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

Also, regarding the complaints that cyclists break the road rules.

How many motorists don't break the speed limit? Or does breaking the speed limit not count for some mysterious reason?

@SnackSizeRaisin

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

I live semi-rural/ countryside and can confirm cyclists certainly are dangerous at times. I’ve lost count of how many (notably men) come speeding around blind corners on single track winding roads almost headlong into my car. And I slow down purposefully. Never had that issue with a car coming the other direction. Certainly wouldn’t want to stop people cycling…but would definitely like to see them slow down and be considerate.

MintyGreenDream

Japan registers bikes, this helps with thefts and returning bikes to rightful owners

Several petitions have been started to put forward to parliament, but so far 141 I think was the highest number of petitions
The government don’t want the costly bureaucracy, especially when it is a green cheap transport nude which they encourage
Compared to the 5000 hit and runs by drivers that go un prosecuted. Incidents of injury with bikes are rare and a higher % of cyclists stay at the scean or are found afterwards than drivers - so it appears not having a registion plate doesn’t make any particular difference

Cyclists that block single lane rural roads are inconsiderate. I live rurally and cycle myself - I realise how annoying it is to be stuck behind so I always pull over and let the car past - everyone is a winner that way.

I also feel horses on narrow roads are dangerous- if you come round a bend (going the appropriate speed for the conditions of course) and a horse is there, you get stuck behind and it’s too narrow to overtake. You have the risk of someone else hitting you from behind. I don’t think horses should be allowed on roads. No one really needs to have a horse (apart from the police perhaps?) it’s just a massively expensive luxury for a few, that inconveniences many.

Definitely agree with cyclists flying round blind bends in the middle of the road!
I was also stuck behind one who had ear phones in and no idea I was there - they were cycling right in the middle of the road. I think they assumed once they turn off the B road it would be empty, but lots of locals still use it.

@PeachesPumpkin

Cyclists that block single lane rural roads are inconsiderate. I live rurally and cycle myself - I realise how annoying it is to be stuck behind so I always pull over and let the car past - everyone is a winner that way.

I also feel horses on narrow roads are dangerous- if you come round a bend (going the appropriate speed for the conditions of course) and a horse is there, you get stuck behind and it’s too narrow to overtake. You have the risk of someone else hitting you from behind. I don’t think horses should be allowed on roads. No one really needs to have a horse (apart from the police perhaps?) it’s just a massively expensive luxury for a few, that inconveniences many.

They're not blocking the road, they're using it (as long as they're making progress and not having a picnics in the middle of it). Just like you're not blocking faster cars.

@PeachesPumpkin

Definitely agree with cyclists flying round blind bends in the middle of the road! I was also stuck behind one who had ear phones in and no idea I was there - they were cycling right in the middle of the road. I think they assumed once they turn off the B road it would be empty, but lots of locals still use it.

In one breath they're blocking the roads, in another they're flying along. Who needs a V8 engine when you can go from blocking to flying in 20 seconds flat?

traderjoes Perhaps stop and think about how terrifying it would be having a driver user a car as a weapon. Riding a bike is a legal activity and no body should have the freedom of choice of how they transport themselves dictated to due to the fear of bullying from others

PeachesPumpkin How much of the road were you taking up? Why not just overtake the cyclists?

Herani How fast or slow should cyclists travel?

You say you, Never had that issue with a car coming the other direction. So how slow are the other drivers travelling and what speed are you travelling?

@ivykaty44

traderjoes Perhaps stop and think about how terrifying it would be having a driver user a car as a weapon. Riding a bike is a legal activity and no body should have the freedom of choice of how they transport themselves dictated to due to the fear of bullying from others

Having been in precisely that situation I can say it is indeed terrifying.

My heart sinks when I see a biker whether on a horse or driving. I'm always surprised when I come across a biker and they say thank you or act in a courteous manner. I really do think the majority of them are totally unaware of the havoc they cause or are just entitled. I have such a poor impression of them.

@Workinghardeveryday Why do you think cyclists don’t pay tax? The costs of roads are paid for through PAYE and council tax, as far as I’m aware there is no tax loop hole on either for being a cyclists - so you know something different?

Agghh, all those pesky traffic jams preventing car drivers from driving really fast all the time because car drivers are very very important and must not be slowed down even by their own kind

Except that car drivers don't mind being slowed down by their own kind. That's OK. There are never complaints against "other motorists". Only traffic jams.

MotherofPoodles How do you know they are a biker when they’re on a horse or driving? I guess you can tell if they have bike carriers on the car, but on a horse, how can you tell?

This is apparently because there’s a speed limit for cyclists on shared lane. So what? Drives have to abide the speed limits but it doesn’t apply to cyclists?

I think a lot of the problem is down to speed. Those saying cyclists have as much right to be on the road as cars - if a car was doing 20mph in a 50mph zone they would fail their driving test for not making adequate progress. And when those cyclists doing 20 (and not many actually get that high) are also three or four abreast and no-one can get past them the traffic is going to build up.

We do a lot of canalling. There are signs along the towpaths, put there by the Canal and River Trust, saying that cyclists must give way to pedestrians. I've never yet encountered one cyclist who follows that, only that some are less forceful about it than others. A ringing bell means only one thing - get out of my way.

A ringing bell means only one thing - get out of my way.

Please could the 50% of people who think this have a word with the 50% of people who are indignant when cyclists don’t use bells and reach an agreement on what you’d like people to do?

@ivykaty44 sorry I am clearly mistaken. I thought that was what vehicle tax was paying for?

So what is vehicle tax paying for then?

Look I am all for people going out exercising and getting fresh air, if biking is your thing great! Just don’t hold back a stream of traffic behind you whilst cycling side by side!! If nothing else is just rude!!!!

@Feedingthebirds1

This is apparently because there’s a speed limit for cyclists on shared lane. So what? Drives have to abide the speed limits but it doesn’t apply to cyclists?

I think a lot of the problem is down to speed. Those saying cyclists have as much right to be on the road as cars - if a car was doing 20mph in a 50mph zone they would fail their driving test for not making adequate progress. And when those cyclists doing 20 (and not many actually get that high) are also three or four abreast and no-one can get past them the traffic is going to build up.

We do a lot of canalling. There are signs along the towpaths, put there by the Canal and River Trust, saying that cyclists must give way to pedestrians. I've never yet encountered one cyclist who follows that, only that some are less forceful about it than others. A ringing bell means only one thing - get out of my way.

Cyclists do have a legal right to be on the roads (excl. motorways), as do pedestrians and horse riders.

Motorised vehicle drivers are the only ones who need a licence to use the roads because they're the ones which are dangerous to those users who have an automatic legal right to be on the roads.

If you can't pass a cyclist safely (or any other road user) then you hang back and wait until it is safe.

Cyclists are supposed to cycle abreast because it means they're in smaller lengths and so are quicker to overtake, and it stops car drivers trying to unsafely squeeze past a line of cyclists.

It is ironic that in one breath you complain about cyclists ringing bells to tell pedestrians to get out of their way whilst at the same time condemning them for not getting out of your way when you're in a car on the road.

VED goes into the general tax pot, it’s not ring-fenced for roads. It was for a few years back in the 1920s or something but it hasn’t been since.

A ringing bell means only one thing - get out of my way.

Actually when I use mine it more often than not means "be aware that I'm about to pass, please carry on as you are, but don't make any sudden changes of direction."

[quote Workinghardeveryday]@ivykaty44 sorry I am clearly mistaken. I thought that was what vehicle tax was paying for?

So what is vehicle tax paying for then?

Look I am all for people going out exercising and getting fresh air, if biking is your thing great! Just don’t hold back a stream of traffic behind you whilst cycling side by side!! If nothing else is just rude!!!![/quote]
They are supposed to cycle abreast. It's safer and means cars can overtake more quickly.

There is no such thing as vehicle tax. There is vehicle excise duty, which is a charge on the carbon emissions of your car. My fiesta econetic had very low emissions, so I paid no VED at all.

@Lockheart that made me laugh even when having a shit day - I often see a line of pedestrians walking into town on a busy road 😂

@Fomofo

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

Most are just jealous losers who hate the fact that their arses don't look as good as a cyclists in lycra, and that whilst they are stuck in their little expensive polluting boxes cyclists are actually having fun and, if they are communiting through a town, probably getting to work faster to boot.