Cyclist Abuse

[Davidsw8]

Just saw this news bit on Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/201...n_2143133.html?utm_hp_ref=uk#slide=more263769

The President of the AA is equating the abuse aimed at cyclists to racial abuse. I've never been the victim of this personally but wondered if anyone else had?

I think there's room for education on both sides but it concerns me that motorists would intentionally drive close to cyclists for the sole purpose of scaring them!

 

[ComedyPilot]

It scares me as much (if not more) that motorists can do this, then fall back on the tried and tested excuse, "I didn't see him/her", and are (and have have been) readily believed by the authorities.

 

[CopperCyclist]

It scares me as much (if not more) that motorists can do this, then fall back on the tried and tested excuse, "I didn't see him/her", and are (and have have been) readily believed by the authorities.

It's not that they are believed, it's that it's impossible to prove otherwise. The same sort of problem applies with most crimes. Don't confuse the criminals lie being effective with it actually being believed by anyone!

 

[ComedyPilot]

Going out for a ride. Back later (hopefully) to discuss this.

 

[RaRa]

I've never been the victim of this personally but wondered if anyone else had?

Try adding "obese or overweight" into the mix and it's ten times worse.

In the first year I cycled I was pushed off the bike by a passenger (who turned out to be a 10 year old egged on by his dad), had two drinks thrown out of windows at me, spat at, reversed into and called every "fat" name under the sun. Since I lost 6 stone it's all stopped, still get the odd close pass though.

 

[Davidsw8]

Try adding "obese or overweight" into the mix and it's ten times worse.

In the first year I cycled I was pushed off the bike by a passenger (who turned out to be a 10 year old egged on by his dad), had two drinks thrown out of windows at me, spat at, reversed into and called every "fat" name under the sun. Since I lost 6 stone it's all stopped, still get the odd close pass though.

Crikey, sorry to hear that. Maybe this is one thing that's not as bad for cyclists in London as outside of London?

 

[Boris Bajic]

I think that up to a point it does sometimes approach an almost tribal division.

I see it on both sides of the 'divide'. There are vitriolic and zealous anti-car loons on bicycles as well as cycle-hating motorists.

Luckily for the rest of us, both groups are few in number.

Sometimes, access to a keyboard and a modem makes it all seem a little worse than it is.

 

[addictfreak]

I have had a few experiences.

An open can of beer thrown at me from a passing car, rear seat passenger.

Water (I think) squirted at me by front seat passenger

Verbal abuse by fools who think you have no right on the road. One day a guy travelling in the opposite direction felt the need to slow down and shout something

These have taken place over a number of years, and it's certainly not the norm. I cover many hundreds of trouble free miles.

 

[Hitchington]

It's true. I was riding to work the other morning and was 5 mins into my 60 min journey with a car coming the opposite way on a quiet residential road. The driver slowed down as we neared each other, lowered his window and spat at me. He then speed off. I thought about reporting it but seeing as none of his bronchial effluent actually went on me or my bike what proof did I have of him doing it? Anyway I forgot all about it 20 mins later when some one in a van tried to run me into some parked cars.

 

[Davidsw8]

It's true. I was riding to work the other morning and was 5 mins into my 60 min journey with a car coming the opposite way on a quiet residential road. The driver slowed down as we neared each other, lowered his window and spat at me. He then speed off. I thought about reporting it but seeing as none of his bronchial effluent actually went on me or my bike what proof did I have of him doing it? Anyway I forgot all about it 20 mins later when some one in a van tried to run me into some parked cars.

That's a massively disproportionate level of hate directed at someone doing something pretty innocuous - this is pretty shocking I must say.

 

[clarion]

He was just trying to give a DNA sample.

 

[Maylian]

I've been on the receiving end a few times but nothing much, normally my size and physical presence quells the situation. I've had a few nice experiences on my ride home with car passengers egging me on to speed up and race them and being surprised I can keep up for at least part of the journey

 

[Hitchington]

That's a massively disproportionate level of hate directed at someone doing something pretty innocuous - this is pretty shocking I must say.

I was shocked. I couldn't think why he would do this, unless he was innocently clearing out his throat after kindly slowing down for me to pass safely. I've had fellow cyclists overtake me and then clear their nose out unwittingly spraying me with snot in the process before powering off, so it could have been just an innocent mistake. But I'm not so sure...

 

[Davidsw8]

I was shocked. I couldn't think why he would do this, unless he was innocently clearing out his throat after kindly slowing down for me to pass safely. I've had fellow cyclists overtake me and then clear their nose out unwittingly spraying me with snot in the process before powering off, so it could have been just an innocent mistake. But I'm not so sure...

I admire your glass half full optimism there H but I don't think it's normal to 'hock a loogie' outta one's window when driving. Though it's pretty foul to clear one's passages in any way except into a handkerchief whilst out in public anyway.

 

[Hitchington]

I admire your glass half full optimism there H but I don't think it's normal to 'hock a loogie' outta one's window when driving. Though it's pretty foul to clear one's passages in any way except into a handkerchief whilst out in public anyway.

It's not the first time someone has spat at me out of a car window, but the previous it happened time I was walking down the road proudly wearing a Watford FC top, so some may say I deserved it that time