The right thing is a big deal. We have the right to walk along or across the road, or to ride a bicycle on it. We do not have the right to drive a motor vehicle on it. Driving a motor vehicle on the highway is better appreciated as similar to possessing or using a firearm - something that one might be granted permission to do if there is a need, but that should not be allowed to interfere with others' rights to use the highway.
How to get along with other drivers
- Thread starter Garethgas
- Start date
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The right thing is a big deal. We have the right to walk along or across the road, or to ride a bicycle on it. We do not have the right to drive a motor vehicle on it. Driving a motor vehicle on the highway is better appreciated as similar to possessing or using a firearm - something that one might be granted permission to do if there is a need, but that should not be allowed to interfere with others' rights to use the highway.
RedRider
Pulling through
- Location
- Location Embrocation
You should've twatted him.
snorri
Legendary Member
- Location
- East coast, up a bit.
No I'm up north, we are just not so touchy feely as you southerners
[QUOTE 2917742, member: 9609"]I'm wondering if some people (5% ish ?) have some weird mental problem with the wheel. This thread seems to be banging on about the idiot motorist, but I tend to think there are as many idiot cyclists (look at the audi thread that 400:1 chance when two idiots meet) Fair enough an idiot cyclist does not present the same dangers as an idiot in an articulated truck, but it's still an idiot in control of a vehicle that possesses wheels.
Now in terms of transport as in getting from A to B, I can't recall ever seeing a pedestrian or horse rider going stupidly fast, or loosing all self control at being delayed for 3 seconds, getting all wound up at the use of fog lights when its not foggy, or over use / under use of indicators. So is all the irrational idiocy that we see on a daily basis on the road have any connection to the wheel ?[/quote]
Road rage innit. You don't really get pavement rage.
Now in terms of transport as in getting from A to B, I can't recall ever seeing a pedestrian or horse rider going stupidly fast, or loosing all self control at being delayed for 3 seconds, getting all wound up at the use of fog lights when its not foggy, or over use / under use of indicators. So is all the irrational idiocy that we see on a daily basis on the road have any connection to the wheel ?[/quote]
Road rage innit. You don't really get pavement rage.
Puddles
Do I need to get the spray plaster out?
- Location
- Hamble, Southampton
People are people and not always nice people, whatever their mode of getting from A to B, people will be and act in accordance with a whole range of emotions and sense of "rightness" (as in they are in the right).
Walking (High winds heavy rain) to the school the other day with User76 to go to a function with Squidge was a warm fuzzy day, as there are large puddles all along the road next to the only path up to the school, every single motorist, tankers, trucks, vans & cars alike slowed down and moved round the puddles upon seeing me, I was a smilley happy waving noddy thank you-ing pedestrian. This was a lovely heart warming pootle to the school. I was glad we did not arrive drenched head to toe in muddy puddle water.
However, another time, every single motorist will go through the puddles on the school run making it look like all the parents and smaller children are having a mud wrestling after party in the playground. They are not small puddles and at speed they create a wall of water that literally soaks you head to toe.
Sometimes herd mentality kicks in, if one does it they all follow suit.
It should be noted that the oil & fuel tanker drivers from the depot in the village (in my experience) always slow and never drive through the puddles. They also give me lots of room when cycling, they slow right down keep far back not snort up my bum and overtake on the other side of the road.
I think in big cities there it is most likely a lot of stress and eek cycling or driving, I have driven through London once, it was quite an experience. I know there are some places where even in driving you can slow down, let people cross roads, let people out, all happy smiley and then their are some places where if you are "nice" and let someone out you will end up with eleventy millions cars taking advantage of that.
I think is is plain stupidity and dangerous in today's world to get into a confrontation with another traveler of any description, whether wheeled, motorised or pedestrian but I can also understand after a close pass or brush that the fight or flight might kick in and the red mist descends but you do not know all the time that it was deliberate, people are not perfect, mistakes happen, accidents happen, escalating a simple mistake into damaging things and blood being spilled deliberately a ridiculous stance to take as your default response.
I don't ride in the gutter and I am still a "learner" but I ride along, and make sure when I need to move out I peer lots behind me and then move out, I don't stay in the middle of the road unless I need to, I will pull off the road if I create a long queue of traffic cos I don't cycle very fast, I mostly cycle in a small area, I am very memorable and noticeable and I don't want to promote anger towards me out of frustration of drivers at getting stuck behind me at 5 mph. That said I am not a big city cyclist I am a small village and the bits in between them cyclist, albeit that the only road into the village is one of the busiest B roads in the country.
Share the road nicely, be nice to others and hope they will be nice back, if you try and tackle aggression with aggression the whole situation gets worse, I could be wrong but that is my two pennys for what it is worth.
Walking (High winds heavy rain) to the school the other day with User76 to go to a function with Squidge was a warm fuzzy day, as there are large puddles all along the road next to the only path up to the school, every single motorist, tankers, trucks, vans & cars alike slowed down and moved round the puddles upon seeing me, I was a smilley happy waving noddy thank you-ing pedestrian. This was a lovely heart warming pootle to the school. I was glad we did not arrive drenched head to toe in muddy puddle water.
However, another time, every single motorist will go through the puddles on the school run making it look like all the parents and smaller children are having a mud wrestling after party in the playground. They are not small puddles and at speed they create a wall of water that literally soaks you head to toe.
Sometimes herd mentality kicks in, if one does it they all follow suit.
It should be noted that the oil & fuel tanker drivers from the depot in the village (in my experience) always slow and never drive through the puddles. They also give me lots of room when cycling, they slow right down keep far back not snort up my bum and overtake on the other side of the road.
I think in big cities there it is most likely a lot of stress and eek cycling or driving, I have driven through London once, it was quite an experience. I know there are some places where even in driving you can slow down, let people cross roads, let people out, all happy smiley and then their are some places where if you are "nice" and let someone out you will end up with eleventy millions cars taking advantage of that.
I think is is plain stupidity and dangerous in today's world to get into a confrontation with another traveler of any description, whether wheeled, motorised or pedestrian but I can also understand after a close pass or brush that the fight or flight might kick in and the red mist descends but you do not know all the time that it was deliberate, people are not perfect, mistakes happen, accidents happen, escalating a simple mistake into damaging things and blood being spilled deliberately a ridiculous stance to take as your default response.
I don't ride in the gutter and I am still a "learner" but I ride along, and make sure when I need to move out I peer lots behind me and then move out, I don't stay in the middle of the road unless I need to, I will pull off the road if I create a long queue of traffic cos I don't cycle very fast, I mostly cycle in a small area, I am very memorable and noticeable and I don't want to promote anger towards me out of frustration of drivers at getting stuck behind me at 5 mph. That said I am not a big city cyclist I am a small village and the bits in between them cyclist, albeit that the only road into the village is one of the busiest B roads in the country.
Share the road nicely, be nice to others and hope they will be nice back, if you try and tackle aggression with aggression the whole situation gets worse, I could be wrong but that is my two pennys for what it is worth.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Your OP reads like a cheap gibe.
Blimey...5 pages in and that's the best you can come up with?
Perhaps you're envious of others ability to cope with situations better than you?
Or, perhaps you have absolutely no constructive contribution to make.
Trading insults may be your style but it isn't mine. You won't get a further reaction from me.
winjim
Straddle the line, discord and rhyme
Wheaton's Law.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
So sorry I'm late to the party.
You really need to think about how your writing style makes you come across in here.
We're done. Off to the ignore list you go.
The way to get along with drivers is to take primary and secondary when appropriate, be confident in your body language, know your road positioning and don't pull stupid maneouvres that suddenly surprise them, signal, eye contact and say thanks. However, this won't endear yourself to the motons who think they own the road and when you see people moaning about drivers, it's these drivers they are moaning about. We don't hate all drivers, we just think some of them are knobs.
glenn forger
Guest
gareth, why are you offering advice that runs contrary to all official cycle training? What's your background in teaching people how to ride bikes?
Hi Glenn
First of all, I have absolutely no experience whatsoever in teaching anyone to ride bikes (except my kids) and my OP didn't claim I did.
Similarly, I have no experience of teaching anyone to drive a car, except my kids.
When I learned to drive (many years ago) I was told that it's after you pass your test you learn to drive. I believe the same is true for cycling.
If you pop back and check my OP you'll see that I was simply trying to get people to offer their own tips with regard to avoiding conflict.
It seems there are some who think I was putting myself in a position of self appointed cycling advisor...nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, this is part of what I posted:
"I was hoping that some of the wiser element could offer some tips on avoiding conflict and promoting safe and happy cycling for all?"
A clear reference to the other forum members, not me. Had I not offered any view at all, I would have been attacked for that too.
You'll also see that I didn't say not to use primary. I accept I could have worded it better but that's only because there are some who are determined to dissect a post in such a way as to make it appear so.
Not all cyclists are riding racing bikes capable of keeping up with town traffic, so riding tactics will vary.
There are indeed times where holding primary position is pretty much essential but it's the cyclists decision as to where and when it's appropriate.
There are some who will keep primary most of the time and others secondary.
This can be the cause of much frustration for drivers and as such I am simply suggesting that people use it more wisely. An experienced cyclist will make different decisions than a novice and will often have a better understanding of what does and doesn't suit him.
I deliberately used the primary/secondary issue as I've seen both used inappropriately many times, often causing drivers to lose patience and take unnecessary risks.
If I find something that seems to work for me then I'm happy to pass it on to anyone who cares to try it.
To me, the only downside of cycling is safety and I was merely trying to get others to pass on their tips.
First of all, I have absolutely no experience whatsoever in teaching anyone to ride bikes (except my kids) and my OP didn't claim I did.
Similarly, I have no experience of teaching anyone to drive a car, except my kids.
When I learned to drive (many years ago) I was told that it's after you pass your test you learn to drive. I believe the same is true for cycling.
If you pop back and check my OP you'll see that I was simply trying to get people to offer their own tips with regard to avoiding conflict.
It seems there are some who think I was putting myself in a position of self appointed cycling advisor...nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, this is part of what I posted:
"I was hoping that some of the wiser element could offer some tips on avoiding conflict and promoting safe and happy cycling for all?"
A clear reference to the other forum members, not me. Had I not offered any view at all, I would have been attacked for that too.
You'll also see that I didn't say not to use primary. I accept I could have worded it better but that's only because there are some who are determined to dissect a post in such a way as to make it appear so.
Not all cyclists are riding racing bikes capable of keeping up with town traffic, so riding tactics will vary.
There are indeed times where holding primary position is pretty much essential but it's the cyclists decision as to where and when it's appropriate.
There are some who will keep primary most of the time and others secondary.
This can be the cause of much frustration for drivers and as such I am simply suggesting that people use it more wisely. An experienced cyclist will make different decisions than a novice and will often have a better understanding of what does and doesn't suit him.
I deliberately used the primary/secondary issue as I've seen both used inappropriately many times, often causing drivers to lose patience and take unnecessary risks.
If I find something that seems to work for me then I'm happy to pass it on to anyone who cares to try it.
To me, the only downside of cycling is safety and I was merely trying to get others to pass on their tips.
For me, it's not a matter of blame, it's a matter of safety. Any tactic that reduces the opportunity to get hit is fine by me.
T.M.H.N.E.T
Rainbows aren't just for world champions
- Location
- Northern Ireland
Sell our bikes and buy cars?
roadrash
cycle chatterer
- Location
- sitting on the edge of wigan pier
I agree with you ,,like i said "RIGHT " was the wrong word to use but couldnt think of which word to replace it with.
