Cycling motorists

[HJ]

Well here a turn up for the books, motorist are being urged to give up the car and start cycling by the Institute of Advanced Motorists

Apparently about 50% of motorists own a bicycle and two in five cycle regularly, and both cycling and non-cycling motorists agreed that the experience of cycling makes drivers more careful. So how come when they are in there car the ba$tards treat us so badly?

 

[PBancroft]

So how come when they are in their car the ba$tards treat us so badly?

Most don't.

 

[thomas]

Most don't.

+1...two in five cycle regularly according the your stats.

 

[Davidc]

The whole point is that those who do use the bike drive better - and that has to include behaviour to all other road users - including you HJ.

I notice when on the bike that there is a proportion of drivers who behave better than most, and it even includes some WVM. I often wonder if they're bicycle riders as well as drivers!

 

[ComedyPilot]

The whole point is that those who do use the bike drive better - and that has to include behaviour to all other road users - including you HJ.

I notice when on the bike that there is a proportion of drivers who behave better than most, and it even includes some WVM. I often wonder if they're bicycle riders as well as drivers!

Eureka!!

 

[HLaB]

Most don't.

Yip IME about 50% are great (maybe the 50% who have a bike), 40% don't do much wrong, about 9% give me just enough room and its only about 1% that seem vindictive.

 

[John Ponting]

^ +1

I have long advocated 2 wheel experience first, then a motorbike or scooter to learn about road surfaces and wet weather the a car provisional.

Never going to happen but there would be less drivers on the road as some wouldn't ever grasp the concept of balancing a bike and few would get as far as passing a motorbike test.

Should declare my interests - I have cycled since taught by an Italian POW in very early 1950s, ridden motorbikes since I was 16 and still doing it today, cars since I was about 18. Never had a moving accident and only a single speeding ticket that expired 8 years ago. Keen fan of advanced training. Very opposed to the popular (on cycling forums) Us & Them attitude.

 

[semislickstick]

Does anyone know if drivers how are IAM get treated better in traffic accidents....if it was 50/50. I wonder if that kind of training would help cyclists improve that auto-blame treatment that seems to go on. (or is it only going to be video evidence that proves that, either way)

 

[bexcycles]

Not sure about that one. Video evidence is always the best way though as it removes any doubt

 

[gavintc]

If you consider the number of cars that come past you and give you space and then consider the proportion of dickhead drivers. The problem is actually a tiny %age of all car drivers. Most are reasonable, but we remember the problem children more.

 

[XmisterIS]

^^^ I agree. The 99% that overtake sensibly are unremarkable, it's the 1% selfish, self-centred tosspots who we remember.

 

[Davidc]

Trouble is that 1% of drivers cause 99% of the problems - and not just to cyclists.

 

[Dan B]

^ +1

I have long advocated 2 wheel experience first, then a motorbike or scooter to learn about road surfaces and wet weather the a car provisional.

What do you learn about road surfaces and wet weather on a motorbike that a pedal cycle doesn't teach?

I used to think that universal two-wheeled-first would be a good idea, but then I moved to London and observed that the pushiest, least tolerant, and most arrogant drivers on the roads were all ex-moped riders. So now I'm not so sure. Maybe they only do the Knowledge trips on dry days, or something: there were certainly loads of them out yesterday

 

[jonny jeez]

Well here a turn up for the books, motorist are being urged to give up the car and start cycling by the Institute of Advanced Motorists

Apparently about 50% of motorists own a bicycle and two in five cycle regularly, and both cycling and non-cycling motorists agreed that the experience of cycling makes drivers more careful. So how come when they are in there car the ba$tards treat us so badly?

That'll be me then1....or at least part of that 50% will have been me (now worried that I'm being stalked by some statistic junkie...another memo to me, must wear disguise when riding).

As far as making me more careful...this is totally true, I consider myself (in retrospect) to be have been pretty poor at careing about cyclist's before I ran the gauntlet myself each day.

My driving (limited as it now is) has changed dramatically as a consequence.

Jonny

 

[John the Monkey]

I don't think it's just driving around vulnerable road users that improves.

I found that my ability to "read" a road properly and anticipate what action to take improved dramatically after I'd started cycling - much less heavy braking, less impatience.

Two in five cycling regularly? Could be, I suppose. Some of those, I'd guess, will be the ones whose cycling involves putting bikes on the roof and taking them to a low traffic/traffic free route.

I'm not sure I buy the percentages given by other posters regarding "sensible" vs not so drivers. Most will give you room if it's expedient to do so. A smaller number will give you room if it inconveniences them slightly (waiting until after pinch points &c). I don't think many are actively mailcious, i think the majority don't anticipate properly and don't care. There's also the manic impatience that seems to characterise British roads - I'm frequently overtaken (safely and otherwise) by drivers who then stop and wait to turn right, or join a queue of traffic, or sit at a red light, often no more than 50 or a 100 yards ahead.

As for car vs bike - It's about using the right tool for the job. People will take the car instead of walking a mile. They'll take the car into city centres and then gripe about becoming stuck in narrow streets & traffic. Most don't realise how easy it is to do three or four miles on a bike (provided one isn't physically infirm, or needing to carry something large and heavy).