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.

Highway Code on shared paths:

“If you are sharing a path, take extra care and give plenty of room to children, the elderly and disabled people. You should always be riding at a speed that would allow you to slow down and stop if necessary.”

So no right of way for pedestrians after all!

We have huge amounts of cyclists in my area in recent years. They can be very annoying when cycling on country roads in vast packs. I never overtake them, as the roads are too narrow but it makes me nervous that they clearly have no comprehension of what the road they’re cycling on is actually like, or they wouldn’t be cycling in the manner they often do.
This weekend, I was walking through my local town. Very old town; narrow pedestrianised streets in parts. Quite hilly. A group of 30 or so cyclists launched themselves from the top of a pedestrianised road shouting loudly that they dared one another to go all the way to the bottom without touching their peddles or braking.
I thought some evil thoughts about that group of total twats as I watched them embark upon their mindless joke, scattering people with small children, dogs on leads etc. Someone could have easily been injured or worse, at a time when hospitals and ambulance services are overwhelmed.
We see plenty of responsible cyclists in small groups around here but these large groups are hideous. Pitch up in country pubs at Sunday lunchtime, bag a load of tables and then only a few of them eat, whilst the rest nurse a soft drink. This costs local businesses dearly when they do that.
Ride at terrifying speed down our very flat, circular country road, which has notoriety with cyclists as a turning point on their route.
Honestly, if motorists behaved as some of these groups do, they’d be arrested.
I agree with a PP; it’s the entitled cyclists who give others a bad name and I wish the law would come down on them a bit harder.
Not a cyclist btw; too lazy personally! I’d far rather walk…less hassle!

Not from the Highway Code but Sustrans shared path advice implies that pedestrians have priority though doesn’t actually say that. As a cyclist I’ve always been happy to slow down and give way when needed. Funnily enough for the bell haters the sustrans advice tells cyclists to use their bell. Also tells dog walkers to keep dogs on a short lead which never happens.

Be courteous and patient with other path users who are moving more slowly than you and slow down as needed when space is limited or if you cannot see clearly ahead.
Please be aware, especially of more vulnerable users such as older people, people with small children, people in wheelchairs, or the hearing or visually impaired.

Give way to slower users and wheelchair users and take care around horse riders leaving them plenty of room.
When riding a bike, ring a bell well in advance if approaching people from behind.
Keep your dog on a short lead when walking on a path shared with people who cycle.

The highway code would indicate right of way for pedestrians - on narrow paths, which are the ones pedestrians are talking about , re canal paths. Obviously, when these are narrow, you can't give pedestrians and kids 'plenty of space', as the highway code rules specify, so , the only option is to let them organise themselves and stand back safely, while the cyclist in question dismounts and waits for them.

I have ridden a shared path to work many times. I go very fast, but only when there is no one around. I have VERY little sympathy for those who think that as it’s a pretty canal towpath they should be able to wander all over it, not sharing, not walking single file. It’s has been designated a part cycle path for cyclists to use, not just piss about on at 5 miles an hour.

It concerns me, and I mean for the safety of cyclists, that many of their actions are directed by a desire to keep moving, rather than to pause or stop. I think that the temptation to take a risk or a short cut must be great.

And dismounting! Sod that! I have work to get to!

The council have given us this cycle path to encourage people not to drive to work. People should be allowed to use it for this purpose.

If you go very fast along a tow path, some paths, how can you tell nobody is about, and a pair of kids or a dog are not going to jump out of the blackberry bushes alongside, or a path you don't know well isn't going to have a pathway off it leading away from the canal?

canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/cycling/cycling-faqs

And dismounting! Sod that! I have work to get to!

This what the Highway code says "You should always be riding at a speed that would allow you to slow down and stop if necessary*

If you can stop without dismounting then I suppose you don't have to dismount. Many towpath/shared paths do have sign that indicate pedestrian priority, in addition to the HC.

You course you might be cycling too fast to notice the signs.

Cycle paths ought to be just for cycles, roads just for engine-driven vehicles and pavements just for pedestrians in my opinion. I also feel wary of horses riding along roads.

I think vehicles of a similar weight and power should be the ones allowed on the same highway.

Many traffic regulations were devised decades ago before roads became busy and some need overhauling. Let's do this with the emphasis on rules, instead of introducing laissez-faire , he who dares wins, type of attitudes or none of us will be safe.

[quote YetAnotherSpartacus]canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/cycling/cycling-faqs[/quote]
Common sense and simple consideration for others is all that's needed by everyone. I reckon about 80% of people get it right, but it's the 20% we remember with a vengeance! I think @FloconDeNeige is in a special situation because conflict with cyclists is more dramatic round those parts.

If I were cycling down a narrow tow path, I'd approach people slowly and make some kind of gentle noise to let them know I'm there, then hope they might let me past. I'm fairly clumsy, so going V-E-R-Y slowly is tricky -- there's a point where I might wobble and fall into the water 😋

@Diverseopinions

It concerns me, and I mean for the safety of cyclists, that many of their actions are directed by a desire to keep moving, rather than to pause or stop. I think that the temptation to take a risk or a short cut must be great.

It’s funny because that’s what I observe car drivers doing all the time. The amount of people who overtake or do dangerous manoeuvres so that they can zoom to a red light really boggles my mind.

@LadyCatStark

YANBU, cyclists are the worst thing about living in the countryside including bugs and cockerels! But cyclists will defend themselves to the death even when they are completely in the wrong so these threads never go well.

Best comment ever ❤️

I've told my cycling story before ... but DP and I walking along a river path high on a riverbank so about 2 and a bit feet wide I suppose and he both challenged in the quick reflex department and wearing steel caps (work boots) and a family of cyclists comes speeding up behind 'ding, ding, dinging' in self-importance - me springing back cursing, him turning slowly and a cyclist going over his clown foot (he didn't even feel it) and arse over tit down the river bank. Cyclist demanded an apology. I told the lot of them to fuck off and dismount in the future.

@Diverseopinions

It concerns me, and I mean for the safety of cyclists, that many of their actions are directed by a desire to keep moving, rather than to pause or stop. I think that the temptation to take a risk or a short cut must be great.

Isn't that literally what car drivers have been doing on this thread? They don't want to slow down or pause for others (cyclists), they want to keep moving fast regardless.

@DoesHePlayTheFiddle

Why is it 'so hard to comprehend' that if something is clearly dangerous, you don't do it?

I so agree with you there @DoesHePlayTheFiddle

Motor vehicles kill thousands every year in collisions and thousands more through particulate pollution. Then there are the greenhouse gas emissions which are currently causing wildfires in Greece. Did you know that a new Range Rover has already caused 35 tonnes of CO2e emissions before it has even had its tank filled? That's more than I generate (across all aspects of my life) in five years. That's before you've even filled the tank, never mind consumed the fuel.

So follow your own advice, stop killing the planet and trade in the car for a bike.

If any electric car owners are going to claim the moral high ground here though, they ought to remember the emissions made during the manufacturing process - a bike is still by far the cleanest option.

@YetAnotherSpartacus

I've told my cycling story before ... but DP and I walking along a river path high on a riverbank so about 2 and a bit feet wide I suppose and he both challenged in the quick reflex department and wearing steel caps (work boots) and a family of cyclists comes speeding up behind 'ding, ding, dinging' in self-importance - me springing back cursing, him turning slowly and a cyclist going over his clown foot (he didn't even feel it) and arse over tit down the river bank. Cyclist demanded an apology. I told the lot of them to fuck off and dismount in the future.

How can you 'ding ding with self importance'? It's a bell. How else do they communicate their approach....shout? I know which I would prefer.

I think you have to understand that we are all different and have our own priorities. I spend around 40k a year on educating girls in India because its my thing. I drive a massive 4wd truck which does about 12mpg. Some are obsessed with the environment, others do good for tge people living now, I don't have 4 kids because I know the world is going to shit so why would I want to do that. Environment? Don't really give a shit because a smug mummy cycling her 4 kids to school is way worse.

They should not have been on the path in the first place. It was too narrow and not built for bikes, and, crucially, not that cyclists would care, but there was little space to get out of the way - I had to spring to tilt back on a sloping bank. The 'dinging' with self-importance was illustrated by their sheer arrogance and expectation that they had the right of way. They should not have 'communicated their approach'. They either should not have been there or they should have realised that there was scant room for them to pass and they should have stopped, dismounted and negotiated a path by on foot, walking their bikes.

Dh was injured by some halfwit walking an off lead dog on a cycle path in the dark at rush hour 🙄🙄.

How can you ring a bell with self importance? See - you are wrong if you ring a bell to warn you are coming and wrong if you don’t! I cycle super carefully on my granny bike to get to work always giving way to pedestrians and I still get tutted at for just existing!

How can you ring a bell with self importance?

See above.

Still not seeing it. I sometimes shout “coming through” is that bad or terribly insulting? Sometimes wonder how these fragile types make it through the day.

@MsTSwift

Still not seeing it. I sometimes shout “coming through” is that bad or terribly insulting? Sometimes wonder how these fragile types make it through the day.

Yes - you are being intimidating and practically demanding that we pedestrians move for you. Try a hello and an excuse me instead.

I make it through the day just fine but you are judged and judged hard

I’m a stats nerd so just looked up the ONS data for pedestrian casualties by vehicle involved - 2019 is the most recent data available.

Cyclists hitting pedestrians made up 1.8% of casualties - the only vehicle type involved in fewer incidents was HGVs at 1.3% which makes sense as they tend to drive on bigger roads that pedestrians aren’t walking on. Those HGV accidents were more than 8x more likely to be fatal though.

80% of the incidents involved cars, who killed 53x and injured 38x as many people as cyclists.

Cyclists are the road users least likely to harm you, by a long way.