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

I think the keyword here is 'some'. I went on a 20 mile bike ride yesterday- some on a cycle/walking/riding path, some on tiny country lanes and some on B roads. Everyone apart from one lorry driver steered well clear (he was going too fast and got too close - it was a straight clear road) I rang my bell when approaching pedestrians/dog walkers from behind amd without fail they got hold of their dogs and stepped aside (for which I thanked them of course). I may just be lucky in my area but I rarely experience arsiness and have never felt in danger.

I am a keen cyclist so a couple of comments to add. Firstly on my right to use the road and the old argument about not paying vehicle tax. Vehicle tax is directly proportional to pollution, so as a cyclist I pay none. Via tax on the vehicles I do own, and income tax I help fund the roads as much as anyone else. Secondly to women who cycle and intimidation. I think this is a problem, and sadly not only for cyclists but also for any woman who exercises outdoors. I have had all kinds of comments shouted at me on the roads when running and cycling, and it does put woman off. Even my 14 year old daughter is subject to this kind of abuse! There is something psychological about men in cars where they think they are untouchable and can behave as they choose.

When driving wish I had a signal to tell cyclists I am not angry or impatient and to take as long as they need going up the hill!

Not sitting just behind my back wheel is the signal for me 👍

I ride most days, I drive most days. Riding happens to get somewhere in London, driving happens to get somewhere in the countryside

I find that the vast majority of both experiences is positive. I think drivers, especially in London, have got better around cyclists than they were 5-10 years ago. The infrastructure has improved, cycling awareness has improved, the advent of dash cams and helmet cams I reckon has probably helped out with overall low level road behaviour

I ride around 18-20mph traffic and hills permitting and have found that the extensive 20mph zones actually really help, having previously been undecided, as it removes the incentive to overtake

A couple of weeks ago I was one of the first on the scene after an horrendous incident. A car had blocked the cycle lane, got angry becaue the cyclist tried to get past, swerved and chased the cyclist and ran him off the road into the pole of a road sign. The head injury to the cyclist was sickening(yes he should have been wearing a helmet but when we showed police the cctv from my workplace opposite they were talking possible attempted murder. (most likely to be dangerous driving with intent).

Some car drivers are just dicks.

Some cyclists are too, but people (like me) who drive cars need to realise they are in charge of what literally can be a dangerous weapon. Dd cycles all across London to get to college and work and I do fear for her.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.smh.com.au/national/nsw/ben-smith-jailed-for-eight-years-jail-over-death-of-cyclist-steven-jarvie-20170703-gx3bhd.html

Another cyclist hater, spouting nonsense about paying to be on the road.

I think it mostly comes down to most drivers having no experience at all of what's it's like to be a cyclist on the roads and how vulnerable you feel.

I was a driver un the countryside much before taking up cycling. I used to get frustrated when I had to slow down for a cyclist. Groups of them annoyed me. I passed carefully but never really thought about how much space I left.

Then I became a cyclist and saw it from the other side. Most drivers are fine but I rarely go on a ride without at least one driver putting me in danger through their reckless attitude. It's putting me off riding in the roads.

They are twats cyclists without a doubt, but the ratio of them is much fewer and they overall are much less danger to others than drivers are.

Gas guzzlers are on the wrong side of history

^New and shiny wide cycle/pedestrian lane- no,cyclist decides to go on the road. 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?^

The speed "limit" on shared spaces is an advisory. The DoT suggest that if you want to ride fast then you use the road, their advisory speed is 18mph btw, which I'd suggest is faster than most people can actually ride

And yes you're correct speed limits don't apply to cyclists except in a few specific circumstances

@Comefromaway

A couple of weeks ago I was one of the first on the scene after an horrendous incident. A car had blocked the cycle lane, got angry becaue the cyclist tried to get past, swerved and chased the cyclist and ran him off the road into the pole of a road sign. The head injury to the cyclist was sickening(yes he should have been wearing a helmet but when we showed police the cctv from my workplace opposite they were talking possible attempted murder. (most likely to be dangerous driving with intent).

Some car drivers are just dicks.

Some cyclists are too, but people (like me) who drive cars need to realise they are in charge of what literally can be a dangerous weapon. Dd cycles all across London to get to college and work and I do fear for her.

We had an awful incident in the town I live in last year. A cyclist was using the pavement (whether they should have or not I won't get into) A pedestrian walked past and pushed the cyclist straight into the path of an oncoming car. The cyclist was killed, the poor car driver traumatised (she was going slowly, but there was literally no way she could avoid hitting the cyclist, it happened so quick)

A life over because humans can be completely intolerant of each other. Just horrific and so unnecessary

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.

As a truck driver delivering to a lot of construction sites in fairly countryfied areas, I often find them fucking irritating for this exact reason. On twisty roads I just can't get the speed and necessary distance to overtake them, and many just keep going for 5-10 minutes without even attempting to move over when a long layby presents where they could keep pedalling and simultaneously let me past.

I'm not sure there's any law saying they have to but it's selfish to hold up a mile long stream of vehicles in rush hour. And people often don't see the cyclist and assume I'm causing the delay, which results in much beeping of horns and people driving right up in my blind spot attempting dangerous overtakes.

Whitevanwoman, I'm sure you've been in many traffic jams caused by too many people doing unnecessary short journeys, yet you reserve your anger for cyclists

but it's selfish to hold up a mile long stream of vehicles in rush hour.

yet drivers do this daily, are they also selfish? ive never really understood the name "rush hour" as drivers go really slowly holding each other up in the congestion and no-one gets to rush anywhere

Drivers don’t ‘hold each other up’

It’s the volume of traffic causing the problem.

Unlike cyclists who think it’s fine to have a huge line of cars following them on hilly twisty roads as they are too arrogant to dream of pulling over.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Drivers don’t ‘hold each other up’

It’s the volume of traffic causing the problem.

Unlike cyclists who think it’s fine to have a huge line of cars following them on hilly twisty roads as they are too arrogant to dream of pulling over.

You've never been behind someone hesitant to pull out into a main road, a roundabout, someone driving at 20 miles under the speed limit..

Some cyclists, not all, are piss takers . They think that they own the road , often cycling two a breast.

You are being unreasonable.

So I needed to see a client today a mile away. So weird that if I had got in my diesel car polluting the air and adding to the traffic jams that’s socially acceptable yet I used my bike - puffed up and down hills polluted no air and didn’t add another car to the traffic jams yet in doing that I piss the majority off?! Honestly it’s tipsy turvy! The car is default and “normal” mindset needs to end!

Not on the whole no.

Nothing line as much as being stuck behind loads of cyclists on the bendy hilly windy roads in the Peak District, every single time l go out at least 3 or 4 times. It’s like a joke. Cyclists give themselves absolute priority all the time, and ignore the endless snake of traffic building up behind them.

I’ve never k own one pull over ever. Tractors will, horses will, but cyclists? Never

I'd like to hear the posters who are cyclists address the elephant in the room why so many of them whizz through red lights and cycle on pavements at will and don't even use their cycle lanes and why drivers and pedestrians should still tolerate them.

I don't jump red lights or ride on pavements so why should I have to be a spokesperson for cyclists who do?

@blueshoes

I'd like to hear the posters who are cyclists address the elephant in the room why so many of them whizz through red lights and cycle on pavements at will and don't even use their cycle lanes and why drivers and pedestrians should still tolerate them.

What's your suggestion to not tolerate them?

Why should cyclists tolerate

Speeding drivers
drunk drivers
Drug driver
Drivers, driving without due care and attention?

I’ve known cyclists get pulled for speeding…..

@blueshoes

I'd like to hear the posters who are cyclists address the elephant in the room why so many of them whizz through red lights and cycle on pavements at will and don't even use their cycle lanes and why drivers and pedestrians should still tolerate them.

I don’t jump red lights or cycle on pavements. I have lights on my bike. Last time I cycled on a single track road, I pulled into the passing places to let cars past, I don’t want cars driving up my back wheel. When will drivers address the elephant in the room which is why so many of them drive with so little consideration for other road users. Why do so many car drivers jump red lights and park on pavements or in cycle lanes? Why should cyclists and pedestrians tolerate them? Why are people cycling for leisure and/or exercise so hated when it is socially acceptable to drive to places of entertainment or the gym?

I hate mamil types. They deserve all they get in my opinion. Nasty little bullies with no balls 😁

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

I’ve known cyclists get pulled for speeding…..

Have you? Like 1000s per day, like drivers?

And when you say cyclists, do you really mean plural?