To wonder why some people are twats towards cyclists

[Apacheshadows]

I’ve lost count of the number of times a car has driven past me and people (usually grown men) have screamed/shrieked at me out of their window, shouted obscenities etc.
Beeped at and then they drive on laughing
Today I had a teenage boy deliberately try and jump in front of my path on a road, this isn’t the first time someone has done that.
I had another teenager try to intimidate me by pulling out in front of me on his own bike, forcing me to quickly swerve

It’s putting me off cycling really, there are some absolute pricks out there.

Also, the number of people who have to comment on how small the bike is. It’s not one of the mini fold up bikes or a children’s one, it’s a bit smaller than average but suits me fine, but people have to comment on it constantly which is weird.

Anyone else had this when cycling? I’m responsible, use lights and wear a high vis and go slowly

• Whoa there, that comment is really, really telling. Is it the daintyness that offends you?

I was a bloke on a mountain bike.*

As someone recently out of inpatient care for a severe eating disorder it’s more the fatphobia that offends me.

@traderjoes

* Whoa there, that comment is really, really telling. Is it the daintyness that offends you?

I was a bloke on a mountain bike.*

As someone recently out of inpatient care for a severe eating disorder it’s more the fatphobia that offends me.

And the cycle-phobia ought to offend me. I've nearly been killed a number of times, and many, many regular cyclists can say the same.

As it is, I simply find it tiresome.

And while eating disorders are not something I would wish on anyone I've no reason to believe he had one. I think he was just wanted to be king of the road.

And the cycle-phobia ought to offend me. I've nearly been killed a number of times, and many, many regular cyclists can say the same.

What a disgusting comparison to make. Similar to someone earlier in the thread comparing being a cyclist to being an ‘oppressed minority.’ Take a step back and look at the world with some perspective. No one is making you cycle anywhere.

I don't think it's because you are a woman IME it's men (in Lycra on road bikes) who give cyclists bad names and you are probably getting tarred with the same brush. Here they are terrible for ignoring cycle lanes, traffic lights and roundabout order, weaving, sneaking up the inside of you in the dark with no lights and general poor road/pavement etiquette. Generally later rush hour tome (when their wives are likely struggling to feed and bath their dc for bed if mumsnet is anything to go by)

I cannot count the number of times cyclists have been peddling along with car upon car behind them without a care in the world, peddling side by side like they own the road.

Don’t get me wrong I would never say anything to them just carry on as normal. It does however infuriate me that cyclists behave this way without paying any costs towards the up keep of the road, insurance etc whilst we are!!!

All the while all the cars behind are forced to go 15mph

Workinghardeveryday, this is what does my head in.

20 cars waiting behind whilst they have a jolly little chat cycling side by side, casting triumphant glances at the stream of traffic.

@traderjoes I wish you all the best in your recovery. Maybe the man in the car, even though rude, had a disability where he couldn't cycle. This is an obvious leap, and he could just be an asshole,but I assume you understand body shaming and medical issues which can make you gain weight without diet restrictions etc. Maybe he was having a bad day, no reason to take it out on you for any reason. Just trying to ying and yang.

@Workinghardeveryday

I cannot count the number of times cyclists have been peddling along with car upon car behind them without a care in the world, peddling side by side like they own the road.

Don’t get me wrong I would never say anything to them just carry on as normal. It does however infuriate me that cyclists behave this way without paying any costs towards the up keep of the road, insurance etc whilst we are!!!

All the while all the cars behind are forced to go 15mph

Forced to go 15mph? The horror.

Cyclists are supposed to ride two abreast, it makes them quicker to overtake than two riding one in front of the other.

And once again, roads are paid for out of general taxation. We ALL pay for the roads, whether we drive, cycle, walk, or none of the above.

Cyclists have a right to use the roads, car drivers are only permitted to by licence.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

I know cars can hog the road. But not in packs like cyclists. Driving side by side or more. In big groups.

They don't need to. Cars are two abreast even when there's no one actually sat in the passenger seat. Very antisocial to take your whole car when you could be occupying half of the width, if you ask me.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Workinghardeveryday, this is what does my head in.

20 cars waiting behind whilst they have a jolly little chat cycling side by side, casting triumphant glances at the stream of traffic.

Chatting?? The audacity.

Spent a lot of time in Holland and Germany. Cycle paths everywhere.

@traderjoes

And the cycle-phobia ought to offend me. I've nearly been killed a number of times, and many, many regular cyclists can say the same.

What a disgusting comparison to make. Similar to someone earlier in the thread comparing being a cyclist to being an ‘oppressed minority.’ Take a step back and look at the world with some perspective. No one is making you cycle anywhere.

I also wish you the best in your recovery.

As for getting perspective: with respect, I have done exactly that. I'm a commuting cyclist, and one of the reasons why I continue to cycle, despite my catalogue of near misses, is because I don't think it's responsible for me to drive instead, for environmental reasons. It's also to keep fit.

I expect to get from A to B without being catcalled or put in danger. While I suppose it's possible that said gentleman had an eating disorder I think it's statistically more likely that he didn't. That being so, it would have been legitimate for me to point out s of the benefits of cycling to him, partly for his own good, and partly as a way of reminding him to leave people alone. As it is, I didn't do this.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Except there wouldn’t be a problem with traffic if it wasn’t for the clubs.

And it’s clubs l hate not lone cyclists or families.

There wouldn't be a problem with traffic in the rush hour if it wasn't for all of the cars. Perhaps if they were all on two wheels they'd be making a more efficient use of road space.

Cycling is good for the environment, and for your health. The more people who do it, the more it becomes normalised, which makes it safer and more accessible. Car driving should not be encouraged as there are far too many cars on the road already.

I don’t mind cyclists when I’m driving, they are easy to avoid but I hate them when I pushing a buggy out of country lanes or riding my horse. Years ago approaching cyclists used to shout bike or hello if they were coming from behind now they just whizz past and you can’t hear them.
There is no where to walk with pavements nearby and I can walk/ride for an hour or so and only see 2 or 3 cars.

I don't have an issue with cyclists. Most cyclists I come across in the morning will pull over where they can to let traffic past. I think there are more arsehole drivers than cyclists overall. They have every right to use the road and people need to be patient and get over it.

As a driver on country lanes cyclists are extremely dangerous. They often have a long queue of traffic behind them and choose to cycle during the busiest times of the day. I have never shouted abuse at anyone in my life and wouldn't start on cyclists now, but I can see how people would get the rage.

Why do you choose to drive when the roads are busy with cyclists? I suspect it's because that's the time of the day when you need to go somewhere. Just like the cyclists.

Me, I don't cycle. I drive a lot, town and country. But I figure that the cyclists have as much right to use the roads as I do, and if they're going slower on their bikes than I'd like to go in my car, then that's just the way the cookie crumbles. Quite often I'm going slower in my car than the car behind me would like to go, but so what?

It's terribly inconvenient, sometimes, to have to share the universe with other people, but that's the way things are set up.

As a driver on country lanes cyclists are extremely dangerous. They often have a long queue of traffic behind them and choose to cycle during the busiest times of the day

Cyclists are not dangerous. The danger comes from motorised vehicles (or rather their drivers). The roads are busy at busy times because people drive on them. If everyone cycled there would be no congestion or traffic jams.

Well this vote has just got more and more terrifying!

Air pollution kills around 36,000-40,000 people in the UK annually and the world is facing catastrophic climate change; cyclists are not the problem.

It does however infuriate me that cyclists behave this way without paying any costs towards the up keep of the road, insurance etc whilst we are!!!

On the contrary, roads are paid for out of general tax. Cars damage roads far more than bikes. Therefore cyclists are actually subsidising car users. As for insurance, it's related to the risks posed by the vehicle. Cars are extremely dangerous causing thousands of injuries each year. Bikes cause hardly any. Thus insurance for cyclists is non compulsory (it costs about £15 per year should you choose to have it)

Cycling is a great way to keep fit and relieve stress (for the most part!).

I'm not defending this behaviour at all but I would say about 60% of cyclists I come across ride dangerously whereas maybe 5% of drivers drive dangerously.

Lol! Dangerous to whom? Cyclists are not dangerous to car drivers

Most cycle haters, not all, but most, don't cycle. Walk a mile in someone else's shoes and all that

Rural single track road, coming out of a corner I had to do emergency stop(was driving about 30mph) as was met with 4 men cycling abreast. Where the fuck they expected me to go I don’t know. I had 2 kids in the car. I got filthy looks because I didn’t moved off the road(nowhere to go) to let them pass.

Well it was just as well you didn't meet a car coming the other way at 30. The cyclists were probably doing no more than 15! If it was a single lane then it would make no difference if the cyclists were 1 or 2 abreast anyway. You were obviously going too fast and have only yourself to blame. Especially with children in the car.