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.

What's this about cyclists not paying road tax? Most cyclist's probably also have cars. I do. I only use my bike for fitness.

Re the VED argument- if you drive a big 4x4 and pay a high rate are you allowed to be more aggressive and impatient that me in my £30 a year Fiesta or my OH who pays nothing for his Octavia? Am I OK to be a little bit cross for my £30 but not OH as he pays nothing?

You've kindly hit the nail on the head - why are such vulnerable road users on the road?

It's pure idiocy, truly.

We have incrementally legislated, at great cost to consumers, over decades to ensure modern vehicles are safe for passengers even in dangerous accidents.

Yet we allow any rando in skin-tight clothing and next to zero crash-safety to ride in the road as well?

It's paradoxical.

If you support safety then you're by definition against cyclists riding on the same road as cars.

If you're against safety then you should be happy for car safety legislation to be scrapped.

Anyone else just wants to have their cake and eat it too.

Stop talking shite.

Vunerable road users are on the roads because they still need to get places too. The road network was around long before the advent of the internal combustion engine and most people manage to share just fine. It's only a few impatient, self-important twats who can't.

Well yes but every car on the road needs insurance whether you have other vehicles or not.
Maybe your bike comes under the road tax of zero emissions but you should have insurance in case you hit someone or someone hits you. And a MOT to make sure your lights and brakes work. And a test.
Roads can’t be recreational in this day and age.

Reality25, yep I support safety, can all the vehicles who cause nearly every single death and injury, get off the roads please?

Marchintospring, so you've never driven anywhere for recreational purposes?

I think you may need to go back and reread your posts. Eg where you talk about cyclist pissing you off. To me, and clearly others, your posts read as if you are unhappy about life situations and you are blaming people who happen to be on a bike.

Other slow moving vehicles are required to pull over to let cars pass. I have never had an issue with a tractor or a horse etc because this is what they do as soon as it is safe to do so. I have never met a cyclist that pulls over to let cars pass.

The tailback I got stick in yesterday was caused by football traffic. As I needed to be somewhere, should I call all those drivers inconsiderate too? Your logic just doesn't work.

I think a basic lack of empathy is the main reason - while many adult cyclists are also drivers, as cycling is so much less prevalent the majority of drivers have never cycled on the road so no idea what it feels like to be close-passed etc, so only feel their own impatience. Getting more people to cycle would improve understanding for all, and short of that communications that help get across the fact safe roads are for all and promote that that driving in a way that helps keep cyclists safe benefits everyone (it's mainly about slowing down, being observant etc.) can help. More info in here if any can be arsed to read it (research I worked on a while back) www.gov.uk/government/publications/sharing-our-roads-safely

The challenging context though to all of this is that generally everyone (cyclists included!) think dangerous behaviour on the road is more ok than in other parts of life - some fascinating recent research on this summarised here twitter.com/ianwalker/status/1615248156186247169?s=46&t=uvH32BqCBZx_ROh2wBb9RA, academic paper here psyarxiv.com/egnmj (I didn't work on this one but do know the people who did)

I live in a very rural area with windy roads
where overtaking isn’t easy, lots of blind bends and steep hills. The council invested a fortune putting paths on almost every road- granted not cycle paths but paths all the same. There are almost no walkers on them yet still cyclists insist on crawling up the road bum up at 1mph leaving me stuck behind every time I want to go anywhere.
Why not just use the bloody path, yes I know it’s not correct but im sure you won’t get arrested for using an empty path ffs. In the unlikely event someone comes walking along just move off, it’s not that hard.

Horses I get, they can spook into the road from the path of cars pass too close and are unpredictable so it’s safer to slow traffic. If your cycle can’t be predicted then you need a different hobby!

Also they talk loudly every Sunday morning and wake me up so it makes the problem even more annoying 😂

Mycockney, think how amazing it would be if there were fewer cars on the road making unessential journeys, allowing people making essential journeys, for work etc, to move more freely and efficiently

@sylvandweller

Something like 50% of car journeys are under two miles too.

You do like your data and statistics don't you?
It doesn't really matter how long people's car journeys are if we are playing the "everyone has the right to use the road" card. They have just as much right to be on the road as cyclists without being labelled as fat, lazy etc. You have no idea why people choose to drive this sort of distance and they don't need to offer you an explanation as it is their business.
On the topic of data and statistics, your claim of five cyclists a day being killed X 365 = 1825 each year. The government site states that the average PER YEAR is just over 100 about 109-111) at the last data collection point. This is still 109-111 too many as any amount of deaths is both tragic and horrific but if we are going to use data to add weight to a POV then it would be better for it not to be so misleading.

Don't you just love it when people can't compete with a solid argument so they start slinging insults instead?

It's just a bad reflection on you sweetheart.

Try again if you can.

I once sat in traffic for an hour on the A1 because of all the recreational traffic going to a recreational concert at knebworth house. Not to mention the amount of recreational traffic caused by holidaymakers. I can't even visit friends sometimes in the summer. Cars for commuting only!

I do have cycling instead thanks. As in accident and public liability not just theft.

cant believe some people think poor people who can’t afford cars should just stay inside. Not everyone is on a bus route. I had to cycle 6 miles a day to catch a bus to go to sixth form

I have a lot of experience around this.
I actually cycle to the left of the lane most of the time, so as to not hold up traffic, even drivers take advantage and pass by too closely. When I've had enough of near misses, I ride in the middle of the road, to prevent overtaking.
Sometimes I ride in the middle of the road when there are oncoming traffic and I KNOW that the vehicles behind me can't pass safely. When there is no oncoming traffic, I veer to the left to indicate so allow passing, even though, it really shouldn't make a difference where I am on that side of the road, as vehicles should be overtaking by going over to the opposite side anyway.
On narrow country lanes I always pull over. I don't want the added pressure of holding up traffic anyway.

If that's your stance then at least it's consistent and rational. Which is the point of the previous post in response to Frabbit's delusions about safe sharing on British roads.

On a thread where the OP asked why people get annoyed at football fans holding them up? Yes, that would make sense.
Were they being inconsiderate, though? Could they have moved aside to let you pass, if they'd wanted to?
Inconsiderate cyclists don't cease to be annoying, just because football fans also sometimes hold others up. Your logic just doesn't work.

Cars for commuting only!. Good idea. You don’t even need them for shopping as you can have an online delivery. Exceptions for disabled and elderly.

Maybe if you came up with a "solid" argument I would take you seriously.

Your entire premise is shite. Cyclists are entitled to be on the road. Try again.

Many cyclists don’t use the cycle lanes provided. I was driving down a dual carriageway yesterday that a cycle race was using, yet they didn’t use the lovely wide cycle Lane that is provided, it’s physically separate from the road so lovely and safe. Why ?

Yes, that's how it was during lockdown.
Except, of course, for the massive increase in groups of cyclists.

It was amazing