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.

🙄

@Mydpisgrumpierthanyours

1. Cycling on the pavement would be illegal, whether there are pedestrians visible or not. A pedestrian could suddenly come out of a house or side street and risk being hit by a fast moving bike (elderly people and small children have died this way)

1. Cycle lanes are a provision not an obligation. If you'd seen some of the pot holes in bike lanes near me you'd be riding in the middle of the road too!

1. Have you ever been hit by a car? Do you have any idea how painful, frightening and disorientating it is to be knocked off your bike by a car? But yeah sure we're doing it deliberately to feel smug. I personally love riding right in front of massive vehicles that could easily crush me to death, really makes the nursery run more exciting

@QuintanaRoo

I have slowed down for every single walker on the shared use path I was on for a bit, called out to make sure they knew I was there, thanked everyone I passed. Asked every horse rider I passed if it was ok to pass.

I think this is unusual. The cyclists that use our shared path won't use a bell & I got a mouthful for asking one why they hadn't rung their bell. Apparently they don't use a bell on that sort of bike. I just don't find cyclists in my area especially respectful of pedestrians. For example there is a hump of grass which toddlers play on but cyclists ride full speed over it without checking for people & I've seen toddlers nearly taken out. My dog got knocked over at full speed & the group of kids just rode off & the Dads we told ignored us. I just don't think cyclists are always the victim they make out.

So your dog got hit by a child cyclist? That's a slightly different issue

true, more & more cars, which are getting bigger & heavier.
Gargantuan SUVs squeezing past each other, weaving in and out of all the parked SUVs which line the roadsides, pulverizing the road surface

Have you ever read any thread here or elsewhere about cycling?

1. A cyclist who even dreams of cycling on a pavement is likely to get strung up round here.

1. Cycle lanes are rarely suitable for use. They are generally dangerous to use and frequently end abruptly, throwing the cyclist back into the fast moving traffic where drivers least expect them.

And you round it off with a nice but of victim shaming to boot.

@spinachsmoothie yes because the roads are in a much better state than the cycle lanes, no pot holes there. I know ide prefer to be thrown off my bike by a pothole on the pavement than one in the road where there's a much higher chance of being hit by a car.

Illegal or not don't be stupid and ride your bike along a 50mph road. That's asking for trouble. I'm also pretty sure that the police have enough to do with worrying about a cyclist using a pavement ffs they don't come out for people who have been robbed!

Seriously

@converseandjeans must admit I don’t have a bell on every bike and the bikes I do have a bell on I don’t tend to use them. IME they make people jump and I’ve been told off numerous times for using one. 🤷‍♀️

It isn’t the law to have a bell but I do think cyclists have to make sure people are aware they’re there and give way. On a shared path the walker is the vulnerable person. I will happily wait until I know someone is aware I’m there (sometimes they are listening to music), or have gathered up dogs and kids.

I got a mouthful for asking one why they hadn't rung their bell
sorry to hear that @converseandjeans I make a point of being as polite as I can be when I'm cycling, I slow down and get off, I call out excuse me, can I overtake etc, thank everyone profusely, I want to try and give cyclists a better name!

One bloke did annoy me though as he was stood to the side of a path chatting to friends. He had definitely seen me, I wasn’t sure if his friend had so called out my usual “good morning” loudly (and slowed right down). And he was raging at me for not ringing a bell! Bloody bell end! 😁. I’d caused no problem whatsoever but he was convinced I’d broken the law.

I also think there’s a distinction between what I would consider a cyclist and idiot ferals who ride bikes causing problems. So the teens who swerve about on bikes on the village high street near me in-front of the traffic, they’re just muppets who happen to be on a bike. Teens in the park on BMXs leaping about infront of small kids…..also not what I would consider a serious cyclist.

that happened to me, on a shared path I got a mouthful from a woman for calling out 'excuse me' instead of using the bell, I think she was just startled.
I always slow down, I never hurtle past people.
We do need better provision for outdoor pursuits though.

On a related note, I hate when people refer to middle-aged men cycling as MAMILS (middle-aged men in Lycra.) Anyone taking exercise at any age in any clothing shouldn’t be sneered at. Good on them; I hope they enjoy it and stay healthy.

Cars hate cyclists when they're two abreast and many mistakenly think it's against the law or some imaginary rules. DH was cycling on the outside of a female friend home from work and a bus driver took offence and purposely drove at him. DH was scraped along the side and had broken bones. The bus had camera footage of it that was used for a nice compensation claim

I get most fucked off when I'm walking along the local river. (which has no cycling signs painted on the entrances to the path)
The constant dings of selfish twats expecting me to jump out of the way is infuriating. I will move slightly, but it's away from the water, and I'm not jumping in a bush. If you wobble into the river that's your problem.

@Devoutspoken

So your dog got hit by a child cyclist? That's a slightly different issue

I'm just making the point that cyclists aren't always the vulnerable one. The group of Dads weren't interested. We had asked the boys to slow down. It wasn't a cycle path/shared path on this occasion.

I would be happy with any sort of warning. It doesn't need to be a bell. I am happy to move out their way. I just don't think cyclists treat pedestrians as they want to be treated themselves. It is probably just a handful tho - like the majority of car drivers are respectful & it's just a few twats who harass cyclists

Our roads are not suitable for cyclists. A roads that drivers speed down, shoddy surfaces, potholes fucking everywhere, cyclists take their lives in their hands every time they go out if you ask me. We need a total re structure because it really is a fab way to get about and it should be encouraged. People are dickheads towards cyclists because they are generally more dickish these days. Everyone's in such a rush all the time and cyclists are vulnerable therefore easy targets.
Although the insults on here from cyclists are eye opening. Using 'fat' as an insult like they have says alot about someone. Imagine living your life with such venom inside you.

Well that was a long and laborious read and although it acknowledged that the study group were already fit at the start of the study so therefore skewing the results somewhat, it is projecting that cyclists will live longer.
I would be interested to see if this data changes at all in future after the cyclists' long term exposure to the pollutants emitted from the motor vehicles they cycle amongst every day.

Well that was a long and laborious read and although it acknowledged that the study group were already fit at the start of the study so therefore skewing the results somewhat, it is projecting that cyclists will live longer.
I would be interested to see if this data changes at all in future after the cyclists' long term exposure to the pollutants emitted from the motor vehicles they cycle amongst every day.

Sorry didn't mean to post twice. Phone acting up so slow to respond.

"Can we have some data to back this up please?"

@sylvandweller I'm not your personal google. You are capable of looking up for yourself how many deaths are caused by cyclist behaviour.

I‘m so perplexed by the ‘sense of entitlement’ criticism. First, cyclists ARE entitled to use the road. And second - doesn’t the complaint derive from a sense of entitlement??

I cycled 2 miles today. I had to stop for 9 sets of lights, and went across 5 zebras. All put in because there are so many cars pedestrians can’t cross safely without this, or to manage excessively busy junctions. Car drivers - stop driving in towns!!! (And no, I don’t mean the disabled, but I DO mean folk like me w 3 kids and a dog - it IS possible!!)

@Freshfoods and there’s the problem. Your response is what most drivers think - but actually drivers SHOULD be passing on the other side of the road. It’s incredibly dangerous to close pass a cyclist and try to squeeze between them and oncoming traffic. That’s why cyclists shouldn’t ride single file - because cars would need a long length of road to pass safely.

None of this is new - it’s been in the Highway Code for years.

Yes, I am proud that I am keeping the roads safer. Actions have consequences and the behaviour I report is road rage, not a minor miscalculation. There is no equality in the comparison you are making; my life is incomparable to the annoyance of a small hypothetical scratch on a car. This is also an odd assumption to make, as I stay as far away from cars as I can for safety reasons.

I also have a license and I drive with great patience and respect for more vulnerable road users. I’m shocked by how many drivers have utterly misunderstood the Highway Code and their responsibilities on this thread. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and it deserves to be removed if you cannot (or will not) do it safely.