Why does the UK hate cyclists?

[Deleted member 66701]

I live in a rural area, where the only means of travelling from town to town are B roads, early in the morning on almost single file roads having to follow a cyclist for nearly 30 minutes because its unsafe to overtake is infuriating.. im obviously not talking about cities or motorways..

I don't believe you. Proof required.

 

[Werewolf]

The only issue I have with cyclists is the idiotic morons who do things like have no lights, wear dark clothing (including hoods) and then go off down an unlit road.
That and the organ donors who cycle with no hands on the bike texting their mates (presumably with a list of last request) or hands in pockets, often whilst riding without lights/reflectors and wearing dark clothing (I saw one of those idiots yesterday nearly go into the road, he didn't realise the turning he wanted was just ahead and nearly carried on from the pavement into the road before he got his hands on the handlebars).

Unfortunately I'm seeing a lot more cyclists these days who are riding hands free so they can use their mobiles, which is not a great idea if they want to live, especially when they're doing it on what is becoming an increasingly busy set of local roads.

 

[terley]

I don't believe you. Proof required.

I take this Route Daily, often full of cyclists, tractors etc.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/B...0x487b17cdfaae09df:0x595e277225df2447!1m0!3e0

 

[Dis86]

Whereas I have never seen a cyclist NOT let a car past as soon as it becomes clear that they are unable to overtake normally.

But the point is that there are poor road users on/in all sorts of vehicles, including other cars, yet it's only the ones on bikes which get mentioned regularly despite objectively being the easiest to pass. If everyone posted as enthusiastically about the amount of delays, inconsideration and general negativity that they suffered at the hands of other roads users that weren't on bikes, I'm willing to bet that proportionally, cyclists would seem a much smaller problem.

You clearly haven't seen my posts about 40mph morons and Jazz drivers

Potentially I am being slightly harsh on cyclists as yes, there are times they could be overtaken but as I've pointed out certain people simply will not overtake thus resulting in the delay with the root cause arguably being a cyclist.
I think part if the issue is everyone has come across THAT cyclist. The guy (yes it's a man every time) who rides bang in the middle of the road. At an unsuitable low speed. Yet when confronted and the obstruction he's causing is pointed out to him uses the 'ive got every right to use the road' argument, completely missing the point that so does every other user without being obstructed.
I actually intervened on this morons behalf last year when he got knocked in his arse by a motorist one morning. Couldn't help but smirk when I saw the punch land though.
There is a guy who I'm loathe to overtake as he's quite simply dangerous. I think the issue is is that his saddle is too low so he wobbles all over the place. He also rides with headphones on. He really is one of those cyclists that gives others a bad name. Come across him in the same place every day and if I'm lucky I still catch him at the dual carriageway, if not I'm screwed. He manages a good 20mph though and the limit at that point is 40.

 

[itchy]

The only issue I have with cyclists is the idiotic morons who do things like have no lights, wear dark clothing (including hoods) and then go off down an unlit road.
That and the organ donors who cycle with no hands on the bike texting their mates (presumably with a list of last request) or hands in pockets, often whilst riding without lights/reflectors and wearing dark clothing (I saw one of those idiots yesterday nearly go into the road, he didn't realise the turning he wanted was just ahead and nearly carried on from the pavement into the road before he got his hands on the handlebars).

Unfortunately I'm seeing a lot more cyclists these days who are riding hands free so they can use their mobiles, which is not a great idea if they want to live, especially when they're doing it on what is becoming an increasingly busy set of local roads.

^^^^^^
This and failure to observe traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.

 

[Conscript]

The only issue I have with cyclists is the idiotic morons who do things like have no lights, wear dark clothing (including hoods) and then go off down an unlit road.
That and the organ donors who cycle with no hands on the bike texting their mates (presumably with a list of last request) or hands in pockets, often whilst riding without lights/reflectors and wearing dark clothing (I saw one of those idiots yesterday nearly go into the road, he didn't realise the turning he wanted was just ahead and nearly carried on from the pavement into the road before he got his hands on the handlebars).

Unfortunately I'm seeing a lot more cyclists these days who are riding hands free so they can use their mobiles, which is not a great idea if they want to live, especially when they're doing it on what is becoming an increasingly busy set of local roads.

Apart from inadequate clothing, these are all criticisms that could be aimed at motorists as well, and usually in greater numbers. Every day I see lots of people exhibiting poor light discipline on their cars, or using the phone/texting whilst driving. Same for running red lights and ignoring pedestrian crossings.

I've seen a far higher proportion of motorists guilty of such things than I have cyclists, yet people seem quick to disproportionately attribute poor road etiquette as something unique to cyclists, instead of realising that inconsiderate road users come in all forms. It's quite baffling that we seem to have this vehement distinction for cyclists.

 

[itchy]

It's quite baffling that we seem to have this vehement distinction for cyclists.

Because you don't pay a penny in road tax, insurance, driving licence etc.

Its as simple as that, yet you think you can use the road the same as a motorist.

 

[ianh]

In this thread - "Cyclist's are never wrong" vs "Drivers are never wrong" with the same old stupid arguments backwards and forwards from both.

I try to subscribe to the life rule of "don't be a penis" which means when I cycle (have a hybrid cycle - MTB style frame with road tyres) I wear high viz jacket, a helmet, have lights on my bike, stick to my cycle lane, stop at red lights and generally realise that I'm a softer and more fragile thing than 99% of the traffic that might hit me. So I ride accordingly, expecting everyone to make a mistake and try and kill me, and in 30+ years I've never been knocked off, beeped at or had any form of negative attitude from a motorist. As a motorist I absolutely hate the idiot cyclists who wear dark clothes with no lights at night, who bounce all over the pavement, run red lights and are generally morons.

Both groups have idiots, neither group is 100% right/wrong and threads like these do nothing but annoy people.

As an aside I notice that most motorists have problems with "Tour de France" style cyclists trying to set a new PB rather than those on Dutch/Boris-Bike style bikes. I wonder how many of the "Pro cyclists" posters in this thread are in the former group rather than the latter?

 

[Vern1961]

I own a bike, a car oh and a pair of legs. In my experience, travelling via bike offers the worst experience as anyone on a bike seems to be equally hated by walkers and car drivers alike, not to mention some of the worst offenders are other cyclists.

Call it nerves or being chicken but I dislike riding on the road whether on my own or accompanied by the missus. I've passed the scene of more than a few accidents over the years where a cyclist has lost out to a road vehicle and it's not very nice to see. I'd rather not subject my little pink body to that and a dobby looking helmet isn't going to stop the severe cranial damage when a 30 tonne artic rolls over your noggin. Which means leisure cycling or occasionally cycling to work is confined to what passes for cycle routes around Swindon. These are almost entirely "shared" pathways which means a free for all with pedestrians who wander all over the place from side to side, dog walkers with mutt either off the lead or on maximum extension across the entire path. If you dare ring the bell or comment they could walk a bit more tidy, be prepared for verbal abuse or worse in return.

Our local council can't even afford to repair the roads so the cycle routes have no chance - rutted, potholed and at underpasses eye-gouging brambles hanging down just waiting for you.

Riding a bike does make you appreciate the needs of cyclists when encountered in the car on the road, not to mention I don't really relish the prospect of picking out bone and brain from my front tyre for months after a mishap. However the door swings both ways and I've encountered some real mutton heads, an example being the single track road leading to/from Barbury Castle where I ended up following a cyclist at 12 MPH for some distance because they wouldn't use a passing place to let me (safely) overtake. Some people probably wouldn't have been so patient, even at the risk of causing an accident.

Finally, as a pedestrian it can become extremely tedious when some cyclists swoop by with nary a warning bell or shout, inches to spare. Sadly, sometimes it seems the more "gear" they are wearing, lights and cameras clipped to their lycra and dobby helmet etc., the more reckless they are.

Not sure what the answer is, really. Probably more investment in cycling infrastructure either segregated alongside existing roads or new pathways. Our largely 1960's road system with the odd bit bolted on here and there is not fit for purpose for the volume and speed of motorised traffic, let alone cycle use.

 

[Amp34]

Because you don't pay a penny in road tax, insurance, driving licence etc.

Its as simple as that, yet you think you can use the road the same as a motorist.

Presumably you hate pedestrians as well. They use the roads and have none of them too.

 

[Rroff]

Not a great fan of cyclists - couple of times been cussed at when they are in the wrong and/or circumstances beyond either of our control such as one time a car was left parked on the footpath meaning pedestrians could only pass it by going into the cycle lane - some cyclist coming the other way with limited visibility had to slow down for me and didn't take it very well.

There is one I regularly pass on the way to work who has 2x ultra bright flashing LED lamps on the front and 3 reds on the back - 1x flashing 2x constant - the flashing one on the rear I can understand but he doesn't seem to realise the front ones, which are also poorly angled slightly upwards, risk dazzling/disorientating drivers potentially putting him in more danger.

Another one I frequently encounter, despite several near misses with other road users (not me), comes flying around the same corner at ridiculous speed every time if it wasn't for the fact I've learned to anticipate him I'd probably have killed him by now by accident so no idea how he is still alive - every time I see him riding with a complete lack of caution.

See not infrequently cyclists using the lanes on roundabouts and junctions wrong, etc. then blaming the other road users for their mistake when accidents or near misses happen.

But then you get a good spread of muppets in society in general so not surprising there are a fair few amongst cyclists.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Because you don't pay a penny in road tax, insurance, driving licence etc.

Its as simple as that, yet you think you can use the road the same as a motorist.

There’s no such a thing as road tax...

Electric cars don’t pay “road tax” either, do you have a problem with them too for the same logic/reasons?

I bet you don’t, then stop using “road tax” as an excuse.

 

[Chris Wilson]

I have noticed amateur made signs warning of a "Cycle Race" on our local roads have been changed fairly recently to indicate a "Cycle Event". I presume this has some insurance significance regarding admittance to racing on a public highway? Does it mean we motorists can have a "Car Event" with impunity, and the joy of the equivalent of riding furiously?

 

[Mark1989]

Been a few years now but when I did cycle to work I used the paths simple due to majority of road users being utter *********, I once had some one say I shouldn't be on public path, I simply said why and they had no response.

It works both ways though I saw some cyclist go around a bus not checking and a car had to slam on and cyclist gave him abuse yet he was in the wrong imo.

Forgetting cyclist for a moment the issue is there is too many cars on the road now and it's something even government have hinted to.

Roads are not suitable for amount of cars now let alone fitting cyclist lanes on to everything now.

Anyway in slightly biased as I live in Bradford and no ****** drives with any care in the city at any point and most don't pay tax let alone insurance lol

 

[Vonhelmet]

I take this Route Daily, often full of cyclists, tractors etc.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/B...0x487b17cdfaae09df:0x595e277225df2447!1m0!3e0

Let me guess, you don’t use the main Southport road because it’s too busy? Cry me a river, why do you think the cyclists are on the back roads?

 

[Vonhelmet]

I have noticed amateur made signs warning of a "Cycle Race" on our local roads have been changed fairly recently to indicate a "Cycle Event". I presume this has some insurance significance regarding admittance to racing on a public highway? Does it mean we motorists can have a "Car Event" with impunity, and the joy of the equivalent of riding furiously?

If someone were putting up “race” signs without sanction that would be foolish, given that organised races on public roads are illegal without various bits of legal sign off.

Still, it’s a good job car drivers never treat the roads like a racetrack, isn’t it?

 

[Vonhelmet]

As an aside I notice that most motorists have problems with "Tour de France" style cyclists trying to set a new PB rather than those on Dutch/Boris-Bike style bikes. I wonder how many of the "Pro cyclists" posters in this thread are in the former group rather than the latter?

I ride to work on a racing bike and wear proper cycling clothes because I want to get to where I’m going in the high teens whatever the weather. I can’t do that in a suit on a Dutch shopper.

 

[Jono8]

The main reason is because they are painfully slow and hold everyone up.

I think my biggest gripe is people doing it recreationally. Why inhale copius amounts of pollution in a risky environment, whilst slowing down and irritating people who need to get somewhere when you could just ride through a park/the countryside? I honestly don't really understand that.

People who commute, fair enough, but i don't know why cyclists get surprised that they annoy motorists*. They are just a slow nuisance (although granted this is partly because our roads are mostly not designed for them).

*disclaimer: many car drivers annoy other motorists as well though

 

[FL630]

What strikes me as strange is the fact that people define cyclists as cyclists, not humans.

Go on Facebook and see the threats people make to cyclists, would you make that to a person not on a bike? It doesn't really make sense.

I've not ridden in years, I love to cycle but do not feel safe on London roads with some maniac that forgets that I'm a normal guy with a family etc, rather than some lycra ****** who needs knocked off my bike so I can pay my road tax!

 

[hornetstinger]

Because it's my primary form of transport. If I didn't have a bike, I couldn't get to work, and I'd be on the dole. Unless those that complain about cyclists would give me £1500 a month.