[Closed] Angry Rider

Any particular reason that you didn't move over a bit? We're still supposed to be giving people 2m space.

Fair point @nickjb I hadn't thought of that. Cheers

I think a lot of people have forgotten. It's not that a big a deal as outside transmission is very low but still nice. Bit of an overreaction from the rider but I can see the potential for frustration. We often end up walking single file balanced on the kerb or in the road while someone coming the other way hasn't moved at all when out on a stroll round the block

Sounds like one party had to single up?

If so I'd probably do so as the pedestrian.

Hard to tell if sarcastic in reply to nickjb. I’m going with Yes.

Ok, seems I was in the wrong. Thanks for the advice guys, I'll take it as a learning.

But still no need for them to be rude and abusive.

@DezB no, definitely not sarcastic

Nah, you just encountered one (or 2) of the worlds many many dickheads. Hard to avoid really.
I, personally am friendly to everyone I encounter when on my bike. (Except rubbish drivers of course)

Imagine how angry he must get when he encounters a mild inconvenience. Poor sod.

I'm pleased to say everyone we encountered today was very happy in the sunshine. No angry **** interactions 🥳

The 2m rule is realistically related to whether you are going to spend prolonged time with someone. Look into what is considered a traceable contact. 15 mins within 2m. Cycling past someone walking towards you. Contact time will be pretty much negligible. Sounds like the 2nd rider was a bit of a tool.

A quick Google suggests that a single lane of a UK road is about 3.65m wide. If you were taking up half of that they had nearly 2m to themselves.

I doubt you were in the wrong, OP, but I am someone who subscribes to the ‘gallantry must be done and must be seen to be done’ school.

In other words, even if I don’t have to make room for someone, I do. Then, if we both do it, we each go our way smiling. If only I do it, the other party has no reason to get mad at anything. And if the other people do something in anger to me, at least I know I haven’t been a deliberate cause.

Had something similar last year, pre-covid. Very quiet country lane in a village where there's a popular rural cafe, weir, river etc so lots of people milling around. We're walking with a couple of very old ladies (as you do in villages) and lycra man gets uppity about having to slow down while we shuffle out the way. The old "come on guys, this is a road"...

I don't really care, I just don't understand it.
We spend so much time talking about the menace of cars and their 'own the road' attitude, yet the second some cyclists feel they have the 'right of the road' they instantly take the same stance.
Just don't understand how they can't see the irony in their behaviour.

Clearly the cyclist(s) are ducks, just the same as they probably would be in tesco or any other life situation.
But be careful what you say about cyclists on this forum for fear of being branded a "troll" or "bot" by others on here.

Sounds like the guy on the bike was a dick and a coward. Giving you grief after he’s out of the way. Don’t dwell on it, some people are just angry tools.

If so I’d probably do so as the pedestrian.

I would do so as the cyclist as the faster movers. But then, I probably would as the pedestrian also as per SaxonRider.

Either way, if the other didn't move I wouldn't call them a f******g d**k. So he's the f******g d**k IMO.

I was quite shocked, no wonder some people have a bad impression of cyclists with pratts like this about.

That’s more likely because ‘some people’ are just culturally prejudiced against cyclists - hence confirmation bias. Imagine saying the same about a rude driver, or someone of a particular religious persuasion.

Sounds like another entitled cycle owner.

Yeah neither side has the better right to be there or occupy more of the space.

Like jimmy I'd have singled up whichever party I was, but if in the circumstances the ped didn't notice the cyclists or get his companions to move in time, no need for any comments by the cyclist.

If you are walking along a road and taking up half of the road I think it makes sense to move over a bit if anything is coming that is using the road. It is a road after all and you wouldn't walk down the middle of the high street.
(And yes, where I live has no pavements so I have to walk in the road ever time I walk from my house)

However, person who shouted was due a puncture very soon after that.

We’re still supposed to be giving people 2m space.

I'd bet good money that the rider's response had absolutely nothing to do with this.

There was no need for the cyclists outrage, but I’m finding more and more pedestrians thinking it’s normal to walk 3 and 4 people across the road, and they see you coming and don’t move, yes we are social distancing but come on pedestrians read the Highway Code

Sounds to me like the cyclist was a complete prick, no wonder there’s so much anti-bike sentiment around!

Half of all cyclists are over-entitled, rude, and aggressive. I know how inference works.

And I’m saxonrider too. Politeness first.