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.

For the hard of thinking amongst us. It’s actually easier for a car to pass a group of cyclists 2 abreast rather than a longer line of cyclists. Because whether single file or 2 abreast you should be waiting until there’s no oncoming traffic and moving to the other side of the road.

Being 2 abreast only annoys motorists who are happy to break the law and risk cyclists lives by passing too close when there’s oncoming traffic and they can’t move out enough.

FirewomanSam

They should be licensed and taxed.

Oh lord, not the ‘tax’ argument again. Drivers don’t pay road tax any more, why should cyclists?

Everyone who pays council tax already pays for the roads anyway.“

True: insurance is a different matter, though. Should cyclists not have third party liability?

YABU for objecting to going single file to let others through. It's just common courtesy. You'd look a complete twat sticking religiously to your "right" to walk 2 abreast on a narrow path as a queue of cyclists, runners and faster walkers built up behind you.

So as a pedestrian is slower in the op's scenario, then surely the same rules should apply? If cars have to give way and accept cyclists can ride two abreast, slowing traffic and decreasing opportunity to go at the speed limit, surely in a shared Cyclist and pedestrian scenario, same rules? People can walk side by side and it's the onus of the cyclist to ensure safe passing distance and speed............

@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.

YABU Such a load of rubbish.

@SD1978

YABU for objecting to going single file to let others through. It's just common courtesy. You'd look a complete twat sticking religiously to your "right" to walk 2 abreast on a narrow path as a queue of cyclists, runners and faster walkers built up behind you.

So as a pedestrian is slower in the op's scenario, then surely the same rules should apply? If cars have to give way and accept cyclists can ride two abreast, slowing traffic and decreasing opportunity to go at the speed limit, surely in a shared Cyclist and pedestrian scenario, same rules? People can walk side by side and it's the onus of the cyclist to ensure safe passing distance and speed............

I refer you back to my previous point about it depends if you’re taking up more than half the path/road. Cyclists riding 2 abreast generally aren’t taking up more than half the road, unless it’s a narrow lane and then yes they should (and I do) drop to single file there.

On most tow paths people walking 2 abreast will take up more than half the path….so similar to crossing into the opposite carriageway of a road.

Op, you wanna do something romantic with your partner, may I suggest a tandem

I live in the country and we get hundreds of cyclists through the village. They ride sometimes 3 abreast on narrow roads, they often ride in the middle of the lane coming around bends, they holler conversations at one another at all hours of the morning and evening. I know there are twats everywhere including car drivers, but the cyclists around here are annoying and sometimes dangerous!

There are bad drivers and bad cyclists aplenty but the latter get given a pass. There’s no attempt to make sure that people are fit to cycle or held accountable

Exactly - but they're "given a a pass" because without any kind of registration or insurance (which IMO should be compulsory) there's no way of knowing who they are

I'm a cyclist too, but I completely agree with you OP

This thread is a case of inconsiderate walkers refusing to part hands meet inconsiderate cyclists refusing to slow down

Precisely.

I guess you’re “one of those” drivers that gives a foot space and overtakes

A foot is probably generous!

@CovidCorvid

For the hard of thinking amongst us. It’s actually easier for a car to pass a group of cyclists 2 abreast rather than a longer line of cyclists. Because whether single file or 2 abreast you should be waiting until there’s no oncoming traffic and moving to the other side of the road.

Being 2 abreast only annoys motorists who are happy to break the law and risk cyclists lives by passing too close when there’s oncoming traffic and they can’t move out enough.

That graphic was posted earlier in the thread. And while I get it, there's a lot of variables that mean that's not always the case.

Oh and by the way most cyclists DO have insurance - often via their home insurance but more usually via British Cycling or Cycling UK. I am a member of the latter, it only costs about £45 a year and gives me insurance (and also legal cover if a stupid driver hits me, or a stupid dog owner lets their dog knock me into a canal).

@WhyOWhyOh

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

Riding two abreast is much safer than riding single file. If a car is overtaking a bike, they should give at least 1.5m. If bikes are single file, the temptation is to overtake while stating in your lane which can result in a dangerous pass. If they are 2 abreast, the motorist can't do that.

However, cyclists 2 abreast should pull in to allow cars to overtake if that becomes necessary.

As a driver, cyclist, and canal path user I was totally with you UNTIL you said that this one bad experience meant all cyclists are twats. So YABVU.

I hate adult cyclists on the pavement. I always cycle in the road. My daughter who is 6 obviously uses the pavement but I have taught her to give way, stop, or move over for pedestrians. When she's older I'll have to teach her to use the road safely.

I sometimes cycle on canal towpaths but I don't speed down there, I go slowly and cautiously, give lots of room for pedestrians, ring when approaching from behind, and usually come to a stop for dogs because most of the time (and I have two dogs so I'm not a dog hater!) dogs are not under control on towpaths.
What I will say, is sometimes I'm cycling slowly, ring my bell, and the pedestrians in front sort of freeze (understandable) then don't actually move over to allow me room to get round. So I'm looking at them and they're just staring at me and I don't want to say Move to one side then! But if they don't move to one side to allow me to pass then I have to go through them! But I do say thanks to everyone.

To say all cyclists are twats is unreasonable.
I'm sorry your experience was with a few twats.

@WhyOWhyOh

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

Two abreast on the road is fine - its in the highway code!

And while I get it, there's a lot of variables that mean that's not always the case

I agree, but the main reason people don't like cyclists cycling two abreast is precisely because they can't do a close pass and have to actually wait until it's safe to overtake. When a cyclist is single file, they can do a close pass, and usually when a car is coming towards them. I had it in Sunday when driving - cyclist on other side of road, car came up behind, overtook bike, came right at me. I often move slightly over to the right to dissuade such action, but sometimes you know they're not going to wait.

But surely the awful inconvenience of having to briefly move over is outweighed by the potential risks of cyclists having to slow right down behind walkers, or injury being caused?

That’s a wee bit dramatic.

I love cycling beside the river, but if choose that route I do so knowing that there will be slower people than me on the path, and that they’ve as much right to it as I do - and that I am a greater

Any cyclist on a shared path who doesn’t have the skill to slow right down because someone is waking slowly in front of them and they have to wait to be able to go around, shouldn’t be on a shared path. There’s no risk here unless you’re cycling totally inappropriately for the circumstances.

If I want to bomb along at speed without obstacles, I take a less scenic path.

I get what the OP is saying here - while I’ve seen plenty of oblivious walkers, I’ve also seen plenty of cyclists who don’t want to slow down to pass safely and expect pedestrians to step off the path so that they’re not inconvenienced.

Cyclists on a shared path with pedestrians occupy a similar position to cars in a shared space with cyclists. On a road, we’re the little guys, usually slower, certainly at much greater risk.

The risks to a pedestrian from a bike aren’t there same magnitude but we have more ability to injure a pedestrian than they us. And so we should act with the respect we’d like cars to show us on the road.

There is an old railway line near where we live and it's insane. It's a shared path but cyclists shout for pedestrians to get out of the way, children have been seriously injured etc.

What I really don't get is why in places such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam is there not this attitude? I'm only mentioning these cities as I've been there, so there may be other places also, but they all seem to live in harmony.

There are some considerate cyclists and also aggressive lycra louts who probably drive angrily when they get behind a wheel as well.

Yes, pedestrians also need to look properly for cyclists as well as cars when they cross the road, but some cyclists cycle through London like they are doing the sprint phase in the TDF, and cycle at the same speed down narrow country lanes near me. Must have a death wish, I wouldn't do more than 20mph in a car on them, let alone on two wheels.

Many also need to read the Highway Code, particularly about giving way to pedestrians generally, but certainly when they are already crossing in the middle of the road as you turn into a side street. Even if it means you don't make your PB.

@theworldsbiggestcrocodile

I live in the country and we get hundreds of cyclists through the village. They ride sometimes 3 abreast on narrow roads, they often ride in the middle of the lane coming around bends, they holler conversations at one another at all hours of the morning and evening. I know there are twats everywhere including car drivers, but the cyclists around here are annoying and sometimes dangerous!

Do you live in my village ? This is absolutely how it is , sometimes they even ride across both lanes so cycling into the face of oncoming traffic, what do they expect will happen if they are faced with an oncoming car or more likely tractor? They also throw their waste into gardens as they pass by, this seems to be a new phenomenon for this year .

YABU for objecting to going single file to let others through. It's just common courtesy

Yeah, we are all supposed to walk single file to let the cycling Gods through!

Such typical cyclist arrogance.

@SD1978

YABU for objecting to going single file to let others through. It's just common courtesy. You'd look a complete twat sticking religiously to your "right" to walk 2 abreast on a narrow path as a queue of cyclists, runners and faster walkers built up behind you.

So as a pedestrian is slower in the op's scenario, then surely the same rules should apply? If cars have to give way and accept cyclists can ride two abreast, slowing traffic and decreasing opportunity to go at the speed limit, surely in a shared Cyclist and pedestrian scenario, same rules? People can walk side by side and it's the onus of the cyclist to ensure safe passing distance and speed............

@SD1978 omg I love you 😍 I’m not sure why people’s heads are exploding at this logic. ‘For my safety I must ride two abreast and this slows cars down. My right. Road doesn’t’ belong to cars’. Ok fair. ‘But pedestrians must give way to me and It’s selfish of them to take up the whole road.’ Wait what???

If you expect cars to wait behind you safely then you should do the same for pedestrians.

The complaints that cyclists have about cars are the same ones that pedestrians have for cyclists. That’s the irony!

A poster commented up thread that she could ‘see why cyclists get frustrated when pedestrians block the path’ and then proceeded to bang on about how she road two abreast. Ummm so you can’t see how that annoys cars and you’re happy to do that but you think it’s unfair that you have to wait for pedestrians?

If everyone could be patient instead of rushing around it would be great.

I'm with you 100% on this OP. Cyclists should be licensed, have to have compulsory insurance and be banned completely from any pedestrian route - pavements, tow paths .... anywhere they're like to meet walkers.

We live rurally, and are on a national cycle route. The majority use the roads with consideration but there's the odd gang who bunch in the road and refuse to let you past.

It's town cyclists I take issue with, especially when they go to the front of a queue of traffic and then take ages to move off.......... I do think there needs to be some sort of licencing or profiency test for adults using busy roads.

YABU to say that all cyclists are twats.

I'm a cyclist (and a driver) and not a twat, for example. There are far more driver twats than cyclist twats. I have very rarely heard of cyclists killing people while driver twats kill people EVERY SINGLE DAY.

The cyclist has just as much right to be there as you are and it probably on the toe path as much safer than on the roads. Get over it.

PS Canals were not built to be romantic!

Some people here may need to read the recent updates to the Highway code about giving priority to pedestrians and cyclists at junctions and crossings.