AIBU to find cyclists annoying

[MumOfTheNorth]

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

Cyclists have the same duty. Sadly they face no consequence when they behave like dick, believing they own the road and being a menace.

I have seen too many cyclists driving straight into paedestrians because they have decided traffic lights don't apply to them

Cyclist seem to think being careful towards horses doesn't apply to them either.

It's their attitude which stinks.

It's a privilege that can be taken away.

You pay car tax based on the pollution status of your vehicle. Bikes would be zero rated if they were registered into that system because they don't pollute. They don't wear out the roads, cause potholes, cause crashes etc.

Where I am it would be impossible to cycle on the pavement. Mostly because it's full of parked cars.

It's telling that you call forcing cyclists to face consequences of reckless and dangerous driving as "antagonising cylists" 😂

Why do you think traffic lights don't apply to them? What makes you so special? Rules are there for a reason, idiot and bad drivers are a danger to everyone around.

If you think having to follow rules puts off cyclists, then good. With that attitude, they don't belong on the road.

Fines can be dealt with by the same agencies dealing with current fines. We just need to update the system a bit, it's not that difficult.

The consequence of being a dick on a bike is, sooner or later, likely to be a fall and injury. If you ride into pedestrians you're likely to be injured yourself. The police can prosecute dangerous cycling.

Cyclists have the same duty. Sadly they face no consequence when they behave like dick, believing they own the road and being a menace.

I have seen too many cyclists driving straight into paedestrians because they have decided traffic lights don't apply to them

Cyclist seem to think being careful towards horses doesn't apply to them either.

It's their attitude which stinks.”

This. “Professional” looking cyclists, usually, with all the kit. Can’t remember the last time I saw one observe a red traffic light.
I use my bike to shop when I can. Always stop at red lights, give way to pedestrians, etc. They're grown people (men, usually) who bloody well know better.

that's ok, we can base road tax on the police effort, the cameras and the maintenance of the road.

If cyclists didn't "cause crash", we wouldn't have an issue.

We try to give cyclists lots of space and only overtake when there is room but one thing that does really irk me is when they try to wave at you to overtake when it’s a blind corner/summit/solid whites. Sorry but I’m not risking my safety to make you feel better. If something happened it would be on us. (We do not beep or drive super close).

they can't prosecute, because there's no way to identify them so far. Hence my point about number plate- or some recognition system.

As if any cyclist who has ever caused a crash or injured a pedestrian stays around if he's fit enough to drive away..We all know they don't.

I do some of these things. I don’t run red lights, that’s just a prick move, but usually if I’m in the middle of the road I’m protecting my space, moving around traffic is just a benefit of cycling, and yes when I get to work I’m wearing cycling clothes so I walk around in cycling clothes….should I walk around naked instead???

they probably want to talk about cycling because you’re moaning passive aggressively about it!!

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.

I meant the cost of crashes. A big motorway smash can cost millions in police time, workers to do immediate repairs to barriers, lost productivity of people held up in traffic etc. Cars impose a huge cost on the state.

You get hit and run car accidents too.

Besides which, what if your registered bike got stolen and used in a bike crash? How would you prove who was riding it? With a car you have a key and lockable doors, need to report it stolen etc. Most bikes could be nicked in five minutes with a hacksaw or bolt cutters.

It’s estimated at £31bn each and every year. Motoring taxes are around £10bn short

they can't prosecute, because there's no way to identify them so far.

every single cyclist that has killed someone has been identified and imprisoned

so yes they are identified, which is more than can be said for the 5000 London hit and runs that aren’t solved - yet they have reg plates

then you have to prove it was stolen, or at least confirm it was. Or use your insurance...

It's outrageous that cyclists are not requested to have insurance to drive on the road.

It should be mandatory to have a licence, at least the theory. The same rules apply to them as any drivers, so they should prove they know them. Most of them don't.

It should be mandatory to have insurance, so people you injure or cause damages to are not left out of pocket.

None of that is very difficult to put in place.

Pretending you don't need to know the highway code to drive on public road is exactly the reason why people find cyclists "annoying" to put it mildly.

Cyclist seem to think being careful towards horses doesn't apply to them either.

then why do horse riders thank me? But strange when apparently I don’t think being careful applies to me? 🤷‍♀️

a) just because you say it doesn't make it true

b) every cyclist who has injured, sometimes very badly, a pedestrian or caused a crash has NOT been identified.

Unsolved hit and run cars is not an excuse or a reason to turn a blind eyes onto cyclist behaviour.

oh sorry, I didn't realise we were talking about YOU specifically, and that you were the only cyclist in this country, my bad.😂

Hypocrites.

Motorists: "It's irritating when cyclists hold up traffic."
Cyclists: "You should leave more time for your journey. Not my fault you're disorganised."
Motorists and pedestrians: "Cyclists should use cycle lanes."
Cyclists: "But they slow us down! We have to stop at junctions! Not acceptable!'

Cyclists: "I ride on the pavement because motorists make me feel unsafe."
Pedestrians: "Cyclists on the pavement make me feel unsafe."
Cyclists: "Oh well lol."

None of that is very difficult to put in place.

yet the government disagree with you and made a statement over the petition for cyclists to have insurance

It was you that said cyclist, and generalised to include ever cyclist

Exactly this! Thank you! ❣️

Unsolved hit and run cars is not an excuse or a reason to turn a blind eyes onto cyclist behaviour.

that wasn’t the point though, you want cyclists to have reg plates for identification but it’s not working with cars - so what’s the point?

as for me stating every person killed has been identified- you then changed the statement… it’s not what I stated so I have no idea if it’s true or not. But my previous statement is factually correct

These are all ways to put people off cycling. Besides being inefficient in themselves and a waste of police time and public money, because fines would not cover a fraction of the cost.

What I would be in favour of is better cycling infrastructure to reduce conflict between drivers and cyclists and pedestrians, more publicly cycling training courses, better education, signage and road layout.

And also regular refresher courses for drivers to educate them about their responsibilities to others on the roads and refresh them on legal changes. There should also be a component to driving lessons where you have to ride a bike/trike on the roads.