Stupid shenanigans tonight

[400bhp]

I withessed some appaling cycling and a crazy reaction by a driver on my way home tonight.

Waiting at the traffic lights here in central Manchester. A red Fiesta mini van (IIRC) was alongside me. Lights turned green and a cyclist appeared from the right which I think was from the wrong way along a cycle lane (one way street too) about here (where the sliver soft top Mercedes is). I.e. the cyclist went across the other side of the road, from the wrong way from a wrong way street.

The cyclists literally shot across the road to join my side literally on top of the Fiesta . He then tried to out pace the Fiesta whilst wobbling down the road.

The next thing was truly shocking. The Fiesta driver opened his driver door in an attempt to knock the cyclist off. Fortunately he missed and joined the back of the inevitable queue at the next set of lights. Cyclist disappeared into the distance.

I felt obliged to have a word with the driver-regardless of the cyclists behaviour things like this hit home when you are on your bike. Knocked on his window - he was fuming. I agreed with the cyclist being a complete tool (words to that effect) but that doing what he did was completely wrong. no arguments and I continued on my way.

Caught the cyclist on my way home approaching a set of lights. Didn't have time to speak to him as he went through the lights on red (albeit on a pedestrian plase...). Caught up with him a bit later (he was with another cyclist). Told him I thought he was very lucky to be in one piece and said I spoke to the driver. He said thanks and I continued on my way.

He was with another cyclist at this point - they caught up with me at a bridge where you have to dismount. He'd clearly been talking about the incident to his "mate" as he mentioned something about nearly being doored in 2 other incidents and nearly getting into a fight. I had to bite my tongue and think I was pretty measured when I replied with something along the lines of "there was some pretty serious kamikazi cycling going on back there".

I felt embarrased to share the road with this one today - from the short conversations we had he actually seemed a reasonable bloke too. Just crazy behaviour and just shows how things can escalate.

 

[baldycyclist]

get a cam on your head and fully out this tool
bad cyclists give us a bad name - doorer needs a good thinking about too

 

[BentMikey]

I think 400bhp's camera was the cause of the problem actually. He went looking for those incidents.

 

[400bhp]

get a cam on your head and fully out this tool
bad cyclists give us a bad name - doorer needs a good thinking about too

Don't/won't do cameras.

 

[martint235]

I think 400bhp's camera was the cause of the problem actually. He went looking for those incidents.

With regards to the OP though I think we're just having one of those weeks where all the idiots come out. I've had commutes where it's seemed like every muppet in the world has been out but this week it's every day!!

 

[BSRU]

I think the good weather is convincing people to try cycle commuting and unfortunately many seem completely clueless .

 

[400bhp]

I think the good weather is convincing people to try cycle commuting and unfortunately many seem completely clueless .

I've seen this guy before, a few months ago IIRC.

 

[martint235]

I think the good weather is convincing people to try cycle commuting and unfortunately many seem completely clueless .

I've seen this guy before, a few months ago IIRC.

Yeah the people I've been seeing this week don't strike me as newbies, in fact this morning the only one that did seem a newbie was the only one who didn't behave like a cockwomble and was generally apologetic a mistake had been made.

 

[BSRU]

Yeah the people I've been seeing this week don't strike me as newbies, in fact this morning the only one that did seem a newbie was the only one who didn't behave like a cockwomble and was generally apologetic a mistake had been made.

The newbie I saw this morning was cycling along a two lane road with the left lane being a bus lane but they decided to ride in the right hand lane, about 30cm right of the solid white line. Then after the bus lane finished they move into the same position in the left lane, they were riding as if they did not know they could use the bus lane.

 

[martint235]

The newbie I saw this morning was cycling along a two lane road with the left lane being a bus lane but they decided to ride in the right hand lane, about 30cm right of the solid white line. Then after the bus lane finished they move into the same position in the left lane, they were riding as if they did not know they could use the bus lane.

You weren't behind me on the New Kent Road were you? That was more or less my positioning this morning, just to the left of the solid line though with stationary traffic to my right. There was a bus in front of me though and my positioning allows me to continue when the bus stops.

 

[BSRU]

You weren't behind me on the New Kent Road were you? That was more or less my positioning this morning, just to the left of the solid line though with stationary traffic to my right. There was a bus in front of me though and my positioning allows me to continue when the bus stops.

No, this was a completely empty road with no bus stops.

 

[Jdratcliffe]

+1 to the fair weather idiots yday on my way home on the a23 outside tesco heading into coulsdon from purley doing 20mph ish along the side on slow moving gappy traffic i spot in the fair distance an mtb with no lights ( was twlight granted still had my flashes on) few moments and a shock later i realized he coming TOWARD ME in the cycle lane! so i stop across it let him catch up to me and have a word he says it the "safe" way to cycle on the road explained the rules and pointed out a cross few meters back said walk it on the pavement and cross over - what he did was curse jump on his bike an just weave infront of me and across the traffic and carried on !! 0_0 was gob smacked.