....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?

Definitely get a head cam op. Some police forces allow you to upload footage to report a crime like close passes or drivers on their phones and some are really on it .

I think if people start believing that every cyclist potentially has one they might start driving better.

I am a cyclist and I love cycling, however the big problem is motorists and cyclists are incompatible and should not have to share the same space ....in my opinion
I would also like dedicated running areas free from dog walkers cyclists etc
How are people supposed to stay fit if there is no provision for it???

I am very careful of cyclists and give space / don't overtake unless there would be space for me to overtake a small car / drive defensively and assume that if I see a cyclist coming up behind me and I'm stopped/slow and turning left that the cyclist may come up my left in my blind spot and don't turn unless they're past me/I can see them and what they're doing etc (as I should legally).

I drive particularly carefully in our built-up area, especially when it's dark as there could be pedestrians walking into the road between parked cars, or cyclists in dark clothing without lights.

I don't want to hurt anyone and they are vulnerable to me in a car. A vulnerable road users' behaviour doesn't excuse bad or careless behaviour on my part - even if I think they're in the wrong, utterly irrelevant imo.

I think some car drivers underestimate exactly how much their own lives would be changed out of all recognition if they killed or seriously injured someone. How would you live with the guilt, even if it wasn't your fault? "Punishing" someone for what you perceive as "bad" behaviour in your big metal box is insanity.

I was expecting a much narrower road than an ordinary one but yanbu. Glad you're ok.

Report her to police, likely nothing will be done but if someone else reports her, or if she does it again she could face repercussions.

I also recommend a helmet cam, some people honestly drive like nutters around cyclists and seeing a camera might make them think twice.

I mostly walk and cycle to get around.
I see far more cars breaking red lights than bikes.
I'm always amazed by how many cars will overtake me into oncoming traffic or nearly hit a traffic island. How much time do they think they're saving.

These threads usually turn to nonsense pretty quick; lycra, road tax, hi viz etc....

I totally agree. Every single day. The other morning I walked to a particular supermarket 12 minutes walk away from home, and in that time, 6 different cyclists zoomed by me on the pavement. This morning, in a different part of London, every single time I crossed the road (green man showing) at least 1 cyclist ran the red light. 99 times out of 100 these pavement cyclists are male and look to be under 30-ish too. You'd think they'd be ashamed to ride on the pavement like a small child 😡

I think some car drivers underestimate exactly how much their own lives would be changed out of all recognition if they killed or seriously injured someone. How would you live with the guilt, even if it wasn't your fault? "Punishing" someone for what you perceive as "bad" behaviour in your big metal box is insanity.

absolutely, the way some people drive it’s like it hasn’t occurred to them at all. There’s a dad on my road, drives his kid to school and swings around corners and junctions without indicating or even checking if any kids are on the road (many cycle off pavement). You wouldn’t think this to talk to him as he will often moan about how bad the driving is on the estate.

I knew a woman did something dreadful once

Therefore I will treat all women as criminals and actively put their lives in danger

Sounds unreasonable?

Yet replace women with cyclists and it's ok?

You wouldn’t think this to talk to him as he will often moan about how bad the driving is on the estate
He's cock of the walk and the rules don't apply to him🐓

How is this a story about a negative comment about a cyclist causing an issue?

You confronted her! If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have received any comments. The driver was in the wrong, but sometimes cyclists are in the wrong and just like you’re on here complaining about a crap driver, drivers are allowed to come on here and complain about crap cyclists.

Totally agree with this, regardless of who is at fault, it's all just ridiculously dangerous!

You knocked on her window?

You asked for her opinion then and obviously don't like it

Have I missed something? Where did the PP say they intend to teach all cyclists a lesson?

This morning I was crossing the road at a green man, imagine my surprise when a large lorry turned left (no left turn allowed) and almost knocked me down. Imagine my further surprise when I got shouted at and called a stupid cow after almost being knocked down! Was that driver representative of all drivers or just a stupid/nasty one? Drivers are an absolute menace at times - but not the point of this thread.

I know what the highway code says but if cyclists would just keep to the side it'd be so much easier for drivers.

Some road users really do have their head up their own arse. That applies to both cyclists and drivers.

It's not about making it easier for drivers, it's about cyclists being safe.

So no, sod off with that.

I mean that negative comments generally - like the ones on this thread - where people talk about "all cyclists" and argue that they shouldn't be on the road etc - it means that there can be a collective understanding that for some reason it's okay to hate anybody on a bike.

I obviously was never going to like her opinion but I was really shocked that she straight away said she did it on purpose.

The picture is not a great one - the road has a line of parking bays on the left and the lane you can use is just about a car's width so not enough room for a bike AND a car to travel along together.

She had all the room in the world on the other side - there was nothing coming - but chose to drive really close to teach me some sort of lesson.

I find that sort of thing terrifying... and I'm probably going to run into her again tomorrow!

But they would be safer if they didn't ride in front of cars, making it more dangerous for them to overtake 🙄

Surely it's not negative comments but negative behaviours that cause the issues?

Glad you're ok, OP

When I'm a pedestrian, I notice crap behaviour from cyclists and drivers. I was actually hit at a zebra by a cyclist, going full speed and misjudging the odds that the light was going to turn in his favour by the time he got there. I had a concussion and whiplash. He didn't even stop.

When I'm cycling, I notice aggressive, shit, dangerous behaviour from drivers and careless behaviour on the part of pedestrians (stepping out without looking, causing me to need to swerve into traffic).

When I'm driving I notice extremely dangerous and careless behaviour from cyclists and pedestrians. Cyclists run lights, turn without signalling, switch lanes without signalling, ride on the pavements, ride without hands on the bike, watching videos or talking on their phones, wearing noise cancelling headphones. Pedestrians step out from between cars, amble leisurely across roads against the lights, also watching videos on their phones and/or wearing noise cancelling headphones.

Anyone can make a one-off mistake, but for the most part careless, dangerous, aggressive, selfish people are going to be just that no matter what.

And for what it's worth, as a pedestrian, cyclist and driver, I don't think there would be anything wrong with requiring that cyclists pass some kind of licensing exam and are required to have some kind of accountability.

@sqirrelfriends

I think some car drivers underestimate exactly how much their own lives would be changed out of all recognition if they killed or seriously injured someone. How would you live with the guilt, even if it wasn't your fault?

Believe me, I'm very aware of that when driving, which is why I don't completely agree that dangerous cyclists are mainly a danger to themselves.

No, they aren't.

There is a reason why cyclists are advised to "ride in the middle of the road" at times, and if you don't understand why then maybe you should find out.

Cycling in the gutter is more dangerous for cyclists both because of hazards like litter and drains which can catch the wheels and tip the bike into the path of cars, and because it encourages some drivers to think they can squeeze past to overtake even when there isn’t really room to do so. The Highway Code was changed because it’s demonstrably safer for cyclists to take a more dominant road position, not because the powers that be thought it would be a lark to inconvenience car drivers.

I used to cycle to work, I don't anymore, not one specific incident it just became too scary. Do you think she realised she was basically threatening to kill/injure you to teach you a lesson? It's horrifying and yet sadly not surprising.

My friends and I used to cycle together. Hobby cyclists rather than any organised group.
We got used to lorries and cars giving us only inches of space (and we kept as close to the kerb as possible in most circumstances) especially in rush hour.

There were some dreadful, inconsiderate car drivers, and I agree it's unpleasant, OP, but I don't think any of us would have tapped on a car window to reprimand someone. Not safe for yourself either as you don't know how they will react.

I agree with the suggestions of a cam. It can then be reported if there's anything needed to be.

Agree with pp about dedicated running areas. I'm fed up of trying to keep fit and have others deliberately not move when I call out "sorry can I pass please ". Also dog walkers who think their precious pooch and themselves need the entire pavement to walk.