Page 1 of Cyclist bashing.

I`ve noticed recently that people are getting a bit anti bike. Due to the actions of a few we all seem to be getting hit with the ****ty stick.

Yes, there are some tossers out there. But as a driver and a cyclist I see far more bad drivers than cyclists.

I also think there is a lack of understanding from drivers as to why we do (and are allowed to do) some things.

Riding on the pavement.

Most of the cycle paths (round my way) are dumped without much thought on pavements. They start and stop without any sort of logic. So half way down a road a cycle path will suddenly appear. To the unknowing eye it would look like I have just randomly moved to the pavement.


Bus lanes.

Bus drivers. These lanes are usually bus and cycle lanes. You don`t have sole ownership of them. Driving 1 foot from my back wheel will not make me go faster. If you have a stop coming up. Wait the extra 10 seconds rather than overtaking and pulling straight in forcing me to brake.

When you are stationary, I am allowed to overtake you. You pulling pulling off as I am about to move back in is down to you not using your mirrors and indicators. The only reason I have cut in front of you is because you are now moving.

When overtaking me, you are allowed out of the bus lane. You are not a tram. If you can only pass by giving me 5cms of room, then there is not enough room to pass. Would you overtake a car leaving such a small gap? Suck it up and wait till there is room to pass.

Riding in the middle of the lane.

Contrary to popular belief. I don`t have to ride in the gutter. I can ride anywhere in the lane to avoid obstacles. If is mean I have to take aversive action to avoid a pothole, glass, rubbish and it causes you to brake or swerve to miss me. Then you are at fault. Not me. You were simply to close to me in the first place.

You turning left.

Just because you want to turn left it does not mean I want to. Wait behind me for 5 seconds rather than passing me and immediately turning left, forcing me to do the same.

Me turning right.

I am allowed to. If I signal to turn right, this does not mean you must at all cost pass me. If a car had signaled right, would you overtake it?

Running red lights.

I have lost count of the number of amber lights I have felt forced to run (red by the time I am half way across) due the the fact the the car behind me is so close and obviously wanting to get across before the lights go red. If I breaked I would run the risk of being hit from behind.

No lights.

No excuses.

One way street.

There are no excuses, unless you are allowed. On my way to work a cycle path puts me on to a thin one way street the wrong way. The is nothing to tell drivers coming the other way that I can do this. Even if I am there first on the stretch of road and thus have right of way. The cars will drive straight at you as they think you are in the wrong.

I noticed in another post someone complaining about the fact that at some junctions there are boxes for cyclists at the front. These are there to stop drivers turning left on a cyclist who is going straight on. So they are there because of bad driving and not because we are being given special treatment

That`s it for now. I`m sure I will think of other things.



"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.

This item was edited on Monday, 20th February 2012, 10:23

90% of pushbike riders around our way are idiots. You name it they do it.

Do they do their hair and makeup? Or shave?




"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.

Quote:
But as a driver and a cyclist I see far more bad drivers than cyclists

I`m not disagreeing, but at least with motorists you have a means of reporting them.
If you see a cyclist riding like a dick, you`ve got zero chance of being able to track them down.
This is why I feel drivers get exasperated with some cyclists.
The perception that cyclists think "Sod you, you can`t do anything"

Fair point. Although if you drive like dick you are more likely to hurt someone else than yourself. Its the other way round if you ride like one.



"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.

Quote:
The original 42pcenter MD says...
Do they do their hair and makeup? Or shave?
You know, I altered that post 3 times before I left it, because I knew someone would come back with a comment like that.

So lets start with a few Pushbike riders faults. Ride on pavements, weave onto & off pavements, ride much too fast when on pavements, go round corners on pavements way to fast not thinking a kid, an elderley person,dog, cat could be just around the corner (we have seen them colide with people}. ride without any lights at night 99.9%. ride with dark clothes at night, go through red lights, do not indicate when going around corners, ride the wrong way up one way streets, ride 2, 3 or more abreast on busy roads. The list is endless & I may add more later.

"99.9%" utter balls. Typical Paull bollocks. No doubt you have seen the figures to back this up on on another forum that you wont post a link to as we should look for it. That, and you have a top copper friend who has told you this is fact.



"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.

This item was edited on Monday, 20th February 2012, 11:33

Anyone see the news last week about the bus driver who got jailed for 17 months for knocking a cyclist off his bike after an arguement

Quote:
The original 42pcenter MD says...
"99.9%" utter balls. Typical Paull bollocks. No doubt you have seen the figures to back this up on on another forum that you wont post a link to as we should look for it. That, and you have a top copper friend who has told you this is fact.

Oh please. If you lived here you would back me up 100%. It is not what I want to say, just pure fact. We do live in an area with a Uni` & one of the biggest foreign schools area in the country, but having said that the older english riders seem to be just the same. I do have a pushbike in Spain, as the roads where we are in Spain are great for a pushbike. I have lights, mudguards etc, etc & I indicate when I go left or right & so on, I don`t ride on the pavement.

You are honestly saying that of 1000 cyclists you see, only 1 will have lighter coloured clothing. Its FACTS like that, that stop me from taking anything you say seriously.



"Talking`s for lesbians" Psycho Paul 2011.