Militant Cyclists ...

[400bhp]

As for drivers... The majority are indifferent - they'll give you space if it's expedient to do so, if not, they'll make that close pass unless you prevent them doing so. A small minority are actually good (read the road ahead, allow you room when passing &c) and a small minority poor (no sense of what's around them, no perception of the speed of other traffic). A smaller minority still are actively malicious.

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Pretty much agree with that. I think, perhaps for the first time I can ever remember, a driver stayed behind with the lights on red perhaps 200yds away. They clearly read the road ahead and knew the light sequence enough to decide they weren't going anywhere.

 

[wiggydiggy]

The 'geared up' riders I see do seem to be in more of a hurry, or maybe they just like to cycle faster who knows but generally I can trust someone in the gear to at least know how to ride sensibly. I do know the worst cyclists I encounter are anyone on a stripped down fixie/fakinger type bike who tries to blast through everything or the 'casual' gutter hopper who blunders about without a care in the world.

TBH In my view a 'militant' is more likely to post videos of absolutely anything, or shout and scream whenever they are wronged, or ride 2 abreast wherever and whenever they go etc etc

 

[Hip Priest]

In my generally happy experience, riders older than I am seem almost always to be courteous and smiley.

They tend to offer greetings, be chatty if met during a rest stop, generally be nice and like to see others enjoying their riding. They also usually have bicycles that are in extraordinarily good condition... I have never met an inconsiderate or ill-tempered 'veteran' cyclist.

In rural France this is so to the n-th degree. veteran road cyclists there are just saintly, smiley heroes.

On a couple of occasions I've seen a group of riders out in Northumberland who must all be in their 60s & 70s. They all ride vintage Italian and Belgian road bikes, and wear stylish vintage gear. Campagnolo, Merckx....etc Both times, they've all offered a cheery 'good morning' to me, even though I'm clearly a novice on a Carrera.

Chapeau!

 

[ufkacbln]

I am a Militant Cyclist

At least if you include riding in a way that controls the space around you.

Using the Primary, using the road as opposed to a cycle path when it is more appropriate, reporting badd riving and people who park in cycle lanes.....

 

[wiggydiggy]

I am a Militant Cyclist

At least if you include riding in a way that controls the space around you.

Using the Primary, using the road as opposed to a cycle path when it is more appropriate, reporting badd riving and people who park in cycle lanes.....

Thats not militant, thats just being a good cyclist!

 

[John the Monkey]

Pretty much agree with that. I think, perhaps for the first time I can ever remember, a driver stayed behind with the lights on red perhaps 200yds away. They clearly read the road ahead and knew the light sequence enough to decide they weren't going anywhere.

I had a day where everyone was like that on Tuesday this week. It was like the riding I've done in France, for one brief, shining moment.

 

[XmisterIS]

I am a Militant Cyclist

At least if you include riding in a way that controls the space around you.

Using the Primary, using the road as opposed to a cycle path when it is more appropriate, reporting badd riving and people who park in cycle lanes.....

That's not militant at all, that's defensive riding. By militant, I mean the ones who won't slow down or give way for anyone, regardless of what's going on in the road ahead, presumably because they've got a "personal best" to beat. E.g. the ones who shoot red lights and shout abuse at cars when they have to do an emergency stop, and who barrage other cyclists out of the way.

 

[dellzeqq]

wouldn't 'rude' cyclists be a better description?

you're right, of course - just as there are people who drive without consideration there are those who cycle without consideration. If ever you fancy dying of shame, then spend an unhappy hour watching the RLJ-ing at Islington Green, or the top end of Rosebery Avenue. It's so mortifying that I cycle well out of my way to avoid having to watch them.

 

[John the Monkey]

wouldn't 'rude' cyclists be a better description?

Les mots juste, I think.

you're right, of course - just as there are people who drive without consideration there are those who cycle without consideration.

Whilst that's true, the suggestion of equivalence in effect always irks me when this one is trotted out. For all the supposed irresponsibility of the cyclist, they do vanishingly little damage compared to the inconsiderate motorist.

 

[Bicycle]

Les mots justes....

 

[Arch]

I think a lot of people are just generally rude, selfish and impatient, whatever they are doing. I think it's something that's been encouraged by the media to some extent, with reality dog-eat-dog TV shows and the like. Or maybe the TV shows reflect a change in society that's happened for some other reason, I don't know.

I think I've become more patient in some ways over the last few years - perhaps due in part to driving a work vehicle with a top speed of about 12 mph. Just sit back (not too far back on a bike, of course, unless it's a 'bent), and enjoy not racing....

(The best bit about the vehicle is taking primary through pinchpoints, and watching people haring up on the outside, and then slamming on the brakes when they realise they won't get by. Much more entertaining when you're safely encased in a slab sided rusty steel box with bags of rubbish hanging off the back, and you can be damn sure they won't swerve into you.... )

 

[dellzeqq]

Les mots juste, I think.


Whilst that's true, the suggestion of equivalence in effect always irks me when this one is trotted out. For all the supposed irresponsibility of the cyclist, they do vanishingly little damage compared to the inconsiderate motorist.

I'm suggesting no such thing........

 

[wheres_my_beard]

"I'm am an important cyclist, can't you see by the kit that I have for absolutely everything? Now you! You impudent moton/ped/amateur-cyclist, you must give way to me under all circumstances!! Ha! I see you ride a road bike with flat bars! How very dare you!"

Ha, thats the kind of thing I suspect the guy in my near-miss would have thought, as he dominated the cycle path.

The only other recent experience with another cyclist was with someone who clearly felt he owned the road, both lanes in fact. In the summer I was cycling with mrs w_m_b who is a very, very novice cyclist along a quiet but wide road. We were riding side by side at a gentle pace as there was one on the road apart from us. From a side lane ahead, a guy in his late 30's ahead wheeled out a lovely vintage looking road bike to the edge of the road, mounted, and for some reason took a massive arc across our side of the road before speeding off. We were the only moving things in sight, yet he felt he could pretty much ride through us like a complete tool. This meant that we both had to slam our brakes on to avoid a head on collision. He didn't even look back when I swore at him. I was furious and mrs w_m_b was shaken and confused.

 

[fossyant]

I'll echo JTM's comments - most cyclits etc. fine in Manchester land. Pass the BC squad quite often - usually Wednesday around mid day as I head into town for meetings.

 

[Jezston]

I think a lot of people are just generally rude, selfish and impatient, whatever they are doing. I think it's something that's been encouraged by the media to some extent, with reality dog-eat-dog TV shows and the like. Or maybe the TV shows reflect a change in society that's happened for some other reason, I don't know.

I blame Thatcher.

For everything.

Societal attitudes, the economy, widening gap between rich and poor, house prices, bad weather, punctures, burned my dinner etc etc. Thatcher.

She was my MP at one point, too.