....to tell you that negative comments about cyclists can cause issues...

[alittlequinnie]

I cycle to work - every day that I'm working in the office.

This morning I was cycling - wearing high viz, a helmet - two red lights on the back and two white lights on the front.

I'm going to try to upload a picture of where I was - the road is really really narrow - so no matter where I position the bike if you want to overtaken me you are going to have to go over the centre line.

This morning only me and a car coming up behind me on the entire road. I'm pretty much bang on centre in the lane. Nothing coming towards me or the car behind me.

Car behind overtakes - really really close and then pulls in too quickly in front of me - causing me to swerve.

Few meters up the road catch up with them at the lights. Knock politely on the window and ask her "why on earth did you do that - there was plenty of room?"

She responds that it's my "own fault" I was "riding in the middle of the road" I "do it on purpose" and she see's me "every morning" - then calls me a stupid cow.

I say "really? you did it as a punishment?" - she then repeats that I shouldn't be in the middle of the road.

No point arguing with stupid so I remind her that it's a good idea to read the Highway Code - she tells me I need to read it and then calls me a cunt.

I feel this all the time on the bike that all the comments that "all cyclists" do red light jumping and pavement cycling etc means that there is just such a HATE for cyclists - wherever and however they ride.

Imagine what this is like for me - this woman has told me she sees me all the time and she did it on purpose - so she's bound to do it again - it's really frightening.

I'm not sure what I'm trying to achieve by posting this - just think carefully before spreading the sort of venom for cyclists that I see on here and other sites?

I accept that as a driver, cyclist, pedestrian, etc, that other people do stupid things that will put me at risk, no matter how careful I am. So I do what I can to mitigate the risks to myself, i.e., only cross roads when it's really clear and in safe places, let idiot drivers go in front of me, if the driver indicating a turn doesn't look like they're actually going to turn I don't drive out straight until I'm sure they are actually turning, I look both ways at rail crossings even if they have lights and barriers. We can never be completely safe but I do my best to mitigate risks I can anticipate.

I'm often really remote with patchy cell reception. So I have satellite equipment and good first aid stocks in case of an emergency. I don't worry but I do plan as far as seems reasonable.

You do realise that cars actually waste more time waiting behind other cars don't you? Cyclists aren't allowed on motorways but if you visit any motorway you'll often see standing traffic with exhaust fumes literally pouring out from every car. This is so bad (many multiples worse than waiting behind a cyclist for a few seconds/minutes) that stop/start was invented. But sadly even stop/start doesn't work after a few minutes because it drains the battery. Smart motorways help but drivers don't use all lanes or stick to speed limits so isn't as effective.

Then you get to towns and cities during rush hour or on weekends. Outside schools. In most places, sitting in a car idling behind another driver is just a part of life.

There's no hypocrisy.

I accept, as a pedestrian, that I am not able to cross the road safely, where I live, because of structural failings.

Enforcement is not happening, and drivers are no longer stopping at crossings. Drivers are trying to drive through, in front of behind pedestrians, so as not to have to go through the gears and slow down or stop.

Usually, if looked at, eye to eye, they will put their hand up to say: "Okay, okay, I know I was in the wrong.' In summer when windows are down, they will say: 'I didn't see you' ( untrue, or very worrying.)

I always cross at the crossing which has lights, and act with care, as cars still don't want to stop at these. I also step on to the crossing and stop and look into the eyes of a driver who is oncoming to check that he has seen me. I pause in my walking until the car has come to a stop. I don't want them to misjudge my walking speed and think they are whizzing through behind me, but hit me, by mistake.

I would use the pedestrian walkway over the road, if I still felt unsafe. I have spoken to other local people who are pedestrians and some have written to our MP.

Yes, I am make my changes to my habits, because of the wrongful behaviour of others.

I will always put my safety above my views on who is in the right and who ought to be the one making changes to their conduct.

Aaaand there it is, a cuntish comment.

I'm a driver AND a cyclist, I would much prefer to ride off road, canals,etc to avoid the "menace" drivers who just do not think how their actions would impact a cyclist.
Let's say a car pulls in front of you, bit too close, in a car you brake, should impact occur your seat belt will restrain you, airbag may deploy and the car will crumple to take the impact.
Imagine you're on a bike, same scenario, you brake, but still hit the car, you will no doubt leave the bike, as you fly into the air, no seat belt, no airbag, but hopefully you're wearing a helmet. You'll be lucky if the car even stops.
I've had a guy pull across infront of me, whilst wearing hi vis, "I didn't see you" ( he looked right at me before he decided to chance it) lucky for me I'd already slowed down, 6th sense.
A friend of mine was cycling to work, going downhill, woman overtakes, no oncoming vehicles she has plenty of room, dies she use it? No she clips his handle bars with her mirror, he flew off the bike, at speed, probably about 25 miles pH, did she stop? No she fucked off on her way, probably min damage to wing mirror.
My friend? Road rash to legs, arms shoulders, helmet, so thats a new one, all clothes ruined (cycle gear ain't cheap) and a week off work to recover.
Yeah right love CYCLISTS are a menace 🙄

People being an dickhead in a car around cyclists has got very little to do with the quality of driver training imo and it's entirely related to attitude. Drivers perceive cyclists to be entitled because they prevent them from behaving exactly as they wish to behave, which is the genuine definition of entitlement.

The central premise of this thread is accurate, attitudes towards and language surrounding this debate does impact people's behaviour, both (some) cyclists being perpetually in fear of meeting someone who expresses these opinions and drivers who feel emboldened by the apparent public support they feel. It's a studied phenomena.

A quick read of any cyclist vs cars thread also reveals the shocking lack of knowledge of the highway code routinely displayed by many drivers which frankly makes the road quite a scary place to be even as a fellow driver, well insulated in my metal box

it's not a hobby! I have to bike it to places, usually with my baby in a seat and a trailer for my older child and my older kids trailing behind.
We obviously use the path as I'd rather my children didn't get killed but it's not a hobby. Cars, insurance, tax and repairs cost a lot of money!

we are mindful of pedestrians though and slow way down to pass or go on the grass. Noone has ever minded.

I went on a road once. Never again.

People being an dickhead in a car around cyclists has got very little to do with the quality of driver training imo

Possibly not for the extreme idiots but for me (and potentially most regular drivers), doing an IAM course has improved my observation and hazard perception no end.

Being a cyclist and driver, I've always been careful around the vulnerable but advanced driver training has been a revelation.

Do you realise how stupid this sounds? The only people contributing to more emissions on the road are drivers!

I drive. Most cyclists do. But where you drive to the hairdressers, the cinema, the garden centre, your mums, wherever - you probably drive. You could walk, or cycle, or get the bus.
I allow myself one tank of petrol a month. Partly because of the cost of living and partly because I'm trying to reduce my carbon footprint. So if I want to go to the Lakes for a weekend, I'll use the bike as a default every trip I can, so that I have enough petrol to get to Grasmere and back, or wherever.
Everyone needs to cut back on driving but people are getting lazier and lazier.

More pedestrians die than cyclists, shall we give up walking as we'll then better quit skiing and horse riding whilst we're at it

Melchior, interestingly though, those pesky hobby cyclists (that are slowing down traffic on a weekend, when i know car drivers have very important things to do), are less likely to need long term NHS treatment due to their healthy lifestyles - so it's kinda swings and roundabouts really

Everyone needs to cut back on driving but people are getting lazier and lazier.

I think part of it is that we are getting more time poor too. Sometimes that can make the difference between me walking to the supermarket and back or just having the time to nip there and back in the car.

I think the whole of society needs to simplify and rethink how we live and what is important.

Motorists are required to be tested, licensed and insured but an awful lot are not. No mandate for cyclists but there is for motorists. Suggest we sort the motorist issue first

I don't know the statistics on that but I do know two people who have had surgery due to cycling accidents (as the cyclists). No-one who has a result of driving. I know that's not at all scientific data.

As for healthy - I've been known to regularly drive 90 minutes then go for a 10 mile walk before driving home again. I think one offsets the other.

Is there a reason you were in the centre of your lane ?
I always thought cyclists were meant to be on the pavement side. (Obviously if its safe for car doors opening etc)

I think I will be slammed for daring to say that if I am stuck behind bikes in the middle of the road, whereas by logic they could keep to the Left it would be safer for them. As everyone should be courteous.
This woman was obviously an idiot. But I think it's entitled to occupy the whole lane needlessly

Thats around 6 hours in total... thought you said we were all time poor?

..and how often do you do that... its not something open to many of us.

Yes cycling can involve accidents, as can walking off road on Dartmoor etc.

In the OP pic I don't see anywhere they could cycle where they would be out of the way though, to be fair. Lots of cars lining the road side and it's not that side.

side = wide

As for healthy - I've been known to regularly drive 90 minutes then go for a 10 mile walk before driving home again. I think one offsets the other.

Perhaps we need cars like Fred Flintstone used to drive. Would definitely offset everything then ;)

Apologies for the rant yesterday anyway. Such an emotive subject and is so easy to let things run away. It would be nice if everyone could just get along. On the roads and AIBU but sometimes think the roads would be easier to sort than here

I'm sure most of us could do it every week or two if they wanted, in the weekend, if their kids are old enough. Most people don't work seven days a week. (My kids are now old enough for that sort of thing, Couldn't have when they were tiny because they couldn't have handled it).

No I didn't say we were all time poor. People do tend to be time poor in general, but it doesn't mean everyone is all the time. I do think saving time affects people's mode of transport choices.

I'd be too tired by the time I got there with that kind of car. ;-)

I don't recall the rant yesterday but I'll take your word for it. :-) No worries. These threads can be educational. There was one poster there making me feel less sympathetic towards cyclists until someone came along and made a factual statement that had good information. Now I understand why cyclists don't necessarily move to the side, even if they can, I feel much more understanding that they aren't necessarily just being inconsiderate, but there's a safety reason for it. I can see that even small deviations on unsealed road, at very slow speeds, could be destablising and risky. I'll not feel irritated by it next time. That's what good about these threads. We can all learn.

You'd be wrong to say that.

Cyclists need to be out of the door zone and they need to be given at least as much room as a car. Cycling in the gutter or within the width of a car door is dangerous.

Since you say you drive, you can't be blind or visually impaired. Look at the picture that OP posted and answer your own question.

@Lunar270 OK, I looked back. Never mind the moment before :-). It was actually you who made the comment about stability and the logistics of moving to the side on a steep hill. I found that very interesting and helpful. These are hills that you definitely wouldn't want to not be able to get going again on. There is no place for pedestrians on them at all. I'll be chill next time because I see the actions of the cyclist differently now.

Actually, cycling often saves me time. I accept that this probably dependent of where you live but in a densely populated area with a lot of traffic, like most cities in the UK, cycling is generally faster that driving. I used to cycle to work in London and it was always faster than public transport. In the city I now live in, I often meet my husband in town after work then we both go home as we came, him in the car, me on the bike. Invariably, I am home before him. I feel people always seek excuses to drive instead of cycling/walking, most of which are easily debunked.

Lunar, I think you're missing the point, the mode of transport is keeping them fit, 2 birds, stones and all that, and yes I am aware plenty of people drive to fitness activities but there are also lots of unfit drivers