To be done with cyclists (as a car driver).

[bluegardenflowers]

Have cycled in the past but now only drive.

I'm a considerate driver and always allow plenty of room when overtaking and am patient in following the cyclist when it's unsafe to overtake and leave a big gap. I take care when left turning. They are more vulnerable on the road.

Yet I've been sworn at be a cyclist and it's pissing me off.

Yesterday on a busy road I saw the cyclist and was busy scanning ahead to make sure I could give him half a carriageways room to overtake. I started my overtake as he was wafting his arm around and looking back. It wasn't a clear right turn signal more a 30 degree flap around before swerving into the part of the road I was on, and swearing at me.

Ffs. If you want to turn right, stick your bloody arm out fully and make a clear signal. No wonder drivers and cyclists hate each other.

He should make clear unambiguous signals. I have no idea what the holding handlebars protocol is

I am entitled.to drive any car I want as long as its legal without harassment and physical attack thank you. Whether from cyclists or drivers. It makes me laugh that lefty people tend to drive clapped out Peugots and Espace and then call a brand new hybrid bad for the environment. I will again say it is not a civilised country where you fear physical and verbal threats for the type of car you drive. Period.

I think you called this one wrong, OP. His signal might have been ambiguous in the moment but it was still some kind of signal. And you decided to pass him anyway.

Like many people I loathe most cyclists and dream about mowing some down (half-joking!).

It's disturbing how many car drivers want to murder people for being a minor inconvenience. Even if they're being a twat it seems a sizeable proportion of the population thinks death is a reasonable outcome for slightly twattish behaviour.

@BerryBerryBerryBerry what a weird post. I’ve never worn Lycra on my bike. I just cycle. No drama.

But he didn't signal! He took his right hand off the handlebars and dangled it near his right side. And this a few feet from the actual turn he wanted to make so left me no time, as I had already moved over to give him plenty of safe space.

I'm with you OP. The cyclists seem to have taken the "two abreast" rule as indication that they can hold up traffic as much as they like. Round here (Lake District, narrow roads) they ignore this part of the highway code:

"be considerate of the needs of other road users when riding in groups. You can ride two abreast and it can be safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders. Be aware of drivers behind you and allow them to overtake (for example, by moving into single file or stopping) when you feel it is safe to let them do so"

Specifically the second part about letting cars past. I've followed packs of MAMILs for ages before, as they have failed to pull into passing places to allow me to pass. A lot of them are entitled wankers.

I was with you @AdobeWanKenobi until your "... and even four legs". I know of no 4 legged creatures in the UK that could ever be described as a "tosser". Wracking my brain, I have come up with maybe something like a wild Coyote in N. America - but even then I could be doing them a great disservice as my only knowledge of them at all comes from Dean Koontz!

Now I really rate Mr Koontz as an author, and as much as you can judge anyone who you don't personally know, I really like him as a person. In fact I would love to be a friend of his, as I think that he must be fascinating to talk to about almost any subject, and we would have our joint love of dogs as a shared passion!

I started my overtake as he was wafting his arm around and looking back.

So you started your overtake as he was signalling.

This is poor driving on your part - you're angry at the wrong person.

'Lefty people'?

Oh — as usual — dear.

@NellesVilla you sound delightful. A major cause of the problem too - as it doesn’t take a vast amount of brain power to work out that those car and van drivers will be the cause of far more danger and accidents on the road than a few bikes ever will.

I drive a 3.2l convertible Audi TT with a gun exhaust, a body kit and an aftermarket spoiler, so I know a little bit about some road users “hating” you because of what you choose to drive. As a cyclist, it’s still the drivers of large SUVs and Range Rovers who don’t seem to realise quite how wide the vehicle they’re driving is and fail to give sufficient room when passing. If you like to drive large cars, perhaps some driving lessons in one would be useful so a professional instructor can talk you through the impact on more vulnerable road users so you can change your road stance?

I don't mind most cyclists, as a lot of them are sensible and thoughtful to other road users, and I'll always give them the maximum room I can when overtaking.

There are some though that get my goat, particularly those who will cycle down the middle of the wide main road during rush hour. There's a cycle lane and the road is well lit without trees or tall buildings causing shadow, but there are one or two guys I encounter regularly (always men in my experience) who insist on hogging the highway and don't like to move over. Interestingly they always wear dark clothing. If they're so concerned about being seen, why don't they wear something brighter?

I think I might have hung back because the cyclist had made a vague signal. I think that would be the safest thing to do.

I come across arseholes using all modes of transport. It's to be expected really as there are many arseholes in existence and they all need to get around too.

I did get a mouthful and a few hand gestures from a cyclist who was incensed that I didn't come to a stop on the road so that he could pull out from a side street. It was the day after the highway code guidance was heavily publicised and I think he genuinely believed that cyclists had been given right of way over cars in every situation. I hope he didn't try that again because it was stupid and dangerous.

@BerryBerryBerryBerry so you’re “entitled” to drive whatever car you like but cyclists aren’t entitled to use the roads safely?

Your use of the word “lefties” as an insult says all we need to know about you 🙄.

It wasn't a case of being unsure of their signal, it was more I was moving over to give them a safe space, and not realising wafting your arm near your side was a signal to turn right. The Highway Code has a diagram of a right hand turn signal, and this wasn't one. It cuts both ways and cyclists need to help with their own safety with unambiguous signalling.

Cyclists frighten me, their unpredictable weaving about. We are rural with narrow-ish lanes here. We get so so many mamils descending on the area in sunny weekends, it makes it difficult for the locals who actually have to use the roads to get places.

But what grinds my gears is when they go out in big groups, and particularly then bunch up into smaller groups, but not at a sensible distance apart (so three cyclists… then a gap of maybe 2/3 car lengths, then another 2 cyclists, then 3/4 car lengths and then another group and so on). It makes it impossible to safely overtake as the gaps are too small, but they are so strung out.

It wouldn’t be too bad if they were willing to pull over in suitable spots in passing places/large driveways, regroup and let cars past but nope! They just keep going taking up huge stretches of the road whilst causing huge tail backs.

I say this as a horse rider, in an area with a lot of local riders, who almost always try and pull over or stop to let cars pass and try not to inconvenience drivers. Its not so much that they’re there, but that they make no effort not to monopolise the roads!

By your logic I could say I am 'done' with drivers every day as well (I'm a driver not a cyclist) since there are many drivers swearing at people and not indicating/driving dangerously. It's just a fact of life and you can only do your best to stay out of trouble. You can't ever really be 'done' with it unless you give up driving.

So the cyclist was signaling and performing a shoulder check and you overtook anyway?

Yep, I would have sworn at you too.

The whole concept of motorised vehicles and pedal bikes sharing roads is ridiculous. And yes I know someone will be along in a second to wax lycracal (see what I did there) about Holland. Well great, but it doesn't work here.

There is absolutely no reason why it can't work. It just needs people on both forms of transport to act responsibly.

@ArmWrestlingWithChasNDave thats a truly ridiculous post. So you’re suggesting we ban bikes? 🙄

Earlier you said he was “wafting his right arm and looking back”. This has now been downgraded to “dangling his right arm” - so which is it?

As a driver and a cyclist you are out of order. There are many obstacles e.g. potholes which for cyclists might mean they quickly need 2 hands on the handlebars for safety. Whilst it may not have been perfect, you were getting arm signals and they were looking back which should have made you more alert.

By your own admission you are “now done” with cyclists showing you have no patience. I bet this whole thing inconvenienced you by all of 10 seconds ie. it’s totally inconsequential.

I am sick of the increasing numbers of inconsiderate cyclists, but mainly as a pedestrian.

As a driver I am aghast at the risks that some take.

But the only response as a driver is caution, caution, patience, calm and caution.

But however much Jeremy Clarkson is a part, those fake adverts they did about cyclists really told a truth.

It is horrible to have a cyclist whizz inches from you as they speed through a red light on a pedestrian crossing. My friends child was hit by a cyclist under just those circumstances, and another hit by an adult cyclist on the pavement.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yiu1uLgwF1E

You need to start cycling again OP. Just to remind you how vulnerable cyclists are (and how entitled car drivers are)