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.

Love cycling, considering going back to bikes. Locally the council have put loads of cycle lanes in. It will make it far safer around town and commuting.

As a car driver, there's nothing more annoying than empty cycle lanes while Mike frantically pedals his way down the centre of the road on his road bike. No Mike, you are 59, you aren't in the Tour de France. You look a twat.
Anywhere else, I give room, I'll wait, for both bikes and horses.

I'm very respectful around cyclists and horse riders, I do not want to be the reason anyone gets hurt but there is no doubt that some cyclists are very selfish and barely aware of their own safety nevermind anyone else's. Like lots people I find this irritating or annoying but I do not hate them so can we please drop the language of hate that makes it seem like most car drivers are psychopaths looking for an excuse to cause cyclists injury or death. IME horse riders are much more responsible than many cyclists.

I found one source that says about 30000 drivers a day receive fixed penalty notices.

Apparently 11 people in London per day get done for running red lights, and one every 2 days for riding on the pavement. I'd love to know how many cyclists per year get done for cycling without lights, but apparently the stats are not available.

I do suspect that a lot of policing of driving these days has been turned over to cameras.

The train isn't a viable option. There is no train station near my house or my workplace.

There is no direct bus, I would need to get two. This takes a minimum of 45 minutes but usually longer due to having to wait for the second bus. It can be over an hour.

I could drive but the nearest parking to my workplace is about a 15 minute walk away and it's not easy to find a space.

Cycling takes 25 minutes and is free.

Do you really think I should choose a less convenient, more expensive, more time consuming way to travel just to keep people like you happy?

I was toying with this issue the other day - having just witnessed a young driver avoid a head on collision by pure luck when overtaking a massive group of about 10 cyclists in a bad place - the vast majority of people driving are doing so because they have to get somewhere - normally work or school . The cyclist and horse rider are mostly doing it for sport and their own entertainment . Their need is less - so they maybe should be obliged to give way but they get priority as they are more vulnerable .

I used to ride myself from time to time, when I was young and not decrepit, so know how important it is. And horse riders nearly always acknowledge my consideration, and give a wave of thanks, which is nice.

I went riding while on holiday in Ireland many years ago, and the drivers over there didn't seem to give a shit. It was bloody scarey.

Agree with the OP.

Replace 'car driver' with 'man' and 'cyclist' with 'woman' in any of the threads having a go at cyclists, and you would be rightly said to be misogynst.

One in four people or thereabouts are unfit to hold a licence, you would never say that about cyclists.

Amen.

YANBU! I cycle, horse ride and drive. I avoid horse riding on the roads and don’t allow DD to as the standard of driving and drivers’ attitudes are so terrible. I was driving behind a cyclist recently and the car behind me used their horn because I didn’t overtake the cyclist on a blind bend. Unbelievable.

The people I know who hate cyclists view them as poor people who can’t afford a car, and to them being poor is essentially means you’re sub human.

We've come on a bit from horse drawn carriages. Horses are now rode for leisure, which is nice and I like horses just they should be rode in fields, woods and footpaths <if wide enough>.

I don't think horse riders or cyclists pay vehicle tax for their bikes or horses?

Maybe you should spend your time campaigning for more countryside to be accessible to horses if it bothers you so much.

I dont hate you.

I dislike how you are presenting yourself here I dont think you can go this specific. I also think you are coming across as very narrow minded.

I see good car drivers. Moter bikes and bicyclist regularly

I see poor car drivers moter bikes and bicyclist regularly.

I don't hate any of them. I do dislike poor road awareness from all equally.

As for horse riders I rarely see them where I live now and where I was 5 years ago most where ok.

However for both bicyclist and horse riders
Do not wave me through!
It is not your choice when I go and not your insurance that is liable if I go on your call and there is an accident. Its mine. Due to this allow me to make my choice as for when I deem it safe to pass you.

And like I tell my Mamil brother it may just be two minutes but its two minutes looking at your arse. -Not plesant.

To be honest I think most drivers are respectful. I see a lot of hate on social media posts but, in my experience cycling to work in a major city for the last 5 years, I have had very few issues and only one near miss when a bus driver pulled out in front of me. If I felt unsafe I wouldn't cycle.

It doesn't bother me per se as I don't ride a horse I just witness the problems caused by many unexperienced riders trying to calm their spooked horses and it's no wonder so many come off.

Horses seem quite jumpy animals and the size they are makes it a real hazard for anyone nearby.

Right, but the only way to get horses safe on the roads is to ride them on the roads.

So? We pay insurance. We don't contribute to wear and tear on the roads unlike cars. We also don't give out carbon emissions which is what road duty is based on.

In which case surely your biggest concern is cars being allowed on the roads, as they are the most dangerous ‘thing’ to use roads. Reducing speed limits and reducing cars would increase road safety hugely.

I live in a rural area. Cyclists really are a problem. They behave in a very dangerous (to them) way - it is terrifying because if I were to hit one whilst driving it would be my fault.

They hunt in packs - 10 or a dozen of them in a row on winding country lanes. They do not have the courtesy to pull in at a gateway even when there is a massive queue of traffic behind them.

I think that cyclists have an absolute right to ride on the roads, but with that comes the responsibility not to create unsafe situations.

I am the world's slowest driver and even I find it worrying.

Unfortunate4ly it is a daily occurrence rather than the exception.

As to horses - there are of course lots of those, but on the whole I find that their riders are courteous to other road users.

It's awful. I cycle with my daughter on my bike to take her to school. It's a distance of about 2 miles, quiet country road. I also cycle with a group of cyclists. Drivers can be so careless. There's no need for it. You will be able to pass in about a minute so please just be patient and don't put my life at risk for the sake of a few seconds extra on your journey!

I'm a cyclist and have hated the loathing for them, then I started horse riding again and was blown away by how ignorant drivers are around horses too.

I only go on the roads I absolutely have to, but goodness me drivers speed by, cut too close or cut up, and risk theirs, mine and my horse's lives regularly. It's a hundred times worse than when I rode a decade ago.

Why are drivers always in such an angry rush? I drive but I don't feel the need to do 50 in a 30 and 70 in a 50 all the bloody time.

I went for a walk at lunchtime. Relatively narrow pavement, wide residential road (30mph) but relatively quiet at that time. Cyclist (e bike too I think as fast) came up behind me on the pavement and shouted Excuse Me. I had no choice but to step into the road to let them pass!!

One section of my local high street is so narrow that it's one way traffic at a time, controlled by 3-phase traffic lights (a side road joins at the apex of a bend on the narrow stretch).

Cyclists regularly mount the pavement to avoid waiting for the lights to change. I was walking along the (narrow) pavement once when a cyclist flew round the bend and almost hit me. I stopped dead, and as he bumped down the kerb and into the road to avoid hitting me, he shouted "You cunt" at me, which I thought was a bit much!

Adding another message of support for cyclists (and horse-riders)!

I'm full of admiration for people who cycle and I very rarely come across idiotic cyclists, yet I encounter horrendous drivers almost every time I'm out, whether I'm driving or walking.

The level of vitriol towards cyclists is disgusting and worrying. That's another person, someone's loved one, doing something peaceful that has such tiny impact on you in your car.

I now live somewhere rural with many narrow, winding roads and big hills. Cyclists cause me absolutely no issue and I am always able to overtake when safe. If it takes me a minute or two to wait, who cares. If I'm running late and didnt leave enough time for any sort of delay, it's my fault, not the cyclist's. Motorbikers, caravans and Sunday drivers cause a lot more problems and make for a far more stressful driving experience than cyclists do.

I do wish bikes had lights on at all times (though ideally not those ones brighter than the sun in my direct eyeline as I can't see a thing!) - it can be hard to see them in low light and dappled light, but that's my single very minor gripe and is as much for their safety as my peace of mind! Please tell your cyclist friends 🙂

If you are wearing black you are really not as visible as you think you are, no matter how many lights.
Invest in some orange or pink hi-viz. that shows up so much better than yellow.

I think vulnerable road users, bikes, pedestrians, horses have a responsibility to make themselves seen, even if its not the coolest outfit!

All riders I know deck themselves and horses out like Christmas trees 🤣 many of us also wear cameras to capture the entitled twats who put our lives in danger