Cyclist bad manners?

Hagridy · 2023-03-03T15:14:55+00:00

There were roadworks on my journey today which kept us waiting for 20 minutes so quite a few cars waiting. Just before we were allowed past a cyclist came up behind us but decided to pass us all and wait at the front. Once we were past the roadworks the road is very windy so it took a couple of miles before I could safely pass never mind all the other cars he had pushed past. AIBU to think it was bad manners for the cyclist to whizz past us all and keep us all waiting. Most cyclists seem sensible but every now and again I come across a complete idiot who seems to think the road belongs to him.

Nimbostratus100 · 03/03/2023 15:16

many junctions are designed to allow cyclists to come to the front and set off first, that is quite normal

Redebs · 03/03/2023 15:17

Cyclists normally go to the front. Although it's a nuisance to be stuck behind one, their safety is the most important thing.

CrosswordConundrum · 03/03/2023 15:19

YABU and highlighting yourself up to be ‘one of those’ drivers.

Runningonempty01 · 03/03/2023 15:19

Are you not a very confident driver, I can't think of any road in the UK where I haven't been able to pass a cyclist for a couple of miles?. If you read your Highway code, cyclists and motorcyclists are allowed to filter through slow moving traffic so it doesn't sound like they did anything in wrong in the queue. I don't like having lots of cars behind me so I will often pull over if it's safe to do so though.

Redebs · 03/03/2023 15:19

Last week I was part of a massive tailback of coaches, cars and agricultural vehicles behind an elderly cyclist. I was hoping he would pull over and let us pass, but it didn't occur to him, I guess.

OneTC · 03/03/2023 15:20

The cyclist just did what they're allowed to.

BlueChampagne · 03/03/2023 15:21

As an asthmatic cyclist, I too would 'whizz' to the front to avoid sitting in car drivers' pollution. Cyclists have just as much right to be on the road as car drivers. Would you have complained if it had been a learner driver going slowly?

QuertyGirl · 03/03/2023 15:23

It's about safety (ie not getting killed) is just a little bit more important than your personal interpretation of "manners".

They did what they did to avoid being close padded which can kill you.

Perspective please.

FeinCuroxiVooz · 03/03/2023 15:24

yabu

The safety of the most vulnerable road users is prioritised over the less vulnerable.

It's safest for the cyclist to be at the front of the queue in this circumstance, and the minor inconvenience that you have to go a bit slower until the road is wide enough for safe overtaking is not a big deal, you don't have a god-given right to drive as fast as you like to the detriment of more vulnerable road users.

your last sentence seems to apply to you.

starlingsintheslipstream · 03/03/2023 15:24

The cyclist wasn't holding up the traffic, they are the traffic.

BigMamuh · 03/03/2023 15:26

I agree with starling. haha

SoHereWeGo · 03/03/2023 15:31

Remember OP that this is MN - cyclists can do no wrong.

And yes it's perfectly possible to be stuck behind them for miles on twisting narrow rural roads where drivers cannot give them the space now required by the Highway Code.

vivainsomnia · 03/03/2023 15:34

And it's drivers like you that means I feel anxious cycling on roads.

Hopefully you just mumbled in your beard, but sadly many will feel the right to curse you n their way it worse, make the point of driving right at the cyckist's back and then passing them very closely.

I really dislike drivers who don't understand the code in relation to cyclists and act like they own the road.

QuertyGirl · 03/03/2023 15:34

SoHereWeGo · 03/03/2023 15:31

Remember OP that this is MN - cyclists can do no wrong.

And yes it's perfectly possible to be stuck behind them for miles on twisting narrow rural roads where drivers cannot give them the space now required by the Highway Code.

So what?

Are you an ambulance?

CrosswordConundrum · 03/03/2023 15:34

Remember OP this is MN where there is a thread everyday about cyclists and often it’s just obnoxious drivers not knowing the Highway Code. Oh - looks like another one.

ancientgran · 03/03/2023 15:36

Runningonempty01 · 03/03/2023 15:19

Are you not a very confident driver, I can't think of any road in the UK where I haven't been able to pass a cyclist for a couple of miles?. If you read your Highway code, cyclists and motorcyclists are allowed to filter through slow moving traffic so it doesn't sound like they did anything in wrong in the queue. I don't like having lots of cars behind me so I will often pull over if it's safe to do so though.

Really, I can think of loads. Come to rural Devon and it will blow your mind.

DingDongDenny · 03/03/2023 15:37

Are you not a very confident driver, I can't think of any road in the UK where I haven't been able to pass a cyclist for a couple of miles?

Have you never been to the country then? Where I live there are lots of very narrow and single track windy roads, you can easily be stuck behind a bike for several miles. It is courtesy for cyclists to stop and allow cars to pass when there is a long line behind them. It's what I always do

Brieandme · 03/03/2023 15:38

OP you might need a refresher for your driving lessons. They specifically teach you to look out for cyclists filtering when you're waiting in a traffic queue, because the safest place for the cyclist to be is at the front where they are most visible.

You say that the cyclist thought the road belonged to him, but everything about your post suggests that you think the road belonged to you & that he shouldn't have been there?

QuertyGirl · 03/03/2023 15:38

DingDongDenny · 03/03/2023 15:37

Are you not a very confident driver, I can't think of any road in the UK where I haven't been able to pass a cyclist for a couple of miles?

Have you never been to the country then? Where I live there are lots of very narrow and single track windy roads, you can easily be stuck behind a bike for several miles. It is courtesy for cyclists to stop and allow cars to pass when there is a long line behind them. It's what I always do

It's not curtesy, it's stupid

QuertyGirl · 03/03/2023 15:40

Technically, cyclists have a stronger claim to the roads than car drivers:

You're there by licence,

We're there by right!

Runningonempty01 · 03/03/2023 15:41

ancientgran · 03/03/2023 15:36

Really, I can think of loads. Come to rural Devon and it will blow your mind.

Show quote history

I have been to Devon a lot, never had much problem getting past cyclists Certainly not for miles. It's seems to the large volume of tourists cars that causes the hold ups . I can't really complain about that when I am also in a car. As another poster said I am the traffic!

DingDongDenny · 03/03/2023 15:42

You sound lovely QuertyGirl Me stopping for 1 minute to let cars pass means that everyone else can get on with their day instead of crawling along at 5 miles an hour. Which is also bad for pollution BTW

QuertyGirl · 03/03/2023 15:42

Fully expecting to be told that I'm being "ridiculous" or "silly" because car drivers can't think of sensible rebuttals to any of that.

QuertyGirl · 03/03/2023 15:43

DingDongDenny · 03/03/2023 15:42

You sound lovely QuertyGirl Me stopping for 1 minute to let cars pass means that everyone else can get on with their day instead of crawling along at 5 miles an hour. Which is also bad for pollution BTW

Point proven!

DottieUncBab · 03/03/2023 15:44

YABU it’s standard for cyclists to go to the front of a traffic queue, in fact many junctions encourage this with a cyclist box at the front. I always think anything that inconveniences driving is a good thing anyway as it’ll encourage people to look at other ways of travelling.