off my bike.

While visiting central Amsterdam a couple of years ago, we were astonished to see literally thousands of them whizzing around on bikes - and not a single person wearing a helmet.
A friend who was with us very nearly collided with one such woman whizzing along - not only with no helmet, but also holding a baby in one arm!

We saw two bike crashes in the 11 days we were there - 1 was fairly minor as both had seen each other and were braking as they hit each other, the other was at high speed. My friend is from the Netherlands, she moved over here in her early 30s - when I told her what we'd seen and how shocked I was as I thought everyone knew how to cycle safely as they'd grown up on bicycles she thought I was very funny. According to her it happens all the time.

@Macncheeseballs

I've never worn padded lycia in my life, I've cycled many miles

Good for you but I've done a 68mile bike ride with my lycia, no gloves no padded tights and I will never again. The chafing and blisters was awful.

Just because you can get away with wearing normal clothes doesn't mean everyone else can. And if lycia had no benefits than why do all pro cycling athletes wear it?

I'm antilycra just explaining to the haters that not cyclists wear lycra

Why do you think the car driver is more important? You must do because you're saying the cyclist must frequently stop throughout their journey to let the cars past. 🤷‍♀️. There's far more cars than bikes so it's not likely that the motorist will be held up by 100 cyclists at different points. But very likely that the cyclist will be passed by 100 cars. Do you really think its reasonable the cyclist must stop 100 times? If so you need to give your head a massive wobble.

I expect them to pull in for a minute or so when a queue has built behind them because as I said it’s semi rural and therefore not easy to overtake in our roads very easily. Due to corners and not being wide. I sat in a queue the other Day if6 people for over a mile, it wasn’t a few minutes and I was trying to get my very ill husband to A&E. but crack on and block the roads. Why not just realise that the road isn’t great for cars to overtake you so pull further in to let them pass?

My biggest rule when cycling is dont piss off pedestrians, they are the more vulnerable road user, I slow down on shared spaces, and let them know I'm there. I am so considerate. Can I please be taken off the cyclist naughty step, or does your hatred and anger extend to all carbon neutral bastards on 2 wheels

NACNBOTWALT. Obvs.

Let's be honest though, dickheads are everywhere - they're in cars as well as on bikes. So to tar all cyclists and all car drivers with one brush is silly. Considerate drivers and considerate cyclists are also everywhere. I do think some male cyclists are particularly arrogant though - the really dangerous encounters do always seem to be between two sets of men arguing. A woman wouldn't be so stupid TBH

@Macncheeseballs

My biggest rule when cycling is dont piss off pedestrians, they are the more vulnerable road user, I slow down on shared spaces, and let them know I'm there. I am so considerate. Can I please be taken off the cyclist naughty step, or does your hatred and anger extend to all carbon neutral bastards on 2 wheels

You're totally not on the naughty step My DP is a cyclist too and ultra-considerate. It IS possible.

@MrsSkylerWhite I sincerely hope you are not a car driver if you didn't know that cyclists are supposed to ride two abreast

[quote EmmaGrundyForPM]@MrsSkylerWhite I sincerely hope you are not a car driver if you didn't know that cyclists are supposed to ride two abreast[/quote]
They’re not supposed to - they can do, but only when it’s appropriate.

@BashfulClam

Why do you think the car driver is more important? You must do because you're saying the cyclist must frequently stop throughout their journey to let the cars past. 🤷‍♀️. There's far more cars than bikes so it's not likely that the motorist will be held up by 100 cyclists at different points. But very likely that the cyclist will be passed by 100 cars. Do you really think its reasonable the cyclist must stop 100 times? If so you need to give your head a massive wobble.

I expect them to pull in for a minute or so when a queue has built behind them because as I said it’s semi rural and therefore not easy to overtake in our roads very easily. Due to corners and not being wide. I sat in a queue the other Day if6 people for over a mile, it wasn’t a few minutes and I was trying to get my very ill husband to A&E. but crack on and block the roads. Why not just realise that the road isn’t great for cars to overtake you so pull further in to let them pass?

@BashfulClam as I said in one of my first posts I do pull over if the road isn’t wide enough for them to pass. I don’t pull over if it’s just a case they have to wait due to oncoming traffic. They will just have to wait for a gap in the traffic, which certainly round here isn’t very long.

I’ve had lots of near misses with cyclists (and my DC too) whizzing along the pavements without even ringing a bell to alert you to their presence and ignoring red lights at pedestrian crosses. ( Not only cyclists - I was Nearly taken out by a skateboarder bombing along the pavement yesterday too).

@Geordieoldgirl

I’ve had lots of near misses with cyclists (and my DC too) whizzing along the pavements without even ringing a bell to alert you to their presence and ignoring red lights at pedestrian crosses. ( Not only cyclists - I was Nearly taken out by a skateboarder bombing along the pavement yesterday too).

I was out cycling the other week, came round a bend to find a car coming towards me on the wrong side of the road. Going too fast. He swerved to miss me and smashed into a parked car. Fucking twat motorists.

A friend was killed while out cycling earlier this year. Just didn’t see her while she cycled along a wide straight road with no other cars about. Fucking twat motorists.

I was cycling down a steep hill the other week, loads of pot holes so I’m in the centre of my lane to avoid the pot holes never the kerb. A woman behind me overtakes (straight wide road with no oncoming traffic so she had loads of room and wasn’t delayed at all) she came level with me, wound the passenger window down and screamed a load of abuse about how I should get further over towards the fucking kerb. Fucking twat motorists.

I could continue. Because the level of driving I see while out cycling is terrible. I was looking at helmet cams yesterday and think i will get one and start a YouTube channel!

Yesterday I drove miles folllowing two cyclists who were riding next to each other. It was not safe to overtake two bike as the road was narrow and twisting. I would never have inconvenienced drivers like that. I thought they were right knob-heads.

And what would you be calling the driver of a bus or a tractor or a combine or a slow driver or a horse rider? If you're on narrow twisty roads you should be going sufficiently slowly anyway and not rushing along.

Hang back, have patience, and wait until it's safe to pass, regardless of what's holding you up. The roads are not just for cars.

So meant to say my point is that yes while I agree there are twat cyclists they’re in a minority. They also piss other cyclists off. There are also plenty of twat motorists. Sadly the motorists are more likely to kill someone and generally need a bit more patience.

My biggest rule when cycling is dont piss off pedestrians, they are the more vulnerable road user
Totally agree with this. When I'm out running, if I'm using pavements/paths I think it's incumbent on me to slow/swerve/stay out of pedestrians' way, rather than the other way round. It's just sensible. And when I'm walking I expect runners (and cyclists) to be equally sensible.

One cyclist is often one less car on the road, we need more cyclists, not less. Look at the bigger picture.

Agree. Feel guilty driving my diesel guzzler around our small city and conscience is clear on my bike - despite the hatred from mumsnetters and Jeremy Clarkson types!

One cyclist is often one less car on the road, we need more cyclists, not less. Look at the bigger picture.

Not necessarily. Not when they are out riding for fun, that would not reduce car traffic on the roads.

Cyclists cycling for exercise - that’s one less person taking up NHS resources with their type 2 diabetes.

@CovidCorvid

So meant to say my point is that yes while I agree there are twat cyclists they’re in a minority. They also piss other cyclists off. There are also plenty of twat motorists. Sadly the motorists are more likely to kill someone and generally need a bit more patience.

Twat motorists are also in a minority- there are just more cars on the road so therefore a higher number of twats.