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

@ivykaty44

WhiteVanWoman91

it seemed in an earlier post you had forgotten that rule

Care to elaborate?

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.

It wouldn’t matter if they were single or two abreast, you still have to put the near side wheels over the white line. It’s the oncoming traffic that’s holding you up

@Oblomov21

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.

You need to go into the other lane to safely overtake a cyclist, just as you would a car. If you can't safely overtake two cyclists riding abreast, which are the same width as a car, then you couldn't safely overtake one cyclist.

Care to elaborate?

Read your own posts

So you weren’t able to point to where I claimed that speeding, passing too close and not using indicators is acceptable.

Some drivers don’t want to know about other road users, some cyclists don’t want to know about other road, pavement and path users, some path and pavement users don’t want to know about other path and pavement users. There are inconsiderate a-holes everywhere.

@Oblomov21 you might find this helpful (section 163): www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/using-the-road-overtaking.html

give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car

If you can't overtake a car, or two cyclists riding abreast, you would not have room to safely overtake a single cyclist. So their riding abreast makes no difference. If they were riding in line you'd have to give them the same amount of room but they'd be twice as long, so even harder to overtake safely.

@ivykaty44

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

Apologies, I didn’t notice it was you who posted that. My reply still stands.

SirChenjins I never wrote that you did say it was acceptable. I asked the question as to why drivers do these things? Can you give any reasons why they do these things?

Can I speak for other drivers? No, in the same way I can’t speak for other cyclists, walkers, runners and so on. Can you?

@SirChenjins

Can I speak for other drivers? No, in the same way I can’t speak for other cyclists, walkers, runners and so on. Can you?

So why are all cyclists always expected to answer for the morons who ignore red lights?

@ivykaty44

Care to elaborate?

Read your own posts

Reckon you've confused me with someone else and don't want to admit it.

I have no idea who expects all cyclists to answer for those morons - it certainly isn’t me. It might be better to pose that question to the person or people who have asked all cyclists that.

The British attitude towards cyclists is bizarre.

I live in the Netherlands now, it's bliss. Cycling infrastructure is taken very seriously here and as a result I don't even have a car anymore.

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.

Chenin

I was asking so that cyclists can consider other road users,

I’ve asked and am interested in hearing why drivers do these things

Ultimately if it can be understood maybe it could be used for safety

Reckon you've confused me with someone else and don't want to admit it.

Definitely you as it was curious with you being a professional driver and being unsure about that particular point

To repeat, I can’t say why other drivers do these things (nor can I say why anyone else on roads, path or pavements behaves in certain ways). None of us can.

@ivykaty44

Reckon you've confused me with someone else and don't want to admit it.

Definitely you as it was curious with you being a professional driver and being unsure about that particular point

I've only made one post prior to the one you quoted and nothing in it suggests id forgotten that rule.

SirChenjins

We have explained over and again on this thread, why cyclists ride 2 abreast, why it’s safer to take primary position, why we don’t use some cycle paths, why we don’t cycle close to parked cars. These things drivers find “annoying” people riding bikes do to keep safe and save our skins.

So I can say why other rd users would be doing certain things, I understand because I’ve done those things myself to keep safe and can recognise those behaviours in others

I've only made one post prior to the one you quoted and nothing in it suggests id forgotten that rule.

My mistake then - I was sure you used the word unsure

I apologise if that’s not the case

But they aren't obeying the highway code. Because the highway code says they should ride single file on busy roads.

Therefore whether there is enough room to overtake, or not, is irrelevant, because the fact is they shouldn't be riding two abreast on busy roads. the highway code specifically says they shouldn't be riding this way.

Yes, and I can explain when Im driving I do certain things when I use the road - but I can’t explain why other drivers exhibit some of the stupid, inconsiderate or dangerous things they do, just as you can’t explain why other cyclists do some of the stupid, inconsiderate or dangerous things they do. Nor would I expect you to.

@Oblomov21

But they aren't obeying the highway code. Because the highway code says they should ride single file on busy roads.

Therefore whether there is enough room to overtake, or not, is irrelevant, because the fact is they shouldn't be riding two abreast on busy roads. the highway code specifically says they shouldn't be riding this way.

Does it?

SirChenjins We have explained why cyclists behave in a way others believe is stupid and annoying, it’s actually for safety

Many people on this thread think 2abreast is annoying and stupid and illegal

I’ve explained why other cyclists do this, for safety and it’s taught in bikeability. It makes it easier for drivers to overtake

But they aren't obeying the highway code. Because the highway code says they should ride single file on busy roads.

Therefore whether there is enough room to overtake, or not, is irrelevant, because the fact is they shouldn't be riding two abreast on busy roads. the highway code specifically says they shouldn't be riding this way.

Does it?

no

I’m not referring to the things cyclists do for safety.