Oddly aggressive

[Davidsw8]

So I'm cycling down Kennington Lane this morning and come to the junction where it meets Kennington Road by the pub. Usually, I cycle into the right hand lane here as I want to end up going down Sancroft Street but the road was particularly busy which made that difficult. I pulled over on to the cycle lane that goes on to the pavement and wait for the lights to change (it's a dual ped/cycle crossing).

Anyway, the traffic where I'm waiting to cross is stopped at a red but this oaf on a cycle just carries on forward so I muttered something incomprehensible and he says something like 'you what?!' so I say 'you just ran a red light' and what followed was the most bizarrely over-the-top, aggressive effing and blinding I've ever come across. He didn't stop at all but carried on cycling, swearing and looking over his shoulder at me (I'm sure my jaw had hit the floor by this point), he was still doing this way down the street until I could just about see him. I didn't hear any actual words that didn't contain f*** so not sure what he said but I kinda got the gist he wasn't happy about someone casually commenting on his roadcraft.

I did think he was gonna turn around come and lump me one but I guess to take time out to do that would make his RLJ'ing seem even more ridiculous and pointless.

I'll post the vid when I get home, not sure the sound on my Contour quite picked up the full tirade very clearly...

 

[BSRU]

So I'm cycling down Kennington Lane this morning and come to the junction where it meets Kennington Road by the pub. Usually, I cycle into the right hand lane here as I want to end up going down Sancroft Street but the road was particularly busy which made that difficult. I pulled over on to the cycle lane that goes on to the pavement and wait for the lights to change (it's a dual ped/cycle crossing).

Anyway, the traffic where I'm waiting to cross is stopped at a red but this oaf on a cycle just carries on forward so I muttered something incomprehensible and he says something like 'you what?!' so I say 'you just ran a red light' and what followed was the most bizarrely over-the-top, aggressive effing and blinding I've ever come across. He didn't stop at all but carried on cycling, swearing and looking over his shoulder at me (I'm sure my jaw had hit the floor by this point), he was still doing this way down the street until I could just about see him. I didn't hear any actual words that didn't contain f*** so not sure what he said but I kinda got the gist he wasn't happy about someone casually commenting on his roadcraft.

I did think he was gonna turn around come and lump me one but I guess to take time out to do that would make his RLJ'ing seem even more ridiculous and pointless.

I'll post the vid when I get home, not sure the sound on my Contour quite picked up the full tirade very clearly...

Doesn't matter how bad/dangerous some road users are, they hate being criticised.

 

[donnydave]

I remember telling one guy, probably late 30's early 40's (his age, not the year of the incident) "its red for everyone, you know" as he slowly wobbled/semi track-stand fowards into the traffic. He turned round and said "who are you, my mum?" By the time he had finished effin and jeffin at me, the lights were now green for us so I had prevented him becoming a criminal (hurrah, is soul is saved!). He then turned into the driveway of the first house after the lights. It would have been quicker for him just to get off and use the ped crossing.

 

[ianrauk]

I remember telling one guy, probably late 30's early 40's (his age, not the year of the incident) "its red for everyone, you know" as he slowly wobbled/semi track-stand fowards into the traffic. He turned round and said "who are you, my mum?" By the time he had finished effin and jeffin at me, the lights were now green for us so I had prevented him becoming a criminal (hurrah, is soul is saved!). He then turned into the driveway of the first house after the lights. It would have been quicker for him just to get off and use the ped crossing.

Said to me once when I shouted at a cyclist who was just about to undertake a tipper truck on a roundabout.

 

[AndyRM]

I've had similar experiences. I think @BSRU has it nailed. Bicycle, car, truck, bus, whatever - some folk are just wired to respond badly to criticism and seem to relish confrontation.

 

[Davidsw8]

99.99% of the reactions I get range from being totally ignored to a quick, very casual 'eff off', this was pretty demented. I would hate to know this person, or work with him, if he flies off the handle from a very meek comment on his cycling, how does he react when something REALLY gets on his bad side!

As I say, it did occur to me that he could have come back and punched me so I probably should try and keep my mouth shut, nothing I could say to a RLJ-er will ever make them change their behaviour, only an accident or an interaction with the police would do that. But it seems to be almost a reflex in me - see an RLJ'er/say something.

Also, is keeping quiet really the answer? I wouldn't keep quiet if I saw an old lady getting mugged so why should anyone keep quiet when they see an offence being committed?

 

[fossyant]

Just not worth it. Just hack them off by passing them again, and again ! They can go get themselves run over !

 

[Hip Priest]

Also, is keeping quiet really the answer? I wouldn't keep quiet if I saw an old lady getting mugged so why should anyone keep quiet when they see an offence being committed?

You need to pick your battles. Mugging and RLJing are very different offences. It is imperative to speak out if witnessing the former, but in the latter case it probably isn't worth it.

I wouldn't take it personally anyway. Cyclists are human, and some humans are nobbers.

 

[Davidsw8]

Just not worth it. Just hack them off by passing them again, and again ! They can go get themselves run over !

I do like doing that, they hate being overtaken by someone on a Brommie

 

[Davidsw8]

You need to pick your battles. Mugging and RLJing are very different offences. It is imperative to speak out if witnessing the former, but in the latter case it probably isn't worth it.

I wouldn't take it personally anyway. Cyclists are human, and some humans are nobbers.

I tend to agree, best not to pick battles with psycho's in general, better to ring the police if someone is really mental.

 

[G3CWI]

Psycholists; odd, every last one of 'em.

 

[Leodis]

Usually its me effin at RLJ'ers. Since I stopped smoking a few weeks back I have found this rage inside, a bit like the Hulk but more dayglow.

 

[Leodis]

I tend to agree, best not to pick battles with psycho's in general, better to ring the police if someone is really mental.

Yeah like they will turn up..

 

[Davidsw8]

Yeah like they will turn up..

I'd hope they'd turn up if someone got assaulted, I obviously would never ring the fuzz to report an RLJ.

Had to call an ambulance for someone the other week and it turned up literally 1 minute after I put the phone down, I was so impressed!

 

[Frood42]

I don't like seeing people RLJ, but it is a choice they have decided to make, and most will think you are up your own if you try to advise them it is not a good idea.

So, I tend to let them get on with it, I would rather not see an accident happen in front of me, but we all have to live with the choices we make.