Opinions of cyclists
22 June 2011, 08:50 PM
#1
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Opinions of cyclists
Has made me think.
I am all for everyone being safe on our roads and obviously cyclists are vulnerable.
It's a subject I'm particularly emotive about as my brother cycles to work everyday into the city (of London).
However, I am more and more frustrated at the attitude of cyclists and their seeming opinion that they own the roads. Or feel they have special rights.
It happens regularly but just today I was trying to overtake a cyclist and he kept weaving out into the road as he obviously felt it was not right for me to overtake him. Then he veers onto the pavement and cycles over a pedestrian bridge
I'm sure half the problem is double standards and the police like attitude cyclists have.
Why do cyclists appear to have one rule that they insist on following and others that it is perfectly acceptable for them to ignore?
Chop
P's- think it important to stress this is a far wider issue than someone driving with a can of Stella which is obviously wrong.
I am all for everyone being safe on our roads and obviously cyclists are vulnerable.
It's a subject I'm particularly emotive about as my brother cycles to work everyday into the city (of London).
However, I am more and more frustrated at the attitude of cyclists and their seeming opinion that they own the roads. Or feel they have special rights.
It happens regularly but just today I was trying to overtake a cyclist and he kept weaving out into the road as he obviously felt it was not right for me to overtake him. Then he veers onto the pavement and cycles over a pedestrian bridge
I'm sure half the problem is double standards and the police like attitude cyclists have.
Why do cyclists appear to have one rule that they insist on following and others that it is perfectly acceptable for them to ignore?
Chop
P's- think it important to stress this is a far wider issue than someone driving with a can of Stella which is obviously wrong.
22 June 2011, 09:00 PM
#2
Might as well start a thread on "people who drives blue cars", or "people who own more than 2 pairs of jeans", or "people over 25 with at least one older sibling". The sociological group you'd be discussing would be just as random and varied in make up.
22 June 2011, 09:09 PM
#4
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I have noticed that cyclists consider themselves a breed apart .... at what point in history did the Cyclist go from being a hard up carless halfwit to a lycra wearing Superhero?
22 June 2011, 09:31 PM
#5
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If everyone realised this, it could save another needless 8 page thread, however.... I doubt it
22 June 2011, 10:08 PM
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I always take care when cyclists around having been one many years ago I know what the perils are, however that said som eof them these days are becomming little hitlers thinking they own the road, but I suppose it is something to do with the lack of respect from some drivers.
22 June 2011, 10:12 PM
#7
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If some of the half blind feckwits in cars noticed the state of the roads, they wouldn't have to wonder why "we" are weaving about...
dunx
P.S. Back in the STI once the 2.1 stroker is built...
dunx
P.S. Back in the STI once the 2.1 stroker is built...
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22 June 2011, 10:30 PM
#8
What about the muppets who ride side by side.......they think it's funny as foooook holding everyone up
My missis actually goes to the other side of the road to go past them........me, I try and get my wing mirror as close as I physically can
My missis actually goes to the other side of the road to go past them........me, I try and get my wing mirror as close as I physically can
22 June 2011, 10:50 PM
#9
: sleep:Rather a vague thread title to encourage any meaningful response.
An obvious reaction to a recent thread started by a moderator.
Would it not have been possible for you to comment on that thread,or would that not have allowed you opportunity to gather some support ?
22 June 2011, 10:57 PM
#10
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: sleep:Rather a vague thread title to encourage any meaningful response.
An obvious reaction to a recent thread started by a moderator.
Would it not have been possible for you to comment on that thread,or would that not have allowed you opportunity to gather some support ?
22 June 2011, 11:11 PM
#11
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I used to catch the bus to work in Manchester each day (the extremely busy Wilmslow/Oxford Road route).
Despite the fact there are purpose built bike lanes running most of the way into town (off the road, separated from even the pavement) there is always a constant supply of bicyclists roughing it out between the bus lane and tying to muscle their way through the rush hour traffic
The times they would punch the bus windows screaming and shouting, swearing at the bus driver for not giving them the right of way was unbelievable, although it always made plenty of people on the bus laugh
I could never understand it, still cant!
Why risk it at all, especially when there is a lane TOTALLY assigned for bikes
Despite the fact there are purpose built bike lanes running most of the way into town (off the road, separated from even the pavement) there is always a constant supply of bicyclists roughing it out between the bus lane and tying to muscle their way through the rush hour traffic
The times they would punch the bus windows screaming and shouting, swearing at the bus driver for not giving them the right of way was unbelievable, although it always made plenty of people on the bus laugh
I could never understand it, still cant!
Why risk it at all, especially when there is a lane TOTALLY assigned for bikes
23 June 2011, 12:38 AM
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23 June 2011, 12:48 AM
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Has made me think.
I am all for everyone being safe on our roads and obviously cyclists are vulnerable.
It's a subject I'm particularly emotive about as my brother cycles to work everyday into the city (of London).
However, I am more and more frustrated at the attitude of cyclists and their seeming opinion that they own the roads. Or feel they have special rights.
It happens regularly but just today I was trying to overtake a cyclist and he kept weaving out into the road as he obviously felt it was not right for me to overtake him. Then he veers onto the pavement and cycles over a pedestrian bridge
I'm sure half the problem is double standards and the police like attitude cyclists have.
Why do cyclists appear to have one rule that they insist on following and others that it is perfectly acceptable for them to ignore?
Chop
P's- think it important to stress this is a far wider issue than someone driving with a can of Stella which is obviously wrong.
I am all for everyone being safe on our roads and obviously cyclists are vulnerable.
It's a subject I'm particularly emotive about as my brother cycles to work everyday into the city (of London).
However, I am more and more frustrated at the attitude of cyclists and their seeming opinion that they own the roads. Or feel they have special rights.
It happens regularly but just today I was trying to overtake a cyclist and he kept weaving out into the road as he obviously felt it was not right for me to overtake him. Then he veers onto the pavement and cycles over a pedestrian bridge
I'm sure half the problem is double standards and the police like attitude cyclists have.
Why do cyclists appear to have one rule that they insist on following and others that it is perfectly acceptable for them to ignore?
Chop
P's- think it important to stress this is a far wider issue than someone driving with a can of Stella which is obviously wrong.
Part of the problem with pedestrian facilities is often, they're marked for dual use. Yes, some cyclists will take the **** but not every cyclist on the pavement is breaking the law. Unfortunately, it's the exceptions that stick in the mind and form the basis of opinions!
J.
23 June 2011, 06:25 AM
#17
As said the roads are sh1te so the guy was just trying to avoid pot holes.
I think that cyclist awareness should be part of the driving test and every one that drives a car should be made to ride a bike through traffic for a few miles at rush hour.
Equally cyclists should be made to use cycle lanes where they exist, no matter how bad they are deemed to be by said cyclist, it's got to be safer than the road, this dual purpose argument does not hold water, i'd rather have a pedestrian hit me than a bus.
The cyclist should have some kind of training as well as a pre requirement before being allowed to commute using a cycle, as many don't appear to have a clue about the highway code and think they are able to do as they please, and are indestructable and have right of way in every situation especialy when filtering some times at 20mph.
Lets face it most drivers are blind and useless at the best of times, so why anyone on a bike would think they are visable to someone on the school run with a couple of screaming kids in the car is beyond me.
Not all cyclists are like this just as not all scooby drivers are beer swilling *******, but unfortunatly it's the bad ones that catch peoples attention and form the basis of these opinions.
But some of the comments such as opening cans of coke at passing cyclists are plain stupid, i bet you sit behind horses on country lanes honking the horn too.
Lets hope nothing ever comes of it.
I think that cyclist awareness should be part of the driving test and every one that drives a car should be made to ride a bike through traffic for a few miles at rush hour.
Equally cyclists should be made to use cycle lanes where they exist, no matter how bad they are deemed to be by said cyclist, it's got to be safer than the road, this dual purpose argument does not hold water, i'd rather have a pedestrian hit me than a bus.
The cyclist should have some kind of training as well as a pre requirement before being allowed to commute using a cycle, as many don't appear to have a clue about the highway code and think they are able to do as they please, and are indestructable and have right of way in every situation especialy when filtering some times at 20mph.
Lets face it most drivers are blind and useless at the best of times, so why anyone on a bike would think they are visable to someone on the school run with a couple of screaming kids in the car is beyond me.
Not all cyclists are like this just as not all scooby drivers are beer swilling *******, but unfortunatly it's the bad ones that catch peoples attention and form the basis of these opinions.
But some of the comments such as opening cans of coke at passing cyclists are plain stupid, i bet you sit behind horses on country lanes honking the horn too.
Lets hope nothing ever comes of it.
23 June 2011, 08:26 AM
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I guess I better drop in a few facts
cycling side by side is legal (two abreast anyway) you may not like it, but they are not breaking the law. However, when I'm out cycling with mates we always pull in when people want to get past (there's legal and then there's considerate)
You might want to brush up on the Highway code rules 162 & 163 - to do with overtaking. Take a look at the photo and see how much room you are meant to give when passing vulnerable road users. Tell me again about 'buzzing' someone who inconveniences you?
Cycle paths are not compulsory, nor should they ever be. Bikes are perfectly safe on the roads. The guidelines for the paths are clear: if you are expecting to exceed 18mph you should use the road - I exceed this speed all the time, it ain't that hard. Also, pedestrians have right of way on the shared lanes and bikes MUST slow for them; and finally the continual stop / start you get when you get to junctions on the cycle path are just plain stupid when there is a perfectly fine road you are entitled to use right there.
Before we get the usual uninformed bigoted drivel about 'road tax' a few points:
There's no such thing
It was abolished in 1937 by Winston Churchill to stop people associating its payment with a right to use the road
There's no such thing
VED is emissions based - bikes are zero emission so wouldn't pay VED anyway
There's no such thing
Low emissions vehicles do not pay VED so does it mean they should not be on the road? Or you get preference over them?
There's no such thing
VED is a single (or dual payment) anyway. So by owning a car (which I do) I've paid my VED so how I choose to use the roads afterwards is my business
There's no such thing
The bottom line is clear: there are arseholes in this world. Whatever the means of transport: an arsehole is still an arsehole. The vast majority of people are just trying to get to wherever they need to be, and courtesy to other road users goes a huge way to making the whole experience pleasant.
cycling side by side is legal (two abreast anyway) you may not like it, but they are not breaking the law. However, when I'm out cycling with mates we always pull in when people want to get past (there's legal and then there's considerate)
You might want to brush up on the Highway code rules 162 & 163 - to do with overtaking. Take a look at the photo and see how much room you are meant to give when passing vulnerable road users. Tell me again about 'buzzing' someone who inconveniences you?
Cycle paths are not compulsory, nor should they ever be. Bikes are perfectly safe on the roads. The guidelines for the paths are clear: if you are expecting to exceed 18mph you should use the road - I exceed this speed all the time, it ain't that hard. Also, pedestrians have right of way on the shared lanes and bikes MUST slow for them; and finally the continual stop / start you get when you get to junctions on the cycle path are just plain stupid when there is a perfectly fine road you are entitled to use right there.
Before we get the usual uninformed bigoted drivel about 'road tax' a few points:
There's no such thing
It was abolished in 1937 by Winston Churchill to stop people associating its payment with a right to use the road
There's no such thing
VED is emissions based - bikes are zero emission so wouldn't pay VED anyway
There's no such thing
Low emissions vehicles do not pay VED so does it mean they should not be on the road? Or you get preference over them?
There's no such thing
VED is a single (or dual payment) anyway. So by owning a car (which I do) I've paid my VED so how I choose to use the roads afterwards is my business
There's no such thing
The bottom line is clear: there are arseholes in this world. Whatever the means of transport: an arsehole is still an arsehole. The vast majority of people are just trying to get to wherever they need to be, and courtesy to other road users goes a huge way to making the whole experience pleasant.
23 June 2011, 08:57 AM
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23 June 2011, 08:59 AM
#20
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I don't have an issue with cyclists. I think everyone should calm down when on the road, you'll enjoy driving more 
Just to note, I've lived and driven in Oxford so I've seen how bad it can get. The bus/cyclist war can be quite entertaining.
Just to note, I've lived and driven in Oxford so I've seen how bad it can get. The bus/cyclist war can be quite entertaining.
23 June 2011, 10:05 AM
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Most cyclists around here are sensible and use the roads safely.
When I do see some bloke come belting out of a side turning without looking so I have to stand on the brakes and then weave along the road to stop anyone overtaking him and also pass cars moving slowly in the traffic and chop across in front of them and cycling on the footpath when it suits him, then I think I cannot be blamed for finding that irritating to say the very least!
I think the police just don't want all the extra paperwork if they see that sort of thing.
Les
When I do see some bloke come belting out of a side turning without looking so I have to stand on the brakes and then weave along the road to stop anyone overtaking him and also pass cars moving slowly in the traffic and chop across in front of them and cycling on the footpath when it suits him, then I think I cannot be blamed for finding that irritating to say the very least!
I think the police just don't want all the extra paperwork if they see that sort of thing.
Les
23 June 2011, 10:29 AM
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I bet you don't actually do this.
23 June 2011, 04:33 PM
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I guess I better drop in a few facts
cycling side by side is legal (two abreast anyway) you may not like it, but they are not breaking the law. However, when I'm out cycling with mates we always pull in when people want to get past (there's legal and then there's considerate)
You might want to brush up on the Highway code rules 162 & 163 - to do with overtaking. Take a look at the photo and see how much room you are meant to give when passing vulnerable road users. Tell me again about 'buzzing' someone who inconveniences you?
Cycle paths are not compulsory, nor should they ever be. Bikes are perfectly safe on the roads. The guidelines for the paths are clear: if you are expecting to exceed 18mph you should use the road - I exceed this speed all the time, it ain't that hard. Also, pedestrians have right of way on the shared lanes and bikes MUST slow for them; and finally the continual stop / start you get when you get to junctions on the cycle path are just plain stupid when there is a perfectly fine road you are entitled to use right there.
Before we get the usual uninformed bigoted drivel about 'road tax' a few points:
There's no such thing
It was abolished in 1937 by Winston Churchill to stop people associating its payment with a right to use the road
There's no such thing
VED is emissions based - bikes are zero emission so wouldn't pay VED anyway
There's no such thing
Low emissions vehicles do not pay VED so does it mean they should not be on the road? Or you get preference over them?
There's no such thing
VED is a single (or dual payment) anyway. So by owning a car (which I do) I've paid my VED so how I choose to use the roads afterwards is my business
There's no such thing
The bottom line is clear: there are arseholes in this world. Whatever the means of transport: an arsehole is still an arsehole. The vast majority of people are just trying to get to wherever they need to be, and courtesy to other road users goes a huge way to making the whole experience pleasant.
cycling side by side is legal (two abreast anyway) you may not like it, but they are not breaking the law. However, when I'm out cycling with mates we always pull in when people want to get past (there's legal and then there's considerate)
You might want to brush up on the Highway code rules 162 & 163 - to do with overtaking. Take a look at the photo and see how much room you are meant to give when passing vulnerable road users. Tell me again about 'buzzing' someone who inconveniences you?
Cycle paths are not compulsory, nor should they ever be. Bikes are perfectly safe on the roads. The guidelines for the paths are clear: if you are expecting to exceed 18mph you should use the road - I exceed this speed all the time, it ain't that hard. Also, pedestrians have right of way on the shared lanes and bikes MUST slow for them; and finally the continual stop / start you get when you get to junctions on the cycle path are just plain stupid when there is a perfectly fine road you are entitled to use right there.
Before we get the usual uninformed bigoted drivel about 'road tax' a few points:
There's no such thing
It was abolished in 1937 by Winston Churchill to stop people associating its payment with a right to use the road
There's no such thing
VED is emissions based - bikes are zero emission so wouldn't pay VED anyway
There's no such thing
Low emissions vehicles do not pay VED so does it mean they should not be on the road? Or you get preference over them?
There's no such thing
VED is a single (or dual payment) anyway. So by owning a car (which I do) I've paid my VED so how I choose to use the roads afterwards is my business
There's no such thing
The bottom line is clear: there are arseholes in this world. Whatever the means of transport: an arsehole is still an arsehole. The vast majority of people are just trying to get to wherever they need to be, and courtesy to other road users goes a huge way to making the whole experience pleasant.
23 June 2011, 05:09 PM
#27
Ok daftboy , you follow me around then do you
As for right or wrong.......my sleep pattern won't be affected
Foookin site is getting worse than the mlr
I'll sit back and wait for your response....with a 12k post count I'm sure it will play on your mind and you will have to post some ****e remark
Andi
As for right or wrong.......my sleep pattern won't be affected
Foookin site is getting worse than the mlr
I'll sit back and wait for your response....with a 12k post count I'm sure it will play on your mind and you will have to post some ****e remark
Andi
23 June 2011, 05:17 PM
#28
[QUOTE=Kieran_Burns;10103180]I guess I better drop in a few facts
cycling side by side is legal (two abreast anyway) you may not like it, but they are not breaking the law. However, when I'm out cycling with mates we always pull in when people want to get past (there's legal and then there's considerate)
You might want to brush up on the Highway code rules 162 & 163 - to do with overtaking.
Strangely enough I don't need a lesson on the highway code
As for riding side by side.......crack on , the DECENT thing to do is keep close to each other..........not 3 foot away thinking you own the road and get light amusement from it
I don't know you....I don't know how you ride ya bike .......tbh I really don't give a ****
People want to act a **** I'll return the favour as I go by
Now put whatever reply you want I'll leave it at that now
cycling side by side is legal (two abreast anyway) you may not like it, but they are not breaking the law. However, when I'm out cycling with mates we always pull in when people want to get past (there's legal and then there's considerate)
You might want to brush up on the Highway code rules 162 & 163 - to do with overtaking.
Strangely enough I don't need a lesson on the highway code
As for riding side by side.......crack on , the DECENT thing to do is keep close to each other..........not 3 foot away thinking you own the road and get light amusement from it
I don't know you....I don't know how you ride ya bike .......tbh I really don't give a ****
People want to act a **** I'll return the favour as I go by
Now put whatever reply you want I'll leave it at that now
23 June 2011, 05:18 PM
#29
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I have a bike, am I a cyclist?
I remember somebody years ago making the mistake of assumption.
He drove past my missus and I stood by the side of the road, with his mate using a water pistol at us.
We got him back though, with a bottle of sticky strawberry drink deposited in his lap when I caught him at a set of lights when leaning out the window of my Range Rover. He assumed we were "pedestrians" when he squirted water at us. Silly sod.
I remember somebody years ago making the mistake of assumption.
He drove past my missus and I stood by the side of the road, with his mate using a water pistol at us.
We got him back though, with a bottle of sticky strawberry drink deposited in his lap when I caught him at a set of lights when leaning out the window of my Range Rover. He assumed we were "pedestrians" when he squirted water at us. Silly sod.
23 June 2011, 06:50 PM
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