Argh some cyclists

[Landof]

I want to start by saying this is not a bashing thread about cyclists and I am a cyclists myself and sometimes cycle to work but the majority of my cycling is for fun at the weekends etc...

What my annoyance is about is cyclists without lights on and wearing dark clothing. WHY?! please someone tell me if you do this why? And does it annoy anyone else?
It's honestly so hard to see them until much closer. It gets dark early these days so traffic is heavy during dark hours. If I knocked one over, it'd be my fault and I'd have to live with that on my conscious forever.

Please get some lights and reflective clothing.

Pedestrians too, tbf. There’s a pelican crossing in town that’s poorly lit with huge yukkas obscuring the pavement until the last minute. I approach it at absolute snails pace every time now because people just can’t be seen if they’re in dark clothing, which so many are.

@Momicrone

A parent who let's their youn kid cycle on the pavement 'needs educating', are you some kind of cycling fascist? I'm guessing you're in the superior gang, the first grouo

They didn't actually say that - they said "parents who ride on the pavement with their kids". Technically, nobody should be riding on the pavement, but I think most people are willing to overlook that with young children provided there is room and they are giving way to pedestrians - but there's no need for the parents to ride on the pavement too.

I totally agree with you OP and I too cycle for leisure. But I am also exasperated by the number of people on the roads around here driving their half tonne of metal in the FOG with no bloody lights on. I mean FGS just because you can just about see where you are going doesn't mean others can see you. On a 5 mile journey yesterday in thick fog I lost count of the number of cars, vans and lorries with either side lights or no lights. Some people just shouldn't be on the roads as they clearly lack common sense.

Ianthanum, I disagree, I got all my kids better at cycling, by sometimes cycling with them to school when they were young. Due to the lay out of some of the roads with barriers etc I did indeed cycle on the pavement for short stretches, but most of the way I cycled on the road next to them. Until this country makes the roads safe for cyclists, especially children, I will not hesitate to do that again.

I wear bright clothing and mostly cycle during daylight. Still have cars close passing and pulling out from sideboards or entering roundabouts. They simply are not looking for bikes or pedestrians.

I assume we'll soon have a post complaining about bells being used or not used. That's how it usually goes.

@MrsSkylerWhite

Pedestrians too, tbf. There’s a pelican crossing in town that’s poorly lit with huge yukkas obscuring the pavement until the last minute. I approach it at absolute snails pace every time now because people just can’t be seen if they’re in dark clothing, which so many are.

You're supposed to drive carefully, why are you seeing this as a problem.

People shouldn't have to dress for the convenience of drivers. It's victim blaming bullshit.

I don't get any road user, that includes pedestrians, who go about in the dark in dark clothing. I'm a runner, I wear a body light and hi viz reflective mesh vest thing. Even in the day at this time of year if I'm running where the light my be dull/shadows from trees I make sure at least one item of clothing is brightly coloured.
The amount of dog walkers in all dark clothing and without a light on their dog (those light up collars are fab) is unbelievable. Worse when they wander along looking at their phone so don't see you coming.
With the cyclists, have to say it tends to be young males I notice who are guilty of this. Don't know if it's they think they are invisible, just a lack of awareness (especially in those not old enough to drive yet) or that wearing hi viz isn't "cool'.
DS cycles and his new helmet has an integral light in the back which is fab, especially this time of year when being caught out with a mechanical or something means you could easily end up cycling in the dark when you didn't intend to be.

"It's victim blaming bullshit."

This. Motorists who think they own the roads getting annoyed that they have a duty of care to vunerable road users.

I don't want to 'bash' anyone but many cyclists want their cake and eat it.

They cry about being overtaken by cars too closely when they're cycling in packs more than two wide (and record said 'incidents' on their helmet cams) yet think nothing of trying to aggressively squeeze down the left hand side of vehicles queuing in traffic/traffic lights, scraping cars with their handle bars, kicking cars deliberately and knocking wing mirrors when insufficient width to safely pass (I bet they won't use the evidence from the helmet cams in these instances). Cars do not have to leave space for cyclists to pass on the left hand side, although I do if the lanes are wide enough.

There's a toll bridge controlled by traffic lights which causes long tailbacks locally and people are always complaining of the cyclists who insist on scraping past on the left.

What is it that makes cyclists feel they don't have to queue when traffic stops? Some don't even regard traffic lights as applying to cyclists (who aren't actually allowed to cycle on pavements). They just go through junctions by using pedestrian only paths and darting in front of vehicles as it suits them.

And don't get me started on the local High School children who ride side by side on their bikes, taking up the full width of pavements, expecting pedestrians to get on the road to avoid their handle bars/break levers stabbing their arms. Yes - children do have cycle training in primary school and should be cycling on the road, not on foot paths.

I am a cyclist and driver. I'm not against cyclists or drivers. I use common sense and treat others with respect. Aggressive cyclists and drivers .... 🙄

loveisanopensore

You're supposed to drive carefully, why are you seeing this as a problem.“

🤣I know and I do. Other motorists tend to be irritated though, when I slow to 5 mph, it really is obscured that badly.

@MyOtherCarIsAPorsche

I don't want to 'bash' anyone but many cyclists want their cake and eat it.

They cry about being overtaken by cars too closely when they're cycling in packs more than two wide (and record said 'incidents' on their helmet cams) yet think nothing of trying to aggressively squeeze down the left hand side of vehicles queuing in traffic/traffic lights, scraping cars with their handle bars, kicking cars deliberately and knocking wing mirrors when insufficient width to safely pass (I bet they won't use the evidence from the helmet cams in these instances). Cars do not have to leave space for cyclists to pass on the left hand side, although I do if the lanes are wide enough.

There's a toll bridge controlled by traffic lights which causes long tailbacks locally and people are always complaining of the cyclists who insist on scraping past on the left.

What is it that makes cyclists feel they don't have to queue when traffic stops? Some don't even regard traffic lights as applying to cyclists (who aren't actually allowed to cycle on pavements). They just go through junctions by using pedestrian only paths and darting in front of vehicles as it suits them.

And don't get me started on the local High School children who ride side by side on their bikes, taking up the full width of pavements, expecting pedestrians to get on the road to avoid their handle bars/break levers stabbing their arms. Yes - children do have cycle training in primary school and should be cycling on the road, not on foot paths.

I am a cyclist and driver. I'm not against cyclists or drivers. I use common sense and treat others with respect. Aggressive cyclists and drivers .... 🙄

You know that the cyclists who complain about dangerous overtakes are not necessarily the same as those who "aggressively" filter?

Filtering is perfectly legal, FYI.

Don't understand it either.

No.normal person would.

They are too lazy to get some lights.
Too selfish to think about car drivers needing to see them.
Don't care about getting killed or ending up in hospital.

Idiots.

@WindyState
Not if they are coming into contact with vehicles 🤔

What is it that makes cyclists feel they don't have to queue when traffic stops?

The highway code?

@Momicrone

I always think its someone who's stayed out longer than intended, dangerous yes but doesn't annoy me

There's no excuse for this. Everyone has realised by January that it goes dark by the time they're coming home from school / work!! In my experience @BobbinThreadbare123 those "shared space" cycle / footpaths can be a liability as a lot of people don't realise they're shared and people wander out in front of the bike lane. I came so close to hitting a cyclist a few weeks ago that i scared myself - busy roundabout at rush hour and he's riding with no lights on dressed like a ninja, i could barely see him!

@emmathedilemma I wasn't talking about a shared path. Those are a pain because nobody sticks to 'their side'.

@Landof

Thanks to those of you who understand. I hate that people say 'you shouldn't be driving if you can't see them' I never said I couldn't see them, otherwise I wouldn't be making this thread. I'm drinking in 20/30 miles per hour zones and see them as they are really close. Imagine driving 50 in a country lane (which would be legal if that is the speed limit) and then hitting a cyclist. How is that the drivers fault? Ridiculous victim blaming I think.

Absolutely stupid comment blaming the motorist.

Anyone without lights should be stopped and have their bikes seized. They wouldn't do it again. As usual there is no policing of it.

You wouldn't drive round in the dark without lights in a car so why a bike. Be seen it's your life?

If you see anyone ask them as you pass don't you want to live.

As another cyclist who can't stand it when other bike users go around with no lights, dressed like a ninja, I am in agreement.

I can kind of sympathise a bit with teenagers, who probably don't realise how dangerous it is. But most adult cyclists have a driving licence, and should appreciate the difference between encountering someone on a bike with lights and something hi-viz, even a discrete marking on the back of a coat you don't have to be a lollipop lady level, versus someone in dark clothing and no lights. You're placing yourself at additional risk. While drivers need to take care, other road users should also try to make themselves visible in dark months.

If you think it's scary nearly hitting a cyclist, think how scary it is nearly being hit. I say that as a fully fledged lit up hi vis cyclist.

[quote MyOtherCarIsAPorsche]@WindyState
Not if they are coming into contact with vehicles 🤔[/quote]
Well obviously, but the majority of cyclists (and motorcyclists/motorists) don't, do they.

So you are angry at cyclists who damage things, not cyclists who filter as per:

"What is it that makes cyclists feel they don't have to queue when traffic stops? "

The answer being "the highway code".

Pedestrians need to consider this too. I narrowly missed a woman with a buggy once. I was approaching a zebra crossing so fortunately I was already slowing down. She decided to push the buggy out into the road at least 10 yards before the crossing, it was dark and raining. She was dressed head to toe in black, the buggy was black, the baby in it dressed in black. If she had bothered to walk to the crossing or if she had worn a white scarf/put something reflective on the buggy I would have seen her. Luckily I was able to brake in time. Some people have no common sense.

One tip I would give, to runners, peds, kids and cyclists, is that:

• during the day wear flouro - it's more visible
• in the dark, wear this new amazing fabric - I think the original is by ProViz, but now more people are using it. I got a jacket from Trespass that I use for night riding for about £20 and it glows brilliant white under car lights - www.provizsports.com/en-gb/cycling/cycling-jackets

Agree with@Momicrone
I am an ex cyclist who always had lights and high viz.
I experienced lots of near misses where cars nearly ran into me in broad daylight let alone in the dark.
Then, I was ran into by a car going too fast. Thrown up into the air and landed face first on the rear screen of a parked car. Helmet split in two . A and E doctor stated helmet had saved my life. This also happened in daylight.
But I don't see many threads bashing car drivers on here....

Interestingly, the most dangerous time to cycle is 8 to 9am and 3 to 6pm, ( because more people cycle during the day), so perhaps this ninja cyclist issue isn't as problematic as you might think

There are very few car bashing threads on here because this is a car centric country, most people drive, and see it as the normal. Anything outside of that is seen as 'other'. If mumsnet had been around at the advent of cars, I'm sure there would have been plenty of car bashing threads