Is every person on a bike a "cyclist"?

As seen in news reports.

It’s often, “a cyclist on a black mountain bike robbed an elderly woman” etc.

Discuss.

Discussed:
http://road.cc/content/news/142409-are-you-cyclist%E2%80%99-or-person-who-cycles%E2%80%99-how-language-helped-seattle-overcome-its

If you are driving a car, are you a motorist?

No.

I have a few bikes. I ride a bit. I read/contribute to this forum. However, it’s just one of many other hobbies and activities. I might decide to sell all my bikes tomorrow and buy a motorcycle instead, so I’m no more a cyclist than I am a skier or a mountaineer.

I reckon there are some cyclists though. In particular I’m thinking about those for whom cycling is a bit more than just an occasional hobby. Those that have cycling-related tattoos would likely qualify.

Most on here are cyclist though many folk, in the real world, just own a bicycle.

There is very little in my life I would keep instead of cycling and I cannot imagine a life without cycling

Not getting a tat though

can I be a pootleist.

CaptainFlashheart – Member
As seen in news reports.

It’s often, “a cyclist on a black road bike riding in the cycle lane undertook an Addison Lee Taxi and the driver is most annoyed the cyclist got to the left turn junction before him” etc.

Discuss.

FIFY

That happened to me last week in Town.

Interesting – because I don’t consider myself a ‘cyclist’ as such, even though I ride mountain bikes?? I guess I distinguish between the commuter / roadie type culture where it’s more a part of their everyday life, and me buffooning about on the trails. I’m not that interested in cycling per se.

Reading that back makes little sense – but I know what I mean (sort of what scotroutes has said).

Good topic for a front page poll though….

If you are driving a car in the jungle, are you a motorist junglist?

Yes, by definition. If you ride a bike you’re a cyclist.
If you change the terms we use, those who are determined to hate us will merely do the same.

But;
Making the terms more inclusive will help (as in the road cc article).
The ‘PC gone mad’ brigade will hate it, but it should be a positive move for the rest of us, no matter how we get about.

Allowing the world’s most influential TV presenter and motoring journalist to ‘joke’ about killing cyclists on prime time TV (as he did again this Sunday) doesn’t help either.
Just saying.

I ride bikes sometimes, maybe twice a week
When I’m riding, I’m a cyclist.

I guess those that think of very little else may consider themselves cyclists 24/7

You are joking druid? You can be called a cyclist and it doesn’t mean you can’t/don’t do other things.

An odd response.

I’m proud to be a cyclist.

Yes, if someone is riding a bike, they are (at that moment) a cyclist.

…the world’s most influential TV presenter ….

That made me chuckle 🙂

(I presume it was a joke ?)

The scrote I saw the other day on a matt black sprayed BSO that had had all the gears removed and bodged into a single speed, with no brakes, grips, or cables of any description, was the most awesomez cyclist I’ve ever seen! 😀

He actually was. He set off from Macdonalds (obviously) and wheelied it about half a mile down the road. Casual as you like. With no brakes or gears. Just have a think about that for a moment. 😯

nealglover – Member
…the world’s most influential TV presenter ….

That made me chuckle

(I presume it was a joke ?)

Not really, no.
Certainly when it comes to the public perception of cycling and cyclists.
Can you name another one?

…the world’s most un-influential TV presenter **** ….

Binners … that’s not really that special…. It’s just a kid riding his bike.

Remember we all used to do it… before we had more money than sense and got seduced by marketing guff.

Yes, I’m a cyclist, a motorist and a perambulist. The -ist just refers to the mode of transport. Of course there are some well-behaved cyclists, motorists and pedestrians. And some that aren’t. I don’t view it as pejorative.

TiRed – Member
Yes, I’m a cyclist, I don’t view it as pejorative.

But many people, including the majority of our news media, will and do – hence the call for more inclusive language.
Can’t do any harm, can it?

can I be a pootleist.

I think Pook needs to award that one. (Peace be upon him).

Not sure he is the worlds biggest but he is influential amongst that type

Would be interesting to see what would happen were he to start doing a campaign every week on the show urging drivers to treat cyclists better and giving examples of distance and the reason etc.
I think it would make a difference so he has more influence than most.

I dont watch the show perhaps they do this every week? I suspect it’s more like Daily Mail click bait type “humour”

It’s often, “a cyclist on a black mountain bike robbed an elderly woman” etc.

Reads better than “the thief used a bicycle as the get away vehicle”

I watched it for Gillan Anderson.
And for some reason, I want a huuuuuuuuge pickup too.
🙂

To OP, Yes, does not matter what bike you have or whether you even have an interest in it (cycling) whilst on a bike you are a cyclist in the same way as driving a car you are a motorist. However people on here are happy to be called a cyclist when not on a bike, someone who cycles to work possibly doesn’t class themselves as a cyclist when not on a bike.

If you are driving a car in the jungle, are you a motorist junglist?

…the world’s most influential TV presenter ….

That made me chuckle

(I presume it was a joke ?)[/quote]

He inspired a mass murderer, so more influential than most.

In the press, people on bikes are cyclists regardless of what they’re doing. So, cyclists mug people, shoplift, etc. Muggers on foot are never referred to as pedestrians, and those using a vehicle are never drivers.

Most cars involved in collisions are, seemingly, driverless.

Isn’t being a Cyclist independent of being mounted upon one’s dandyhorse?
More a state of mind than a means of transport….

I think there’s a fundamental difference between a cyclist and a Cyclist.

The first is a person using a bike, the second is someone for whom using a bike is more than just a means of transportation, it’s a part of who they are, part of how they identify themselves and how others identify them.

When I’m riding a bike I’m a person riding a bike
When I’m driving a car I’m a person driving a car
When I’m walking to the shops I’m a pedestrian
When I’m running around the streets and parks I’m a runner
When I’m working out at the gym I’m a gym bunny
When I go to the theatre I’m an arts patron
Etc etc etc etc
I may have more than a passing interest in cycling but only a Journalist would call me a cyclist for getting on a bike

When I’m riding a bike I’m a person riding a bike
When I’m driving a car I’m a person driving a car
When I’m walking to the shops I’m a pedestrian
When I’m running around the streets and parks I’m a runner
When I’m working out at the gym I’m a gym bunny
When I go to the theatre I’m an arts patron
Etc etc etc etc
I may have more than a passing interest in cycling but only a Journalist would call me a cyclist for getting on a bike

And quite a few on here who post up everytime ‘a cyclist’ is…

Everyone except Boris Johnson, hes a tory **** on a bike !!!!

There are cyclists who enjoy it as a hobby and there are riders of bikes ,you know the sort flat tyres seat too low brakes disconnected .Only riding because they dont drive through stupidity or a ban

If you are driving a car in the jungle, are you a motorist junglist?

I definitely wouldn’t identify with “cyclist” – makes me think of roadies, grumpy MAMILs and tree huggers/those annoying campaign types.

I’m definitely a mountain biker though – and identify far more closely with action sports than “cycling”.

When I ride my bike to get to work (sometimes), I’m just riding my bike to work, there’s no tribal affiliation, it’s just a means of transport.

I think there’s a fundamental difference between a cyclist and a Cyclist.

The first is a person using a bike, the second is someone for whom using a bike is more than just a means of transportation, it’s a part of who they are, part of how they identify themselves and how others identify them.

I agree .

So, the question is ,are you a cyclist with a small c or a large C
I am a c 🙂

Back to my previous comment. I’m a cyclist when I’m cycling whereas lots of of folk are cyclists even when they’re not.

If a 7-years old kid on a bike was hit by a car would the media still be screaming “cyclist!”?

fasthaggis – Member

So, the question is ,are you a cyclist with a small c or a large C

I think I’m best judged by others, and it’ll probably paint me with as a Cyclist.