Self preservation, are car drivers putting you off?

[grldtnr]

Road surfaces are terrible, potholes everywhere, parked cars turn residential streets into single lane trench runs, cars parked in cycle lanes, cycle lanes inadequate in the first place, narrow and full of crap, not joined up, heavy traffic with close passes, speeding, phone use, light jumping, dazzling headlights etc etc

There's a sort of contract when it comes to not riding on the pavement and one side of it is not being upheld. Under these circumstances I've got no issue with cyclists on the pavement as long as they're being considerate and giving way to pedestrians and if it's wide enough. Maybe get the cars off them first. Make the roads a reasonable and safe place to ride and I'll revisit my opinion. It's not ideal, but the problem is caused by road traffic and infrastructure.

And the situation will continue to get worse, judging by my own observations,it's becoming the norm that pavement cycling, parking on pavements, in cycle lanes, and general bad driving, 3 point turns on major roads, ignoring traffic signals ,disregarding motoring laws , just to gain precious nano seconds, or be in front of someone else.
If everyone just for a moment, took stock of what they are doing, we would all be in a safer calmer environment, but modern day life seems so hell bent on getting an advantage over someone else,.
The advent of modern media is the cause of all this,seems normal people must have something that they have been happy to do without for the last week , suddenly want that 'thing' within hrs of placing that order.
That is the nub of it, society just wants instant gratification, in reality we are been drawn into a cesspool of our own hell.

I don't subscribe to it,

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

It's crazy how car ownership and use has exploded in our lifetime, as a teen in the 80s you could play football on the street with your mates, these days parked cars often line the road edges and annoyingly often partly (or completely) blocking the pavement.

 

[classic33]

It's crazy how car ownership and use has exploded in our lifetime, as a teen in the 80s you could play football on the street with your mates, these days parked cars often line the road edges and annoyingly often partly (or completely) blocking the pavement.

There are currently 19 cars and two vans on the street outside, ten of those are for two houses. Out of the thirteen houses there's three with no cars, two of us ride bikes, the other surrendered his driving licence some years ago. Four of them are being done up for selling on, with only one used by anyone in the house. When their van isn't being used for work.
Forty years ago, there were only four for the same number of houses.

 

[blackrat]

There are currently 19 cars and two vans on the street outside, ten of those are for two houses. Out of the thirteen houses there's three with no cars, two of us ride bikes, the other surrendered his driving licence some years ago. Four of them are being done up for selling on, with only one used by anyone in the house. When their van isn't being used for work.
Forty years ago, there were only four for the same number of houses.

"Four of them are being done up for selling on, with only one used by anyone in the house. When their van isn't being used for work."
This kind of vehicle repair work activity wouldn't be allowed in my neighbourhood, I'm happy to say.
Our houses are single, detached with driveways and double car garages and very rarely are cars parked on the street. At one time if a car was parked on the street overnight the police would ticket it, but with so few police these days it doesn't get done, still illegal though.
The lot sizes for the houses are around 130 feet by 72 feet and the neighbourhood was set out about 80 years ago. My house is circa 1960ish.

 

[presta]

The previous owner of the house I share the drive with used to have up to five cars at a time: a family car, a work van, a racing car, and then a couple of others often in various states of disassembly. He usually used the drive as his own car park, and my parking area for working on his son's go-kart. Back in the early 1970s we had a neighbour who traded cars from home, so there were usually quite a few around then too.

 

[winjim]

"Four of them are being done up for selling on, with only one used by anyone in the house. When their van isn't being used for work."
This kind of vehicle repair work activity wouldn't be allowed in my neighbourhood, I'm happy to say.
Our houses are single, detached with driveways and double car garages and very rarely are cars parked on the street. At one time if a car was parked on the street overnight the police would ticket it, but with so few police these days it doesn't get done, still illegal though.
The lot sizes for the houses are around 130 feet by 72 feet and the neighbourhood was set out about 80 years ago. My house is circa 1960ish.

Bless your heart.

 

[katiewlx]

the thing that annoys me more thesedays is Ill see lots of houses with empty driveways, and they just park their car on the road/pavement instead, like theyre too lazy to even use their parking space they have with their house.

 

[Binky]

Regards cycling on pavements, I get impression some think "well cars park on pavements/in cycle lanes etc so why not".
Not sure that's a valid argument. Two wrongs etc.
Anyway, as with a lot of things it depends on circumstances. If there was a mega busy/dangerous road and only alternative was to use pavement then I would with caution and giving right of way to pedestrians etc and again I'd only use it for least amount of time as I could. I'd rather be on the road. What I don't like and pretty sure most agree is situation where I've encountered cyclists weaving in and out of pedestrians on pavement at speed especially when road is perfectly fine to use regards traffic etc.

 

[grldtnr]

Regards cycling on pavements, I get impression some think "well cars park on pavements/in cycle lanes etc so why not".
Not sure that's a valid argument. Two wrongs etc.
Anyway, as with a lot of things it depends on circumstances. If there was a mega busy/dangerous road and only alternative was to use pavement then I would with caution and giving right of way to pedestrians etc and again I'd only use it for least amount of time as I could. I'd rather be on the road. What I don't like and pretty sure most agree is situation where I've encountered cyclists weaving in and out of pedestrians on pavement at speed especially when road is perfectly fine to use regards traffic etc.

The problem with pavement cycling is ,it seems totally acceptable, from my point of view it isn't. Anymore than me walking down the carriageway carrying a huge red flag.
It's the perception cycling in the roadway is somehow more dangerous than it is, in reality riding on the pavement is more risky, there are numerous obstacles, pedestrians, walking out of shop doorways , street furniture, broken surfaces ,you name it !
I see very many riders my age cycling on pavements, all safety gear, lights ,computers ,even e-bikes, these people should know better, cycling on pavements, is just convenient for those who do not want to take responsibility for their own safety or others.
By not being on the road, you you are giving up your right to be there, so in effect saying to Drivers, it's all right , don't look out for other cyclists, we ride on the pavements,.
NO ! there are very few reasons why riders should be on the pavement, DO NOT abdicate your right to the road.

 

[matticus]

There are currently 19 cars and two vans on the street outside, ten of those are for two houses. Out of the thirteen houses there's three with no cars, two of us ride bikes, the other surrendered his driving licence some years ago. Four of them are being done up for selling on, with only one used by anyone in the house.

I suspect most people you see doing this are running a car dealership, but without paying for all the associated red tape. Probably a topic for another day ...

 

[Binky]

there are very few reasons why riders should be on the pavement, DO NOT abdicate your right to the road.

 

[Alex321]

Ahem ... you're on here too!

Imo the perceived is only slightly more pessimistic than the actual.
I'm a woman, 60+ now, been cycling everywhere since my late 40's because I was fed up with public transport, didn't want the expense of running a car, I hate driving anyway.
I went on the usual cycling training courses, I'm quite confident on the road, but I'm slow.
I have been close passed, punishment passed, verbally abused on roads quite a few times, even though I'm a risk avoider by nature, don't ride busy roads.
On shared paths pedestrians shout "on the road with that thing (the bike)", on the roads the drivers shout "get on the cycle path", even if there isn't one, they mean the pavement!
Random folk I don't even know, if they find out I cycle: " cyclists should not be on the road" - red light jumping! - all in dark, can't be seen! - can't park for all the cycling lanes!
People that don't even drive: cyclists are a menace!
Strangely enough, I don't hear complains about delivery riders, everyone wants their dinner delivered, no matter on how many wheels.
The best comment yet, from a colleague, a non driver: you should wear a helmet, so if you get run over the driver won't feel guilty they gave you a brain injury

In the last 5 years of regular cycling, including commuting into Cardiff, I honestly don't think I have ever encountered any of those.

One manoeuvre we employ more and more is to pull over and let traffic by when we can. This improves our safety and the overall perception of cyclists. The impact on our ride is minimal and we almost always get a wave.

Yep.

On this morning's commute, in the lanes before I get to Cardiff, I had three vehicles coming up behind me, all three maintained a reasonable distance, I pulled over into the first available passing space, and all three thanked me by a few flashes of their hazard lights after passing.

The more I see threads like this on here, the more I realise how lucky I seem to be in the attitude of motorists around here.

 

[PaulSB]

On this morning's commute, in the lanes before I get to Cardiff, I had three vehicles coming up behind me, all three maintained a reasonable distance, I pulled over into the first available passing space, and all three thanked me by a few flashes of their hazard lights after passing.

The more I see threads like this on here, the more I realise how lucky I seem to be in the attitude of motorists around here.

Absolutely. I live in Lancashire and truly don't experience or recognise the numerous comments I read on CC re the poor experience others have.

There do seem to be very different environments based on geography. I, too, am very lucky.

 

[classic33]

I suspect most people you see doing this are running a car dealership, but without paying for all the associated red tape. Probably a topic for another day ...

In this case it's an extra source of money. All the cars are bought at auction as insurance write-offs. Delivered to the street, where they sit whilst being done up and MOT'd by him.

 

[blackrat]

Bless your heart.

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That's awful! I drove through streets like that a couple of years ago in Lincoln, not a nice way to live at all.