The hatred towards cyclists/horse riders etc

[RH1234]

Following on from a conversation on another thread; AIBU to think that the hatred towards all cyclists/other road users I.e. horses is completely atrocious and unjustified.

Lots of people will make comments about “I bet they were in Lycra”, “I dislike road cyclists”, “they don’t even pay road tax”.

My question is not; do you hate cyclists. My question is why do you hate me someone you have not met) as a cyclist?

For perspective:

1. I pay VED (Road tax doesn’t exist) on 3 vehicles.
2. I have insurance for my bikes - which includes public liability etc. My cycle insurance is genuinely more expensive than my car, I also have free insurance through British Cycling.
3. I don’t run red lights (for transparency, I have been through one red light, floor sensors don’t pick up carbon fibre, it was 5am, after waiting a few minutes, with no cars I went through)
4. I cycle an average of 19-23mph, I can overtake tractors near me, I’m smaller than a tractor surely you can pass me.
5. I do ride two abreast if in a group, but if passing is difficult, as per the Highway Code we ensure you can pass when safe.
6. When riding on my own, I wave cars past so they can often go before they can see.
7. Yes I wear Lycra - but you try cycling 100 miles without decent chamois in place. I won’t mention leg hair as that’s a whole different subject for you.
8. My wife use to love cycling, but won’t ride on the road now due to the drivers attitudes.

AIBU to be annoyed that I don’t do any of the things people moan about, yet people will hate me, some people will hurl abuse, some people will literally try and drive me off the road (luckily not that often for the last one)

All I want is, to enjoy the sport I’m love, get fit and then spend the time with my family. Yet my wife has said to me, she is anxious when I’m out and follows me on find my iPhone, because she’s terrified someone will one day leave me for dead in a ditch.

Surely a two minute delay is not unreasonable? I don’t judge based on hobbies or backgrounds, why am I judged?

AIBU in thinking that those who state they hate cyclists clearly are either media influenced or just plain horrible people.

Apologies, this has turned into more of a rant than a AIBU, but I’m sure you get the gist.

Both are justa hazard aren't they. Ride a horse in the woods and ride a bike on a cycle track. Neither should be on roads imo.

I don't hate either but they irritate me a lot.

I use my bike for my commute, not leisure - it would be lovely if there was cycle track the whole journey, but there is not (and I think a lot of drivers would complain if it was put in...)

So, back to the original question, I am not a hazard. A car is a bigger hazard. So why do i have to come off the roads?

The problem is as with any group the idiots give the rest a bad name! I have seen just as many cyclists making assumptions about car drivers as car drivers doing the opposite.

I don’t appreciate any other road user waving me passed though. I will go when I can see it’s clear and not before! I was involved in an RTC once where the other driver was waved passed by someone so just went!

The big city where I live has narrow congested roads. Driving is difficult enough. When there are bikes as well it such a hazard as it makes it so unsafe. Due to that I think it is so selfish. There are cycle tracks around the city. I don’t think bikes should be on the roads certainly not in the circumstances above.
I suppose you could argue maybe bikes could take priority and not cars etc but I have to drive to work. Shift worker and have a lot of work equipment so can’t get the bus.

Gold star for you.

You are a minority though. So many cyclists seem to think the road laws dont apply to them, or cycle with headphones, or ride on pavements to avoid lights, or just jump the lights. And that is why they are disliked.

As for horse riders, it depends what they're doing, but other than going from the stables to a bridleways I'm not sure why you'd want to be on the road. I grew up in a horsey area and we didn't ride on roads.

After moving to London, yes you are being unreasonable!! Every week my dog and I nearly get hit by a cyclist while crossing the road, at the traffic light when we have a green man! Every day I see a cyclist go through a red light, one even weaved between us all crossing at high speed. Major high street aswell! Why do cyclists not think they have to stop at red lights???

All the fields and woods are being built on, so more and more horses will be on the roads because they have to travel between fields on roads..

People need to be a lot more forgiving and accepting, everyone just hates on everything

Genuine question - what cycle tracks are people here referring to?

I don't think that cyclists and horse riders are viewed the same at all. Horse riders are concerned for one thing only and that is the safety of their animals. They will not ride into your path on purpose. Cyclists on the other hand, very often go out of their way to be a deliberate nuisance. We get a lot of both in the villages and lanes round here, particularly on Sunday mornings. The local cyclists also appear to be incapable of obeying traffic lights.

And don't get me started on the ones with no helmet, wearing black clothing from head to toe, riding a matte black bike and have no lights on at night. They are completely invisible.

I once had someone wave me past them. When I didn't go he shouted, 'just go past you silly woman'. There was a bus coming the other way.

Thank you, I see far more poor drivers than cyclists, but I don’t berate the cyclists.

On the waving point of view, I get your point completely, but I don’t get frustrated if the vehicle doesn’t go. Just common courtesy to try and help if I can. From my perspective, I’m not going to wave unless 100% happy, as if something comes, the vehicle is absolutely going to choose to hit me rather than another vehicle.

If the roads are so narrow and congested, why do we put up with driving ever larger cars down them?

I am a committed utility cyclist and I despair at our motorcentric society that is so, so damaging.

The answer to congestion and ill health is not more cars…

I live in the part of England with the highest cyclist casualties. I very rarely see a cyclist who is doing anything wrong, but often see cars being driven by total idiots.

YANBU. I'm a driver and not a cyclist. It's annoying being in a car stuck behind a cyclist and it's annoying when cyclists behave badly (just as it is when motorists do), but neither of those things is a justification for hating cyclists or thinking they shouldn't be on the roads. Cycling is A Good Thing. For your health and for the environment.

Just to reiterate, I am asking why you hate me, not cyclists.

I am aware of all the points your making, and lots refer to your just eat bikes etc..

But I want to know why you hate me for cycling, someone that obeys all the things you want.

Like most cyclists, I drive as well as cycle. When I drive sometimes I have to wait behind a bike for a bit, which is a bit annoying. When I cycle sometimes a car does something that could kill me, which is more than a bit annoying. I genuinely don't believe anyone who has done both could think bikes are a bigger hazard than cars.

I know about all the points you are making, I don’t do them. Why do I get the same hate?

And if it weren't for the endless housing developments and bypasses, horse riders would still have miles of uninterrupted bridleways to ride on (where they want to be) instead of having to use the roads to get from one short section of bridleway to another.

To answer the original question though OP, I do find that for some reason people see a handful of bad cyclists - eg the teens in black with no lights, or the commuter going through reds - and assume that all cyclists are law breakers who are selfish and put others at risk. Yet when they see a couple of bad drivers they don't assume that all drivers are law breakers who are selfish and put others at risk.

There does seem to be a real misunderstanding as well eg the assumption that lycra is an ego thing, whereas it's just bloody practical. You wouldn't think someone going running whilst wearing lycra running shorts was trying to show off, but cyclists get accused of it all the time.

I’m biased against bmw drivers because I used to live near multiple car dealerships and the bmw drivers almost always were speeding down our quiet little street. It made me watch those cars out in other places and notice that the drivers tend to break other rules as well. Not all drivers, but many, and often.

Once you have a few bad encounters, you start watching for more. Soon, the entire group seems awful.

such are cyclists. I used to ride myself. You can’t deny that there are a subset of cyclists who don’t obey the rules and thus tarnish the perception of cyclists everywhere.

I also ride with lights day and night, forgot to mention that, although I do wear black and my bikes black - maybe that’s the reason I’m hated even though lit like a Christmas tree.

It's the arrogance and entitlement - from both sides - that gets people's back up. The " why should I" etc etc.

There's bad behaviour on both sides so let's not kid ourselves that anyone is unilaterally right or wrong.

PS I'm not including horses.

The trouble with the hatred is that some drivers get in the mindset of not taking enough care round cyclists, through impatience. My friend was in a bike accident - without NHS it would’ve been loss of life it was so serious. Cyclists are vulnerable and whatever you think of them, drivers need to be really aware and careful. And cyclists need to take care too!

Stupidity on that cyclists front.