Cycling haters

[ade234uk]

I spent a great week in France last summer cycling and everyone was aware of us on our bikes. Cars gave way, people said well done and their was good respect for cyclists.

Since cycling back in the UK I must have had abuse shouted at me about 20 times. What is this poor attitude to cyclists. I don't ask for abuse, I follow the highway code, I am polite, If I need to go on the pavement I am careful.

Today's abuse was the last straw!! I needed to go on the pavement, and I was told by some twat "GET OFF THE FU*K*(G PAVEMENT"

I did not answer back and carried on my way. I just don't get the hate towards cyclists thats all. The attitude bloody stinks!!

 

[PaulB]

To be fair, even here, most people are fine but all us cyclists must have come across the to55ers out there. I was near home a few weeks ago and because I could by-pass the jam they were stuck in on my bike, one fat guy (more on this later) pulled wide to stop me passing with the words "I'll let you past when you pay road tax"!!! I got home and forgot about it but got my own back just two days later. I was driving up a hill passing some allotments and I saw the same guy (who was fat!) digging on his plot. I stopped the car and shouted across to him, "Hey, pal, can you see this?" pointing to my tax disc. "What you on abahht?" he bleated. "It's my tax disc mate. So you see, I do pay tax." He looked as gormless as he clearly was.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Today's abuse was the last straw!! I needed to go on the pavement, and I was told by some twat "GET OFF THE FU*K*(G PAVEMENT"

I'm sure many are thinking the same as me... but why did you need to go on the pavement? If you do go on it then you do run the risk of being shouted at. I cross a pavement en-route to work (about a 5m stretch) and do so at walking pace (but don't want to get off and walk as cleated shoes are not the best for this) and if there's anyone else trying to use the path I stop and give way to them. Never had any problems this way as I make it clear that they as peds have right of way over me.

 

[snorri]

I spent a great week in France last summer cycling and everyone was aware of us on our bikes. Cars gave way, people said well done and their was good respect for cyclists.

It's not only France.

 

[Aint Skeered]

I was in town (Horsham Sussex)last year,as everyone was making there way to work (I don't normally go in at that time, I might add)
I was amazed by how many people where cycling on the pavements,Im not talking Lycra Louts here, just Jo and Joanne public.
The cycle paths are crap in the area, many only lasting 50 metres
The park in the town, which is an ideal shortcut, has a no cycling rule.
So its obvious that people are going to take to the pavements.

I've noticed more and more while competing in road races, that even with lead cars, motorcycle outriders, marshalls, etc that you still get cars approaching as close to the bunch as possible, and at great speed.

I wonder what would happen if one of these idiots actually hit someone, causing injury or even death, would they just shrug it off, saying he should have paid his f*ckin road tax

 

[ianrauk]

It did happen, (drunk driver)
In the US

http://www.doobybrain.com/2008/06/03/photo-drunk-driver-hits-a-group-of-cyclists/

I wonder what would happen if one of these idiots actually hit someone, causing injury or even death, would they just shrug it off, saying he should have paid his f*ckin road tax

 

[Gooch]

Me and a mate out on a cycle the other week had the usual chav "Fu*king Wan*ers!" line shouted at us out of their ancient halfords clad Vauxhall Nova.

Probably on the way back from the Jeremy Kyle show!

 

[Funtboy]

I spent a great week in France last summer cycling and everyone was aware of us on our bikes. Cars gave way, people said well done and their was good respect for cyclists.

Since cycling back in the UK I must have had abuse shouted at me about 20 times. What is this poor attitude to cyclists. I don't ask for abuse, I follow the highway code, I am polite, If I need to go on the pavement I am careful.

Today's abuse was the last straw!! I needed to go on the pavement, and I was told by some twat "GET OFF THE FU*K*(G PAVEMENT"

I did not answer back and carried on my way. I just don't get the hate towards cyclists thats all. The attitude bloody stinks!!

After months of hardly any abuse, I've been involved in 4 stand-up arguments in the last three weeks, none of which were inititiated by me. I used to just keep my head down but I don't now and am happy to bellow at anyone who gives me shoot (if they are in the wrong!).

 

[grhm]

I too think that some people in this coutry have an appalling attitude to cyclists - but I don't think its the majority - most just don't care. We shouldn't suffer abuse just because we're on the road going about our business.

I do however think being yelled at to get off the pavement is perfectly reasonable (the language however isn't). Pavement cycling is illegal (AIUI) and *some* pavement cyclists cycle at speed and with no regard to others - not saying you are inconciderate, but you are being tarred with the same brush.

I have had a couple of incidents recently with youths/school kids nearly hitting me and/or my 3yr old. I accept that small kids cycle on the pavement out of fear/lack of road sense (but they should not be careering round corners at speed). Once you get to a certain point, you should not be on the pavement - if you are, you should be no faster than walking pace and giving way to every pedestrian.

Sorry to pick on the pavement cycling, but it's a my little hot topic at the moment.

 

[adscrim]

Must say that I'm in agreement with grhm. If you're on the pavement, or indeed you're doing any of the other multitude of things 'cyclist' do that endanger either themselves or others, then you're fair game (for the verbal stuff).

I've shouted at a few pavement cyclists myself! Partly because of them being far too close to my kids and partly because I hold them responsible for the attitude I get on the road when not breaking any traffic laws.

 

[summerdays]

Although its in the highway code to not cycle on the pavements, a cyclist may in defence use the arguement that they were afraid to cycle on the road (some ruling - I think its listed on the CTC site). But if they are cycling on the pavement then they must be doing so considerately.

I've asked various policemen/women about this and usually they would be unlikely to give a fixed penalty notice to those that were cycling slowly and with consideration for pedestrians though they might ask them to explain why.

 

[very-near]

To be fair, even here, most people are fine but all us cyclists must have come across the to55ers out there. I was near home a few weeks ago and because I could by-pass the jam they were stuck in on my bike, one fat guy (more on this later) pulled wide to stop me passing with the words "I'll let you past when you pay road tax"!!! I got home and forgot about it but got my own back just two days later. I was driving up a hill passing some allotments and I saw the same guy (who was fat!) digging on his plot. I stopped the car and shouted across to him, "Hey, pal, can you see this?" pointing to my tax disc. "What you on abahht?" he bleated. "It's my tax disc mate. So you see, I do pay tax." He looked as gormless as he clearly was.

 

[Gromit]

I loved the integrated foot and cycle paths in Germany, when I went to the Spezi show at the weekend. I was also amazed when I came up to a junction and people in cars stopped to let us cross. Why cant we have something like that in the UK?

Britain is so backward...

 

[Arch]

I loved the integrated foot and cycle paths in Germany, when I went to the Spezi show at the weekend. I was also amazed when I came up to a junction and people in cars stopped to let us cross. Why cant we have something like that in the UK?

Britain is so backward...

Because we're rapidly becoming a shithole.... I reckon I'll emigrate once I've saved up and decided between France, Denmark, Holland and Germany - and I've never even been to Holland or Germany yet!

I agree about pavment cycling - unless it's a shared use path, don't do it. No reason for such a level of abuse from others, but one can't really take the moral high ground while breaking the law.

 

[Gromit]

Pavement cycling is one of my pet hates, I don't do it, so why should I take all the c**p for people who do?