I'm fed up with following the rules!

[Davywalnuts]

Oh this is such a bug bear of mine! I personally think we nice cyclists who follow the highway code and cycle safely put up with too much crap when were completely in the right!

It really will not be long before there's actual bike road rage happening. Am fed up of shrugging it off and accepting. It happens way to much and too often. Am pretty much what you can call in West London'ish too, and my blood boils way too much over here! Where is the love!

 

[Gibbyent]

Having cycle commuted on and off for most of my working life, my offices were moved an additional 4 miles. Have done over 1000 miles commuting since November. I have put my name on the car park list and will be swapping to a car when it comes up. I have been relieved that I have not caught up with drivers who have treated my life with contempt to save a couple of seconds recently as I am struggling to control my temper. If I carry on as I am, I am either going to get knocked off as the number of near misses I am getting, one will eventually succeed or I will catch someone before I get my temper back under control.

 

[Davywalnuts]

Gibbyent, am completely with you!

Something will snap and once am off my bike I wont look like a person I can be made a fool off or disrespected!

Its just so stupid that every single ride I go on, there always at least one situation an accident could happen and all for, as you say, a few seconds gain!

 

[Goffins]

I don't think rules has anything to do with it, as far as what you describe you were in the right.

Defending road position is a must with ANY vehicle and if traffic is moving slow and you can keep up there's nothing wrong with being central. Better than being pushed to the side by some inconsiderate muppet.

As a Motorbiking, driving, cyclist, the only people I ever have problems with are car drivers no matter what vehicle I'm in, obviously this has alot to do with the law of averages but don't let it worry you, the stupid are everywhere.

You can't fight everyone and you never know what people might be carrying so spend an evening in and perfect your "I'm quite unhinged war stare"

Works every time.

 

[4F]

I have got this anger out of my system now and either ignore the twunts or blow them a kiss depending on what mood I am. After all they are likely to die of a heat attack before me

I used to find arguing with them just made me sink to their level and it really is not worth it.

 

[goo_mason]

TBH I've had a quite a quiet time of it lately after a few weeks of 'exciting' interactions with drivers. Everyone seems to be much more patient and there's a lot of mutual respect & courtesy around at the mo.

My rides have been pretty pleasant. But of course, I've just cursed myself by saying that....

(on the other hand, the behaviour of a growing number of RLJ-ers and pavement hoppers is starting to really get on my wick. Saw one almost wiped out cycling through red at the bottom of Leith Walk last Monday - he was lucky the woman had such sharp reactions. He just carried on as if it was his right and hopped ont the pavement and carried on.)

 

[Downward]

I listen to my IPOD now cause I can't be arsed with listening to anyone.

Takes your mind of bad driving too.

 

[hackbike 666]

Same as Goo I've had a quiet time on the roads and hopefully it will keep going.Unfortunately other aspects of my life make me realise how many people are not bothering with so now I don't really bother talking to people unless they are my work colleagues or someone I know...or talk to me like im not a piece of something they stood on,on the pavement.I think also another thing is my upstairs neighbours hatred for me which I don't think I earned.

 

[Arch]

It sounds funny (I suppose) but at the time I found it really upsetting and I actually cried (don't laugh) . It fair put me off cycling to be honest.

Not funny at all, it would probably have had the same effect on me.

 

[hackbike 666]

Yes I have had days like that in the past which makes me wonder why I bother with all the general cretins out there.

 

[summerdays]

This thread reminded me to ring the police to report the cars parked on the pavement... such that a buggy couldn't get by on the pavement and I couldn't be bothered to squeeze by.... it annoys me that they have a set of rules that they moan at if cyclists don't obey, but that they don't necessarily need to obey all the rules that apply to car drivers.

I'm starting to think of my how to catch out polititions canvassing for my vote questions now. Doesn't matter what party they are.

 

[Arch]

I'm starting to think of my how to catch out polititions canvassing for my vote questions now. Doesn't matter what party they are.

"What are you going to do about traffic congestion?"

Anything that doesn't boil down to "stop people using cars so much", is a loser.... Of course, you have to tell them that once they've answered, or they'll never learn...

Mugging up on the road death/injury stats and then questioning them on that might also make a point.

 

[Origamist]

Difficult isn't it. I have the same dilemma - I'm a good boy on the roads and I get frustrated at the lack of equitable treatment meted out by a few drivers. That's why I tend to vent my spleen on here when it's suggested that we're whining or told to 'put up with it'. And like you, there are occasions when I've responded to a driver's bad attitude with a foul-mouthed stream of potty talk. Can't say it's always made me feel better though. Ecce homo and all that (threw that one in for Origamist, the clever sod B)).

That’s why I don’t wear a helmet – it interferes with my crown of thorns. Generally though, I do suffer in silence if I am on the receiving end of bad driving - occasionally, I have polite words, and very occasionally, I lose my temper. I do my best to remain calm as “cycling angry” makes me a danger to myself and others. FWIW, I have many more positive exchanges on my commute than negative incidents (the death of a cat this morning was an exception!).​

If people shout at me for some imaginary transgression, I ignore them with a certain panache. Whilst I have developed a thick skin over the years, I do miss Dartmoor where I would only be bothered by ponies, sheep and gorse.​

 

[hackbike 666]

Funny I was having a go at myself the other day for taking the Tower Gateway route and all those blasted road works.(I forgot again) otherwise I would have gone via Bank.

I rarely have a go now unless it's bad as generally I find it's a waste of time.

 

[buggi]

i've had my arse slapped numerous times, shouted at, and deliberately drove at twice(once just to "frighten me" but the other wouldn't have stopped and i just managed to get out of the way... that same guy later had a go at another commuter from my workplace). Guys at work suffer verbal all the time. The police don't want to know and when it got back to the cycle co-ordinator at work what was going on with us out on the road, and the fact that none of us now want to approach the police anymore, he took the matter straight up to the director's meeting and now i've heard they are considering taking action against the police/private prosecutions on drivers if they don't start doing something to help us.

i must really love my bike coz any sane person would give up