Dealing with anti cyclists

[pollyru]

Hi I have cycled for many many years in Bristol. I love it but when I get an angry comment like I just received whilst crossing on a pedestrian crossing on a bike rather than being in the flow of traffic “bloody cyclists you should be on the road” it just gets me down and I take it very personally. You can’t win I feel in the way on the road and unwelcome on a pedestrian crossing. How do people deal with the negativity?

 

[Bristolian]

Personally I just ignore them as if I didn't hear the comment. Water off a duck's back. No point doing anything else really.

Just out of curiosity, were you wheeling your bike across the crossing or riding it and was it purely a pedestrian or a Toucan or Parallel crossing?

 

[raleighnut]

Impossible to win, if you're on the pavement some dickhead will shout "Get on the road" and if you're on the road another lowlife will shout "Get on the pavement". Just ignore them but be aware with the weather how it is most people are 'ratty'

 

[Drago]

I have spent years developing a response for such a scenario.

I just tell them to eff off.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Smile sweetly, blow them a kiss, wish them a lovely day.

 

[PK99]

Hi I have cycled for many many years in Bristol. I love it but when I get an angry comment like I just received whilst crossing on a pedestrian crossing on a bike rather than being in the flow of traffic “bloody cyclists you should be on the road” it just gets me down and I take it very personally. You can’t win I feel in the way on the road and unwelcome on a pedestrian crossing. How do people deal with the negativity?

It depends on the type of crossing.

Toucan, or similar, ie shared crossing, point out their error.

Zebra crossing, ie pedestrian crossing, - do not cycle across

 

[ianrauk]

I give aholes the finger...simples.
Try not to take it personally. They are just idiotic mouth breathers. They won't listen to or understand any reasoning.

 

[pollyru]

Ok thanks everyone I feel better today i have to admit I was in the wrong for cycling across I should have got off and pushed as has been pointed out. I think what bugged me so bad is I want to be on the road but sometimes feel like i’m taking my life in my hands so chose the crossing that day and got abused for it

 

[pollyru]

I give aholes the finger...simples.
Try not to take it personally. They are just idiotic mouth breathers. They won't listen to or understand any reasoning.

🤣

 

[markemark]

You can't win an argument with people with that mentality. So just let it go.
People change when they get in a car.

 

[MontyVeda]

I deal with it in one of three ways

1. Ignore them
2. Tell them to fark orf
3. Tell them to get a life

But I've not had to deal with such negativity for years, so maybe they've all taken point number three?

 

[flammerouge]

I could get into an argument every day but I choose not to. Aside from ignoring them, I'd recommend the following question:

Do you mean to tell me that you don't oen a bike?

 

[mustang1]

I have spent years developing a response for such a scenario.

I just tell them to eff off.

As did I on Dunwich Dynamo day when some driver thought I shouldn't be on the road even though I was travelling at the same speed as traffic. He got extra annoyed when the traffic slowed down and I filtered through. He sre was testing how strong his car horn was!

 

[Electric_Andy]

I found ignoring them was the best option. once I got into retort mode, I started to lose my rag and was then angry and anxious for the rest of the day

 

[presta]

In incidents that involve emergency braking I generally turn the air blue at the top of my voice, but for comments I usually ignore them. One exception was a cyclist who called me a weirdo. After I asked him what his problem was it ended with him slapping me around the face trying to goad me into a fist fight.

I give aholes the finger...simples.

A motorist I did that to got me in a headlock and threatened to cave my head in with a hammer.