But it's a public highway!

[Andrew_P]

My worst passes or aggressive drivers are normally am, and at points were two lanes converge in to one, and I would say the reason is due to them not wanting the car in the outer lane improving its position by one or around 5-10 second delay in their journey

 

[Tasker]

Colleague: But it's a public highway!

Me: Yes, it is. For use by the public, be they in cars, on horses, bikes or on foot.

Colleague: <silence>


It was a fairly good-natured conversation, but I did come out of it smiling on the inside. Sometimes you don't have to even try to win the argument, you just let the other person defeat themselves with their own logic.

yeah but logic don't count when your Colleague is bearing down on you surrounded with half a ton of steel.

Have you ever cycled on the roads? Keep smiling. You have of course, the higher moral ground.......

 

[david1701]

A horse could damage a car, unlikely a cyclist would (I'm sure that is the thought process of most drivers)

clearly ignoring my vindictive nature and access to a variety of blunt opbjects

 

[upsidedown]

Off at a tangent, the road my work is in has a Horse riding school, and I often wish motorists would show the same respect for my life on a bike as they do the the people riding the horse.

Not seen one incident of a motorist close passing and revving up they always pass wide and slow.

Horse riding is seen by drivers as an expensive hobby that is to be aspired to, cycling is seen as transport for people who can't afford cars, or horses.

It's like that old John Cleese and Ronnie Corbett sketch. They're not as good as horse-riders, but they're better than cyclists.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Raises a whole new issue. I know of one rather large cyclist who after having an altercation with a driver searched the streets for hours until he found the car. He then proceeded to turn it on it's roof and smash every window. Extreme I know but in reality nobody has a real idea of how another person be they a driver, cyclist, rider, or ped, will respond.

clearly ignoring my vindictive nature and access to a variety of blunt opbjects

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Another tangent, I had my worse pass in a long time yesterday by a large Horseboxvan. I've no idea if it was full or not but I would have thought they would understand better about passing vulnerable road users.

I should think many horse riders absolutely hate us as cyclists. I used to do a lot of cycling in the surrey hills, up and down bridal paths all the time (before children – when i had time!!)

When horse riders came the other way i would stop and pull over to let them past – pretty much every time the riders would be quite genuinely shocked (and pleased) that a cyclist had even bothered to slow down let alone stop – they were always polite and we’d sometimes have a chat – most of the riders had far more trouble from cyclists than they ever did from car drivers when out riding on the road

 

[Glow worm]

When I came back to cycling in around 1990 or so, I asked a horse rider I approached from behind how best to pass horses and she said always ring your bell. So next time I approached another horse from behind, I rang my bell and got loads of abuse from the rider! I guess as long as you slow right down, give them plenty of room and somehow make sure they know you are approaching, that's fine. (maybe a call or something. AirZound maybe a bit OTT!).

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I should think many horse riders absolutely hate us as cyclists. I used to do a lot of cycling in the surrey hills, up and down bridal paths all the time (before children – when i had time!!)

When horse riders came the other way i would stop and pull over to let them past – pretty much every time the riders would be quite genuinely shocked (and pleased) that a cyclist had even bothered to slow down let alone stop – they were always polite and we’d sometimes have a chat – most of the riders had far more trouble from cyclists than they ever did from car drivers when out riding on the road

I remember when I did my first Audax, descending a hill in Shropshire in the company of two other cyclists. At the bottom of the hill were two horse riders. I slowed right down to pass them and was surprised to see the other two cyclists pass the horses at speed as if they weren't there. The two horse riders didn't even notice me passing wide and slow, they were too busy trying to get their horses back under control. We cyclists shouldn't be too ready to occupy the moral high ground.

 

[Melonfish]

My regular commute home is past a riding school, i regularly pass horses, i just give a shout "Cyclist passing" slow down and give them a wide pass. never had a prob.
they take out new horses to get them used to the road, walking them etc so its important not to spook em.
never had a complaint yet
pete

 

[BentMikey]

Totally agree on the horse rider treatment by cyclists - this, however, is my usual approach:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-tg2hjbGP0

 

[mickle]

The official best way to interact with a horse is to talk to it - then it knows you're a human. Simpels.

 

[funnymummy]

Granted.I guess I should have said serious damage lol. There are a few cars driving around that have my first mark on them as well

There's a couple with size 8 dents in their passengers sides round here too

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Good for you

There's a couple with size 8 dents in their passengers sides round here too

 

[davefb]

It is strange how these conversations go. I had a driver come up from behind, cut me up and force me to the kerb at a pinch point, so sounded my horn. When we spoke at the lights, he said at one point "the roads are for us all to share!". I don't think he had seen the irony even after we parted company.

I had a conversation with a relative where she was arguing that cycles shouldn't be on the road. At one point she said that the roads just aren't wide enough. I said that my vehicle is less than 2 feet wide, and asked how wide hers is. Didn't get an answer to that.

to be fair, on my morning commute, i was thinking

in a way , i actually see less aggressive driving when cycling... on a motorway it is amazing how close someone will get at 80mph,, just to try and barge and get those extra 10seconds past..

so its no wonder that this same behaviour is exhibited when near cyclists... its just 'how a lot of people drive' ( not everyone , but a good number).

i quite often think, 'mate, you're driving quicker than my bike, but i bet you'd be annoyed if when I was driving and i got behind you i was flashing , beeping , or just doing a bad overtake trying to get past because you're in the way of me' , its wierd logic because obviously its FAR easier to pass a bike than another car

meh, more cctv and some letters in the post for 'crap driving' imho

 

[Davidc]

Horses, Horse drawn vehicles, Pedestrians, Hand carts, Cyclists - all use the roads by right.

Motor vehicles (all types) are permitted to use the roads under licence.

Not sure how motorways and roads with prohibitions fit into this!