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.

If a tractor with a loaded trailer can pull over, then a cyclist can.

It doesn't really matter. A photo of a road that happens to be near you isn't really very helpful to the discussion.

I'm not actually sure what point you are trying to make? Some posters believe cyclists ride 2 abreast just to be annoying, I'm pointing out that in many cases it's to save their lives.

For what it's worth, I cycle the way you do because I expect, like me, you are a fully functioning adult who is mindful of others around them.

I just get so sad on threads like this as it seems people on a bike just can't win - we get told off for riding on the main roads when there is a towpath; then the reverse. As I'm sure you know, there are rubbish cyclists out there, just as there are rubbish pedestrians and drivers. I just wish others wouldn't automatically hate on someone, just because they are on a bike.

Not always, no. A tractor had an engine, a bike doesn't.

Picture of a road. Great. Holds no relevance to my road. For one thing, yours has a centre line

As a cyclist, pulling over on a steep hill makes total sense to me. I'm grateful for the reason to have a breather.

I have to do this sometimes in my car, too, to let others overtake. Little PuttPutt engine.

@QuintanaRoo my road

Cyclists ride past my house very loudly in huge groups which gets in my nerves. But that's a separate issue.

But re op question, sometimes not all the time, but often I think they ride together when they shouldn't. Rule 66 says they can, but it also says they should be single on busy roads, when drivers wish to overtake, and to be considerate. This is my gripe. I don't think they are considerate, sometimes. I see them riding 2 abreast in what I consider inappropriate circumstances, busy roads, or we've got a long fast stretch up to a roundabout, but cars are in a long queue because they can't overtake said cyclists riding 2 abreast. I think they should go single to allow the big queue of cars to overtake, in rush hour.

I don't mind cyclists doing 2 abreast. I know the law. But sometimes it feels disrespectful to other road users.

@Owchy fair enough, now I understand where you’re coming from. I accept that the situation is obviously quite different where you live and to clarify I don’t think that cyclists are the issue here, it’s the system itself. I don’t think my comments are preposterous based on my experience but accept that yours are different and I do see where you’re coming from.

Appreciate your response, I get fed up on here of people mocking each other with eye rolls and laughing emojis without bothering to make a reasoned argument themselves!

Fine, was trying to give an example. I was then about to post a photo of a narrower road without a white line and say if it was like that then they should have been in single file. Sadly the MN photo issues means it takes ten minutes to reformat the size of screenshots so I can post them.

I cycle daily to work. I cycle on cycle lanes where they exist and am a very considerate cyclist. Last week I was hooted all the way down a short stretch of road (maybe 30m). They clearly wanted to overtake where there was no space. I pulled into the centre on the lane to make it less dangerous for all of us. I was yelled at as I turned left into a side road to get away from them. Idiots!

I am regularly cut up and overtaken, only to have to do an emergency stop as the car suddenly slows down for a speed bump.

Don’t get me started on how dangerous the change to the Highway Code is about letting cyclists cross at a junction. I don’t think anyone has read that bit …!

So his sense of entitlement matches yours? You both want to be on the road at the same time. You both have a right to be there. You may feel that you have "more" right at that time but the reality is you don't.

(Tbf, he does sound a bit of a nob but I expect he is like that all the time, on it off a bike)

God not for me 😂. I need to keep going while I have some momentum….the thought of trying do do a hill start on one of the 8% hills I was on yesterday.. no thanks. 😁🙈

Then they were bonkers, there physically isn’t room. They must have been feeling suicidal 🤷‍♀️. In fact it’s so narrow the only thing I can think is that they stayed two abreast as they didn’t think it was safe for you to pass them even if they were single file so were keeping themselves safe. Though that doesn’t explain the hand gestures.

I might have stayed two abreast on that to prevent an unsafe overtake but I wouldn’t have been simultaneously waving the car to overtake. Seems odd. If I was by myself with a friend we’d pull in at an appropriate spot. But I know most club rides would carry on. 🤷‍♀️

Interesting how it is the cyclists on this thread using insulting and aggressive language, indicative perhaps of their attitudes on the road and towards such tedious things as pedestrian crossings.
Every weekend the main coastal A road here is full of hobby cyclists causing enormous queues of traffic to build up behind them. The air pollution they deliberately cause by choosing to cycle this route is off the scale. Bus drivers, delivery drivers, tradesmen etc are working and have no choice as to be using the road network.
Having worked in many large organisations very, very few people ever cycled to work - not having the time to make themselves look presentable by showering etc. before clocking on. So the argument that many cyclists have to be causing a nuisance is disingenuous, they are suiting themselves
As pp have said, cyclists rarely show pedestrians the courtesy they should. Shared spaces don't necessarily work and maybe cyclists should have access to certain roads where they cause a known problem restricted, at least at certain times

They aren't on a long lead, only the 3'3" allowed by the by-laws here attached to harnesses. Your comment just goes to prove my point that cyclists will be going too fast to observe the situation ahead and will cut through such a narrow, actually non-existent gap. If they collide with my dogs that has to be reported to the police.

No, his is pure entitlement. He has alternatives.
Mine is necessity. There are no alternatives.
My needing to work isn't 'entitlement'.
My point is that just because you can, legally, hold others up, doesn't mean you should.

So you’d like cycling on public roads to be made illegal?

@QuintanaRoo yep. I drive this road virtually daily. I know it so I leave loads of time so I'm never rushed. I just personally don't cycle down roads like this for any more than absolutely necessary as the holding up traffic thing is stressful. If I am on a read like this I make sure to pull off periodically
I drive this route to get to my horse. Another entirely different thread,,,....🐎🚶🏻‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚗🛣️

@Spanielsarepainless

So you're literally planning on throwing your dogs under the wheels of a cyclist to prove a point?

Mockney, lots of people work without needing to use a car, lots of people don't own cars, your lifestyle choices are yours, your rights or needs are not greater

@MockneyReject

Genuine question, I'm presuming that as an adult you have some say at least over where you live and work.

So why not move/work somewhere more convenient?

A tractor is enormous, and it's driver needs to look out for a big enough passing space. It requires an awareness of what's going on around it, and of other road users. It loses momentum and has to start off from stationary.
OBut the alternative, is being a nuisance to others.

Cars are a nuisance

They're also totally unsuitable for urban life.

So many other countries and cities have worked this out. The UK is lagging behind as usual.