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

@Fomofo

Stdg - when you say 'groups of twats', are we talking traffic jams?

I was thinking several twats in one car (or in a group anywhere else), @Fomofo. I just think that, when twats are in a group, it magnifies the twattishness exponentially. And maybe twats attract other twats.

I also think I may be going for the all-time record for how many times I can use the word twat in one thread!

[quote TarzansFavouriteThong]**@Offmyfence* @UnsuitableHat* I’m not a nervous driver at all. I AM a human who is nervous about accidentally killing another human. I don’t drive my car for leisure - only for purpose. I live in a village with two buses a day (one in the morning, one in the evening) so I have to use my car. When I say ‘risky’ overtakes, I mean that by its nature, any overtaking is a risk because you are driving on the wrong side of the road. I’m not speeding round blind bends, I just prefer to stay on the side of the road I’m supposed to be on but I also prefer not to be stuck doing 20mph for miles and being late to work/appointments so someone can enjoy their leisure activity . My leisure activities don’t involve danger or disruption to other people it’s a pity cyclists’ feel their enjoyment trumps everyone else’s.

The point of my second paragraph was to demonstrate that not all poor beleaguered cyclists are cycling around being bullied by cars. They can be the bullies, road hogs and abusive.[/quote]
If you were stuck behind a cyclist at 20mph for 5 miles in a 30 zone, it would only take you 5 minutes longer to get to where you were going.

In a 60 limit it would only take you ten minutes longer to travel the distance, and I can't ever in 20 years of driving remember a time I've been stuck for a whole 5 miles behind a cyclist.

If it's happening all the time, leave earlier.

@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.

If those car drivers cycled instead, the volume of traffic would reduce by 75% because they wouldn't be carting all of those empty seats around.

@Iloveallofthem

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

You are being unreasonable.

Car drivers always drive two-abreast, even when travelling alone. What piss-takers they are.

some cyclists need to learn the highway code
dont dive across the road, dont ride through red lights, dont ride on the footpath to get past aforementioned red lights
and if you put a helmet on a child make bloody sure it is tightened up properly, so many times i have seen kids with helmets barely done up if they fall off the helmet will do more damage than the floor
(rant over for now)

I thought cycling two abreast was advised, as it is safer for the cyclists.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

I thought cycling two abreast was advised, as it is safer for the cyclists.

It is advised. Not only is it safer for cyclists but it means drivers have a shorter distance to overtake.

The only ones complaining about it are those who perform dangerous overtakes of cyclists in single file because they can physically squeeze past them without giving them a safe amount of room.

Cycling Uk have recommended “cyclists should be be considerate of the needs of other road users when riding with another and in small or large groups. You can ride two abreast and it is often safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders. Switch to single file if you consider it safer to allow drivers to overtake.”

Do wonder if some drivers (some) might be a bit less furious about cyclists if they took a 15-minute crash course on why cyclists do xyz.

“Why are they riding two abreast when it makes it harder for me to overtake?” (stops you trying to overtake in a dangerous way and makes them more visible - plus, once you can safely overtake it’ll take you less time to do it if it’s a large group 2 abreast rather than single file)

“Why are they in the middle of the lane when there’s plenty of room tucked in close to the kerb?” (stops drivers trying to squeeze past them dangerously, reduces chance of getting hit by cars pulling out of side roads, gets them out of the parked car door zone)

“Why don’t they use the cycle path?” (because it’s unsuitable/dangerous/rubbish)

“Does the bell mean ‘get out of the way, peasant’?” (probably not)

“Why are they out at this time of day?” (maybe same reason you are?)

Perhaps cyclists should do similar.

Do I really need to don my Lycra and go out with my pals for a cycle during rush hour on one of the busiest single lane A roads in the country? Probably not.

If there’s a well maintained cycle path do I really need to ride on the road at 5mph? Probably not.

Do I really need to ring my bell, shout “excuse me” and indicate for walkers to squeeze themselves to the edge of the shared path whilst not slowing down at all? Probably not.

Should I make myself as visible as possible by wearing fluorescent clothing and having lights on my bike, and not getting arsed when a driver doesn’t see you in the pitch black? Probably.

Do traffic lights apply to me? Definitely.

Should I undertake vehicles? Probably not.

And so on.

Arsey

Some cyclists

Yes yes, rant rant Lycra rant rant selfish rant rant fume rage rant.

But meanwhile, back in the world of constructive conversations, plenty of drivers genuinely don’t seem to know why cyclists do particular things. So perhaps it would help if they did know that?

Yes yes yes don’t dare mention the lyrca rant rant etc

And meanwhile, back in the world of constructive conversations plenty of cyclists don’t seem to consider other road and path users - I wonder why that is.

Tit/tat/to/fro.

I thought cycling two abreast was advised, as it is safer for the cyclists.

It is but drivers consider overtaking on a bend in the rd when a car is being driven on the other side “safe” so cyclists don’t single out. Cyclists are positioned higher than a driver and can see over the top of hedging www.regit.cars/car-news/cyclists-why-do-they-ride-in-the-middle-of-the-road-62617

Cycling two abreast is ok in certain circumstances. It's ok as it's safer for the 2 cyclists themselves. It is perfectly legal as per the Highway Code, rule 66.

But the Highest code stipulates :

cyclists should ride in single file "on
narrow or busy roads and when
riding round bends."

Most cyclists don't do this. They cycle two abreast on busy roads, in rush hour, and cars can't overtake.

They should be considerate to other road users, and ride single file, to prevent traffic building up behind them, and not being able to overtake.

You can rant about Lycra all you like. I have no idea why on Earth you’d care, but that’s your lookout.

What I think would be helpful is if more drivers understood why cyclists do some particular things that are sensible from a cyclist’s POV, but may not make sense from the outside.

Likewise, people should understand a bit more about why horse riders might do particular things, because it makes it safer for everyone if others know that for example horses may freak out if cars/bikes/anything pass fast and close.

I get that you just want to rant about people in lycra, but that is a different conversation, really.

Most cyclists don't do this. They cycle two abreast on busy roads, in rush hour, and cars can't overtake.

Most cyclists don't commute in pairs. If you're on a busy rush hour road it will be unsafe to overtake anyway, as the oncoming lane will also be full of traffic.

No-one is ranting about Lycra - don’t be so silly.

There’s nothing sensible about the things I listed that cyclists do, interesting that you chose to side swerve that but instead focus solely on the drivers.

SirChenjins So constructively explain why drivers, close pass and why this illegal move would be done by a driver? Speeding, why is that needed & how is it constructive? Not using indicators - why is it that drivers don’t indicate at times?

Let’s hear the reason why drivers do what they do for safety?

You have a captive audience of cyclist on this thread that can spread the word and educate other cyclists

Point to me where I have claimed that speeding, passing too close and not using indicators is acceptable? Then we’ll talk.

There’s nothing sensible about the things I listed that cyclists do

No. So they’re clearly not in the category I’m talking about of “things that are actually sensible but don’t look that way to drivers,” are they?

Honestly.

Some drivers might genuinely benefit from knowing why a cyclist would be cycling in the middle of the lane. Because it’s very clear that a lot of don’t know why any cyclist would do that and see it as only selfish and irrational behaviour. And if they understood why, it would make more sense to them.

Some drivers don’t want to know and don’t care and just want cyclists off the road anyway. But those aren’t the ones I’m talking about.

cyclists should ride in single file "on
narrow or busy roads and when
riding round bends."

The HC doesn’t stipulate what is narrow, busy or bend

And there has been more than one occasion when I can see the car being driven towards us before the driver behind me - so by staying out in primary it saves my skin and theirs

When I’ve indicated later that the rd is clear, they’ve stuck the hazards on after passing - nice and wide - as a thank you

Lockheart :

"Most cyclists don't commute in pairs. If you're on a busy rush hour road it will be unsafe to overtake anyway, as the oncoming lane will also be full of traffic."

That may not be true. Depends on the roads, someone's commute.

Not on my commute it's not. There are many straight roads that could be perfectly safe to overtake, when oncoming traffic allowed, but can't because cyclists are two abreast.

Point to me where I have claimed that speeding, passing too close and not using indicators is acceptable? Then we’ll talk.

I asked for an explanation as to why drivers do this?

We’ve explained why cyclists do stuff that apparently is annoying - so I’m asking for the same in return, an explanation as to why drivers do this not only annoying but dangerous driving