Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Argh some cyclists

111 replies

Landof · 14/01/2022 08:12

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.

OP posts:
FluffyBooBoo · 14/01/2022 11:48

Are people honestly trying to say it's fine if cyclists don't have lights because car drivers should be careful?

Is it ok if car drivers don't use theirs? Surely it's the other drivers fault if they crash, because they weren't being careful enough... Hmm

loveisanopensore · 14/01/2022 11:53

Cyclist should have lights. It's the law.

Cars should slow down and look were they are going.

My husband was hit on a summer morning as the car didn't look before he turned. Apparently he didn't see my husband coming down the bus/bike lane because "my bonnet is so long" WTF

WindyState · 14/01/2022 12:05

@FluffyBooBoo

Are people honestly trying to say it's fine if cyclists don't have lights because car drivers should be careful?

Is it ok if car drivers don't use theirs? Surely it's the other drivers fault if they crash, because they weren't being careful enough... Hmm

I don't think anyone has said that.

However, the fact is that there are plenty of potential hazards on the road which don't have hi-viz and lights, and it's the responsibility of the motorist to exercise due care.

MyOtherCarIsAPorsche · 14/01/2022 12:06

@WindyState

Again, when lanes are narrow and traffic is busy/queuing - there isn't enough room to filter.

Cyclists feel they can filter both sides of cars/vehicles and kick/bang on the panels of the vehicles they deem to be in the way. They then pull in front and hog the centre of the lane so no one can pass, further holding up the flow of traffic and inciting more aggression from road users. Cyclists are well aware of what they are deliberately doing.

If cars, vans, lorries, buses are slow moving then cyclists should go with the flow rather than dangerously swinging in and out of vehicles left, right and centre.

I'm certain that you are aware of the circumstances I am describing.

Nemorth · 14/01/2022 14:16

@WhatDidISayAlan

As a cyclist (and driver) I split us into two groups 1) cyclists and 2) people who ride bikes. 1) cyclists wear hi viz, use lights, ride on the road or on off road trails, know how to fix a puncture and maintain their bike, and by and large keep the rules of the road 2) people who ride bikes - everyone else, from hoodies who mug people for iPhones, to builders cycling to a site with no lights, to parents who ride on the pavement with their kids because they won’t let them/are too young to ride on the road.

The second group are the ones who need educating really. It’s the occasional users who don’t understand that failing to do something - eg be traffic aware, use lights etc, could have life threatening consequences. And they are very much in a majority.

Hmmmm. I would consider myself "a person who rides a bike"

But I am trained to deliver Bikeability training to level 3. I'm a "train the trainer" for Bikeability. I've done a cycle ride leader course. I regularly teach 9-11 years olds how to cycle safely. In fact I was out for 3 hours doing it this morning.

I have lights, reflectors, suitable clothing.

Maybe I AM a cyclist after all?!?

Nemorth · 14/01/2022 14:21

@dollybird

"cycling side by side instead of single file" - cyclists are recommended to ride side by side to make it safer for cars to overtake, I thought?
Yes, exactly. There's a change coming into effect on the Highway Code to reflect this.

Think about it.

Drivers are supposed to give cyclists as much space as they would a car.

Cars have people sitting side by side

So cyclists can do this too.

It's safer for all. The cyclist and the driver. It's easier to overtake 2 cyclists side by side than 2 cyclists riding single file.

If anyone think otherwise you need to refresh your knowledge of the Highway Code!

AsYouWishButtercup · 14/01/2022 14:23

YANBU there’s loads who rely on their reflectors at 9pm in a winters night.

Some prick was on a Unicycle at 8.30am on a 60mph road today. It’s always men isn’t it behaving like entitled dicks!

Momicrone · 14/01/2022 15:06

Haha, well yes in general it is make cyclists who seem to do the more dangerous stuff, compared to how I cycle anyhow

Momicrone · 14/01/2022 15:07

*male

JuergenSchwarzwald · 14/01/2022 15:17

However, the fact is that there are plenty of potential hazards on the road which don't have hi-viz and lights, and it's the responsibility of the motorist to exercise due care

Such as what? A dancing bin? A moving tree? A waltzing railing?

Ok animals may get in the way and not have hi vis on. But it's unusual and unlucky. I expect humans to wear hi vis and make sure they can be seen by other humans, whether on four wheels, two wheels or two feet (or I suppose, four feet if they are riding a horse).

lochmaree · 14/01/2022 15:24

@MorningStarling

but some of things you've listed as cyclists being unsafe, are not unsafe and are not illegal. cyclists are entitled to cycle on the road even if a bike path is available, that doesn't automatically make an accident their fault. cycle paths generally aren't gritted or maintained as well as roads are, and are used by other pedestrians. cycling at 20-25mph is therefore safer on the road.

cycling in groups is fine, and in most cases safer for the cyclists and drivers.

my DH is a cyclist, doesnt use cycle paths and will cycle in a group occasionally (while coaching school kids - some at top level in Britain for cycling) - he has been knocked off his bike 3 or 4 times, all were drivers fault. and the most recent one, the driver stopped, said I'm late for work and drove off, leaving him lying in the road.

WindyState · 14/01/2022 15:31

@JuergenSchwarzwald

However, the fact is that there are plenty of potential hazards on the road which don't have hi-viz and lights, and it's the responsibility of the motorist to exercise due care

Such as what? A dancing bin? A moving tree? A waltzing railing?

Ok animals may get in the way and not have hi vis on. But it's unusual and unlucky. I expect humans to wear hi vis and make sure they can be seen by other humans, whether on four wheels, two wheels or two feet (or I suppose, four feet if they are riding a horse).

Animals, trees, pedestrians, kids chasing balls, stuff blowing onto the road.

Point is, regardless of how infrequent those things are you need to actually be looking out for them both for your safety and others.

Hillarious · 14/01/2022 15:41

Despite not knowing how to mend a puncture (but I do live in a city where there is always a bike shop round the next corner), I do consider myself a cyclist. I have a ProViz jacket, which totally freaks out motorists. You can feel them slow down when their headlights light you up. Always good to take it off, though, if anyone is taking a photo of you with a flash.

I'm always at pains when we're in the car to point out to my children when we see people on bikes with no lights, dark clothes, how difficult they are to see.

Momicrone · 14/01/2022 15:43

Yeah I'm a cyclist who doesn't mend punctures, like lots of drivers don't change tyres

OneTimeThrowAway · 14/01/2022 16:13

I've thing oft overlooked with cycle paths, especially with segregated ones, is that the road sweeping machines can't sweep them

At this time of year i ride in traffic more often than not

OneTimeThrowAway · 14/01/2022 16:27

Cyclists feel they can filter both sides of cars/vehicles and kick/bang on the panels of the vehicles they deem to be in the way. They then pull in front and hog the centre of the lane so no one can pass, further holding up the flow of traffic and inciting more aggression from road users. Cyclists are well aware of what they are deliberately doing.

I'm 20+ years of cycling and driving I've never seen irl someone hitting a car. I've seen it on YouTube but never in real life. Not saying it doesn't happen but commonly? No way

Sometimes cyclists decide to ride in a primary position because (and this has happened to me very often) people will try and squeeze past where there isn't enough room to safely overtake. The attitude that normally drives this is that people don't have respect for other legal road users

FingersofFish · 14/01/2022 17:08

Totally agree. About 10 yrs ago I nearly hit a cyclist who stopped in the middle of the road wearing black and with no lights. Thankfully i swerved just in time and the guy seemed absolutely oblivious to the danger. It makes me shudder when I see no lights now even though I live in an area with much more lighting at night, utter fools.

Sportslady44 · 14/01/2022 18:03

We just ask people where their lights are if we can. We say to them it's your life. Why is it so hard to get a pair of lights.

Police should do more too.

Original poster
Landof · 14/01/2022 18:38

I think people are going a bit off the point of the thread now. It isn't a 'cyclist bashing' thread and I'm sorry that you still think it is @Momicrone

It isn't a generalisation. I just want to know why some cyclists choose to cycle in dark clothing and no lights. Whether that's 1 in 100 cyclists or 1 in 1000. I just want to know why.

OP posts:
Original poster
Landof · 14/01/2022 18:39

And also, yes I've also had near misses of being hit in high vis and lights in my bike. But that isn't what this thread is about is it? It's literally about why do some people cycle without lights. They cost a couple of pounds and just help to be seen.

OP posts:
Momicrone · 14/01/2022 19:33

Why do some drivers not indicate? It costs literally nothing. Why do some pedestrians step into the road looking at their phones with headphones on? Why are there any dangerous behaviours on the road? Where do we stop?

MinnieMountain · 14/01/2022 20:19

Thank you for mentioning that fabric @WhatDidISayAlan.

MrsSkylerWhite · 14/01/2022 20:19

Momicrone

Why do some drivers not indicate? It costs literally nothing. Why do some pedestrians step into the road looking at their phones with headphones on? Why are there any dangerous behaviours on the road? Where do we stop?“

You’re right of course. The answer is because most of us just don’t think.

DdraigGoch · 14/01/2022 20:44

@megletthesecond

I told a cyclist off the other week for no lights and dark clothes. He looked sensible so I assumed he'd forgotten to switch them on. No, he said they'd been stolen.

Got a lecture from me about how he needs to buy some more or else a car will hit him. He did move on to the path though so at least he was safer.

His clothes had been stolen? Ye gods! They'll take anything!
DdraigGoch · 14/01/2022 20:46

@BobbinThreadbare123

I work on a site that is 95% male, so the full gamut of bike riders --> MAMILs is apparent. The route in has a well maintained cycle path alongside the pavement. The number of cyclists that just don't use it and continue to use the road is baffling to me. Why wouldn't you keep yourself safe and further away from exhaust fumes? Often they compound this by having no shiny/bright kit or lights. I have a road bike and cycle for enjoyment, but generally in the light, so maybe my perspective is skewed.
Have you ever tried using that cycle path? That might provide your answer. So many are poorly-designed.