Page 10 | to wonder why people are so horrible to cyclists that are not breaking the rules?

DataColour · 2023-04-30T16:08:30+00:00

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.

QuintanaRoo · 01/05/2023 07:28

pfftt · 01/05/2023 07:23

So by your own admission you only stop because a traffic officer may be around. That kind of says it all really. You only follow rules because by not following them, you personal would be negatively impacted. If you know you can get away with it, you'd do so. You don't follow rules because it's what you are supposed to do and for the safety and respect for other road users but because their might be a cop around.

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I’m sure the same can be said for a lot of motorists. When I’m driving to work at 6am and I can see the road is empty I still stop at red lights at the t-junction. Not because it’s necessary for safety, but knowing my luck a copper would appear in the distance.

TooBored1 · 01/05/2023 07:28

pfftt · 01/05/2023 07:12

I wholly support cyclists and live in an area where there are many. I do however also get frustrated at behaviours that may not be illegal but are irritating.
Cyclists often cycle in packs. Each individual may not be doing anything illegal but as a pack they can be terrifyingly difficult to drive around. When 10-12 cyclist are swarming around me, some going to my left 'undertaking' some nipping to my right 'overtaking' and some in the centre in front of me, it is incredibly stressful. Stress creates irritation. Each cyclist may be doing a legal manoeuvre but as a group it's like a swarm from all angles. I can easily navigate the road with 1 or 2 cyclists. When however it is a group swarming around me, I feel like don't have enough eyes.
Please can someone tell me why cyclist ride two abreast? I know it's legal. I want to know why though. The other day I was on a country road. 4 cyclists riding 2 abreast. I did not feel I would be leaving enough clearance to overtake so I sat behind them. They were getting stressed. They kept looking behind. They kept gesticulating for me to overtake. It would have been dangerous for me to do so as the road was too narrow. Why didn't they just stop to single file? They did do this eventually but after a looooooong time. They appeared more stressed than I was.

Legal doesn't mean it is always sensible. Can you ride two abreast? Yes. Is it always the best approach? No.
Can you undertake and overtake and sit in the centre? Yes. All these are legal. Is it always safe to do so? No.

You want to know why cyclists do it but you've not even read this it the many other threads where it's explained in detail? You've not done even the most basic of Google searches?

Just to help you out - cyclists do it because it saves their lives.

TooBored1 · 01/05/2023 07:30

pfftt · 01/05/2023 07:24

It makes a massive difference on a single width country road.

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If it's not possible to overtake a car, then you shouldn't over take a bike.

QuintanaRoo · 01/05/2023 07:32

pfftt · 01/05/2023 07:28

Yes it was exactly this sort of road. A single width road. I live in an area with many single width country roads. I am a fairly calm person and always leave too much time so I generally don't mind tootling along behind cyclists but when they sit 2 abreast chatting for actual miles on single width roads it does grind my gears a bit

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So they were two abreast on a single width road? Which would mean there wasn’t space for a car to fit? But they were trying to wave you past them? Seems unlikely, they’d have been squashed 🤷‍♀️

Maybe your single width roads are wider than the ones round here and there was space for you to pass two cyclists (there must have been or they wouldn’t have waved you on). In which case they were fine to stay 2 abreast but wrong to try and wave you on. If they had been strung out in a row it would surely have made it harder for you to overtake as you’d have been passing for longer. Which is less safe for everyone.

QuintanaRoo · 01/05/2023 07:33

I don’t get why some drivers struggle to grasp this. The diagrams are quite simple. It’s not just cyclists saying it…..it’s the HC and police and still people argue the toss.

nomoredrivingytu · 01/05/2023 07:34

Hawkins003 · 01/05/2023 01:34

The other day, I usually always stop at the traffic lights unless it's too close and they have suddenly started to change lights, as you never know if an unmarked police car ect is nearby.

I was on route almost at the lights and they turned yellow, so I took the chance and went for it, (had I emergency stopped chances are I'd have come off the bike) then without even looking the pedestrians start crossing and have the cheek to shout at me for going though, the lights.

I looked back and shouted it was on yellow at the time which it was, hardly my fault they choose to start walking just because it bleeped for them to cross without them looking.

Yellow

Only stopping in case their are police about! Not because of the law...

Whichnumbers · 01/05/2023 07:36

I looked back and shouted it was on yellow at the time which it was, hardly my fault they choose to start walking just because it bleeped for them to cross without them looking.

the Highway Code puts pedestrians at the top of the hierarchy and they have priority. Also you will not have a green man and amber light simultaneously, if the light is green for pedestrians then your light was red.

you were definitely breaking the law in both counts, don’t do it as you could harm someone or worse

MockneyReject · 01/05/2023 07:37

Rules or not, you're holding me up, making me late, extending my working day and reducing the time I get to spend with my child.
Sure, your hobby is important, but so is my job, and inevitably, it becomes annoying.
I spent much of lockdown stuck behind groups of cyclists, blocking me from getting where I needed to be. It really p**d me off that they were dawdling about on 80%, acting superior, while I was trying to earn my minimum wage and get home to my kid.

TooBored1 · 01/05/2023 07:37

QuintanaRoo · 01/05/2023 07:24

A few weeks ago a 4x4 overtook is dangerously as we were coming up to a crossroads, of a car had turned into our road it would have been interesting!

driver gets infront, slams the brakes on and jumps out to scream at us because he reckoned we were “three abreast”. We weren’t, there were 5 of us, 2 pairs and me at the back by myself.

So not only was he dangerous, he then thinks it’s fine to intimidate a group of women about some fantasy situation he’s invented in his head!

Sorry this happened to you. But yes, sometimes people are so cross about the road conditions, they take it out on the easiest target, the cyclist.

I remember a time when I thought a man was going to punch me - he got out of his car and was screaming at me for making him late to work - while we were both stopped at red traffic lights.

We'd both been caught at the train crossing too - 3 trains - and another set of traffic lights, but it was me cycling that was making him late.

And the best bit? On a clear day with no traffic, I'd have been on the road for less than 4 minutes - the only on road part of our school run.

Whichnumbers · 01/05/2023 07:38

MockneyReject · 01/05/2023 07:37

Rules or not, you're holding me up, making me late, extending my working day and reducing the time I get to spend with my child.
Sure, your hobby is important, but so is my job, and inevitably, it becomes annoying.
I spent much of lockdown stuck behind groups of cyclists, blocking me from getting where I needed to be. It really p**d me off that they were dawdling about on 80%, acting superior, while I was trying to earn my minimum wage and get home to my kid.

Use the motorway or your own roads & not public roads for everyone’s use

kethuphouse · 01/05/2023 07:39

A lot of cyclists are twats sorry. They suit up in their Lycra and expect everyone to make way for them , even red traffic lights.

Kazzyhoward · 01/05/2023 07:39

PerryMenno · 30/04/2023 20:46

As someone who walks on shared paths around an hour a day, you are a rare breed.

All the behaviour cyclists accuse drivers of - impatience at bring slowed down, passing too close, abuse, having no care for the more vulnerable user- is exactly what the majority of cyclists show to pedestrians on shared paths.

That is why I dislike cyclists.

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Same here. I walk to work on a canal towpath. Cyclists are a massive nuisance and far too many regard it as their right to hurtle along at 20 mph + expecting walkers to scatter to clear the way for them. Some shout to tell you to get out of the way (NB not ask you if they can pass!) and a few use loud air horns. Sometimes it's two abreast using the entire narrow footpath and you can see when they come towards you that they've no intention of moving into single file or slowing down. There've been so many complaints that the waterways trust and local council have put up signs to tell cyclists to slow down and give priority to pedestrians, but they clearly can't read and continue to use it as their own race track.

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/05/2023 07:39

Some motorists are awful but equally some cyclists are too. I live in a rural area with narrow roads and I've never seen a cyclist pull over. Not once. They can have a queue of cars a mile long behind them and show no consideration whatsoever.

Farmers/tractors always pull in but not cyclists. Its basic courtesy.

TooBored1 · 01/05/2023 07:40

MockneyReject · 01/05/2023 07:37

Rules or not, you're holding me up, making me late, extending my working day and reducing the time I get to spend with my child.
Sure, your hobby is important, but so is my job, and inevitably, it becomes annoying.
I spent much of lockdown stuck behind groups of cyclists, blocking me from getting where I needed to be. It really p**d me off that they were dawdling about on 80%, acting superior, while I was trying to earn my minimum wage and get home to my kid.

I could say the same about slow walking pedestrians. So when I'm walking to work, should all elderly people stay at home so I can walk faster?

MockneyReject · 01/05/2023 07:45

TooBored1 · 01/05/2023 07:40

I could say the same about slow walking pedestrians. So when I'm walking to work, should all elderly people stay at home so I can walk faster?

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Surely you can just walk round/overtake a slow walking pedestrian?
But, yes, I do wonder why some slow walking pedestrians.and hobby cyclists, choose rush hour to go out, when they have all day.
There's a bloke near me, who rides a low, 3 wheel bike/trike. He takes up the same amount of space as a car, but does 5 miles an hour. Everywhere he goes, he is at the front of a queue of traffic. I think he's selfish and inconsiderate.

Whichnumbers · 01/05/2023 07:46

Some motorists are awful but equally some cyclists are too

that’s because it’s people and some people are twats others aren’t.

id rather take my chances being hit by a cyclist than a driver, if I had to choose

Whichnumbers · 01/05/2023 07:48

MockneyReject · 01/05/2023 07:45

Surely you can just walk round/overtake a slow walking pedestrian?
But, yes, I do wonder why some slow walking pedestrians.and hobby cyclists, choose rush hour to go out, when they have all day.
There's a bloke near me, who rides a low, 3 wheel bike/trike. He takes up the same amount of space as a car, but does 5 miles an hour. Everywhere he goes, he is at the front of a queue of traffic. I think he's selfish and inconsiderate.

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And you have a sense of entitlement

MockneyReject · 01/05/2023 07:49

Whichnumbers · 01/05/2023 07:38

Use the motorway or your own roads & not public roads for everyone’s use

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Use my own roads, or motorways? What do you mean? I don't have any private roads - I'm poor!
I'm a minimum wage careworker - I'm allowed around 60 seconds between visits, and none of my clients live on motorways.

sylvandweller · 01/05/2023 07:51

MockneyReject · 01/05/2023 07:37

Rules or not, you're holding me up, making me late, extending my working day and reducing the time I get to spend with my child.
Sure, your hobby is important, but so is my job, and inevitably, it becomes annoying.
I spent much of lockdown stuck behind groups of cyclists, blocking me from getting where I needed to be. It really p**d me off that they were dawdling about on 80%, acting superior, while I was trying to earn my minimum wage and get home to my kid.

Get counselling, medication or organise your life better

pfftt · 01/05/2023 07:52

@QuintanaRoo So they were two abreast on a single width road? Which would mean there wasn’t space for a car to fit? But they were trying to wave you past them? Seems unlikely, they’d have been squashed 🤷‍♀️
Yes. This is why I didn't overtake. They seemed unaware that I couldn't overtake. Eventually they dropped into single file and I could safely overtake. No one hurled abuse at anyone

MockneyReject · 01/05/2023 07:54

Whichnumbers · 01/05/2023 07:48

And you have a sense of entitlement

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Do I?
Because I think my job is just as important as this man's hobby?
Because I don't believe that walking around another pedestrian is as time consuming as waiting for an opportunity to overtake a bunch of hobbyists who are blocking the road?
Like a PP says, tractors pull over to let everyone else get to work, so why can't cyclists?

YDBear · 01/05/2023 07:55

AuntieJune · 30/04/2023 17:46

@Clariana for the avoidance of doubt - what many people call road tax is vehicle excise duty (VED). It's charged based on the level of pollution a vehicle emits. It goes into the central pot, not a specific fund for building/maintaining roads.

If cyclists were charged VED, you'd have to go through a process of licencing them, registering bicycles, enforcement of non compliance with that. Then you'd apply VED at - guess what? Zero rate because bikes don't emit pollution.

So you'd increase the barriers to cycling, reduce mobility for many people who cycle to work etc but couldn't afford a licence, make loads of bureaucracy with a system for registering bikes, headaches for the police etc, with no tax income to show at the end of it. And you'd worsen public health by putting people off cycling.

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Actually the emissions aspect of VED is just a way of incentivising people to buy lower emissions vehicles. VED used to be known as the Road Fund License and was a hypothecated tax—it was collected to pay for road maintenance and construction. This hasn’t been the case however since 1936, after which roads have been paid for out of general taxation and VED just goes into that general pot. Actually I think it would be a good idea to restore a link between VED and road construction, with the tax bands set by weight (not emissions) since it is,
after all, weight that actually wears out roads.

pfftt · 01/05/2023 07:56

@TooBored1 If it's not possible to overtake a car, then you shouldn't over take a bike.

Sadly these lanes go for miles. There is room to squeeze past other cars when you choose the right spot and both cars are crawling along as both cars sort of go to the edge where cyclists wouldn't be able to ride. It would not be safe overtaking 2 abreast cyclists going at cycle speed.

Spanielsarepainless · 01/05/2023 07:59

In our locality there is a shared use footpath/cycle track. Cyclists whizz by with inches to spare. So I now take up as much room as I can, dogs at the ends of their leads one side, angled hiking pole the other, and let the buggers wait. It's safer for me... If they can't give the same courtesy as the demand from drivers, they can bore off elsewhere.

TwoCoffeesPlease · 01/05/2023 07:59

Honestly I think it’s because often them being there is unnecessary/dangerous.

Cycling in London or Cambridge is fair enough.

Where I live people cycle along the windy 60mph roads between towns. You can’t see them because of the bends. The roads are narrow so overtaking is tricky. There are often lorry’s compounding the issue.

There are towpaths that run the same route so it feels like they are causing a nuisance on purpose.