Giving a bad name...

[summerdays]

Yeah true.
But I hear other drivers talking about how ALL cyclists in oxford or Cambridge are terrible bla bla bla.. But its only a small minority.

But you don't hear the same being said about car drivers, that's a bit unfair really!

 

[martint235]

But you don't here the same being said about car drivers, that's a bit unfair really!

Unfortunately life isn't fair.

 

[Markymark]

For as long as the common perception is "all cyclists jump red lights, ride on pavements" etc persists we will not be taken seriously.

If we followed every law, I guarantee you we will be hated for other reasons, maybe made up laws, maybe the 'law of the road' which people in cars follow (quite different from the HC.) It makes no difference. We slow and inconvenience them. The law pressures them to alter their driving around us and they don't like it.

They will always find an excuse to get us off the road. Following the law is only one that they use. Road tax (sic) is another. Not wearing helmets a third. Having no insurance a fourth. Wobbling all over the road a fifth. Shall I go on?

 

[martint235]

If we followed every law, I guarantee you we will be hated for other reasons, maybe made up laws, maybe the 'law of the road' which people in cars follow (quite different from the HC.) It makes no difference. We slow and inconvenience them. The law pressures them to alter their driving around us and they don't like it.

They will always find an excuse to get us off the road. Following the law is only one that they use. Road tax (sic) is another. Not wearing helmets a third. Having no insurance a fourth. Wobbling all over the road a fifth. Shall I go on?

So let's work through them one at a time until there's none left. Otherwise you're suggesting we just maintain the status quo which isn't really doing anyone any favours is it?

 

[benb]

For as long as the common perception is "all cyclists jump red lights, ride on pavements" etc persists we will not be taken seriously. We can harp on on here about how this perception is incorrect (which it is) but it still stands. If all cyclists behaved impeccably, what would they beat us with? (although I accept we're never going to get to 100% impeccability)

As for resources, there's the self help option: Oi t**t you're giving me a bad name, stop being a daffodil (which is the approach I tend to use). If we want to put proper resources in then we self fund them by applying a zero tolerance to all traffic offences in an area. Fine the mobile phone users, fine the RLJers. Move around so that they never know when you're going to strike. Do it plain clothes (as I see they are doing with lorries at the moment to catch mobile phone use). Eventually I would hope you'd reach a situation where this no longer pays for itself and then you slowly wind it down a bit.

And if it wasn't "All cyclists jump red lights" which the people saying it don't even believe, it will be "all cyclists cycle in the middle of the road" or "cyclists don't pay road tax" or "all cyclists ignore cycle paths" or "cyclists don't wear helmets or high-vis" or "cyclists don't have insurance"
How are you going to deal with that?

Fact is, it's only a vocal minority that dislike cyclists, and they will continue to do so no matter what. Stopping cyclists from behaving badly, even if such a thing were possible, will not change that.

What will change it is simply more and more people cycling, and the ones that hate it dying out.

 

[benb]

Further, I'm not sure how you expect cyclists to follow every law, when we can't even get drivers to do it.
How are you going to achieve this? It's simply impossible.

 

[Markymark]

So let's work through them one at a time until there's none left. Otherwise you're suggesting we just maintain the status quo which isn't really doing anyone any favours is it?

They'll just make up more. I'd rather spend my time holding bad driving to account. You spend your time on cyclists PR.

 

[martint235]

Further, I'm not sure how you expect cyclists to follow every law, when we can't even get drivers to do it.
How are you going to achieve this? It's simply impossible.

So we don't even try??? That is such a depressing thought

I for one will continue to express my feelings to people who cycle like t**ts around me with the same level of assertiveness that I express my feelings to drivers who drive like t**ts in my vicinity

 

[Markymark]

So we don't even try??? That is such a depressing thought

We do try. Some just put our efforts into what we think will have the most benefit. For many on here, cycling PR is not it.

 

[benb]

So we don't even try??? That is such a depressing thought

I for one will continue to express my feelings to people who cycle like t**ts around me with the same level of assertiveness that I express my feelings to drivers who drive like t**ts in my vicinity

I don't condone bad cycling, but any energy expended in tackling it is a waste if you want improved road safety.
I care about the group of road users who actually pose a danger, and KSI thousands every year.

 

[raleighnut]

For as long as the common perception is "all cyclists jump red lights, ride on pavements" etc persists we will not be taken seriously. We can harp on on here about how this perception is incorrect (which it is) but it still stands. If all cyclists behaved impeccably, what would they beat us with? (although I accept we're never going to get to 100% impeccability)

As for resources, there's the self help option: Oi t**t you're giving me a bad name, stop being a daffodil (which is the approach I tend to use). If we want to put proper resources in then we self fund them by applying a zero tolerance to all traffic offences in an area. Fine the mobile phone users, fine the RLJers. Move around so that they never know when you're going to strike. Do it plain clothes (as I see they are doing with lorries at the moment to catch mobile phone use). Eventually I would hope you'd reach a situation where this no longer pays for itself and then you slowly wind it down a bit.

These are coming into use on Motorways,

 

[mustang1]

There was a piece in the Liverpool Echo a few weeks back interviewing local Deliveroo riders. All seemed decent young people trying to earn a crust in a hostile environment.
The comments section online was poisonous! All cyclists go through red lights. Don't pay road tax. Shouldn't be on the road....etc. Things will never change while the whole infrastructure is geared for motor vehicle use. We are seen as just objects that get in the way.

Agrees.

And another stupid thing is drivers don't mind being stuck behind other drivers, but being stuck behind cyclists. Like wth is that about.

Edit: typo

 

[mustang1]

I can't.If you know old school stuff on the railways you'd probably know that is not such a good idea.Got to live with it,that's the way it goes.
What did I get called the other week by a certain individual...Oh yeah a Nazi cyclist.
Some of it is obviously there to cause upset...Another one (an ex cabbie) goes on about how he will run over cyclists...I just ignore it as they just want a reaction.

Have you tried marking your territory like Jack Nicholson does in Wolf?

 

[jefmcg]

So we don't even try??? That is such a depressing thought

Not compared to the sisyphean task of pleasing every driver who hates us. How to we address the road tax accusation? The no-hi-viz/helmet issue? The bicycle don't belong on the road/bicycles don't belong on the pavement dilemma? The you're-not-allowed-to-ride-2-abreast misunderstanding? I'd rather stick to problems that have solutions.

@martint235 : making the world a better place by shouting misogynistic slurs, one stranger at a time.

 

[screenman]

A lot of us are motorists.