Cyclists - worst behaved and most hated of all road users

[PK99]

We need more police and police out there nicking people, car drivers, cyclists anyone who breaks the rules of the road.
Nail them, fine em, crush bikes or cars for doing the wrong thing.
We need zero tolerance NOW!

That battle was lost when speed cameras became the default option.

More cameras + less patrols = more income + lower costs + lower control of non speeding offences by all types of road user

 

[Crankarm]

Sorry Crankarm: was it not you that recently got pushed into a nettle bush by a car? Also you that does not ride the roads anymore because of inconsiderate car drivers?
A la "Boris Bajic" here: "I might be wrong, but ..."

Indeed I was waiting for some one to mention this. It was totally unprovoked by a Fenland redneck who drove off leaving me at the side of the road. I am not saying motorists as a group aren't without loons as well, but given there are supposed to be 22 million cars in Britain proportionately there are far more careful considerate driver than there are careful considerate cyclists IME. Each group still has it's loons. I seem to attract them which is why I don't ride on the roads but GBW and shared use paths only. I am quite comfortable with stopping/giving way to pedestrians as being able to cycle is a priviliege.

 

[Hip Priest]

I see more blatant law-breaking by cyclists than I do by motorists. But then a bicycle is far less deadly than a motor vehicle.

 

[PK99]

I see more blatant law-breaking by cyclists than I do by motorists. But then a bicycle is far less deadly than a motor vehicle.

I agree and I'm confused by the attitudes of some here that seem able to hold in their head at the same time the thoughts that:

1. Motorists love their expensive boxes.
2. Motorists are aggressive loons happy to drive their expensive box into any convenient cyclist.

or more difficult still:

1 The roads are full of careless inconsiderate and down right dangerous drivers
2. Cycling is safe

 

[mickle]

I agree and I'm confused by the attitudes of some here that seem able to hold in their head at the same time the thoughts that:

1. Motorists love their expensive boxes.
2. Motorists are aggressive loons happy to drive their expensive box into any convenient cyclist.

or more difficult still:

1 The roads are full of careless inconsiderate and down right dangerous drivers
2. Cycling is safe

Are you really so easily confused?

 

[marzjennings]

It must be that time of year again but I now understand clearly why cyclists are such a hated group of road users. I'm a cylist and hate most of my fellow cyclists.

RLJing
Pavement riding amongst peds.
No lights, dressed in black.
Those with dazzling/flashing front lights. No effort to dip.
Riding through controlled crossings against red lights causing peds to scatter.
Jumping on or off pavements most frquently to avoid red lights.
Weaving in and out of traffic at speed.
Cycling wrong way along one way streets.
Leaving bikes anywhere causing obstructions.
Riding and dialling/texting.
Riding with headphones listening to music oblivious to what or who is around them.
Selfish, inconsiderate and when challenged abusive and aggressive.
No real idea of how to fit in with other road users.

All that must be the cause of the deaths of 18 ped's by cyclists between 2001 and 2009, bastard bloody cyclists.

So what were drivers doing to cause 3495 ped deaths in the same time period.

Yes I can see why cyclists are the real enemy here.

 

[Longshot]

enemy

Therein lies the problem.

 

[400bhp]

The title of this thread is really starting to bug me.

As I stated earlier it's the OP's personal opinion, yet it reads like a statement of fact.

 

[benb]

Indeed I was waiting for some one to mention this. It was totally unprovoked by a Fenland redneck who drove off leaving me at the side of the road. I am not saying motorists as a group aren't without loons as well, but given there are supposed to be 22 million cars in Britain proportionately there are far more careful considerate driver than there are careful considerate cyclists IME. Each group still has it's loons. I seem to attract them which is why I don't ride on the roads but GBW and shared use paths only. I am quite comfortable with stopping/giving way to pedestrians as being able to cycle is a priviliege.

I don't agree. I do see cyclists running red lights and cycling on pavements. However, in the majority of cases they are doing so quite carefully, whether or not you agree with their actions. Of the remainder, the RLJs are usually only putting themselves in danger.

Inconsiderate pavement cyclists, and ones that fly through pedestrian crossings are dicks though, no question, and I always shout at them.

However, I see many more car drivers running reds, and driving far more dangerously than cyclists.

It's more serious when a driver acts dangerously, as the consequences are worse. If we want safer roads, we should concentrate on those that bring the most danger first.

 

[thefollen]

I guess somebody has to have the unofficial title of 'worst behaved and most hated'. Let's be fair it's always going to be the cyclist due to being (generally) the slowest group of vehicles, the most maneuverability and lack of traceability, allowing for potential rule bending/breaking.

If segways were ever made road legal I guarantee they'd be the undisputed champ.

 

[gambatte]

whether or not you agree with their actions. Of the remainder, the RLJs are usually only putting themselves in danger.

Ignoring the fact that I'm someone who's actually been hit on a ped crossing, by someone who decided to ignore the fact that the cars had already stopped at the red and sail straight through as the lights were green and the 'beeps' were going.....
There's more than one kind of danger. OK physical danger to the cyclist. It's what we mainly seem to consider.... What about financial and psychological danger to any driver and/or witness in case of a collision?

 

[400bhp]

Ignoring the fact that I'm someone who's actually been hit on a ped crossing, by someone who decided to ignore the fact that the cars had already stopped at the red and sail straight through as the lights were green and the 'beeps' were going.....
There's more than one kind of danger. OK physical danger to the cyclist. It's what we mainly seem to consider.... What about financial and psychological danger to any driver and/or witness in case of a collision?

+ family members of the injured/dead, + witnesses, + family of the driver who hit the cyclist, etc etc.

 

[benb]

Ignoring the fact that I'm someone who's actually been hit on a ped crossing, by someone who decided to ignore the fact that the cars had already stopped at the red and sail straight through as the lights were green and the 'beeps' were going.....
There's more than one kind of danger. OK physical danger to the cyclist. It's what we mainly seem to consider.... What about financial and psychological danger to any driver and/or witness in case of a collision?

You saw the word "usually", right?

The number of cyclists involved in a collision after RLJ is tiny. I don't agree with RLJ at all, but I do feel it is blown out of all proportion.

 

[cd365]

You saw the word "usually", right?

The number of cyclists involved in a collision after RLJ is tiny. I don't agree with RLJ at all, but I do feel it is blown out of all proportion.

So car drivers can't break any rules of the road but cyclists can?

 

[Bromptonaut]

You saw the word "usually", right?
The number of cyclists involved in a collision after RLJ is tiny. I don't agree with RLJ at all, but I do feel it is blown out of all proportion.

Spot on. My daily ride is Euston to Chancery Lane. Far too many riders jump reds but they're practically all either kerbside turns or (eg junction of Russell Sq and Montague St) lights that sit on red for ages while there's no traffic. Illegal, but as a concern it's much more 'bringing the game into disrepute' than real danger to self/others.

OTOH at heavily trafficked junctions (eg Euston Road with Gordon St/Melton St) no motor vehicle ever stops at amber and pretty well every time one or two cross the line well after the red. Profesional drivers in busses or taxis are amongst the worst offenders.

A couple of time a month I go to meetings in Whitehall/Victoria. Parliament Sq/Gt George St is even worse than Euston Rd; taxis etc in the square just ignore the lights.