The nightmare has begun

[peanut]

I'm still of the opinion that its people that do stuff like this, not drivers. I reckon that when at home, most folk don't piss all over the seat or not flush - but visit almost any public lav in the country. Someone is leaving them in a right state.

Ask most people do they talk on the phone whilst driving, and they'll say no, they're a careful driver. And they probably mean it - they would be if it wasn't for that urgent call or because everyone else is driving fast they've got to keep up with the flow of traffic.



Cyclists do it too. I've heard one fellow expunge how he's always following the rules of the road - then the next time I see him he's just bunny-hopping onto a pavement to shoot past a line of traffic.

Not condoning the behaviour in any way shape or form, I'm just not of the opinion that segregating individuals into 'drivers' and 'cyclists' really serves a huge amount of purpose.

I agree . We are probably all drivers as well as cyclists and because of that I'd like to think we all give cyclists a little more room and respect because of it.
I think the whole issue comes down to ignorance, stupidity and darn right pig-headedness.

90% of drivers driving through the traffic calming chicane in our village do not give way as the sign dictates. We have even had a car on its roof in a village high street !!!........ supposedly driving at 20mph?

We are all guilty of inconsideration

 

[the reluctant cyclist]

jeez, i bet this is what it was like for the fighter pilots in WWII just before they flew out, you knew some would not be coming back, good luck out there people!!!

It is getting worse, driving (yes driving as my bike was crushed) home tonight had to beep some bloke hurtling along in his car with no lights and on his mobile, it seems like most drivers have just lost it completely these last few weeks !

I had a run in last night too! Mine was with a pedestrian.

I had turned into a side street and was cycling up it when this girl texting on her mobile phone stepped out from between two parked cars to cross the road right in front of me. I wasn't going particularly fast (I never am really you would all hate me!) and I wasn't in the mood for stopping for her so I just shouted "watch it" not particularly aggressively or anything more of a warning.

She did stop but as I went past she gave me a mouthful of abuse! I was really shocked so I am ashamed to say I shouted at her - "what would you rather I do - ride straight into you you stupid cow?"

Anyways -that was it then - she was giving it all the "come on then, come on I'll have you" blah blah blah!!

Oh my god - I reckon she'll be waiting for me tonight - I'm cakking myself!! (I'm a girl by the way not a big 6 foot bloke before you all berate me for being a chicken!!!!)

I wish I hadn't said anything now (as I always do when I have said something like that) but it really made me see red to me moaned at for warning her that I was about to cycle into her!

 

[Jake]

yikes, you better go buy a stab proof vest just kidding. I'm sure you will be fine and in time if she keeps doing that then she will be jam on the front of someones car.

 

[hackbike 6]

climbing a steep hill yesterday eyeballs out panting fit to burst and some idiot passes me so close I thought he couldn't have seen me at all.
Just had enough puff to shout a suitable pair of expletives.

It really is dangerous out there. I have ridden 8 Sundays in a row and I cannot remeber a single ride where I haven't felt my life seriously threatened by some driver's stupidity or negligence.

Its no fun cycling anymore

Im cycling out in Bangkok and I find the drivers mainly very good out here.

The only thing I have had as a ped was when a car squeezed past me I had to squeeze back into the railings otherwise he was going to bop me with his wing mirror.It's manic over here,about a billion motorcyclists and tuk tuks everywhere.

 

[BentMikey]

Funnily enough I saw a motorbike undertake a car along the A202 in the bus lane on Sunday, doing at least 40mph.

 

[hackbike 6]

I was having a cup of coffee in the hotels coffee place today and this huge 4x4 got pulled over by a traffic cop.He got booked but I haven't got a clue what he got booked for.I notice the traffic cops carry guns over here.

 

[CotterPin]

It's still worth remembering, especially for those of us in urban areas, that several hundred vehicles will pass us each day without incident.

Having said that, can I add my motorbike (or motorbike-shaped-object) story? Cycling through the City of London and sitting at the back of and just on the outside of a bendibus. I can't see around it but I know there is a traffic island a little further along so I sit tight.

Suddenly I start getting this beep-beep noise from behind. Rider of said MBSO apparently wants me to go ahead or get out of his way.

If they all have the same suicidal tendencies of this fellow, gawd help us in January!

 

[Jake]

lemmings

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

It'd be interesting to see how the stats shape up as to whether it's "proper" motorbikes or motorbike-shaped-objects (MBSO? Thanks Cotterpin) that cause the problem. I'm not in the Capital so can't join the fun but in my experience the riders of bigger MBs tend to be more sensible .. for example, I've only twice had vehicles slow down and take care when I've been waiting with the Little-LCs to cross the nightmare "Death Road" ( (c) Local Press) near my house even though it's allegedly a 30 limit. Both were good sized MBs.

The problem tends to come from scooters and other MBSOs ridden by inexperienced people with minimal training (if they've had any - illegal if not, but do they care?) .. the motorcycling world's equivalent of ped on a BSO.

That is a generalisation I admit and there are exceptions to the "rule", but I think if you see an L plate on the thing be extra worried about them.

Course, I'm not biased 'cos I used to be one of those riders on a bigger bike.

Edit: course, you've got Despatch Riders to contend with. All bets are off.

 

[PBancroft]

i guess not, but a lot of people are drivers too and i'm sure like most other people on here, if im in a car, then i tend to give cyclists a lot more room then i previously would have - when not commuting to work on a bike

Most is the important word, but I think that has very little to do with being a cyclist. It is simply that most people are considerate most of the time.

Most people will drive sensibly, carefully and acceptably most of the time... a few will not. And then there are those with good intentions who simply have to make that call as long as they're careful or just took their eyes off the road for a minute.

Or only run red lights when its safe (Not really an RLJ bash, because 'drivers' do it too).

 

[bryce]

This thread is a bit like reading the Daily Mail (the title fits well as well). I reckon cycling is a great, healthy, enjoyable way from a-to-b (or a-to-a if you like it enough). Here it comes across like the most dangerous, daredevil pastime - like only Evil Knievel would ever attempt it whilst blindfolded and high on drugs.

However, I did have an unconventional near-miss this morning. Cycling down narrow road in Battersea (Stanmer St), car coming the other way. A guy was standing by his parked car (LHS) in the road and whilst I was going past (with the oncoming car nearly parallel), he opened the drivers door and got out his floor-mat, and started beating it against the side of his car with a wild and uncontrolled back-swing, which came inches from me! I shouted "watch it!" (in the manner of Alan Partridge swinging his man-bag) and cycled away.

 

[hackbike 6]

The problem tends to come from scooters and other MBSOs ridden by inexperienced people with minimal training (if they've had any - illegal if not, but do they care?) .. the motorcycling world's equivalent of ped on a BSO.

Some of the stuff they get up to here.No crash helmets,no front or rear working lights and carrying a kid on board as well as a pillion so thats three and they seem inexperienced as well so I have to make sure I don't panic when one of them rides at me.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Some of the stuff they get up to here.No crash helmets,no front or rear working lights and carrying a kid on board as well as a pillion so thats three and they seem inexperienced as well so I have to make sure I don't panic when one of them rides at me.

Gulp! Sounds like you need a full body airbag ..

 

[CotterPin]

The problem tends to come from scooters and other MBSOs ridden by inexperienced people with minimal training (if they've had any - illegal if not, but do they care?) .. the motorcycling world's equivalent of ped on a BSO.

Some of the stuff they get up to here.No crash helmets,no front or rear working lights and carrying a kid on board as well as a pillion so thats three and they seem inexperienced as well so I have to make sure I don't panic when one of them rides at me.

Saw that kind of stuff a few weeks ago. Two kids with no crash hats on two (presumably stolen) mopeds, suddenly hurtle across a main road from a cycle lane. One of them manages to do it in more or less a straight line. The other one has to do a bit of weaving around the traffic and nearly came a cropper.

If we are going to have to have motorbikes in bus lanes, the quid pro quo (amongst other things) must be a crack down on stolen motorbikes.

 

[Rab]

Today I was passed so close by a car, I was able to thump the window grrrr

Said vehicle was travelling about 2 miles an hour faster than me and insisted on overtaking when I was in primary with cars coming the other way

It seems I got the message across as the lady signalled apologies to me after she was past.

Closest overtake I have ever had