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.

I've been involved in a couple of "be safe, be seen" campaigns, it's quite literally eye opening., it takes seconds to put one on, so i never understand the hesitance. All insurance should be void without it.

Please quote me with your wisdom, I’m sure I can explain each point.

Ive never said I’m a saint by the way.

All black cars should be banned and insurance void.

Its life sadly, it is rarely fair.

It's like dog owners. Most are responsible and pick up poo, keep dogs on leads etc yet some people hate all dog owners because of previous bad experiences.

Don't take it personally. Just continue to ride safely and with consideration. Set an example for the many who don't.

If you cant tell the difference between a car and a tiny bike, i think you're being the arrogant cyclist you claim not to be...

I'm a vulnerable road user, i wouldn't dream of not going above and beyond to be seen.

Absolutely agree, and valid point. I just don’t ever hear of dog owners being shouted at, pushed over and waved of social media hate.

I know I probably sound like I take it personally, but in all honesty I don’t. I let it go over my head majority of the time, I’ve only ever reported two drivers in thousands of miles (both were prosecuted by the police).

My thread was all about trying to understand why people behave the way they do.

A group of cyclists, riding two abreast (say 4), takes up the same space as a car?

Maybe I should have said black motorcycles.

And i absolutely believe motorcyclists should wear hi viz too! A great deal of commuter bikers already do. You can get some great body hugging stuff, so no flapping.

It's less so about a group of cyclists, but likely most arrive to meeting spots alone and peel off home alone. i cant see a valid argument against hi viz and will never understand the reluctance to make yourself seen more. it's mind blowing.

I have a group of friends that are cyclists, my best friend is a triathlete, they all wear bright clothing.... it's not difficult. our local running and cycling clubs have it as mandatory to take part in their training runs/cycles too.

@RH1234 If you were that dickhead cyclist sauntering in the middle of the narrow country road the other night refusing to move over, so I could pass.. Whilst I was desperately trying to get to hospital to see my dying mother (Ps I got there too late), then yes I bloody well hate you with every bone in my body.

At least another car would have been moving faster.

'My thread was all about trying to understand why people behave the way they do.'

As has been explained repeatedly because many cyclists and horses are a hazard, they're too slow to follow so you have to try and get passed which can be tricky on winding roads. Horses get spooked, cyclists take up too much room. They then gesticulate if they think you're too close.

My dh is a keen cyclist I often drive passed him and shout get on the cycle path loser <I don't really>.

Just try and develop some resilience and shrug it off. My dh does.

And I described the ones who do not follow the rules. I didn't say anything like "I hate all cyclists" (I don't "hate" any) - I described the ones who behave badly.

Your post is quite bizarre - you ask "Why the hate for cyclists" and then argue that you yourself don't do the things that PP describe OTHER cyclists doing. What was the point of starting the thread at all?

All well and good until you’re riding in bright sunlight in rural areas with tree canopies, i.e. seemingly every lycra’d man with a £10k bike’s preferred riding conditions.

Everyone - and I mean everyone - needs a second for their eyes to adjust going light to dark. Even you on your bike.

It can be extremely difficult to see cyclists in dappled sunlight so why wouldn’t you do
anything you can to make sure you’re seen? Being dead and right isn’t a flex. The local horse riders know this, so that’s why they’re decked out in fluro pink with silver reflectors.

I personally walk and run a lot on the same country roads and it’s visible how much faster cars spot me when I wear hi-vis. That split second second can be vital to everyone’s safety.

Lots of people drive dark coloured cars but that’s apparently fine?

I think you need to pop to spec savers if you comparing a cyclist in dark clothing and dark car 😂

Nope, just cyclists. And nope, my points are correct.

Whataboutery and derailing notwithstanding, your arguments simply amount "but I don't want to". It's that sort of anti social selfishness and entitlement that many cyclists display which leads to such distrust of cyclists.

Nope, they aren't correct at all.

Mandatory bike insurance/ registration etc are all completely disproportionate suggestions to a problem that doesn't exist, and bringing them in won't even achieve what you think it will.

Bike registration, for example, has been trialled in various places around the world, such as in California. It was abandoned because it cost a small fortune to administer and offers no real benefits.

If you really care about making the roads safer, what you do is get people out of cars and onto bikes and public transport etc. You don't get people onto bikes by putting pointless barriers in the way.

"If you really care about making the roads safer, what you do is get people out of cars and onto bikes and public transport etc. You don't get people onto bikes by putting pointless barriers in the way." 😂

I guess you either live in a city or a town where the topography is very flat?

So how many trades people, delivery people, a majority of the work force that need equipment, large families going shopping, tip runs, ect are you going to get on bikes?

I think there is evidence that dark cars are more likely to be in accidents so it's not really fine. Given the choice I would always opt for a light coloured car.

You already have explained your points e.g. why you think it's ok to wave cars past, why you don't bother with high vis, how your idea of riding safely is not hitting anyone... I'm not really interested in hearing further explanations. I'm sure no one expects you to be a saint but at least consider some of the points made by other posters instead of rushing to explain them all away.

You don’t get people on mumsnet, in the daily Mail etc berating people for having black cars though.

No, I just don't think in such an obviously ridiculous literal manner. Obviously, not everyone can give up their cars, but you cannot argue that a lot of people couldn't, and indeed many already have swapped.

The average commute in the uk is 7 miles. That is easily coverable on a bike, and for people doing so in urban areas will likely be quicker than by car. However, it needs to be easy. If you make it a completely unnecessary pain in the arse to jump on a bike to go to work or go to the shops or whatever, people are less likely to do it.

The benefits of people on bikes are huge - less congestion, less wear and tear on the roads, less pollution, healthier, happier individuals. Lets make it as easy as possible to realise those benefits.

Least we forget , 80 per cent of all cyclists by the age of 50 need hip and knee replacement s and cost our NHS billions , then there are around 2000 fatality s of cyclists a year on our roads , thus l am pleased l only one knee and one replacement, then not everyone can ride a bike ,due to old age and disabilities, what we do need is more accountability from cyclist by having a mandatory insurance for all bikes and a cycling license so cyclist eyes and health can be checked

This whole thread makes me chuckled it’s fine, I’ll aim to cycle on one of my routes in-front of you, single track, no passing points. I can’t stop off road due to grass verges.

So ill ride in the middle of the lane in my high viz for 3 miles, so you can’t pass me, I won’t move to side and wave to say “I know you’ll pass me safely if I’m at the side”

Joke! We will never win with people like you in the world.

You’ve got to be trolling with that response…. Obesity cost the NHS over 6billion in 2019.
obesity also increase risk of knee and hip surgery

But cyclists cost far more