Fucking Cyclists

[SpanielSprint]

I live in a very rural area that is super popular with cyclists. All of the roads around me are narrow, bendy, single track lanes - no white lines. Wherever I go I get stuck behind cyclists. I accept this, always leave extra time for my journeys and never drive aggressively.

The issue is that the cyclists always seem to try and wave me past when I don’t feel it is safe to overtake. Either into blind corners, or when the road is too narrow so would necessitate going onto the verges which are rutted and full of hidden rocks and pot holes - I’m not willing to risk my tyres driving at pace along them. Obviously I just ignore them but this seems to infuriate them.

I’ve just returned from yet another journey where I was behind a pair of cyclists for several miles. The cyclist at the rear kept waving me on and when I didn’t go past she seemed to get increasingly angry about it, gesticulating etc. when I finally did pass, she screamed fucking twat at me and gave me the Vs.

Nice. So basically that’s my ‘thanks’ for trailing patiently behind them for 10 minutes and almost doubling the duration of my journey.

disclaimer: I realise that not all cyclists do this, but there seems to be a significant enough number of them around here to make this sort of thing a weekly occurrence.

AIBU to overtake cyclists when I’m good and ready, and think that some of them need to learn a few lessons about manners and road safety before they go out on their bikes?

... I’m not a selfish dickhead
It doesn't sound as if you are one on the road, but you really are behaving like one on this thread. Because another road user was rude to you. As if we don't all have to deal with that.

It’s not being a selfish dickhead to prioritise my safety.

it is being selfish to expect people not to legally cycle on the roads so as to not inconvenience you.

But you know you do you and carry on thinking cars own the road and plebby cyclists can get out the way.

You have a vivid imagination don’t you?

Not really, it’s coming across clearly from your posts….maybe you’re too obtuse to realise.

Can you please point out where I’ve been a selfish dickhead? Because as far as I’m concerned, I’ve simply been defending my fairly moderate opinion.

Your moderate opinion that cyclists shouldn’t be on the road in larger groups than 4? Yeah right……I’d say that’s very selfish. Road hog.

I honestly think you must be a fantasist. Can you please QUOTE me to illustrate where I have said that cars own the road and cyclists need to get out of my way? because I don’t feel that way at all. I want to live and let live. I just think that every road user has a responsibility to drive/ride/walk/whatever as conscientiously as possible.

You can head out together but separate into smaller groups. I think aiming to be no larger than a van / tractor would be reasonable. So maybe 4, or 6 at an absolute push?

here you go, deciding what is and isn’t acceptable for you.

A group of 4-6 cyclists (as I suggested) is still considerably larger than the average car. How does that make me a road hog? You’re sounding more unhinged with every post.

And I was talking about legal cycling you said t might not be up to me to decide, but just because something is legal doesn’t make it right.. 🤷‍♀️

Well of course we all have to decide what is acceptable for ourselves 🤦🏻‍♀️. Go on then, what is acceptable for you? Why should your opinion override mine? Shall I go out for a hack with 11 other horse riders and see how many car drivers I can piss off?

Do you want me to write a list of all the technically legal things I can do in car that would still be inconsiderate?

As I said earlier, hogging the middle lane on the motorway only became a finable offence a few years ago but we all knew it was a idiotic think to do long before that.

You can think it’s unacceptable but seeing as it’s legal you should not be trying to tell people they shouldn’t do it and they’re selfish if they do. Can you really not see how that sort of superior “I know best, do as I say” attitude is really irritating. You may not mean to come across that way but you are doing.

My opinion on the 12 cyclists thing “overrides” yours if thats how you want to put it because it’s legal. I wouldn’t dream of being so domineering as to tell someone what they should or shouldn’t do when it’s legal and call them names.

By all means go out with eleven horse friends, it’s perfectly legal. Car drivers shouldn’t be pissed off about it and if they are they’re being selfish. Like I believe you’ve said we should all share the roads. I actually believe that, I don’t just say it and then quantify it to say well only of it ties in with what i think is ok.

I really don’t think we’re going to agree on this. I’m going to carry on cycling legally. You’re going to continue thinking that’s selfish and we shouldn’t get in your way. I’m going to think your attitude is selfish so there we are. Have a lovely evening and I hope you have a nice ride tomorrow if the sun is shining. I’ll certainly enjoy my bike ride.

Even before it became fineable the Highway Code said you shouldn’t do it. I’ve not seen the Highway Code say you shouldn’t ride more than 4 cyclists together….only you.

I’m with you OP! YANBU.

I got this all the time when living in a similar area. The most outrageous part is I am a cyclist with two great bike racks on the roof of my car advertising the fact I know how to drive behind and pass a cyclist safely.

I drive like it’s me or my DH on that bike. And all you get is a whole lot of anger and colourful language as thanks in return…

But I suspect these particular type of cyclist drive as inconsiderately as they cycle but that’s a separate AIBU post.

A driver could be lead-footed or feather-footed but, either way, they would be bloody stupid to follow the instructions of the cyclist if they can’t see what is coming themselves. Stop being so militant about the rights of cyclists and use your brain. This kind of stupidity leads to road accidents where no one wins.

Every single car journey I make is necessary since I live rurally with no pavement on my country road

If someone is stupid enough to blindly follow any signal without reading the road themselves then they aren't really bright enough to be on the road.

How often have I stood waiting to walk across the road or start out of a junction, seen that the approaching car is indicating to turn off (so it should be safe for me) but I could tell by their speed that they weren't going to actually be turning. Some clots drive for miles forgetting to cancel their indicator.

People wave each other out of turnings all the time. Do you just do pull straight out without looking, or do you still look out for other road users?

If traffic lights are green do you just plow on because the road should be clear, or do you still keep watch for anything untoward, just in case?

A car may be your only option to make a any journeys but can you honestly say that every one of those journeys was a necessary one? I went out to see some friends today. It was an enjoyable day, but not necessary in the strictest sense, I could have decided not to go. Going to work on the other hand is necessary.

Are you Mark Drakeford? I'm getting Covid essentials shopping deja-vu.

Limitisup - is the world no bigger than your own personal experience? I was taking about all car journeys, not just yours

Op, I would say your views are not 'moderate', from the language in your title

Don't be stupid. I'm challenging a very unlikely premise.

Motorists perceive cyclists as a hazard/nuisance/threat. Yet somehow those queues I cycle past aren't caused by cyclists. The accident I witnessed the other night wasnt caused by a cyclist but by an impatient motorist blocked by another driver who ignored the rule. No one is going to mandate registration of cyclists or paying some kind of tax. It wouldnt be enforceable or affordable.