As mentioned recently I am extremely prejudiced against other cyclists, and with good reason..
We're doing very well as a minority group, with plenty of supporters, but we still have to field a certain amount of flack..
There's enough negativity from some quarters, without our own ranks adding fuel to the fire..
So here's a little thread where you can post about your most recent numpty cyclist encounter.. If you've noticed someone out there who is making us look bad, get it off your chest here, hopefully we can compile a list of unacceptable behaviours, and maybe publicly humiliate a few offenders..
Ill get the ball rolling..
Yesterday, my other half was out for a skate with her roller derby team on busy shared use path when an angry mamil came thundering down upon the group.. Courteously, they gave way and moved aside, only for the lead skater to be called a ****.. Further along the path, two skaters who were not quick enough were clipped by the cyclist causing both to fall..
utterly cowardly and unprovoked.. Nice one angry mamil, whoever you are.
What a cissy
2 complete k nobbers, 1 in sky kit, 1 in all white lycra, ride past me every morning, and ride through 4 sets of red lights near tetleys in leeds.
I am praying for them to get clipped one morning, just so I can ride up and laugh at them
Cyclists who dress all in black ,even in daylight they dont stand out against the background
...and what's worse is that these cyclists don't even pay road tax!
IT MAKES ME SO ANGRY!
...wait, is this the right forum?
I saw two casual cyclists riding side by side here in That London, down a busy street with not one ace in the world.. 🙄
Roadies* who think they have a right to blast down the main road through the ashton Court estate in Bristol. Always a small minority who ruin it for the everyone else who rides with consideration and they are to blame for the speed reduction measures that will be getting installed soon.
It says "cyclists slow, shared path" for a reason you dicks.
*might also be MTBers and hybriders but so far I have only experience of roadies as everyone else has slowed down and taken care.
I rode to the stone yard today with no helmet on and my right pant leg rolled up, on a road bike, and wore a black jacket and black jeans while doing so.
Sorry.
The kids on the street that have no brakes on bikes, bar foot/floor.
And proceed to launch themselves down 50m high / 1 in 6 hill with corners and multiple junctions. Easily one of them on a BMX was doing 30+mph tonight... 😯 😀 8) 😯
Meanwhile, the elephant is still in the room.
[url= http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/transport-news/2013/08/28/m54-cameras-catch-6400-speeding/ ]6400 motorists caught speeding in four months by one camera.[/url]
mtg......don't spoil it, the title gives the idea of the post away.
Yes, some cyclists are dicks.
But it's much better they're on a bike, instead of inside a two ton car about to run you over.
my other half was out for a skate with her roller derby team
sorry, she was out for a what with her what???
according to the internet, roller derby is a contact sport - should they not view this as WTFU training?
I don't normally do this, but [deep breath]
pulled up at a junction, 2 lanes, 1 for left turners, one for right, cycle box in front of the lanes.
I'm turning right, so get in the right hand side of the box, guy next to me is in the left side of the box.
left filter light turns green. he does nowt, stays there. car behind him beeps him. guy on bike goes apeshit, says I'm turning ****ing right, wait your turn etc etc.
so, main light turns green, we both cycle away, both turning right, him crossing a lane with cars turning left, quite dangerous, so I wait for him a bit, and say mate, sorry but you were in the wrong there, and it's quite dangerous what you're doing.
"Don't you ****ing tell me how to ride a bike, you're worse than the ****ing car drivers"
😯
Warton = splitter
😉
Young man riding a bso who drifted through the junction, chatting on his blackberry, sorting out his next drug deal or telling his mum he was going to be late depending on which paper you read.
Either way he way riding with a disregard for rules that was so complete I kind of envied his nonchalance.
It also caused the young lady waiting next to me in the asz to comment which started a conversation that lasted the next 5 miles. Not often I get that much young lady time, so thank you young punk.
Whilst the old man in me would like to reprimand you, the memory of a younger guy says get away with what you can and the Sid James says thank you very much.
Warton = splitter
?
Is this one of those period dramas I hear about?
Me, this morning.
On my commute, down the TPT, hadn't seen another soul for the last mile, so took a chance and went a bit too fast around a blind corner which was heavily overgrown. Another unfortunate mountain biker was coming the other way.
Me "Aaaaarggggghhhhh. Sooooorrrrryyyyy", as I skidded about 6 metres and careered out of his way and ditched into a blackberry bush.
He was pretty cool about it, chuckling a "no problem" as he swerved past.
My God, those thorns hurt!
How about no lights at dusk, approaching a blind crest on the wrong side of the road, whilst on a mobile phone and watching his mate on the other side of the road?
queuing traffic, van turns left from queue into business. rider coming down inside, 30mph+. no evidence of slowing down, plows into van. Why so fast? Why undertaking? Why no braking?
explaining for Warton
I rode to the stone yard today with no helmet on and my right pant leg rolled upSorry
Bunching? No need to apologise, it's only yourself you're chafing.
10 miles each way into london,
often its me thats a dick, filtering up the inside, red light creep, pretending to myself its still on amber when really its gone red by the time i get thru.
BUT 95% of the time i dont do any of that stuff and i daily see scores of others do much much worse
Im sure they think they are good cyclists too, but I know its pissing off a lot of car drivers not to mention some manouvers (but not that many imho) are dangerous.
prob need many more police to actually enforce the law (for cars and bikes) or nothing will change
Cyclists who dress all in black ,even in daylight they dont stand out against the background
Maybe in the Black Forest if not get your eyes tested 😉
I sincerely hope you don't drive or come across any black cars while you're riding or driving.
Crikey, why do your pants have legs?
Cyclists who dress all in black ,even in daylight they dont stand out against the background
Maybe in the Black Forest if not get your eyes tested
I sincerely hope you don't drive or come across any black cars while you're riding or driving.
Against dark foliage under trees they dont stand out .If they wore brighter clothing they would be easier to spot
The kids on the street that have no brakes on bikes, bar foot/floor.
And proceed to launch themselves down 50m high / 1 in 6 hill with corners and multiple junctions. Easily one of them on a BMX was doing 30+mph tonight...
tick
Im sure they think they are good cyclists too, but I know its pissing off a lot of car driver
tick
I'm going to hell aren't I?
I sincerely hope you don't drive or come across any black cars while you're riding or driving.
Yup, except cars are big, and visible, and shiny, and covered in reflective bits and lights and cyclists are small, and generally matte colored, and squishy.
The rather large mamil I spotted this weekend riding to newquay on the tight cornish roads. Eating an apple whilst meandering around
So of course SMIDYS never happen between vehicles 🙂Yup, except cars are big, and visible,and covered in reflective bits and light
🙄Against dark foliage under trees they dont stand out .If they wore brighter clothing they would be easier to spot
Has to be the no light brigade.
Either suicidal kids on bmx with a healthy disregard for the rules of the road or dumb adults meandering along slowly wearing dark clothes and no helmets.
😳
Crikey, why do your pants have legs?
Cos if they didn't they'd be shorts!
I suspect you've spent a long time in that America, where 'pants' means underpants. Here in the UK, pants are long trousers.
The strobe lighters, as long as we can see you its okay doesn't matter what we can't see once you have passed.
Yup, except cars are big, and visible, and shiny, and covered in reflective bits and lights
Dark cars have more crashes than light coloured cars.
Every unlit cyclist I have seen has been in the city where there are lights. Pedestrians are unlit and I manage to see them all the time. Sure its helpful but I canny get too excited. To notice them you must have seen them. Therefore they are visible.
Experience has taught me that there are places where such dafties will be about so I slow down and keep a good look out.
How many folk have pedal or wheel reflectors fitted eh? eh? heheheh! 🙂 I bet the unlit person on a bicycle has because he doesn't know how to take them off and he actually uses his bike for transport and not just leisure.
😉
Saturday morning heading into town in the car, a cut through path joins the road just before a bridge, with solid white lines in the middle of the road. When I ride through there I'm in the middle of the lane as there is no room for 2 cars + bike together.
MAMIL exits the path after the car in front of me along side me with cars coming the other way 🙁 Didn't even look to see what was going on, just after that approaching the roadie/mamil coffee shop post morning ride the "just leaving the cafe" crowd making the "just leaving the pub pissed" crowd look in more control.
No lights drives me mad, I saw a group of 3 mountain bikers on the road from peebles to glentress (it's an unlit nsl, there is a cycle path, incidentally). Not quite dark, but close. The one with the pathetic light, in the middle. And the one with the yellow jacket, at the front. Meanwhile the one dressed completely in black, positioned at the back doing his best to make the at least slightly visible other guys invisible.
Whenever I see an unlit cyclist (or one with a £2 tesco light, or nearly flat batteries, or my personal favourite a good light mounted in some way so that it's hidden- pointing downwards, or sideways, or behind a pannier or mudguard) on an unlit road, part of me always wants to run them down to teach them the error of their ways. And I'm not usually a homicidal madman.
There's enough negativity from some quarters, without our own ranks adding fuel to the fire..
Doh
part of me always wants to run them down to teach them the error of their ways.
Nice
There's enough negativity from some quarters, without our own ranks adding fuel to the fire..
perhaps some peer pressure might help, closing ranks and looking after "our own" means condoning stupid & dangerous behaviour which is more detrimental to cycling's public perception.
kcr - MemberNice
In my defence I've never done it. So far.
Nothwind, if you do just make sure you collect them all.
Who in their right mind doesn't just pop the bike back on the audi and drive between the trails....
I rode to the stone yard today with no helmet on and my [b]right pant leg rolled up[/b], on a road bike, and wore a black jacket and black jeans while doing so.
I thought you masons were supposed to keep it all secret?
In my defence
Why do you feel the need to defend yourself?
perhaps some peer pressure might help, closing ranks and looking after "our own" means condoning stupid & dangerous behaviour which is more detrimental to cycling's public perception
I don't think condemning cyclists' behaviour makes any difference to the "anti cycling" brigade, and just confirms their prejudices. I think you need to tackle those prejudices head on and point out who is doing the real damage.
What do the stats show, something like 25000 KSIs in the UK last year and cyclist deaths up 10%? Somebody needs a bit of peer pressure for sure, but I don't hear many people going around saying "those motorists don't do themselves any favours".
Very true KCR but cyclists love to play the does no wrong always innocent card. There are a few things going on here, bad/poor/inattentive driving, bad road design & cyclists doing stupid things. Fixing all of these is a big task. What this thread highlights is that cyclists are just like drivers etc. and sometimes do the wrong/stupid thing.
The anti cycling brigade are like any other anti-something brigade, you wont change their minds.
If you/people want a crack down on bad driving expect one on bad cycling and MTFU and take it. There is no excuse for riding without lights at night, jumping red lights or ripping down a hill on a BMX with no brakes or being on the phone while cycling. Same as there is no excuse for doing those things in a car.
I would welcome better enforcement of the rules of the road for all users with re-education, training, fines & bans for persistent offenders regardless of the transport they are using.
There is no excuse for...jumping red lights...
Yes there is.
Black is easy to see in daylight - plenty of contrast.
The greys and worse still any sort of disruptive patterning is hardest to pick up and there is one hell of a problem with the popular tarmac coloured cars out there. Sometimes they just "materialise" out of the background.
Tarmac coloured cars are one of my pet hates too, rain, fog, and generally poor visibility, and you can almost guarantee 8 out of 10 of them won't have put lights on.
I don't think what colours people chose to wear are that much of a problem (unless you really are trying to camouflage yourself). I think people just need to pay serious attention when negotiating the roads - stop seeing what they expect to see and start seeing what's really there.
There are far too many people out there not focused on the act of driving/riding/walking/whatever on the roads and far too many people on their phones, concentrating on conversations, applying make up, thinking about work, family and 101 other things. Human nature I guess though, the brain can be a lazy sod with things it has to do regularly.
So why would you expend resources on a cycling crackdown when the vast majority of us are breaking no laws, and more importantly, not causing any serious accidents?
What does make a difference to me is perpetuating the myth that there are hordes of naughty cyclists out there breaking the law and causing havoc, and we have to get our house in order before we can expect a better transport deal.
In Scotland, in 2011, 95% of the accidents caused by ignoring traffic signals were attributed to motorists. Fact.
In Scotland, in 2011, 95% of the accidents caused by ignoring traffic signals were attributed to motorists. Fact.
Aren't there quite a few million more cars than bicycles on the roads though? It stands to reason that more accidents would be down to motorists doesn't it?
That said, I do believe that (in my neck of the woods at least) cyclists are really not that badly behaved.
Mikewsmith +1. Absolutely spot on.
About 90% of the people I see riding a bike out around my city at night without any lights or any fluorescent clothing. & lots of MTBers I see with top clothing on and bikes not wearing helmets, this is generally on wild natural trails, *most* trail park users are pretty safety conscious.
*most* trail park users are pretty safety conscious.
I bet there are more injuries at trail centres though. Ban safety kit and that would drop.
kcr - I could see your point if this was on a motoring forum, but we're amongst friends here..
The point that I'm lightheartedly attempting to address is the hearts and minds aspect of our fight for acceptance..
Don't take it so seriously
Certain junctions on my old London comute were safer if running (creeping) the red lights. The alterative would be setting off at the same time as a load of cars that all need to change lane while other traffic is filtering in with equal priority.
Guilty as charged y'r honour. 😳
I think it should be allowed at certain junctons, T-junctions from certain directons and left turns. In spain they have a flashing amber light signal combined with red, which means "go if its clear".
There is no excuse for speeding, yet unlike the cycling offences mentioned, pretty much every driver does that every time they get in a car. It's ridiculous to suggest spending money on cracking down on cycling behaviour when the same money spent on improving driving behaviour would make a far greater contribution to road safety.
I got hit by a MTB'er the other day quite hard. I was on my own and a group of about 9 or so went by, about the 6th or so rider failed to move over and was completely oblivious to me. I was hardly moving so couldn't react and he smashed into me and knocked me off.
I have noticed this before with groups of cyclists that riders in a pack can be completely oblivious to what is in front of them thinking they are protected by the ones in front.
A warning.
we're amongst friends here
Eh? You're on the internet. All sorts of people read this stuff.
I'm lightheartedly attempting to address is the hearts and minds aspect of our fight for acceptance.. Don't take it so seriously
Is that the famous Edinburgh defence?
It is serious. I don't want to feed idiots like the Daily Mail and the ABD any more false information.
Unlit cyclists on rural A roads - regular occurrence.
Last week met a group of road cyclists (presumably a club), riding 3 wide on a busy A road, on a straight (which is one of the few on the road where it is safe to pass anything), whilst there is harvesting going on all around and a lot of machinery on the roads - no consideration for any other road users at all.
I think riding single file should be the law.
core - MemberLast week met a group of road cyclists (presumably a club), riding 3 wide on a busy A road, on a straight (which is one of the few on the road where it is safe to pass anything),
Blow your F****** horn at them put 2 fingers up as you drive past, you did get past didn't you ?
whilst there is harvesting going on all around and a lot of machinery on the roads
Go on horn and 2 fingers at those bstards as well, did you ? I doubt it.
and bikes not wearing helmets
stupid bikes will almost certainly die a horrible death
I think riding single file should be the law.
Genuinely, why?
I agree that riding three abreast is probably not on - on many roads, with three cyclists riding abreast, the outermost will naturally sit a little too close to the middle of the road - but why is two abreast not OK?
Two cyclists sitting abreast of one another occupy approximately the same width as a single average-sized car, I can't see what the problem is here.
fasgadh - MemberBlack is easy to see in daylight - plenty of contrast.
it really isn't.
especially when it's sunny.
especially under trees.
kcr - MemberWhy do you feel the need to defend yourself?
For reasons of maintaining the joke. Dur.
I have noticed this before with groups of cyclists that riders in a pack can be completely oblivious to what is in front of them thinking they are protected by the ones in front.A warning.
Oddly, large groups of roadies I pass do the hand signal thing quite well and get in a line so they don't hit pedestrians or other shared path users. MTB riders don't seem to know what they mean.
Most idiotic cyclist I've seen recently was me. I was in full on "wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee..... going fast.... excellent" mode going down a steep hill with some lovely corners and forgot there was a crossroad at the bottom. Or I forgot the road bike doesn't stop like my car or my MTB. Anyway, I got lucky and the lights were green for me
Question: Do I score a point for every post that I'm guilty of or should I adjust my total to take account of repeats?
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Dales_rider - Member
core - Member
Last week met a group of road cyclists (presumably a club), riding 3 wide on a busy A road, on a straight (which is one of the few on the road where it is safe to pass anything),Blow your F****** horn at them put 2 fingers up as you drive past, you did get past didn't you ?
whilst there is harvesting going on all around and a lot of machinery on the roads
Go on horn and 2 fingers at those bstards as well, did you ? I doubt it.
2tyred - Member
I think riding single file should be the law.
Genuinely, why?I agree that riding three abreast is probably not on - on many roads, with three cyclists riding abreast, the outermost will naturally sit a little too close to the middle of the road - but why is two abreast not OK?
Two cyclists sitting abreast of one another occupy approximately the same width as a single average-sized car, I can't see what the problem is here.
First off - no I didn't blast the horn and hurl abuse, they were coming the other way! But were holding up a lot of traffic as nothing could pass. And I wouldn't anyway because riding on a busy A road scares the shit out of me at the best of times, and I would probably fill my bib shorts if someone did it to me.
I do give farmers a blast of the horn if they're inconsiderate, but they're doing their job and normally only travelling short distances, there aren't always safe places to pull in, plus they're not just out for a jolly or 'training'.................
Why single file? Do we really think it's reasonable for cyclists on a busy A road that you can safely maintain 60mph on to restrict motorists to travelling at 20mph? Particularly on roads with limited overtaking opportunities.
If it was said tractor above, or some old dear doing 20mph they'd get overtaken and/or abused by most people.
Just because you're on a bike it doesn't give you the right to do what you like, I'm always very mindful when I'm on the road that I don't impede motorists, I don't like inconsiderate cyclists, so don't want to be one.
Last night, busy but narrow road, young BMXer riding along texting or checking facebook.
2 months ago a lad his own age was knocked off and killed in almost the same place.
double post
I thought the chap in his late thirties/early forties on an orange alpine* who decided to show off to the lass he was riding with by pulling his longest wheelie along a busy shared use path past groups of old ladies, dog walkers and into oncoming bike traffic. something about having a guy's wheel whizz past your face tends to get people's backs up. This was on the Wylam Waggonway last week.
*I only mention this because I thought it might be one of the STW crowd. If it was, please don't be an arse.
Do we really think it's reasonable for cyclists on a busy A road that you can safely maintain 60mph on to restrict motorists to travelling at 20mph? Particularly on roads with limited overtaking opportunities.
As it happens, yes I think it's perfectly reasonable. You don't have a right to travel at the speed limit all the time, your speed is dictated in part by other traffic on the road, like for instance cyclists.
I really don't get this whole "car drivers are worse so don't criticise cyclists" thing. There was an article on road.cc the other day, about Laura Trott saying it's not always the car's fault, and the comments give her a right roasting for essentially the same thing that KCR says, but for my money, the one thing does not excuse the other - most cycle/car interface-related road accidents may well be caused by the car driver, but that doesn't mean cyclists then get free rein to ride how they want to.
I was running down a shared use route which I regularly cycle along, I was running on right as I should with oncoming traffic on a road.
Then coming towards me is this older chap on a road bike with his cap on (no lid, each to their own) thinking he looks like an 80's pro.
He see's me and has plenty of time and room to go round me, no effort at all. He just rides straight at me and flicks his hand at me shooing me out of his path, which I did but sort of wish I hadn't.
arrogant old git muttered some expletive at me when he came past too
There is no excuse for...jumping red lights...
My default position it to 'jump' them unless there's an ASL. Otherwise I'm just fighting for space with 2 tones of rapidly accelerating metal.
Case in point there's a trafic light controlled roundabout near here where the lights are 15-20m back from the roundabout. I can either sit back behind the stop line and have to compete for space with the rest of the trafic, or roll through the stop lines and wait a the roundabout for the lights, then accelerate through ahead of the cars, and repeat (4 sets on the roundabout, plus one on each of 4 entries, all sequenced so you're always heading towards a red light when yours is green, so you can't do a non stop lap). Doing it that way I'm never anywhere near a moving car and far safer than sticking to the letter of the law.
On a lot of bridleways and even paths near me are signs asking mountain bikers to slow down and consider walkers and families ,I wonder if people are getting obsessed with strava and doing everything at the highest possible speed rather than sharing the countryside with other users .theres definitely a perception that we're all hooning a long scattering folk in our wake
Cyclists turning left through red lights.
I can sort of see the appeal, however, first check there isn't a cyclist rapidly approaching you in the same small gap between cars and curb you've just crept into!
Why single file? Do we really think it's reasonable for cyclists on a busy A road that you can safely maintain 60mph on to restrict motorists to travelling at 20mph? Particularly on roads with limited overtaking opportunities.If it was said tractor above, or some old dear doing 20mph they'd get overtaken and/or abused by most people.
Yes, I think that is reasonable.
All road users have to co-exist. Some are incapable of travelling at the same speed as others. The abuse you describe - whether directed at a cyclist, a tractor or some old dear - is unacceptable, and it is this behaviour that's the problem, not the presence of another road user.
On many roads with a 60mph limit, it is not possible for an average sized vehicle to safely pass a single cyclist occupying a safe position without crossing the middle of the road. By your rationale, should the cyclist be there at all?