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

@loopyapp you do know that roads are paid for via Council Tax don't you? There's no such thing as road tax. There us a Vehicles Emission tax which is on a sliding scale depending on how polluting your vehicle is. Funnily enough, bicycles are exempt from that.

[quote DreadingChristmasAlready]@tabletennistop what is appalling about my question?

I would say roads are for cars, buses, lorries, vans, etc. Vehicles that pay tax to upkeep them. Cyclists have cycle routes, horses should be in fields.

Please stop being so rude and faux offended.[/quote]
Cyclists, runners, riders and walkers are all perfectly entitled to use the roads which, BTW, are paid for out of general taxation and not "road tax".

If that annoys you, maybe you are the one with the problem, not the people using the roads perfectly legitimately.

The other day I (and a car or two) were stopped at some traffic lights which had just gone red and were overtaken by two cars who very deliberately ran the red light. No one got fined

Yes, I rarely cycle now but did daily for about ten years when I lived in a city. Whilst I was waiting at four way lights, pretty much every time I would see car drivers going through the red light. So I don't really see why this is regarded as thing cyclists do. Car driver so it all the time but when they 'push through the red' this seems to be acceptable and unnoticed.

Oh and on the "why no use the bike Lane?" Point, there are so many reasons

The bike lane I mentioned is new, shiny and clear, separated from the road. And if the bike twat had wanted to avoid it, he could have chosen the road, he close the pavement.

He was a twat. There's no need to pretend no one on a bike is one.

I'm a sheep farmer, and cyclists are always using a trail on our private land up on the moor (public footpath so walkers are fine), lost count of the amount of times the "no cycling" signs have be ripped off, gates and fences have been damaged to get bikes through, and the times we've spent hours rounding up the flock for a cyclist to plough right through their path and scatter them.

And they unfailingly seem to be rude, arrogant and entitled idiots when confronted. So no - not a fan and can understand the rage, the dangerous ones outweigh the sensible ones imo. I'd never shout at one or drive dangerously near one though.

To wonder why some people are twats towards cyclists

These threads always tell you the answer

[quote loopyapp]@DdraigGoch if you cause an accident you're insured are you??[/quote]

1. Many cyclists are, in fact, insured.

2. ....But that's beside the point. Insurance is required because cars are big expensive things that are costly to repair if they get damaged AND can very easily cause expensive damage to other things. Don't make the mistake of thinking that insurance is the same as liability.

I'd never abuse them (or anyone!) but I do find them irritating to be honest. The odd one or two is fine but sometimes there are hoardes of them riding 2/3 abreast and its impossible to get past. They never seem to tuck in to let the massive queue of cars go past them either. But I just silently seethe about it!

It's a shame it's not practical to make more cycle lanes tbh. If there were I'd cycle more but I wouldnt feel safe on the roads near me.

@Ifailed

You think like this because you have failed to realise that cyclists are just as legitimate users of roads as cars

You are wrong. Cyclists, riders and pedestrians have a right to use the highway (motorways excepted), motor vehicle users are licensed to use it so long as they meet various requirements, this can be removed.

It's one of the few rights people have in these countries.

You are correct about rights and licenses, but once a motor vehicle has that licence they are as legitmate as road user as a cyclist

@JammyRedRooo

I'd never abuse them (or anyone!) but I do find them irritating to be honest. The odd one or two is fine but sometimes there are hoardes of them riding 2/3 abreast and its impossible to get past. They never seem to tuck in to let the massive queue of cars go past them either. But I just silently seethe about it!

It's a shame it's not practical to make more cycle lanes tbh. If there were I'd cycle more but I wouldnt feel safe on the roads near me.

Maybe have a think about how much time you have spent in traffic jams compared to how long you spend behind cyclists, and maybe redirect that irritation to the people who deserve it.

I would say roads are for cars, buses, lorries, vans, etc. Vehicles that pay tax to upkeep them. Cyclists have cycle routes, horses should be in fields.

People "would say" all sorts of slightly crazy things! (But are very clearly wrong )

Lots of reasons but primarily because some drivers are arseholes - they drive too fast, or too slow, or to close to your bumper, or cut in front of you, or undertake or, or pull out or whatever it is they do under the guise of 'driving'.

Otoh, some cyclists are also arseholes and if I ruled the world they'd be made to have insurance too, so that they could be held liable for injuries to pedestrians and other vehicles when they are at fault.

if you cause an accident you're insured are you?

Fully comp insurance for me is less than 3 quid a month

Which is weird considering how dangerous we supposedly are as a class of road user

🤔

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.

I think there are several factors. Misogyny is definitely at play, but there’s also a level of hostility towards cyclists in general. Of course there are some twatty cyclists, but such is the underlying dislike from car drivers towards cyclists, the few bad ones are used to beat up the rest.

I think it comes from the attitude of motorists not considering anything which isn’t motorised (cyclists, horses, runners etc). That’s why tractors are seen as acceptable in comparison. I think a lot of it gets passed down down parents to children who hear and see how their parents treat cyclists when they are driving. I’m always telling my children that the car can be a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands and other road users are very vulnerable. It’s up to the motorist to be extra careful.

As an aside I do find it stressful when I’m stuck behind a cyclist on a country road. Not because of the cyclist but because of the inevitable twat sitting on my bumper pushing me to overtake when it’s not safe to do so. That’s the behaviour which causes accidents, not e cyclist.

[quote loopyapp]@DdraigGoch if you cause an accident you're insured are you??[/quote]
Membership of the various cycling organisations usually includes insurance. Outside of the clubs, you can also get insured in the usual way. The equivalent of 3rd party + theft cover starts at just £35/year which is a reflection of just how small a liability cyclists pose.

I pay £55/year though, for fully comp.

Because some people are idiots, that said theres plenty of ridiculous cyclists too which encourages dislike of cyclists more generally (man in yellow Lycra who jumps red lights most mornings I'm thinking of you!)

@MrsTerryPratchett

Oh and on the "why no use the bike Lane?" Point, there are so many reasons

The bike lane I mentioned is new, shiny and clear, separated from the road. And if the bike twat had wanted to avoid it, he could have chosen the road, he close the pavement.

He was a twat. There's no need to pretend no one on a bike is one.

But there's also no need to pretend that everyone on a bike is one. We can call twats twats without yelling abuse at not-twats, just in case they might be a twat.

But there's also no need to pretend that everyone on a bike is one. We can call twats twats without yelling abuse at not-twats, just in case they might be a twat

Quite. If you are an arse, you are an arse whether you are in a car, a bike, or the pub. Its your personality that is the problem , not your transport.

I drive and also have a horse which I (sometimes) ride on roads through necessity.

Whilst I fully accept that cyclists do have a legitimate right to be on the roads, and that most of them are considerate, responsible and law abiding road users, I have encountered a significant number who are - quite frankly - entitled, irresponsible twats of the very highest order and, as such, I tend to regard all cyclists with suspicion. This might be the answer to OP's question. I can't be alone in this.

@Foreverlexicon

Particularly an issue on the hills near me where cyclists charge down to 1st gear, following in a car at 1-2mph us really bad for the motor, there's a cycle way and flatter roads but no they choose the 1 in 4 hill in rush hour too bendy to overtake.

Wait until you meet a horse - cyclist combo. Carnage.

Particularly an issue on the hills near me where cyclists charge down to 1st gear, following in a car at 1-2mph us really bad for the motor,

wut?

@Pennguin

I don't think it's because you're a cyclist. It's because you're a woman. It's misogyny.

My male DP gets it too unfortunately. He cycles to work and I worry every day about him being hit by a vehicle (again)

@tabletennistop people commuting to work don't generally travel in packs of 6-8 in full Tour de France style gear BUT without the fitness! Wednesdays are the worst day as a local cycle club starts at 8.30am for the midweek ride ... why not 9.30 at least , it's leisure cyclists not commuters that I moan about