to think he should not have called me a c*nt!

[stressedout1994]

Morning all,

Last night I was cycling home from a friend's house. I forgot my lights, so cycled when it was still relatively light, but by the time I was within about 10 minutes of my flat it was quite dark and the roads were busy. I wouldn't normally do this but the roads near my flat are really busy and people drive really fast, so I started cycling on the pavement as they are relatively wide and no one was around.

There was a man on the pavement outside a shop. There was plenty of room to manoeuvre on either side of him, and I slowed down and moved my handlebars to move to the left. So he moved to the left. So I moved my handlebars to move to the right, and he moved to the right. I stopped, planning to get off my bike and wheel it past him.

He shouted 'just fuck off, fuck off!' I was shocked, and involuntarily scowled. He then shouted 'yes that's right just fuck off, don't fucking scowl at me you cunt!'

I just stood still looking at him and then he went into the shop. I then cycled past.

I know I was in the wrong for cycling on the pavement (even if very slowly and only when no-one around) but I think his reaction was completely out of order.

Side note: I have lived in London for 10 years, since uni, and I feel like in the last couple of years there have been more and more people behaving erratically or threateningly. On the rest of my ride home I saw no fewer than 4 men who were clearly unwell shouting in the street, at themselves and others. I don't understand why nothing is done about this. I know lots of people say 'oooh, that's just LONDON, I don't bat an EYELID!', but I actually think that women should feel safe when walking round the capital city!

YABU - you shouldn't have been on the pavement, get some lights you silly moo

YANBU - you should never call a woman a cunt

There really isn't any need for infantile insults. My point is that it is illegal for a car to drive on the pavement. It is also ILLEGAL to drive a bike on the pavement. There are plenty of laws that I don't like or think they are stupidity, but that doesn't mean I can choose to disregard them.

You appear to have missed the point.

😆

Didn't you weigh in kilograms in maths and science degree?

I don’t think he abused her

It's not a nice word (vile in fact).

But you were most definitely in the wrong and he was probably shocked to meet a cyclist on the pavement - without lights too.
Cyclists are getting a bad name anyway as some (not all) are so arrogant.

He was probably fed up of people like you thinking it’s ok to cycle on the pavements tbh.

Also cycling slowly on a pavement doesn’t make it right. The tone of your post seems to suggest you think it was ok because you were cycling slowly. If you don’t have lights then you get off and walk with your bike not cycle on pavements.

I have lived in London for 10 years, since uni, and I feel like in the last couple of years there have been more and more people behaving erratically or threateningly

Yeah! Like riding bikes on pavements meant for pedestrians!

Oh, the irony.

Ok. Personally I think shouting fuck off and calling someone a cunt is abusive. You don’t. We agree to disagree.

If you must cycle on a pavement the moment you see a pedestrian you ought to dismount and push the bike. Not faff around with trying to swerve around a pedestrian.

Get off the bike!

I disagree on the privilege point, by whatever. You are clearly as selfish (and happy to break the law) as the OP 🤷‍♀️

Not nice that he did that, but yes those who ride on the pavements drive me mad along with those on scooters etc.
I can certainly agree that it has got a lot worse in London, I'm sure in other parts too, but going by what's happening in London.

I was walking to a store only just recently, and a guy was ahead of me I realised as I got closer that something was not right with him, just the way he was dressed and just stood there, but as he saw someone coming he moved, and as I got nearer he came towards me and said 'you are the ugliest I have seen/or ugly as f*' I can't remember which exactly.
Anyway obviously I ignored him and carried on.
But it isn't nice and is frightening.
What also annoys me is when people throw mental health in to it, but they only approach women for example or certain people, so they know exactly what they are doing!

After your update I sort of agree with him to be honest.

You don’t get to decide to break the law because you “assessed the risk” - and obviously wrongly because you did encounter someone didn’t you?

Also you cannot cycle slowly enough that it’s not scary to a pedestrian who will encounter you. Grow up.

I also live in London and have also noticed how quickly people are becoming angry and full of rage, and it has definitely worsened since the lockdown.

I have also noticed a further spike in anger, and in people shouting and voicing their opinions and hurling abuse which is racial in tone since the general election in my area. A huge amount of people voted reform where I live, but fortunately they didn’t take the area - but did come second. I think this has bolstered the supporters to think they can say what they like, and act how they like, including in the grounds of my children’s Primary School.

My British Husband who was born here was racially abused a couple of weeks ago for the first time since living in London (19 years) - all due to the colour of his skin, and because some arsehole couldn’t immediately drive past as my Husband was parking. It really is terrible.

I think that’s the thing. People are pig sick of entitled folks on bikes. Causing no end of issues. And cycling on the pavement is all kinds of wrong as well as illegal. The op seems to think she was entitled to do so as she’d forgot her lights. She wasn’t.

I strongly suspect if she’d not been cycling on the pavement this wouldn’t have occurred,

if she forgot her lights and couldn’t make it home safely then she should have either locked her bike up and found alternate transport, or walked it back the last few mins.

Ffs stop trying to justify cycling without lights and on a pavement!

You were doing the best thing in a compromised situation. The guy was an arse. Don't give it a second thought OP

The best thing in a compromised situation. Is that a joke?🤦🏻‍♀️

OP was illegally travelling on the pavement. The best thing would have been getting off the bike and pushing it.

Not sure why you are defending cycling on the pavement by comparing it to cars. Of course cars are more dangerous but that doesn’t means bikes can’t also be dangerous. Learn to cycle legally and safely- there are plenty of courses aimed at adults.

Re the man, his language wasn’t great but I’m sympathetic to his feelings. I can’t stand people who cycle on the pavement (and I say that a cyclist myself).

👆👏
Cannot stand this.

You know you were both wrong, and regardless of the law I think he was more "wrong" than you.

I say that because as nice, well brought up and relatively normal person, I'd be more likely to ride my bike on the pavement than shout and swear at someone in the street.

There's never a good reason for an adult to cycle on the pavement. Forgot your lights? Tough shit, walk.

I've lived in the east end of London my whole life (32 years), and the reason people hate cyclists is because you guys have an entitled attitude. For example, thinking it's ok to cycle on the pavement, even if the pavement is completely empty. Do you think the rules of the road do not apply to you? If a car didn't have headlights they wouldn't drive at night - it's the same thing for you - you are not superior. And why are you cycling down a one way street (the wrong way) on the pavement - bizarre.

You can tell you didn't grow up here and lived a sheltered life, my mums family use the c word on a daily, it's not that deep. Don't act like one and you won't get called one 🤣

YABU but you obviously don't care so it sure why you posted. I am sick of cyclists on the pavement and even worse that it was dark and you had no lights.

Pavement cyclist wankers. Unless you're five years old and going up and down the pavement outside your mum's flat, you've got no business being there and fully deserve being called names.