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

@PerfectlyUnsuitable

I imagine you’re nit living in the countryside then? *@Fomofo*

You realise people have jobs to do, children to pick up etc etc just like anyone else. It’s nit like the locals are on holidays and can take all the time they want p.

If you frequently encounter cyclists who are legally using the roads and find you are late for work etc, then the answer is.... leave a bit earlier.

It's not putting cyclists in danger.

I would have thought that was pretty obvious.

@ivykaty44

How do you think court would view you, when you have an accident? Would it not be deemed dangerous driving, I don't think they'd agree that you were "pushed" to drive dangerously, that would be wholly down to you Courts usually let you walk free, even killing someone with your vehicle doesn’t guarantee prison

That's usually down to lack of evidence more than anything. Now that more and more cars have dashcams and the quality is better it's changing.

The accident I recently was at we have crystal clear cctv and another driver has excellent dash cam footage. From googling similar cases where there is footage available I fully expect the driver to be jailed (and the cyclist wasn't even killed thankfully)

@GoldenOmber

I dunno about that. It’s annoying sometimes for cyclists to slow down for pedestrians on shared use paths, but “these dog-walkers are in my way!” would not justify being a shit and dangerous cyclist, would it?

Do not get me started on horrendous behaviour on shared use paths. I used to live next to the Bath and Bristol one.....pedestrians legally have priority but would constantly get abuse from speeding cyclists.

@SusieBob

"I live in the countryside and you can't help but feel extremely irritated when you get stuck behind one for miles because there's nowhere to safely overtake. Its dangerous because it pushes drivers to overtake unsafely."

Such utter bollocks.

You don't have to overtake dangerously. If you live in a place with narrow roads etc and you frequently get stuck behind cyclists - which I bet doesn't actually happen very often at all - then you need to allow more time for your journey.

It happens VERY often!

Where did I say that you HAVE to overtake dangerously? I said many drivers get frustrated being stuck behind them for miles and miles, many are pushed to overtake dangerously.

You don't have to overtake dangerously. If you live in a place with narrow roads etc and you frequently get stuck behind cyclists - which I bet doesn't actually happen very often at all - then you need to allow more time for your journey.

It happens ALL the time. ALL the time. And it’s getting worse.

Then, for want of repeating myself, you need to allow more time for your journey.

It's not hard.

Ummmm....I've never overtaken a cyclist dangerously. I would never put mine or my children's lives at risk, not to mention anyone else's.

And I'm not saying that someone who does overtake dangerously is in the right, either I'm saying they have been 'pushed' by anger/frustration. It happens a lot.

@BobLemon I thought your diagram was obvious tbh.

What it doesn’t show is what cyclists should do too, which is a snake tbh.
Because, a cyclist ridding ‘on the white line’ or slightly over DOES make it harder for cars to overtake on small roads for example.
Groups that are 3 abreast again are an issue in a small road because they take more than the space if a car, especially when they also don’t cycle close to the edge of the road because (rightly I have to say) it’s dangerous for them to do so - potholes.
And big groups of 12~15 cyclists are rarely actually riding 3 abreast in a nice compact way. Sometimes there are two abreast, some time only one and alway, always stretching over more than 4 rows.

@pinknikes

Ummmm....I've never overtaken a cyclist dangerously. I would never put mine or my children's lives at risk, not to mention anyone else's.

And I'm not saying that someone who does overtake dangerously is in the right, either I'm saying they have been 'pushed' by anger/frustration. It happens a lot.

Or they are pushed by the other drivers behind them getting impatient…. I can feel that very often on said country roads.

But the 'danger' in these situations is not caused by the cyclists, but by the cars. Being frustrated is not an excuse for dangerous driving.

If people are being "pushed" into dangerous overtakes or are "pushed" by anger because they can't bear the though going a bit slower than they should get the fuck off the roads.

Leave 5 minutes earlier or develop rage every day?

To many the choice is clear

@SusieBob

If people are being "pushed" into dangerous overtakes or are "pushed" by anger because they can't bear the though going a bit slower than they should get the fuck off the roads.

"Should", "in the wrong", "leave earlier", "don't get angry" etc etc etc......

Meanwhile, the reality is that drivers continue to become enraged by cyclists on country roads where you cannot overtake for miles and miles.

At least the tractors occasionally pull in to let the queue behind them pass...

I commute in the countryside by car

I have to be somewhere at a certain time to allow others access to their work. Good timekeeping essential.

I plan my journey accordingly. It's a popular area for cycling both with locals and with visiting cyclists from London/all over Surrey. Large sections of the commute are single carriageway NSL and 50mph A-roads. There are cyclists and drivers, ramblers, tractors, horses and the traffic associated with a local school. They don't stress me out because I'm capable of time management. Sometimes something genuinely unforeseen happens (the first insulate Britain protest) and you're late but Jesus I'd die of a heart attack if I lived like some of you seem to

"Meanwhile, the reality is that drivers continue to become enraged by cyclists on country roads where you cannot overtake for miles and miles."

Meanwhile, that is the fault of the drivers not the cyclists who are using the roads as they are perfectly entitled to do. If said drivers can't control their rage then I'll refer you to the previous advice of getting the fuck off the road.

yep

Drivers getting angry and frustrated with slower cyclists ahead = drivers’ problem, not an excuse for abusive or dangerous behaviour.

Cyclists getting angry and frustrated with slower pedestrians ahead = cyclists’ problem, not an excuse for abusive or dangerous behaviour.

It can’t be totally inexcusable behaviour if cyclists do it but understandable if drivers do it.

@PerfectlyUnsuitable

I imagine you’re nit living in the countryside then? *@Fomofo*

You realise people have jobs to do, children to pick up etc etc just like anyone else. It’s nit like the locals are on holidays and can take all the time they want p.

But living in the country means less car traffic, which people living in towns have to deal with.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

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

It makes it harder on narrow windy country roads

Yes and it's not recommended on narrow roads When I've done group rides we single out on narrow roads to make it easier for cars to pass us. And we even pull over sometimes!

But on normal width roads it is much safer for bikes to ride together in a group so they are like a small van which is much easier for a car to overtake.

*SusieBob

"Meanwhile, the reality is that drivers continue to become enraged by cyclists on country roads where you cannot overtake for miles and miles."

Meanwhile, that is the fault of the drivers not the cyclists who are using the roads as they are perfectly entitled to do. If said drivers can't control their rage then I'll refer you to the previous advice of getting the fuck off the road*

Why should bikes have the priority of holding up lines and lines of cars? I’m not suprised car drivers are angry. It gets ridiculous. 20 cars driving behind 2 cyclists who are too arrogant to pull in’

How’s that right?

Because most cyclists are twats.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

*SusieBob

"Meanwhile, the reality is that drivers continue to become enraged by cyclists on country roads where you cannot overtake for miles and miles."

Meanwhile, that is the fault of the drivers not the cyclists who are using the roads as they are perfectly entitled to do. If said drivers can't control their rage then I'll refer you to the previous advice of getting the fuck off the road*

Why should bikes have the priority of holding up lines and lines of cars? I’m not suprised car drivers are angry. It gets ridiculous. 20 cars driving behind 2 cyclists who are too arrogant to pull in’

How’s that right?

They have "priority" because they are in front, and it's the responsibility of the passing road user to pass safely, be it a another car, a bike, a horse or a tractor.

This really isn't difficult.

They have ‘priority’ to dominate the entire road for miles and ignore other traffic needing to pass.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

They have ‘priority’ to dominate the entire road for miles and ignore other traffic needing to pass.

Like cars do? Sitting two-abreast (and two deep) in traffic jams (without even the decency to actually occupy the other four seats taking up so much room) causing delays to cyclists and public transport users.

No it doesn’t. Cyclists just weave in and out until they get to the front.

Public transport users would be stuck in the bus in the never ending queue behind the cyclists as no one can get past them.