To ask how we stop dangerous cyclists

[Everythingisnumbersnow]

Why do the most dangerous ones wear those stupid little headcams too? YOU'RE the problem, guy.

Absolutely agree with this.

When I'm driving I'm worried I could kill one of the young lads on a Deliveroo or Just Eat bike, dressed in black with no lights, weaving around.

I'm also worried one of their e-bikes will hit me or my kids when walking.

These massive companies should be made to take responsibility. Both for the safety of the delivery rider and the safety of others. They are raking it in and just washing their hands of the delivery methods.

Yet that doesn't change my response.
A cyclist still has a personal responsibility to other users.

I totally agree, just wasn’t sure why you quoted a poster talking about why they ride on the roads and then saying they need to be careful of footpath users. They won’t be on the footpath.

obviously any cyclist who is on a shared use path needs to be careful of pedestrians who are the more vulnerable out the two. I’d always slow down, use my bell, stop if I have to.

How do we stop dangerous motorists?

Maybe there needs to be a legal distance at which a cyclist can overtake a pedestrian on the 'shared' paths. If the cyclists don't like that then they can use the roads, where they should be anyway.

Quite. I’m a cyclist myself and believe me, pedestrians are not the problem on shared paths!

Pedestrians aren’t responsible for getting out of the way of cyclists. Cyclists are supposed to slow down and wait to pass safely.

That's the usual source of MN 'stats'! Even those by 'experts' are usually a joke, it's possible to find an 'expert' to back up whatever opinion you may hold.

Hopefully they’re not deaf! I have now fitted an alarm which goes off like a rape alarm on my commuting bike. Normal bell first and then the rape alarm siren. People hear that! 😁

What's that noise? Isn't that a rape alarm? Shouldn't we look to see if there's a woman in trouble?

Nah, it'll just be a cyclist.

Why are you ringing a bell at them. Wait until it’s safe to pass.

What? Why are you blasting alarms at pedestrians? How would you like it if a car came up to you on the road and continually beeped at you to get out of the way. If there is a pedestrian in front of you then slowdown and wait until it is safe to pass just like you expect cars to do when you are cycling on the road.

Ah it must be the time of the month for bicycle bashing on Mumsnet. It comes around so quickly. OP didn't stick around after pulling the pin out of the grenade, I see...

Which squares in my bingo card can I check off?

• Red lights (I always stop at red lights, even though so many motorists floor it when they see them change)
• Slowing motorists down (you know what causes traffic jams? Traffic. The solution? Viable alternatives to driving)
• Lycra (not sure what clothing choice has to do with anything)
• Deliveroo (these are lunatics for sure, but why does that give you carte blanche to nearly kill me when I'm cycling to work?)
• Hi-vis (I was dressed up like a traffic cone, didn’t stop an absolute *#@£ in a pick-up from nearly knocking me off)

By the way, I am not a "cyclist". I'm just trying to get safely to work on my bike.

• Red lights (I always stop at red lights, even though so many motorists floor it when they see them change)

I get that this will be area dependent. Everyone has different experiences. But while I’ve seen many many car drivers speed up to go through an amber or red light just as it’s changed, I don’t think in my entire life I’ve ever seen a car go through a red light while a pedestrian was half way across the road. In my experience in London I have also never been almost hit by a car on a pedestrian or zebra crossing. (Although I do admit the amount of cars not stopping at zebra crossings is increasing, but never while I’m already on it).
I have however almost been hit by many many cyclists. I’ve had them ringing bells at me while I’m half way across a zebra crossing. Ive felt them skim past me a speed while I’m crossing at a green man. I’ve been shouted at while walking on the pavement to MOVE. I’ve had my car scratched while stationary as they squeeze past me and then tell me to fuck off when I’ve pointed it out.
There’s a road near me with a dedicated (walled off so not shared with cars) cycle lane. At the end is traffic lights. The cyclists even have their own little set with red, amber and green cycle signs. I’ve almost been hit there as well when they had a big red cycle and I had a big green man.

Personally I’d love to cycle. But the reason I don’t/won’t is because of the danger from cars which I fully understand.

But as a pedestrian in London, I have personally had more close calls with bikes than I have with cars. I don’t worry about cars nearly knocking me down on the pavement or a zebra crossing like I do with bikes. As a car driver, other drivers annoy me more than bikes most of the time. Other than my car being scratched by a cyclist, I don’t really drive enough for them to bother me.

• Slowing motorists down (you know what causes traffic jams? Traffic. The solution? Viable alternatives to driving)

I never really get that bothered by being slowed down much by cyclists. But what does bother me is the hypocrisy when car drivers get told to suck it up but cyclists get irritated by being slowed down by pedestrians. Car drivers would get torn apart for beeping at a cyclist on the road. Yet cyclists can ring bells at pedestrians to get them to move because they are too slow and in their way.

Bike bells aren’t equivalent to car horns, they’re needed as bikes are silent. I appreciate cyclists using them so I have warning, though I am talking about a brief ding, not a constant hammering. When I cycle, I use mine only on shared paths coming behind pedestrians, to warn them I’ll be passing, I don’t ever use it to ask someone to move out of my way, and I appreciate they may not hear me. I don’t think I’m unusual.

IDIOT !!!

Oh dear, you obviously don't cycle. I will use my voice first, if that doesn't work then a bell, then a louder bell if necessary (people with headphones normally). The shared use path I use to get to work is literally 7 miles long with no wider points (tow path). Sorry but I am not staying behind someone at walking pace for 7 miles. I can get past them but it is very tight, if they know I'm there and stay to one side it's safe. People generally walk in the middle of the path though.

Using a bell is much better than going past someone who is unware that you're there. People don't always walk in a straight line and years ago I saw a pedestrian change direction at the last minute with their back to a cyclist and stepped right out into their path and was hit. I'd like to avoid that. People also seem to appreciate the warning to get loose dogs on leads.

The pedestrians I pass seem to appreciate it....I give plenty of warning and slow/stop to give them time to move or get their dog. I say thanks, they say thanks, everyone is smiling. Nobody has an issue with it.

Sometimes I walk on the same path and I always appreciate it if a cyclist uses their bell.

Funnily enough I was on a much wider shared use path once and 3 people were stood in a group chatting. They were facing me so I didn't use the bell. Went to pass them slowly with plenty of space and one of the men leapt at me screaming that I must use my bell!!!!! Can't please people it seems. I had an angry man cross that I didn't use it and then people like you who are cross that I do use it!

I don't think it's idiotic at all. What else am I meant to do when people have headphones in and don't hear a normal bell and are in the middle of a fairly narrow tow path. Stay behind them for 7 miles?

It's marketed as a bike bell, it just has a totally different sound and is louder. The ping of a normal bell doesn't carry very far and I like to make people aware from some distance. I don't get right behind them and then let rip with it! Even using a normal bike bell if you ping too close to someone it makes them jump. Giving people plenty of warning from further away is safer and more responsible. I've never had anyone respond negatively towards it.

ROCKBROS Electronic Bicycle Horn Cycling Electric Bells Mini E-Bell Rainproof MTB Bicycle Lightweight 75 DB Bike Handlebar Bell Adult : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

I think the last paragraph says it all for me.

I know pedestrians, cyclists and drivers all share responsibility and have good and bad eggs, but nothing comes close to the smugness and superiority of a cyclist who thinks they are saving the planet whilst the rest of us are killing it.

I find cyclists reckless and lacking in common sense due to a misplaced arrogance and I'm afraid unless we have a traffic system and society like in the Netherlands then being ' morally right' can still be fatal for cyclists in this country.

As someone who drives and cycles (but mostly drives) I'm amazed the no 1 problem round your way is dangerous cyclists. How about we deal with all the dodgy drivers first?

I don't blame any cyclists for wearing a helmet cam and, if they're as dangerous as you say, you should be pleased that they are.

Nope! It's easy to google. Are you capable of that?
https://www.brake.org.uk/get-involved/take-action/mybrake/knowledge-centre/uk-road-safety

Moral superiority! I think that’s in your head, not most cyclists’. I just want some exercise on my way to places, and to have an easier time ‘parking’. Where I live, lots of LTNs & 20mph streets, it’s usually only a few mins slower than driving.

The shared use path I use to get to work is literally 7 miles long with no wider points (tow path). Sorry but I am not staying behind someone at walking pace for 7 miles

I've been stuck driving on 20 km long roads with 80km/hr speed limit behind cyclists going 15 km/hrs - single white line windy road with no way to overtake legally or safely. What happens if I say no way am I being stuck behind someone at cycling pace?

I've got no problem with cyclist letting people know they are passing safely when their is a gap in incoming traffic but I do have an issue with arrogant twats blaring rape alarms expecting people to jump out their way.

Actually I am going to write to the Mayor about this (he lives quite near me and will be aware first hand of the issues). He could take steps to regulate the situation. Anyone else want to write to Sadiq?

This. I truly don’t understand why the mentality isn’t considered the same.
Cars are not allowed to get irritated being stuck behind cyclists for ages. But cyclists aren’t expected to have to wait for pedestrians.

Near where I live is a long hill. Solid white line in the middle so no overtaking. Cyclists going up the hill can take forever. It’s close to a 4 mile road and the hill is about 2 miles. It’s a 60mph road. But I’m often doing 10mph behind cyclists and I have no choice but to just suck it up.

If I was to say “no way I’m getting stuck behind them” and started blasting my horn I’d be called all kinds of names. But it’s fine for cyclists to be impatient and blast rape alarms behind pedestrians!