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.

If there is a faster walker on the path, a pedestrian has time to notice that walker and calmly move to the side to let them pass. Cyclists ringing a bell expect faster reaction times which is where rudeness comes in. The bell provokes a fight or flight response in some people. They have to decide exactly how to stay safe very quickly.

If instead the cyclist was moving at a speed that reflected the distance at which they need to pass the pedestrian, there would be no reason for the bell at all because there would be plenty of time for the pedestrian to notice that there is someone who needs to pass.

And yet she was still asked/told to slow down.

she caused the death of someone... and you don't need to make contact for it be assault.

Are other vehicles not 'hazards'? And pedestrians? Do cars driverrs just want unfettered movement at all times? Surely a bike is just another vehicle to share the road with

1/ you said she hit someone,
2/ Dame Victoria Sharp, sitting with Mrs Justice Yip and Mrs Justice Farbey, said: "In our judgment, the prosecution case was insufficient even to be left to the jury.
"In all the circumstances, we have no hesitation in concluding that the appellant's conviction for manslaughter is unsafe."

Happy for you that you live in a world of self aware pedestrians. This is not my experience at all. Most people are alarmingly oblivious to what is around them. I once rang my bell, got no response, slowed right down until I was closer and said "excuse me" unintentionally making the man walking in front of me jump. He turned and angrily told me I should "use my bell next time". You can't bloody win. I also find people very rarely move aside if I am out for a run or a brisk walk. I almost always have to say excuse me before they realise I am there.

Sounds like i'm not racist but...

So yeah, a cyclist on the road is the same as any other road user and should have insurance. The enormous entitlement of many cyclists can be seen in their spittle lipped rage at this very understandable, common sense and fair idea.

Most or many cyclists already have car insurance and pay road tax, so that being the case you could simply add a clause for their cycling responsibilities.

But that aside, I have mentioned over the years the reality that one of the big problems is that cyclists don't have registration plates, which they should of course also have. At the moment, they are able to anonymously slink off after causing an accident. They wouldn't need to be expensive, and could also be linked to their car rego if they have it.

It would not be a difficult system to implement with a will towards it, but it won't happen because "reasons". But the reality is that any legitimate road user would be happy to have insurance and be identifiable because they understand the responsibilities that come with using public roads.

Those who are unhappy with these ideas out themselves as self centred, irresponsible and anti social.

Er, no. Race is built into your very cells, and cannot be changed. Hating someone on sight only because of their skin colour or outwards appearance and for no other reason at all makes you a terrible person.

Hating a person coming barrelling towards you carelessly on a machine that can cause you severe injury is perfectly understandable and human.

Additionally, people of all races can be cyclists, so that's a pretty awful analogy.

Someone quoted a phrase earlier, which was something like “There are cyclists or there are those who ride bikes”.

It’s those that ride bikes that are the big problem with your points. As mentioned previous:

Insurance

Most cyclists are registered with British Cycling which includes insurance, most serious cyclists also have insurance they pay separate for like me, especially when bikes can cost more than cars.
Additionally lots of house insurance offer add ons.

Those that ride bikes don’t tend to have insurance, as they are simply aiming to get somewhere (most the time - think of children riding to school for example).

The problem being, how would you enforce insurance on a 12 year old? Another factor would also push the sport into an even more “elitist sport”. Road Cycling can already been seen as an expensive sport, with bikes at £thousands, the gear etc, compulsory insurance would then increase even more because you “have to have it”.

With that said, I have insurance as do 99% of the people I ride with.

Road Tax
I’m not going into depth, but it doesn’t exist. We pay VED. To maintain and use the roads we pay council tax.
I live in one of the top ten highest council tax areas in the country, I’m more than entitled to use the roads, in whichever legal manner I wish.

Registration Plates
Managed by the DVLA who have running expenses of around £500m (albeit not just registration plates) for approx 40million cars

There are approximately 20million cycles on the road. Even if we 1/5th the cost to £100million to the owners (I can pay mine). Let’s say 5 million are children, well that would be a tax payer expense.

Numberplate size - not practical to be like a car, would need to be a like a sticker for the frame. Well my bike has a sticker with my name on it, so wouldn’t bother me, but I’m sure most people don’t see my name as driving past anyway.
I think it’s harder to implement than you think.

I live in a rural area where many lycra clad pop their bikes on their cars to drive here, then ride in large groups delay all the traffic. I have zero problem with cyclists using a bike for transport, I see many horses and happy to slow right down. Its about respect, some, not all of this particular group of cyclists have no respect for me, my need to use the road and make a journey. It's never a 2 min delay, hilly, winding and narrow roads make it impossible to pass and imagine being stuck behind a group chugging up a hill at 2miles per hour, but when you're trying to go about life, get to a hospital appointment, catch a train ect and then you will understand the frustration.

I am sure that there are many instances of cyclists and riders being treated badly and clearly there is no justification for this.

But there is no question that cyclists in particular do often behave in ways that cause danger and show no consideration for other road users.

"Cyclists in particular"... Really? So you don't think many drivers also behave dangerously? Even pedestrians can be reckless, crossing roads without looking for example (although they pose much more risk to themselves than anyone else). Lack of consideration is not unique to cyclists.

"wearing hi visibility clothing ✅❌50/50, in poor weather absolutely, otherwise lights do a good enough job."

I couldn't disagree more. Lights are NOT good enough on their own.

By someone who proceeded to push her into the water.

I think we can draw from that who might be the unhinged one here.

I don’t own fully black tops, mine are blue/white, black/gold/white, silver, grey. None classed as “high viz”
If you can’t see me in what I’m wearing, plus a very bright visible light. You likely need your eyes testing, and likely will have your license removed.

Remember drivers have blind spots - even more so with large vehicles. The more visible you are the better. I'm surprised you don't understand this if you drive as well as cycle.

My rear light is visible from 1 mile away, my front light very similar. I shouldn’t be in your blind spot for a mile, even going round corners your blind spot will change.

Trust me, you don’t need to lecture me on blind spots, I drive at least 60,000 miles a year for work, own two cars and own a lorry for our horses (26tonne - if that’s large enough?)

Indeed. The OP has given a little of the things S/HE does right - but must surely know that an awful lot of cyclists do few if any of these things.

Cyclists riding on pavements is my pet hate - it's astonishingly dangerous. I cannot count how many times I've almost been hit by one coming round a blind corner as I'm walking the dog.

And this morning, in the park - a man old enough to know better riding an e-bike at speed towards me & dog on the path, forcing us off it.

Ridiculous comment.

This was the point of my post, you’ve described people again that are not me. So why do I receive the abuse?

Ive not denied there are bad cyclists, but why so much hate for all cyclists, me included?

That is the most ridiculous stance I have heard. Did you not ride a bike to school?

I must say I hate a lot of the cyclists in my local park, who completely ignore the speed limit and belt along paths that are shared with pedestrians, when there is a perfectly good perimeter road. But the speed limit on that is 20 mph, at least partly because of wandering deer, so they whizz along a lot faster on the paths.

As a cyclist, a car driver and a walker, I don't hate anyone, what does irritate me is the groups of cyclists who block the road (always in lycra) on a Saturday morning.

I always slow down for horses, always leave enough room for cyclists.

I cycle on the pavement because car drivers are arseholes, but then get tutted at by walkers who are walking in the cycle path(the big white painted bike kind of gives a clue)!🤦‍♀️

Because people generalise. There's no great mystery.

Also, you've made quite a few comments on this thread that suggest you have fairly low standards when it comes to safety so perhaps you aren't quite the model cyclist you think you are.