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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to find cyclists annoying

401 replies

MumOfTheNorth · 07/10/2023 00:11

This probably is unreasonable but I just find cyclists so annoying. Not saying every cyclist does every one of these things. It just seems to happen a lot. Am I the only one that gets this irrational irritation?

What I find annoying...

  • Taking up the whole road so you can't leave enough space to safely over take
  • Weaving in and out of traffic
  • Walking around cafes or the office in sweaty lycra with their click clacky shoes
  • Running red lights when I'm trying to cross on a green man
  • Cycling on the pavement
  • Not tucking in on small country roads once in a while when there's a massive que of traffic behind them
  • Having no lights or helmet on in the dark
  • And most of all... talking to me about cycling
OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
TheShellBeach · 07/10/2023 18:10

MinnieMountain · 07/10/2023 18:07

So I’d have to spend £5 each way on a taxi for my office days rather than cycle 10 minutes? Don’t be ridiculous.

By all means cycle - but don't whizz through red lights.
It's no wonder that your journey only takes ten minutes - you just never stop.

MinnieMountain · 07/10/2023 18:14

😆 @TheShellBeach

kitsuneghost · 07/10/2023 18:17

Sigmama · 07/10/2023 15:20

We can't sustain this amount of motor traffic on our roads, surely more cyclists is a good thing - look at the bigger picture, not just individual needs

But the bigger picture is that cyclists driving centrally causes more congestion.

Peacendkindness · 07/10/2023 18:25

fearfuloffluff · 07/10/2023 14:48

Cyclists should follow the highway code and be considerate to other road users.

But this is a thread opened by a 'cyclists are annoying' post followed by people saying we should fine/penalise/register/ban/make them pay insurance.

Many of the examples like cyclists riding in the middle of the lane are responsible and legal cycling, it's the drivers who are revealing they don't know the rules.

Driving penalties tend to be a few hundred quid, a few penalty points, even a case that goes to court and involves high speeds, cars that aren't roadworthy or insured etc - fines are not that high.

A proportionate cycling penalty would be less than £100. The cost of registering, licensing, administering the system would far outstrip that. And besides, we need more people to cycle because there are too many cars on the roads and cars have many negative health consequences. So anything that puts people off cycling is bad.

As I said before, getting more people onto bikes would do more to improve behaviour than any penalty system.

Show quote history

Anyone with wheels on the road should need a licence and insurance - I’ve seen cyclists hit people, a dog (on the lead) and hit cars all whilst the other object has been stationary. The sense of entitlement is enormous.

cyclists ringing their bell and shouting get out of the way on a woodland path in our local woods at my deaf son happily walking the dog along the path - he’s deaf. It’s a path not a cycling lane when you hit him at 15 miles an hour and my Labrador you will kill them - but heh cyclists are never wrong? Right?

Frabbits · 07/10/2023 18:26

kitsuneghost · 07/10/2023 18:17

But the bigger picture is that cyclists driving centrally causes more congestion.

Show quote history

Does it balls.

It takes me an hour to drive to work across a city centre.

20 minutes on a bike obeying all relevant red lights etc. Who do you think is holding who up? Hint: it's not cyclists.

ClassicCremeAnglaise · 07/10/2023 18:41

Sigmama · 07/10/2023 17:15

The arrogance of drivers is truly breath taking

and the pedestrian complaining about the ridiculous cyclists, they are arrogant too?

DdraigGoch · 07/10/2023 18:46

JMSA · 07/10/2023 10:08

It is annoying that one person can make a bus load of people crawl along.

But enough about Mark Drakeford...

kitsuneghost · 07/10/2023 18:58

Frabbits · 07/10/2023 18:26

Does it balls.

It takes me an hour to drive to work across a city centre.

20 minutes on a bike obeying all relevant red lights etc. Who do you think is holding who up? Hint: it's not cyclists.

Show quote history

Through a city centre may be different.
My drive is a short distance to a bypass. Commuter town so lots of traffic heading to bypass. We don't get many cyclists this side of town (because they ain't using the bypass) but when we do get one the traffic builds up very quickly then the junction further back starts to get gridlocked.

ArmWrestlingWithChasNDave · 07/10/2023 18:59

Peacendkindness · 07/10/2023 18:25

Anyone with wheels on the road should need a licence and insurance - I’ve seen cyclists hit people, a dog (on the lead) and hit cars all whilst the other object has been stationary. The sense of entitlement is enormous.

cyclists ringing their bell and shouting get out of the way on a woodland path in our local woods at my deaf son happily walking the dog along the path - he’s deaf. It’s a path not a cycling lane when you hit him at 15 miles an hour and my Labrador you will kill them - but heh cyclists are never wrong? Right?

Show quote history

Ah yes, there's another one.

Cyclists: "Why should I move aside so cars can pass? They can wait until there's space to overtake."
Also cyclists: RING RING GET OUT OF MY WAY PEDESTRIANS

Sigmama · 07/10/2023 19:08

Classic creme, pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users, I am also one, So no, they are not arrogant - just drivers driving around in big fat metal boxes causing traffic jams and pollution, dominating the roads and then having the gall to complain about cyclists

ClassicCremeAnglaise · 07/10/2023 19:11

Sigmama · 07/10/2023 19:08

Classic creme, pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users, I am also one, So no, they are not arrogant - just drivers driving around in big fat metal boxes causing traffic jams and pollution, dominating the roads and then having the gall to complain about cyclists

of course pedestrian are not arrogant, but having to complain because of cyclists behaviour, a lot worst than car driver behaviour, really proves the point.

Cyclists in general, are a lot more than "annoying", and not just because they love blocking traffic. That doesn't impact pedestrians does it?

Of course drivers are entitled to complain about the cyclists.

tasslesated · 07/10/2023 19:36

@ClassicCremeAnglaise

So you'd rather your child was hit by a car than a bike?

MikeRafone · 07/10/2023 19:50

of course pedestrian are not arrogant, but having to complain because of cyclists behaviour, a lot worst than car driver behaviour, really proves the point.

people choose different transportation it’s all operated by humans who often choose more than one type of transport, some are decent and others aren’t, but driving is by its nature more dangerous & people die every day due to drivers, if that’s not as bad as cyclists I’m not following you’re logic

tasslesated · 07/10/2023 19:54

MikeRafone · 07/10/2023 19:50

of course pedestrian are not arrogant, but having to complain because of cyclists behaviour, a lot worst than car driver behaviour, really proves the point.

people choose different transportation it’s all operated by humans who often choose more than one type of transport, some are decent and others aren’t, but driving is by its nature more dangerous & people die every day due to drivers, if that’s not as bad as cyclists I’m not following you’re logic

Logic?? Grin

TheShellBeach · 07/10/2023 20:23

Of course drivers are entitled to complain about the cyclists

Well you wouldn't think so, reading threads about cyclists on here.

TooBored1 · 07/10/2023 20:27

Yes, because they are just people and all people are, at times, annoying. For every annoying cyclist, there's an equal, if not higher, number of annoying pedestrians, parents pushing prams, drivers, dog owners, runners, all occasionally behaving badly.

If you are going to call one person out, you should call them all out - their mode of transport doesn't change who they are.

Nala82 · 07/10/2023 20:30

I drive and cycle and enjoy both. I notice drivers often insist that cyclists should suffer to let them past, and not to do so is inconsiderate.

I also very regularly drive between Ambleside and Coniston. I always end up going at the speed of a much slower driver, and overseeing on that road is near impossible. They NEVER pull over and let you past.

It confuses me that despite many drivers insisting that slower road users should show consideration to faster ones, I never saw that in practice.

Nala82 · 07/10/2023 20:33

Also, if drivers didn't insist on going about at least 2, often 3 abreast, they could probably fit past cyclists much easier. Sometimes they drive around carrying an empty 2 or 3 seat sofa with no one in it.

If they would stop doing that so much congestion would be solved.

Sigmama · 07/10/2023 21:17

Well quite, cars do take up an awful lot of road space and yet complain it's the cyclists blocking roads, weird logic

ClassicCremeAnglaise · 07/10/2023 21:20

tasslesated · 07/10/2023 19:36

@ClassicCremeAnglaise

So you'd rather your child was hit by a car than a bike?

I've seen more people being hit by bikes than cars to be honest. I actually have never seen anyone being hit by a car driving through a red light, not saying it doesn't happen, but I have been lucky not to witness it.

I have seen quite a few cyclist smashing into people.

Sigmama · 07/10/2023 21:23

Not sure where u live but it's statistically very rare, I've never seen it

ClassicCremeAnglaise · 07/10/2023 21:29

Sigmama · 07/10/2023 21:23

Not sure where u live but it's statistically very rare, I've never seen it

London

Cyclists ARE an absolute nightmare.

Justifiedcheese · 07/10/2023 21:30

Sigmama · 07/10/2023 09:24

Bells on bikes are really annoying

No, they are very important indeed, as a pedestrian

MikeRafone · 08/10/2023 08:18

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67039050

this is what I find annoying, a car isn't a place for clowning around in my opinion and this sends a message that it doesn't matter as you'll not serve time reflecting what you did

Chantelle Thomas

Swansea: Tayla King admits killing friend in crash

Chantelle Thomas, 18, suffered multiple injuries and died at crash scene, court hears.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67039050

Sigmama · 08/10/2023 09:08

Classiccreme, 65% of all casualties on londons roads involve a car, and yet its the cyclists who are a 'nightmare'?