Cyclist at Pedestrian Crossing

[grumpypedestrian]

First off I’m all for people cycling, it’s a great mode of transport.

Ive had yet another close encounter and narrowly avoided being hit by a cyclist. Is there an unknown rule that cyclists can go full speed through pedestrian crossings?

Ive experienced nearly being hit by cyclists going through red lights too.

Who says that the ones complaining about dangerous driving are the same ones running red lights? You're just grouping everyone under the banner of "cyclist".

Did you know that most Dutch people aren't "cyclists", even though so many ride a bike daily.

You could start a different thread about cars maybe? The issue with cyclists is they can be very quiet. They can be difficult to spot and finally some cyclists do anything not to stop as it means they have to use their leg power to start up again.

Oh OP, do you not realise that on Mumsnet cyclists can do no wrong? Nothing is ever their fault and their shit smells of roses.

I personally have difficulties with cyclists using the "shared path" like a race track and not giving way when a walkist wants to cross to the other side of the shared area.

Nah, I'm good thanks.

Fairynuff. I agree with you a lot of car drivers are also arses

Thing is you get cyclists (yes not all cyclists etc) running red lights and almost getting hit by cars. But cyclists often say its safer to do that and its the cars that should be looking out for them. Then when pedestrians do the same as them (cross on red man) the cyclists then say the pedestrians are in the wrong and shouldn't be crossing and should be looking! I agree that the larger vehicle should be looking out for the smaller more at risk "vehicle". So cars look for cyclists and cyclists look for pedestrians. But none of them should be jumping red lights or not looking what's coming.
But I've had cyclists jump from pavement to road right in front of me without looking. And yes I've seen pedestrians step out into the road in front of approaching cyclists. Neither are good and both could result in the smaller/slower one being hurt/ killed. But cyclists often seem to think they can ignore both the cars and the pedestrians and just keep going.
Surely if as a driver I'm meant to see a cyclist on the pavement and be aware that at any point they might swerve onto the road I'm on and be prepared for that, cyclists should notice any pedestrians walking along and be prepared that at some point they may step out into the road.
I also once saw a cyclist jump a red light at speed and collide with another cyclist. They both were shouting at each other. The one who jumped the light just wouldn't accept he was to blame.

I've been almost-hit by cyclists far more often than by cars

I've been actually knocked over by a cyclist.

And don't get me started on the ones who whizz along merrily ON THE PAVEMENT.

The real danger on our roads is from motor vehicles, and has been for decades - but thanks for starting another cycle bashing thread, spread the hate, why not

I agree. This is not a 'hate' on cyclists at all.

The highway code gives priority to pedestrians
This priority should apply to 'share with care' pathways (which used to be nice pedestrian promenades, footpaths and towpaths).
Yes a cyclist is less likely to fatally injure than a motor vehicle but they can cause pain and distress to the elderly, small children and dogs by using pedestrian ways as if they were on the tour de France. It is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt.

The problem seems to be with the 'green' agenda meaning cycling is actively encouraged - all well and good.
But the government gave local authorities the responsibility of catering for cyclists. Unfortunately cycle paths are expensive to provide and drivers hate them. So often the solution was to make previously pedestrian only pavements and other pathways into shared routes.

The advent of e-bikes and e-scooter which now use these same pathways adds to the danger. Being hit by a cycle made of a largish chunk of metal moving at up to 20 mph is not going to be pleasant for the vulnerable pedestrian.

There's a zebra crossing here that is very clearly marked- always fresh white markings, there's a sign before all 3 points, flashing yellow lights and the zig zags; the amount of cyclists that go through is wild. And no, it's not all cyclists and yes drivers can be just as bad- but one went full pelt into my DS when he was younger (we were already on the crossing and progressing at an average speed when he zoomed around the corner) and he tried to just get going again without even saying sorry. It is a particular issue that doesn't discount the feckless and reckless driving/activities other do on the roads.

We're not supposed to talk about it, but you're on to us. There is a rule that cyclists must try and speed through pedestrian crossings as fast as possible. I got a points bonus for hitting two old ladies at once the other month, bumped me right up the leader board 🙌

Omg you're so funny what a witty response!!!

OP doesn’t mention cars at all so I do t know why so many are comparing it to car drivers. This particular matter relates to cyclists jumping crossing and red lights. That is a specific matter, and it is a problem, and it isn’t really something car drivers tend to do.

we may all mess up at times but this particular grumble is about (some) cyclists.

also that comment about the dog hot by a car driving the wrong way down a one way street made me laugh. As if the dog knows which way the cars are supposed to come from. Very sad that the dog was hit. And the driver obviously shouldn’t have been travelling in the wrong direction… but those two things are unrelated, surely!?

So much whataboutery on this thread. There is a significant subset of cyclists who are entitled cunts, I'm assuming because it's mainly men who ride like this and there is a significant subset of men who are entitled cunts. Just because car drivers can be entitled cunts too doesn't cancel out the cuntery of cyclists.

The OP asked a couple of times

Just genuinely curious if there’s a cyclist rule to speed through pedestrian crossings

Such a ridiculous goady question deserves a ridiculous response.

Oh god, this! Every single time someone on MN starts a thread specifically complaining about something cyclists do, lots of cyclists jump on the thread with "but car drivers do this... and this...!" It's pathetic.

I come across cyclists on footpaths all of the time and they make absolutely no attempt
to go on the road where they belong when there’s a tight space and you need to pass. Have had to squeeze past and get scratched by thorns and such due to cyclists wrongly on the footpath. Some cyclists are twats.

As a cyclist, I've been knocked over by a vehicle a few times, never been knocked over as a pedestrian by a cyclist. There you go, there's my anecdotal evidence.

As a cyclist I've never gone through a pedestrian crossing illegally and always give way to pedestrians who might just walk out in front of me. As it says in the high way code, the priority is pedestrians, cyclists and then motor vehicles. Just wish more motorists are up to speed with this rule.

Cyclists will blatantly go through red lights but that's because they can meander through people. Doesn't make it right of course but they are too keen on their Strava segments (there's a public safety justification for getting rid of Strava segments I think!)

Drivers start off when the light goes to amber, even if people are still there and beep people who are too slow. They also sneak through amber as it turns to red (often when it is actually red).

Both pay no attention to zebra crossings unless you give them a hard stare as I said above.

But drivers kill and injure many thousands of people a year, whereas cyclists tend to hurt a handful. The problem that needs fixing is poor driving.

If they walked alongside their bikes they'd take even more room up.

No, it isn't pathetic.

Drivers are dangerous. Not cyclists. Cyclists are annoying, but what needs fixing is dangerous driving (and parking). Constantly having a go at cyclists is a sideshow and waste of energy.

Also, if either of you had read the thread, you will have seen that many of us drive and cycle, and I drive more than I cycle.

I've found a long heavy golf umbrella works well. stick it out in front of you when crossing and then cyclists stop......

Bikes need to be registered and have plates on them like cars, otherwise some cyclists will act like arseholes.

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/10633437.woman-left-with-life-threatening-injuries-after-collision-with-cyclist-in-langton-matravers-near-swanage/

Yes, it is pathetic to bring up something completely irrelevant on a thread complaining about a specific road user.

if you want to whinge about drivers, start a thread about drivers. Don't keep piling in on a thread about dangerous cyclists with classic Whataboutery. It's not a waste of energy to complain about dangerous cyclists. What needs fixing about dangerous cyclists is dangerous cyclist, not drivers. They are two separate issues.

And I have read the thread. It makes no difference that you drive and cycle. Why would it? What a bizarre thought. Just because you do both doesn't make a thread about dangerous cyclists the place to whinge about dangerous drivers.