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

SirChenjins I thought you were referring to things that cyclists do that are annoying and selfish

So was trying to explain why they are doing these things

You referred to things that cyclists do for safety - a totally different list to the behaviour I listed.

We’re going round in circles.

I’m out now - got to get ready for work tomorrow 😊

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

I apologise if that’s not the case

I said I'm not sure there's actually any law saying cyclists need to pull over. The Highway Code is not a legally enforceable document for the most part.

We don't have to know every law regarding bicycles, caravans, quad bikes, trailers, etc, to be able to drive large vehicles safely. The majority of the public manage to share the road with HGVs without ever having passed a HGV theory test.

@FrenchBoule

Because they are arseholes. Every group of people has the arseholes- drivers,cyclists or pedestrians. If only people stopped being inconsiderate towards the others... I’m speaking as a driver,cyclist and pedestrian,

There are cyclists, and then there are 'cyclists'. Some are responsible, some aren't.

We live in a part of the UK that is very popular for cycling and unfortunately we seem to be stuck with 'packs' of cyclists who are happy with cycle in groups, not pull over and generally cause problems for other road users.

For me, it comes down to manners. If I, as a pedestrian on the pavement, am slowing someone else down or in their way I would apologise and let them pass. If I, as a cyclist with my child for example, realise I am in someone's way, we pull into a gateway or even get on the verge and wave to say sorry for obscuring their path.

Back to me on the pavement, if for some reason I was walking slower than others, I would stand aside and apologise then let others past.

It's just manners.

Don't even get me started on the manners of those who hog the middle/fast lane on the motorway. Again, manners.

Why can't people just be polite and considerate!???

Love the title, it's along the lines of 'Do you still beat your wife/husband/whatever?.

Rule 66 of Highway Code:

"never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends".

@ivykate44

Rule 66.

Mammy of only one - Yeah and cars, vans, lorries never hold anyone up - oh no, they do, just about every road in the country us choked with motor vehicles, why can't people be more polite and considerate

@DreadingChristmasAlready

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.

They also like to ride three or four abreast on a very narrow road, ensuring that no-one who actually cvontributes to the roads can actually get by.

@safariboot

Didn't take long for the arrogant entitled drivers to appear did it.

It's because people riding bikes are "othered", considered an out-group by the majority who do not cycle. Cycling on the road in Britain is about as close as you can get to being an oppressed minority without being an oppressed minority.

But the arrogant, entitled lycra brigade won the race to be first!

I wish we had more cycle lanes. I regularly see cyclists run red lights, dangerously swerve pedestrians at speed, and hold up queues of traffic refusing to pull over. Feel a shudder of dread seeing a cyclist on the road, I don’t trust them not to behave dangerously yet if there is an accident they will be worse off as I’m in a car and I ‘m terrified at the thought of them suffering a serious injury

Judges, I do not wear lycra and I'm certainly not first, cars are always first as they dominate nearly every where

Persephone, not as terrified as the cyclist

@Fomofo

Mammy of only one - Yeah and cars, vans, lorries never hold anyone up - oh no, they do, just about every road in the country us choked with motor vehicles, why can't people be more polite and considerate

Difference is that vans and lorries are delivering the stuff you buy. Cyclists are just ponces in lycra.

Whitevan, ah if only that were true, most of the traffic on the roads is made up of private car owners, oh and I do my own shopping on my bike

@Fomofo

Mammy of only one - Yeah and cars, vans, lorries never hold anyone up - oh no, they do, just about every road in the country us choked with motor vehicles, why can't people be more polite and considerate

There are cyclists, and then there are 'cyclists'. Some are responsible, some aren't.

We live in a part of the UK that is very popular for cycling and unfortunately we seem to be stuck with 'packs' of cyclists who are happy with cycle in groups, not pull over and generally cause problems for other road users.

For me, it comes down to manners. If I, as a pedestrian on the pavement, am slowing someone else down or in their way I would apologise and let them pass. If I, as a cyclist with my child for example, realise I am in someone's way, we pull into a gateway or even get on the verge and wave to say sorry for obscuring their path.

Back to me on the pavement, if for some reason I was walking slower than others, I would stand aside and apologise then let others past.

It's just manners.

Don't even get me started on the manners of those who hog the middle/fast lane on the motorway. Again, manners.

Why can't people just be polite and considerate!???

Yes, best answer.

Fomofo: Roads aren’t built for leisure activities. I don’t drive round a velodrome.

Lightisnotwhite, and am I allowed to cycle to work, or is that a leisure activity? Never been in a velodrome

Roads aren’t built for leisure activities. I don’t drive round a velodrome

Of roads aren’t built for leisure activities, why do so many people drive on them for a day out at the seaside or the zoo? Or to go to garden centres or big shopping centres. Or to visit friends & family? All of those are leisure activities.

I’m a cyclist who owns no Lycra. I have a granny bike to go to work on which I also use to go shopping or to go to the pub or cinema. I have a car too for longer journeys so I do pay my way with VED as well as income tax, VAT, insurance premium tax, council tax and every other tax that most people pay. All of which go into the general pot to pay for roads and cycling infrastructure

Bollocks. All my MN ads are now cycling related. Just to wind me up.

I'm guessing lightiswhite has a very important job and doesn't partake in leisure activities

What’s so bad about Lycra? You need it if you ride a road bike.

I do wear lycra leggings for running but not for commuting

@MsTSwift

What’s so bad about Lycra? You need it if you ride a road bike.

My arse looks fucking great in lycra. I just assume people are jealous.

I wonder if people who go on about it also go on about people who wear appropriate clothing at other times?

"Look at that twat, wearing a swimming costume in the pool. Why can't people go swimming in their jeans?"

I'm not gonna lie, I don't think blokes look good in lycra and I just wear normal clothes when I cycle