Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want to be shouted at for using the pelican crossing correctly?

27 replies

Mumi · 09/10/2008 12:50

Not a lot of traffic on the road but I let DS press the button anyway because we never know whether there'll be a boy racer speeding round the corner.

Could see a coach on opposite side trying to overtake a cyclist before the crossing, but it couldn't before the lights change and eventually stopped at red light, but the cyclist carried on. As we crossed, I smiled and made eye contact to let her know she would've collided with us if she she'd gone any further. She eventually stopped but when we'd crossed in good time and she pedalled off again, she started shouting about how we should've hurried up and gotten out of her way.

I felt like shouting back at her but I
a) didn't want to distract her in what was obviously a difficult situation and
b) didn't want to demonstrate as bad an example to DS as she had done, especially as he is autistic

so I just said "that lady was very rude" to DS and left it at that.

Although she didn't have to let the coach overtake at the lights, she might as well have let him go on first after we'd crossed as he would've only tried it on further down the road anyway.

I don't think I'm being YABU but this isn't so much of a rant as wanting to get it off my chest - thought I'd risen above it when it happened last night but still find myself thinking about it now.

What do you think?

OP posts:
WorzselMummage · 09/10/2008 12:58

I would have shouted back and it would have been rude !

hanaflowerate3scones · 09/10/2008 13:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

knockedgymnast · 09/10/2008 13:01

You are probably too reasonable

flowerybeanbag · 09/10/2008 13:01

I wouldn't have shouted back for the same reasons as you, but yes, very annoying.

I'm always disappointed at the number of cyclist who use the pavement when there's a perfectly good and safe road, which happens a lot where I live, or who seem to think pedestrian crossings/red lights don't apply to two wheels, only four.

flowerybeanbag · 09/10/2008 13:01

cyclists

elkiedee · 09/10/2008 13:04

She's a cyclist, she should have stopped at the lights when it was your turn to cross. What a nerve to not only try and jump the lights but to yell at you for taking your turn, especially when you have a kid with you.

I understand why you restrained yourself particularly for your ds, but I hate cyclists who think they can choose what to do eg jumping lights when on the road, or cycling on pavements and on pedestrian crossings when it suits them.

scampadoodle · 09/10/2008 13:04

As a cyclist myself I get at those who think red lights are beneath them. Last week the DSs & I were nearly run over 3 times by cyclists going through red lights or on the wrong side of the road. We were crossing on the green man which I always do when with the DSs, no matter how light the traffic, as an example.

Overmydeadbody · 09/10/2008 13:04

I get disappointed and annoyed too at the number of cyclists who think they don't have to stopas pelican crossings and zebra crossings.

Don't get me started on cyclists on the pavement though, thank god around here thay can recieve on the spot fines for doing so.

(I'm a cyclist by the way)

BouncingTurtleSkulls · 09/10/2008 13:06

She was BVU.
You behaved impeccably(sp?), and therefore have the moral high ground. Good view from up there

I find it annoying too, FBB, that cyclists seem to think they can ignore parts of the Highway Code that inconvenience them, but are quick to point out when others do so.

mosschops30 · 09/10/2008 13:06

I would have been rude too, I feckin hate cyclists, most of them think they are above the rules of the road and then moan when they nearly get knocked off.

People on the roads are getting worse, this morning a man shouted 'what is your fucking problem' out of his car window, but that was after I'd said 'you must have a small penis' so I let it pass

beanieb · 09/10/2008 13:08

She shouldn't have been rude to you as she should have been making ready to stop but as far as this goes "Although she didn't have to let the coach overtake at the lights, she might as well have let him go on first after we'd crossed as he would've only tried it on further down the road anyway" No - she could have let him overtake (I assume you mean by stopping or signaling for him to go past) but she didn't HAVE to. Cyclists should take command of the road and positively occupy the space they need as they need to be seen. Also had the coach then have wanted to turn left it would have put the cyclist in danger.

people should be polite to other road users, and that includes cyclists, but I don't thin there is anything wrong with a cyclist occupying their own space positively. It would be wrong for the coach driver to 'try it on' if it weren't safe - infact in this case the coach driver should have been aware of the crossing coming up and should not have been attempting to overtake anyone in those circumstances.

beanieb · 09/10/2008 13:09

wasn't :blush:

Iklboo · 09/10/2008 13:10

Take heart - she may get a horrible puncture & her chain comes off in a level 7 downpour (just short of a monsoon on my own personal scale) AND her cycling shorts ride up her bum crack and give her wicked buttock chafe

magicofchristmas · 09/10/2008 13:11

I'm a car driver (like to think a safe one at that) and i'm sick of cyclists constantly jummping red lights/weaving in and out of pedestrians crossing the road almost knocking them over on numerous occasions. Half of them dont wear a helmet either.
There was something a few weeks ago about automatic prison sentences for car drivers who kill cyclists, there are idiot car/van/bus drivers out there and yes they should be held responsible for their actions, but, if the accident was caused by a cyclist disobeying the rules and the car (or whatever) driver was unable to avoid them, then I dont think it should count.

magicofchristmas · 09/10/2008 13:19

Also well done on teaching your child the rules of the road, wish lots of others would do the same.

scampadoodle · 09/10/2008 13:19

Some cyclists!!! We're not all bad! I am extremely considerate to other road users and never jump lights.

Original poster
Mumi · 09/10/2008 13:39

beanieb - I do agree with your point that the cyclist didn't have to, which is why it was the first thing I said on that though surely cyclists should be keeping well back from whoever is in front who may turn left anyway, just like any other road user. I was just thinking of alternatives she could've chosen instead taking it out on me and DS, which I'm pretty sure she didn't have to do either so sorry for any misunderstanding.

magicofchristmas - this one wasn't wearing a helmet either, which again I don't recall any law against but it did make me even more at the chances she was taking. Each time I hear people say they don't want "helmet hair", I can't help thinking it's preferable to scrambled eggs for brains

Cheers for the general support guys I was pretty sure there wasn't anything else I could've done either.

OP posts:
beanieb · 09/10/2008 14:54

Thing is - in moving traffic it's impossible for a bike rider to keep well back from car drivers unless they just stop.

I was a regular cyclist until I learned to drive and now I do I am even more frustrated by those people who cycle through red lights and use the pavements etc. When I was a regular cyclist it always really upset me to see other cyclists giving those of us who do obey the highway code a bad name.

she shouldn't have taken it out on you though

FioFio · 09/10/2008 14:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

beanieb · 09/10/2008 15:06

As do a lot of car and bus drivers.

I am a fairly militant Cyclist but it works both ways. I am as appalled by bad cycling as I am by bad driving.

Slightly off topic but why to so many car drivers pull out wildy to the right when turning left (And vice versa) and why do so many drivers not know which lane they are supposed to be in when approaching a roundabout?

alloutofcrazy · 09/10/2008 15:35

I had a similar reaction from a car driver years ago, using a crossing with dd we crossed at what I thought was a normal pace,only to be shouted at when we got to the other side with 'TAKE YOUR TIME,WHY DON'T YOU'. I didn't reply either because I was shocked, the only way we could have been faster is if we had ran across.Some people obviously think they're doing everyone else a favour by slowing down or stopping, as if they've got more important things to do than the rest of us.

magicofchristmas · 09/10/2008 16:18

scampadoodle......yes I know it's not all cyclists, there are bad women/men/teen/elderly drivers out there too, but, there are also pretty good ones.

scampadoodle · 09/10/2008 17:37

As well as a cyclist I am a car driver, a pedestrian and a motorcyclist! All groups have idiots. The OP is most definitely NBU - that cyclist sounds like a twat.

cheshirekitty · 09/10/2008 19:58

Last Friday I was on the pavement waiting to cross the road. A cyclist was riding on the pavement and rang his bell, shouting get out of my way so I ended up on the road.

It really makes me cross when cyclists use pavements instead of roads.

andyrobo237 · 09/10/2008 20:20

Pelican crossings are there for a reason - you press the button, wait for the green man, and then cross - simple! The timings are calculated to allow the little old lady who gets part of the way across to finish crossing (when the green man is flashing) and then the traffic is free to move.

They cyclist should have been grateful it wasnt a zebra crossing as you can take as long as you like to cross that!

I always use the crossing with the kids, and teach them to press the button and wait and then check for the cars to stop before stepping out. I also speak outloud about why we are waiting and it is great when you force others to wait - usually older people - who appreciate that you are trying to teach a child to cross safely.

Swipe left for the next trending thread