Hold the line!!

[jonny jeez]

Is it me?....am I becoming a cycle snob?

Am I the only one who finds it’s a bit "rude" when other cyclist insist on "pushing" past you when you are standing at the lights and popping themselves down right in front of your wheel.

Why?

They do it time and time again and each time I ( and other slightly quicker riders) need to swing wide to overtake them from the lights, putting myself in a more exposed position).

When I find myself riding behind another, I hold the same position at the lights, that way we continue without issue, why do slower riders insist on forcing their way through to the front, just to cause a "kerfuffle" when the lights turn green.

I had a chap literally shuffle (with both feet down) through the "throng" every time along the myriad of lights at Kennington this morning, only to stumble and wobble from the lights sending the rest of the riders (some much faster than me and some much slower) to scatter in all directions.

Don’t you now that we Brits like to queue?

 

[BentMikey]

Annoying yes, but also you're much safer and better to be out wide and taking the lane anyway. It might feel more exposed, but is exactly where is usually best through any junction.

 

[ianrauk]

It is very annoying. Had this happen on Monday in Rushey Green.. At the lights a cyclist(?) I overtook earlier decided to weave around and plonk himself in front of me. He got called a very rude name.

 

[BentMikey]

p.s. having a whirling chainsaw on the front of your bike is a great disincentive to them.

 

[HaloJ]

Annoys the hell out of me as well Jonny. Just because I'm a girl on a heavy looking hyrbid with bags does not mean that I'm going to be slow off the lights so please be polite and stop pulling in front of me at every set of lights that I've beaten you to for the last 3 miles. *sigh* It was nicer this morning as all the fair weather cyclists were cowering on the Tube at the thought of being caught in a light shower. I have on only one occasion had a word with one of the said cyclists but that was only a "you better be quicker than me". I tend these days to sit futher out as Mikey suggests as I'm up to 18-20mph quick enough to get past them and not "cause an obstuction" to the car drivers behind. Even if I get to a junction late and I'm sure that I'll be quicker I hang back in a polite manner. Roll on winter! :?

 

[jonny jeez]

Annoying yes, but also you're much safer and better to be out wide and taking the lane anyway. It might feel more exposed, but is exactly where is usually best through any junction.

fair point...but its the feeling of rudeness that bug's me more than any inconvenience, they would do it in a queue at Tescos.

I've noticed it a whole lot more since the weather has improved, so I assume that most "experienced" or regular riders just keep a polite position and that these few are the years newer riders

 

[jonny jeez]

Annoys the hell out of me as well Jonny. Just because I'm a girl on a heavy looking hyrbid with bags does not mean that I'm going to be slow off the lights so please be polite and stop pulling in front of me at every set of lights that I've beaten you to for the last 3 miles. *sigh* It was nicer this morning as all the fair weather cyclists were cowering on the Tube at the thought of being caught in a light shower. I have on only one occasion had a word with one of the said cyclists but that was only a "you better be quicker than me". :?

Exactly...(only without the whole girl bit)...I'm so glad its not just me then.

 

[potsy]

I'm lucky if there's 1 other cyclist at any of the lights I get to,And that's on a 9 mile commute.If there are any I wouldn't dream of pushing in,I mean what's the rush for.
I once had a guy do it to me though,I'm at the front of the ASL,lights on red,he decides to come past me and then went out into 'no mans land' just missing the cars coming from the right,this is with a cop car sat behind me tooBy now he's 10 yards in front soon as the lights changed I caught and passed him in about 5 seconds

 

[Moodyman]

A mature (ish) fair weather cyclist went past and RLJ'd me and the vehicles behind this morning.

Shot past him 100 yards later - didn't say anything to him but I think he realised that he looked a prat.

 

[StuartG]

There is the problem that if you come late and filter through the traffic to find the area in front already occupied by other cyclists. Often the only safe option is to go in front of them. One could ask them to shuffle forward but with the attendant clip/de-clipping its easier to jump the queue.

And no it wasn't me at Rushey Green this morning ...

 

[jonny jeez]

There is the problem that if you come late and filter through the traffic to find the area in front already occupied by other cyclists. Often the only safe option is to go in front of them. One could ask them to shuffle forward but with the attendant clip/de-clipping its easier to jump the queue.

And no it wasn't me at Rushey Green this morning ...

that's different Stuart. that happens a lot to me on Chitty and on my loud bike and I consider it my fault in either situation (poor road reading)

What I'm talking about is just a plain disregard for the "queue" and people continually (at every light) shuffling through to block other riders who are all neatly lined up and waiting patiently

 

[Rob3rt]

Yes, it is annoying, because they could quite easily and safely either file in behind you or to your side. If I can I will stop to the side of another cyclist then file in either in front or behind them depending on how fast they are off the line. If there is no room I would queue behind the cyclist whom is in the safest possition or in the cycle lane. I dont know if this is the correct way, but its how I perceive it to be polite and safe.

 

[HaloJ]

True enough Stuart. Wow, maybe there are just too many of us on the road now and we're experiencing our own congestion.

 

[John the Monkey]

It's the sandbar of idiocy.

http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2009/05/indignity-of-commuting-by-bicycle_12.html

This rule is as follows:

If you stop at a red light and there is already another cyclist waiting at it, you must stop your bicycle in front of the rider who is already there.

As far as I know, I am the only cyclist in New York who does not observe this rule, because while I'm quite happy to queue up behind somebody at an intersection, I have never, ever had somebody stop behind me.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Not trying to be awkward but this sounds very much akin to the "anyone else find it annoying when you are sat in your car and a bloody cyclist forces his way in front of you" argument....

I'd rather someone went in front of me than waited to the nearside of something waiting to hook or squeeze them.