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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

491 replies

DataColour · 30/04/2023 17:08

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.

OP posts:
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10
TheWumpus · 30/04/2023 19:15

jcyclops · 30/04/2023 18:59

@DataColour 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.

Recently I came up behind two cyclists riding two abreast. I was happy to follow behind until we were on a clear straight road where it was safe to overtake them. As I pulled out to overtake them I gave a short honk on the horn.

This was not anger at being delayed, or a message for them to get off the road. It was because they hadn't looked back for some time and were thus unaware of what was behind them ie. me starting to overtake.

This is legitimate and even recommended use of a horn - to alert other road users of your presence. - see Highway Code 112.

What were you driving that they could have been unaware that there was a car accelerating behind them? If you're not sealed inside a car you're nowhere near as clueless about what's going on around you.

Honking while overtaking a cyclist is very loud and aggressive (again, no sound dampening box). I've sent helmet footage of exactly that to the police and they've taken it very seriously, excuses like yours get you a firm telling off at the very least for the first complaint.

My advice, if you want to get away with aggression towards cyclists, is to do something less obvious because there's no situation where what you're describing has any deniability.

Freshfoods · 30/04/2023 19:15

sylvandweller · 30/04/2023 19:12

Maybe those with anger management issues shouldn't be allowed to drive.

Show quote history

And how do you propose to find out who has anger issues? Not a practical suggestion.

Frabbits · 30/04/2023 19:16

Freshfoods · 30/04/2023 18:42

I was riding in the middle of the rode and DD to my left, which is perfectly within the rules.

And there you have the problem. It might be within the rules, but if you are in the middle of the road, can't you see how difficult and possibly dangerous it is for a driver? To pass you safely, he would need to drive on the wrong side of the road. Obviously not ideal.

That's literally what drivers are supposed to do.

ImAvingOops · 30/04/2023 19:17

"Maybe those with anger management issues shouldn't be allowed to drive."

Maybe smug buggers shouldn't be allowed to own bikes Wink

Freshfoods · 30/04/2023 19:18

Frabbits · 30/04/2023 19:16

That's literally what drivers are supposed to do.

Show quote history

It's what drivers are supposed to do, but why should they put themselves and others in danger just because 'it's what they're supposed to do.'

Cooknook · 30/04/2023 19:19

TheGuv1982 · 30/04/2023 19:12

I get annoyed along country lanes sometimes. Maybe pull over every so often to let the queue of traffic past?

However, I wouldn’t dream of saying anything, or dangerously overtaking. People that do that probably shouldn’t be allowed to drive a car imo and if there was a ratio of road users that annoy me most, the “other driver” category would win be an absolute landslide.

This is what cyclists invariably used to do (around here at least), pull in to the safe passing periodically, otherwise you get 1 cyclist holding up dozens of cars at points which is annoying no matter what anyone says. As we are all entitled to use the road as people always say, why should 1 delay numerous others because they can't be bothered to pull in now and then? Again I'd never say anything but I don't think it'll take Einstein to realise why it grates.

nomoredrivingytu · 30/04/2023 19:19

ImAvingOops · 30/04/2023 19:11

"You'll just have to wait"

See it's this attitude which pisses people off - a select few get to cause hold ups to the majority travelling behind them!

I get held up by cyclists every single day, doesn't stress me at all!

Frabbits · 30/04/2023 19:20

Freshfoods · 30/04/2023 19:18

It's what drivers are supposed to do, but why should they put themselves and others in danger just because 'it's what they're supposed to do.'

Show quote history

If you are overtaking safely, as per the HC, then you are not putting anyone in danger. Because you are overtaking safely.

If you can't overtake safely, then don't overtake.

This is vanishingly simple to understand.

sylvandweller · 30/04/2023 19:20

ImAvingOops · 30/04/2023 19:17

"Maybe those with anger management issues shouldn't be allowed to drive."

Maybe smug buggers shouldn't be allowed to own bikes Wink

We don't kill five people a day.

Frabbits · 30/04/2023 19:21

Freshfoods · 30/04/2023 19:12

So, drivers 'just have to wait,' do they? And how do you think this will affect most drivers? I doubt many of them will just think, 'Oh, I might just have to wait - yes, fine by me.'
You obviously don't know much about human beings.

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Yes, drivers do fucking "just have to wait" sometimes.

And anyone who is not a dangerous badgertwatter will.

sylvandweller · 30/04/2023 19:22

Drivers: Stop delaying us!

Cyclists: Stop killing us!

That's what this boils down to.

You're sitting in several tonnes of motorised steel. You don't need my concern.

Freshfoods · 30/04/2023 19:22

Frabbits · 30/04/2023 19:20

If you are overtaking safely, as per the HC, then you are not putting anyone in danger. Because you are overtaking safely.

If you can't overtake safely, then don't overtake.

This is vanishingly simple to understand.

Show quote history

How long do you think a driver should wait until it's 'safe to overtake?' On a winding road, this could easily be half an hour or more. As someone said, it doesn't take Einstein to work out why this grates.

Frabbits · 30/04/2023 19:24

Freshfoods · 30/04/2023 19:22

How long do you think a driver should wait until it's 'safe to overtake?' On a winding road, this could easily be half an hour or more. As someone said, it doesn't take Einstein to work out why this grates.

Show quote history

For as long as it takes, which, to be honest, in about 99.99% of cases is about 30 seconds. Cyclists have as much right to be on the road and to not, y'know, be put in danger as anyone else.

8810F · 30/04/2023 19:29

@HVC164
@sylvandweller

Positively proud and gleeful at your success in capturing motorists on your cameras.
I always find it interesting when cyclists report drivers for not leaving enough room. Yeah, it shouldn't happen and those drivers need to be held to account. BUT....I have found that some cyclists suddenly seem less bothered by this safe distance when they come from behind and shoehorn themselves alongside you at traffic lights.
Where is the accountability for cyclists? I have also have a camera but if one of these cyclists scratches my car in their impatience to get further along the traffic light queue, then there is no means of identifying those cyclists who can simply continue on their merry way smug in the knowledge that the poor car driver's insurance will probably have to take the hit! Not all cyclists are such morons, in fact many aren't, but this mind set of cyclists are always the victims grates on me.

Nala82 · 30/04/2023 19:29

If car drivers wouldn't insist on driving around 2 or 3 abreast then they would find it much easier to find space to overtake. Sometimes they even carry empty sofas about 3 abreast. They should go single file if they want to go past.

ImAvingOops · 30/04/2023 19:31

Cyclists cause accidents in which people die. Just as car drivers do. Fewer accidents are caused by cyclists because fewer people are cyclists, compared to car drivers. But since both bikes and cars are operated by people, it stands to reason there will be a mix of considerate and cunty in control of both! Sometimes the car driver is just a dick and sometimes the cyclist is! Although imo cyclists are often reluctant to acknowledge this because of their huge sense of smug self importance

The OP asked why people dislike cyclists - cyclists can argue those reasons are unfair, but they aren't going to change just because you think they should.

QuintanaRoo · 30/04/2023 19:33

And there you have the problem. It might be within the rules, but if you are in the middle of the road, can't you see how difficult and possibly dangerous it is for a driver? To pass you safely, he would need to drive on the wrong side of the road. Obviously not ideal.

I literally can’t believe I just read this. Of course that’s what you’re meant to do. I have managed to do this several times today, went right into the opposite carriageway. You just wait until there’s nothing coming the other way. If you do that why would it be unsafe?

if you don’t do this you are trying to squeeze past when it’s not safe to do so (depends on the road but true for most) and then if something does come the other way because you haven’t waited until ensuring it’s clear what are you going to do? Have a head on or squish the cyclist! Terrible driving! And also illegal if you’re not passing with enough space.

The good thing about cyclists is because of their speed you need a smaller gap in the traffic to get past them safely as you will be on the other side for less time. I was stuck for six miles behind a horse box in the Peak District today……but just one of those things.

TaLooLaBell · 30/04/2023 19:36

saltinesandcoffeecups · 30/04/2023 17:44

Because cars and bicycles really shouldn’t be sharing the road. Yes, it’s perfectly legal and cyclists have every right to be there but there are just too many difference between the capabilities of the two.

Then you add in shitty drivers and shitty cyclists and you start to get confirmation bias that every driver/cyclist is shitty. Now you have both expecting the worst from each other.

This

GeraltsBathtub · 30/04/2023 19:41

ImAvingOops · 30/04/2023 19:11

"You'll just have to wait"

See it's this attitude which pisses people off - a select few get to cause hold ups to the majority travelling behind them!

Tractors, horses, caravans, lorries, vehicles parked in the road and many other things cause delays for overtaking too. It’s part and parcel of using the roads - we all have a right to use them and if that pisses you off then you shouldn’t be driving.

GeraltsBathtub · 30/04/2023 19:44

Freshfoods · 30/04/2023 19:18

It's what drivers are supposed to do, but why should they put themselves and others in danger just because 'it's what they're supposed to do.'

Show quote history

If you think it puts anyone in danger then I am very concerned that you don’t understand how you are meant to overtake. Have you considered refresher lessons?

SunnySaturdayMorning · 30/04/2023 19:44

sylvandweller · 30/04/2023 19:05

@SunnySaturdayMorning

Dictionaries are available

So it isn’t then.

TaLooLaBell · 30/04/2023 19:46

sylvandweller · 30/04/2023 17:23

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.

What the hell is there to be jealous about? The "fat" comment is just nasty

StarDolphins · 30/04/2023 19:50

I’m so fed up of them doubling, trebling up & holding up the traffic really arrogantly. Get in single file. I have no issues if they’re single file in a line.

GeraltsBathtub · 30/04/2023 19:51

StarDolphins · 30/04/2023 19:50

I’m so fed up of them doubling, trebling up & holding up the traffic really arrogantly. Get in single file. I have no issues if they’re single file in a line.

Magnificent satire.

sylvandweller · 30/04/2023 19:57

8810F · 30/04/2023 19:29

@HVC164
@sylvandweller

Positively proud and gleeful at your success in capturing motorists on your cameras.
I always find it interesting when cyclists report drivers for not leaving enough room. Yeah, it shouldn't happen and those drivers need to be held to account. BUT....I have found that some cyclists suddenly seem less bothered by this safe distance when they come from behind and shoehorn themselves alongside you at traffic lights.
Where is the accountability for cyclists? I have also have a camera but if one of these cyclists scratches my car in their impatience to get further along the traffic light queue, then there is no means of identifying those cyclists who can simply continue on their merry way smug in the knowledge that the poor car driver's insurance will probably have to take the hit! Not all cyclists are such morons, in fact many aren't, but this mind set of cyclists are always the victims grates on me.

I am VERY proud of it and there is nothing to stop you doing the same