....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?

No worries and hats off to you as it's a rare (extremely rare) occurrence where someone takes a comment on board. Hence why I got shirty but really need to be less snappy. I appreciate this is AIBU and half the fun is the sheer madness but still.

You shouldn’t cycle in the middle of the lane, you should be over to the left so drivers. n over take you. However she was unreasonably rude.

Lifeinthehills - this new scientist article claims that the risks of injury are outweighed by fitness benefits
www.newscientist.com/article/2237214-why-the-health-benefits-of-cycling-to-work-outweigh-the-risk-of-injury/

@ Vitamine, one side of the road has double yellow lines. So no parked cars.
I dont know which way OP was riding..
But my remark was general.
Calm down, & eat your energy bar

Wasn't me 😂. Or I don't think so anyway.

Wrong.

What if a car door opens and hits you. People have been killed this way.
Drivers convenience is not more important than other people's safety.

Fair enough. It takes me 5 minutes to drive one way. 20 minutes to walk one way. Small saving but can make a difference some days.

No you should be where you judge to be safest

bgogohmm* · 05/12/2022 15:09

Unfortunately many cyclists seem to be completely unaware of the dangers they are putting drivers in, that cars really can't be driven that slowly and that we have joint responsibility to be safe on the roads.

Sorry, but there's absolutely nothing factual in that. What on Earth do you mean that cars can't be driven that slowly? Can't you drive at 15 - 20mph? My whole area is a 20mph limit and I put the car in third, hardly depress the accelerator and it stays at 20 nicely.

Cyclists rarely, if ever, put drivers in danger. If they make an idiot move, they get squashed and the driver, safe in their metal box, has to get a few new panels.

There are horrible people in charge of motor vehicles and also of bikes. We have a lot of shared (unsegregated) foot / cycle paths in North Tyneside. I'd say that most cyclists are OK, but there is a subset who are arrogant wankers, who won't give way etc. It's been my experience that women can be as bad as men, in that regard.

One woman rode into my back and knocked me into the pole at a Pelican crossing. She told me to watch out and when I pointed out that she'd hit me from behind, she told me not to be a fucking pansy! She was in her 60s, expensive bike, with all the gear.

Very few seem to jump red lights, unlike in London.

Anyway, there is a much higher proportion of bad car drivers, from those who use turn lanes to go ahead, because they're too lazy and impatient to queue in the correct lane, floor it when someone's about to step onto a Zebra, forcing their way in, thinking they have right of way, because they flashed their indicator once, to those who shoot off slip roads into the outside lane / shoot off onto slip roads from the outside lane.

Lunar, sorry yes it was lifeinthe hills who drives to walk

Saying cyclists put drivers in danger, is like saying a mouse puts a lion in danger, it's not really an even playing field

Have a look at the OPs photo, and explain how they could have stayed left and been out of the way of a car door?
Another reason to stay in the middle of the lane on a road like, as is explained in the Highway Code, is that if there was an oncoming car, there would not be enough space for the car to overtake the cyclist safely whilst passing the oncoming car. But, drivers may still try resulting in a dangerous close pass.
This thread is incredibly frustrating, not least the need to repeatedly explain why cyclists need to cycle in the middle of the lane and that the position is both legal and advised in the Highway Code...

Everyone should be careful about causing irrational irritation to be felt towards cyclists, sure. Saying anything stronger, such as hate, would be ridiculous, I feel. People don't feel hate towards people they don't know.

But I feel it is fair to say that many cyclists are setting a terrible example of how to use the road and that it is possible that drivers may be thinking that they don't need to stop at a crossing either, because pedestrians seem to be managing ok to hang on to their lives around bikers. Perhaps these selfish drivers just think that they can train pedestrians into judging distances more expertly as their survival instinct takes over, and as they are forced to think with their wits like a fox running across a dual carriageway, instead of enjoying a safe and controlled crossing experience.

I was crossing a side road today on foot - because that is what I am: a pedestrian and bus user. The car coming towards me on the other side of the road didn't stop. It moved closer to the kerb and tried to keep on going, before my feet could reach the actual part of the road where he wanted his tyres to go, but he didn't mind that he would be missing my toes by only centimetres.

This never used to happen to me. Cars would stop to let a pedestrian walk across the few metres transecting the road. Something has changed. And it's wrong. You can't having moving walkers, cars, cyclists, illegal scooterists, all on the same bit of road and all in motion at the same time.

I feel I have got a right to say that cyclists may be encouraging this generalised rejection of the highway code and rules governing behaviour on crossings and safe practices around pedestrians.

We all know that a cyclist would never stop to let a pedestrian cross a normal stretch of road which doesn't have a crossing, and they don't always like to stop at red lights. But it does feel that motorists might be copying this behaviour. It's just got so bad. I think you can only be safe crossing a road if there is a big group of you - like eight or so pedestrians.

Cyclists are to blame for the drop in standards of car driving?! Now I’ve heard it all.

A lot of cyclists l know, including myself have literally given up cycling. It's way too dangerous, l nearly got hit head on by a white van going roundabout about the wrong way recently, he turned right at a roundabout, then the final straw was coming off my bike due to slippery weather conditions, I injured myself quite badly, the UK is not equipped for safe cycling, hence so many on pavement.
I have had horrible people shout nasty things to me whilst cycling, it can be a very unpleasant experience. Plus bikes and repairs are expensive, bikes are always getting stolen, you can see why people don't cycle.

I can honestly say that cyclists do not influence my driving one bit. If see anyone, car or cyclist, go through a red right, I think what an idiot they are equally, but I still always stop at red lights. I certainly don't think, "Oh, cyclists aren't stopping at lights, I don't have to either," before taking through a much heavier piece of machinery. Never occurred to me that other's driving or cycling behaviour should influence mine.

I agree with the PP that cycling is a vulnerable position to be in. At least in my parts. It is one reason I'll never do it again.

Jesus, what have I just read?! No, cyclists really aren't to blame for driving standards dropping. If you red this thread, there are a depressing number of people who don't actually understand the Highway Code and who are convinced that cyclists are being tests when actually they are following the rules that are there to help them stay safe.

And what do you mean "cyclists won't stop to let you cross if you're not at a pedestrian crossing"? Why would they?! If I'm on foot crossing a road, I wait for a break in traffic. I don't expect the traffic to stop to let me go. Why would I?! You do realise that bikes are forms of transport like cars??

Are cyclists also to blame for the increase in jaywalkers, crossing the road looking down at their phones, with headphones on - literally deaf dumb and blind

I'm sure some people would think so.

As a driver I couldn't give a damm if a cyclist next to me jumps the red light, as long as there are no pedestrians, I'd rather the cyclists are ahead and safer

You think so? I prefer them behind me. I'd think they are actually safer behind the traffic (that will disappear into the distance compared to their speed). I know that's where I'd rather be on a bike - with cars in front rather than behind.

On a side road, I mean, the cars approaching the main road are going fairly slowly at the point where I cross which is near the junction. It is not a pain for drivers to come to a stop for a few seconds.

I would only ever cross if the car were a few metres away. Drivers used to stop for the pedestrian when coming towards them on the far side. Now some keep on moving, forcing the pedestrian to be stranded in the middle of the road ( not on an island). The pedestrian doesn't know if the next car coming up to the main road will stop either. This is dangerous when cars are swerving round the corner of the junction, from the main road into the side road. It's dangerous for the pedestrian.

There is never going to be no cars at all, on the side road which I am talking about. So the answer is for the pedestrian never to cross that road.

It's wrong that people, bikes and cars should all be making it up as they go along on roads. There need to be rules. That's why cyclists should stop at lights because of the principle.

Councils believe in cycling and public transport, where I live. They put up posters urging primary aged children to cycle and scooter to school. That, notwithstanding, that there isn't a cycle path leading up to some of the schools, and cycling on pavements is technically illegal and blocks the way for pedestrians. I believe in exercise too, and cutting pollution.

But in the zeal for clean air, we shouldn't forget safety. It is no doubt different, in different parts of the country, but here in London delivery cyclists ride dangerously and motor scooters delivery riders using L plates mount and drive along the pavement. There is a widespread ignorance about what used to be considered safe practice. Electric scooters weave all over the road, mounting on and off the pavement, at will. It's like a computer game come to life with everyone doing what they want to do and going where they want to go.

Devoutspoken

Are cyclists also to blame for the increase in jaywalkers, crossing the road looking down at their phones, with headphones on - literally deaf dumb and blind

If you're in the UK, there is no such thing as jayawalking. Pedestrians have right of way, even if they should possibly be more careful. Drivers and cyclists have to be aware and ready to take avoiding action, if a pedestrian is likely to step into the road.

Bicycles are forms of transport too, until they want to stop, bang on a car window and have a talk with the driver about what they don't like about their driving and the history of how they use that road together. Then it isn't a road any more, it's where the cyclist wants to be.