to wonder why people are so horrible to cyclists that are not breaking the rules?

[DataColour]

Even I get irate at cyclists who go through red lights, pedestrian crossings etc. But how about those that obey the road rules?

This afternoon, cycling with DS14 and DD12, one car honked us whilst overtaking. No reason, apart from the fact that they were delayed by a few seconds as they couldn't go past me within inches to spare. I was riding in the middle of the rode and DD to my left, which is perfectly within the rules.
Minutes later, a road which I always ride in the middle because, if even half a chance, vehicles will overtake without giving any space. A group of pedestrians, shout at us, saying "you should be riding behind each other, what's wrong with you?"??
WTAF???

Why are some people such twats? Luckily (or unlikely) my DCs are used to this, so weren't bothered. Some driver gave my DD (11 at the time) the finger whilst cycling to school. A grown man trying to get one up on a 11yr old girl.

Because they're selfish idiots. If you're following the rules then you've just got to ignore people being rude.

Ironically, in the second instance, there are massive bike pictures on the main carriageway all along the road, as if the whole road is a cycle lane. What's the actual point of this? MOney wasted by the council, and cyclists still get abuse using the road.

YANBU. I can only think that driving too much kills your brain as it’s obvious to anyone who has thought about it for half a second that riding side by side is quicker to overtake!

I agree OP. We all cycle to work and school, follow the rules religiously, let cars pass where safe etc. still get tuts and rude comments. We need a complete culture shift to where bikes are considered as entitled to road use as cars, in fact I would argue where bike users are respected more due to the green credentials, health benefits etc. I know I’m in the minority given the bike haters on the local fb groups!

GeraltsBathtub - exactly!!

Personally they piss me off every weekend waking us up with their big gobs as they cycle past our house.

GeraltsBathtub I agree with that, it is easier to overtake a slower moving bunch of cyclists than a great long chain of cyclists, especially on narrower roads.

Some people are just impatient. I have seen drivers honk at other drivers for waiting an extra second or two before pulling out onto a roundabout.

Jealousy.

Fat, unfit twats who are so car dependent they can't even imagine life without it.

They're like the people in the film WallE.

We were riding in the pissing rain. WE should have been the ones in a hurry to get home!

There's also a culture war element- I've seen cycle lanes described as "woke".

Some people are just arseholes. A lady yelled abuse at me and called me a cow for cycling with my kids on a segregated cycle path next to the pavement she was standing on. I was doing nothing wrong and not inconveniencing her at all. Really upsetting for me and for the children.

Don’t look on your local Nextdoor. Ours is full of people boasting about how they menace cyclists (including children) or threatening to “take them out” for delaying them a few seconds at the traffic lights.

Mind you, there is a lot more angry and aggressive driving in general at the moment. Even in a car I find I get honked and overtaken for doing 30 in a 30 zone, and I’d say most times I go out I see someone doing something bloody dangerous which 5 years ago I’d have been shocked by but now seems quite normal.

Because it seems cyclists are hated by many anyway. I have had abuse, people purposely drive into puddles to splash me etc, all for the awful crime of being on a bicycle.
On MN, they are referred to as "lycra clad twats" and similar.

This is actually a thing. It's called car brain:

www.eta.co.uk/2023/02/02/what-is-car-brain-and-why-does-it-block-safer-roads/#:~:text=2nd%20February%202023,when%20they%20think%20about%20driving.

Angry and entitles drivers think the own the roads unfortunately.

Ignorance and complacency - The world has been geared towards car users for so long that it's taking a long time for car users to catch up, their car centric lifestyle is unsustainable

That's culture war stuff. Fucking idiots don't even know why they hate cyclists

YANBU people are rude and entitled and they won’t wait five minutes without getting worked up, their hearts must be pounding their way to a coronary! they also don’t know the law .

A driver recently wound down his window to shout ‘just fuvkjng go you fucking cunt!’ To my 12 year old who was waiting until it was safe to turn right against oncoming traffic. Appalling people.

I am not defending car drivers at all, but I think much of the dislike of cyclists stems from the fact that car drivers pay road tax and cyclists don't, therefore the car drivers believe the have more claim to the roads.

*they

People get really irate when driving especially about things that they perceive will slow them down. And yes cyclists do go more slowly than cars but Jesus we're all on the roads together so it means that some road users are slower than others, that's life. I've even noticed it as a driver, I get honked at because I won't overtake cyclists when it's not safe to do so. For some drivers this is clearly unacceptable. Obviously I also notice it when I'm cycling including yes with my kids.

Amazingly, there are even people fucking stupid enough to believe this.

There’s no such thing as Road tax and hasn’t been for decades!!!!!

The 'Clarkson' tendency (as I have sometimes termed them) see it as a human right to drive, and anyone or anything that somehow requires them to act in a certain way they object to. Laws only apply to them when they are not in a car.

They are enabled by the lack of traffic police and courts that too often believe some sob story about how dealing with their behaviour will restrict their life.

The Prime Minister believes there is a 'war on motorists', or at least argued that when campaigning last year to be Tory leader. So little hope of changing this in the immediate future.

No they don't.