Cyclists who cause road rage

MolteniArcore said:

In all fairness though, however annoying that is, cyclists killing pedestrians is VERY rare. Cyclists wear those cameras because they genuinely fear for their safety when cycling on roads as drivers killing cyclists and pedestrians isn't rare.

I go out with a camera on my bike and the only reason I do is I don't feel safe on the roads. Every year I experience hundreds of dangerous passes / incidents that make me feel this way. Every ride on the road you will get some idiot not safe to be even driving endangering your life. These people should be a concern to drivers too as they are the ones who will crash into you or kill your kid walking to school.

It is in everyones interests to be courteous on the roads. We all know there are idiots but the idiot cyclists tend not to kill people - the idiot drivers do (and then rarely get jailed for it).

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TBF I can’t argue with anything you’ve said. I base what I posted on personal experiences but understand the dangers cyclists face from cars and careless or aggressive drivers. Also, just to be clear; I'd be in favour of pedestrianising the whole of London and building proper cycling paths and infrastructure. I'm not anti-cyclists at all(apart from those who are careless and/or dangerous). There are way too many cars and way too much pollution.

viv_andersons_nana said:

TBF I can’t argue with anything you’ve said. I base what I posted on personal experiences but understand the dangers cyclists face from cars and careless or aggressive drivers. Also, just to be clear; I'd be in favour of pedestrianising the whole of London and building proper cycling paths and infrastructure. I'm not anti-cyclists at all(apart from those who are careless and/or dangerous). There are way too many cars and way too much pollution.

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I'd imagine those cyclists to which you refer would anger me just as they anger you. They give the rest of us a bad name and that encourages poor attitudes against cyclists.

There are too many cars - we could start a whole new thread on parking on new estates etc where houses have space for 1 car but they have 3 or 4!

For transparency I drive, we have a car and a van and poor cycling / driving / parking really annoys me. One thing I have noticed though is the more I cycle the better my driving has become. I've chilled out a bit... or maybe that's just because I'm getting old (40 lol).

The_Lizards_Jumpers said:

I really dont get what winds people up so much about cyclists dressing appropriately, as hinted at on this thread as well as the multiple anti-cyclist threads that crop up regularly with comments like "they think they're Bradley Wiggins" or "dressing like they're riding the Tour de France" when someone dares to wear lycra or use clipless pedals.

Presumably these people expect Sunday league players to play in their jeans and trainers, or go swimming in their work suits ?

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It's because your **** and balls are clearly visible.

BaronSmoggie said:

Thats not what is being talked about, its if a pedestrian is on the pavement ready to cross, rather than wait for the car to turn, the car now has to stop and let the pedestrian cross.

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You're right, it's not what is being talked about. But neither was your original post, you said "if a pedestrian is crossing", not waiting to cross and Yes I realise I'm being pedantic. Having said that most pedestrians probably won't be aware of the new rules, but anything that stops or tries to stop drivers killing as many pedestrians as they currently do, is surely a good thing.

gregorgregorovich said:

You're right, it's not what is being talked about. But neither was your original post, you said "if a pedestrian is crossing", not waiting to cross and Yes I realise I'm being pedantic. Having said that most pedestrians probably won't be aware of the new rules, but anything that stops or tries to stop drivers killing as many pedestrians as they currently do, is surely a good thing.

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No, thats OK, going back, I should have said 'preparing to cross', but you knew what I meant

Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret said:

It's because your **** and balls are clearly visible.

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I'm no cyclist but if you're just riding to and from work is it actually necessary to wear the full on lycra? I get that the luminous stuff is massively important but couldn't you just wear a pair of lumo chinos or something? Not sure the 'full package' needs to be on display?

My friend only has a small one you see and it makes him jealous.....

Duffman said:

I find cyclists on occasions a little bit irritating. In Ingleby we have a lot of cycle paths across the vast majority of the estate but the proper Lycra lads refuse to use them. What is most irritating is when on fairly busy roads - the main road up to the roundabout to the Industrial Estate they choose to ride two abreast causing traffic to back up and when the perfectly good cycle lane a few feet away is empty. Why do they do that? If people toot or comment to move over to single file they get a right mouthful off them about their right to cycle two abreast

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I see bike paths as more for kids, mountain bikes, slower riders etc. There's a big difference between a bike path and a proper cycle lane, not seen many of the latter in the UK.

Road bikes are just not suited to kerbs, tight turns, pedestrians, dogs etc. Road bikes are typically knocking out 20-30mph on the flat, and much more on descents, and people would crap their pants if someone whizzed past them on a bike at 25mph. I've scared a few people doing this, even giving them a wide birth and slowing down. Had loads of dogs run out on me, and sometimes it's hard to see the extension leads etc.

Our roads are bad enough quality for road bikes, never mind the others, it's just easier with the cars, and should be safer for the bike (and pedestrians). There's some roads where I would pick a cycle path over a road though, mainly 50mph+ dual carriageways, I avoid those at all costs. Sometimes you get no choice, but most will keep riding on busy roads to a bare minimum, and be trying to get to the quiet roads as soon as possible. Some are daft enough to ride on busy 50+ dual carriageways, but I wouldn't do that on my own. Riding on those as a group, at a good pace is fine though, it's more dangerous being slower (the cars catch you faster), so most will hammer it and try and get out of there.

Colgates_shaving_foam said:

I'm no cyclist but if you're just riding to and from work is it actually necessary to wear the full on lycra?

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When I started cycling to work it was only about 3-4 miles so I did it in my work clothes, admittedly they were jeans & t-shirt rather than a suit and it was fine. After I got rained on and realised I didn't want to be in damp jeans & socks all day, I wore some football shorts & put my jeans & socks in a rucksack. The rucksack made my back sweaty and I wanted to feel a bit fresher during the day, so wore a football shirt & added a t-shirt & deodorant to the rucksack.
From there as weather changes, distance & speed increases, as kit wears out & is replaced, you buy cycling appropriate clothes and end up being in full lycra cycling gear as it is designed for it and so is more comfy.

I'm currently working from home but on the return to the office I will only be 1.5 miles from work, I'd still cycle as it is faster than driving but not in lycra probably back into work clothes. So I'm now looking at town bikes with full mudguards, chainguard & a rack for panniers etc

Cycling is just a good excuse to buy new things really.

Colgates_shaving_foam said:

I'm no cyclist but if you're just riding to and from work is it actually necessary to wear the full on lycra? I get that the luminous stuff is massively important but couldn't you just wear a pair of lumo chinos or something? Not sure the 'full package' needs to be on display?

My friend only has a small one you see and it makes him jealous.....

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If you are going a few miles lycra is loads better and your normal clothes don't get sweaty. Not sure it really matters what cyclist wear though unless you are the person wearing the stuff.

newusername said:

When I started cycling to work it was only about 3-4 miles so I did it in my work clothes, admittedly they were jeans & t-shirt rather than a suit and it was fine. After I got rained on and realised I didn't want to be in damp jeans & socks all day, I wore some football shorts & put my jeans & socks in a rucksack. The rucksack made my back sweaty and I wanted to feel a bit fresher during the day, so wore a football shirt & added a t-shirt & deodorant to the rucksack.
From there as weather changes, distance & speed increases, as kit wears out & is replaced, you buy cycling appropriate clothes and end up being in full lycra cycling gear as it is designed for it and so is more comfy.

I'm currently working from home but on the return to the office I will only be 1.5 miles from work, I'd still cycle as it is faster than driving but not in lycra probably back into work clothes. So I'm now looking at town bikes with full mudguards, chainguard & a rack for panniers etc

Cycling is just a good excuse to buy new things really.

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Exactly what happened to me. Started off in jeans. that hurt in sensitive places, moved onto jogging bottoms, they got soaked and took ages to dry, went onto quick-dry lycra-type leggings etc etc, found bike shorts more comfy to wear underneath and so it goes. Early days riding around Derby in a Boro top (doubt I'd risk it at them mo ) . Needed somewhere handy for keys etc so bought bike top. Before you know it Lance was on speed-dial and I was shaving my legs (NOT REALLY).

Cyclists irritate me where I live in the Dales. There are lots, who cycle in all the gear two abreast on hilly roads, significantly slowing journeys and wobbling all over the place both up and downhill. They also irritate me in cities where they weave all over, ignore signals, flip flop off pavements, ignore cycle lanes.

BUT, here's the thing, they are not ALL cyclists, they are just some of them.
Just the same as not ALL drivers behave the same.
It is true however that some drivers are horrendous. They don't irritate me they infuriate me.
Driving using a mobile phone for any reason leaves anyone out of control of a dangerous vehicle at any speed.
Driving without consideration for anybody else, as too many drivers do, is dangerous.
Drink driving, drug driving; old people driving when way past a safe age.
There are horrendous drivers who risk the lives of other drivers, passengers, cyclists, pedestrians and animals.

A little bit more responsibility and consideration is needed then perhaps by both drivers and cyclists.

indeedido said:

Cyclists irritate me where I live in the Dales. There are lots, who cycle in all the gear two abreast on hilly roads, significantly slowing journeys and wobbling all over the place both up and downhill. They also irritate me in cities where they weave all over, ignore signals, flip flop off pavements, ignore cycle lanes.

BUT, here's the thing, they are not ALL cyclists, they are just some of them.
Just the same as not ALL drivers behave the same.
It is true however that some drivers are horrendous. They don't irritate me they infuriate me.
Driving using a mobile phone for any reason leaves anyone out of control of a dangerous vehicle at any speed.
Driving without consideration for anybody else, as too many drivers do, is dangerous.
Drink driving, drug driving; old people driving when way past a safe age.
There are horrendous drivers who risk the lives of other drivers, passengers, cyclists, pedestrians and animals.

A little bit more responsibility and consideration is needed then perhaps by both drivers and cyclists.

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I don’t cycle, I think it’s drivers who need to be more patient. A bike has the same right to be on the road as a car. It doesn’t matter if they slow you down or not

indeedido said:

Cyclists irritate me where I live in the Dales. There are lots, who cycle in all the gear two abreast on hilly roads, significantly slowing journeys and wobbling all over the place both up and downhill. They also irritate me in cities where they weave all over, ignore signals, flip flop off pavements, ignore cycle lanes.

BUT, here's the thing, they are not ALL cyclists, they are just some of them.
Just the same as not ALL drivers behave the same.
It is true however that some drivers are horrendous. They don't irritate me they infuriate me.
Driving using a mobile phone for any reason leaves anyone out of control of a dangerous vehicle at any speed.
Driving without consideration for anybody else, as too many drivers do, is dangerous.
Drink driving, drug driving; old people driving when way past a safe age.
There are horrendous drivers who risk the lives of other drivers, passengers, cyclists, pedestrians and animals.

A little bit more responsibility and consideration is needed then perhaps by both drivers and cyclists.

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Agree with most of that but cyclists travelling side by side is way safer for everyone, and it stops cars trying to squeeze past when its clearly not safe. Someone put a diagram a few pages back showing its quicker to overtake two cycling side by side safely than one after the other