Why do so many people hate cyclists?
- Thread starter Dmcd33
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sidevalve
Über Member
Sorry to the "cyclists are perfect" brigade but riding two or more abreast on usuitable roads [and yes you know what I mean] are no less ignorant than a motorist who clogs up a lane. The highway code [no it's not a legal requirement but that doesn't mean it should be ignored]. On many country lanes it's easy to pass a cyclist and give plenty of room but not two riders side by side. As for the speed thing well it's back to the old [and it gets quoted at motorists a lot on here but sorry it applies to bikes as well] "Stop in the distance you can SEE to be clear".
For anyone who thinks it doesn't matter to delay someone else just because "they're in a car and I'm on a bike" well be 100% honest and admit what would your reaction be if a car blocked your lane so you couldn't get past and decided to drive along at 5mph ? If you were going to work ?
I defend cycling whenever I can but TBH the are more and more riders out there who are just as pig headed as the motorists they pretend to despise.
ComedyPilot
Secret Lemonade Drinker
- Location
- The Kingdom of Yorkshire
I have never yet been held up at 5mph on a lane by a car or a 'pig headed' cyclist. Most places I want to get to such as commuting or shopping are along single and dual carriageways. Both types of road offer perfectly adequate overtaking opportunities to safely pass cars going 50mph let alone a 'Hard to Pass' cyclist doing a tricky-to-judge** 15mph.....
On a single track lane I will dominate the lane till I see the car has slowed down to a speed I deem safe for them to pass me. Their journey importance means nothing to me. My safety is paramount. This includes riding two-abreast till the driver shows they have reduced speed and will pass safely.
I then move to the side and allow them to pass, I don't hold them up at all, and I do NOT allow them to pass me at speed. Why? I don't trust them. They could injure or kill me, so I use an assertive style of riding to manage their driving.
**See what I did there?
We are easier to pass than a car, so all this 'in the way' ballocks is just that....bollix
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To me, it's a matter of survival.
I cycle 90% defensively. I assume primary position very rarely and always pull over when I can regardless of speed loss (bearing in mind I ride a hybrid).
Motorists can see when I'm struggling up a hill and give me a wide berth.
Similarly, they can also see when I'm zooming down a hill and give me an equally wide berth or stay behind.
I suspect the reason they do that is because I don't have an 'attitude problem' and treat them with consideration.
In my experience, that courtesy is usually reciprocated.
I think that the attitude of many cyclists is to race and treat the roads as their own race track which reduces their tolerance towards others.
Of course, I suspect that some of you will disagree but I hardly ever have any confrontations or close shaves.
The sad part for me is that so many are killed or injured.
I don't want an epitaph that says "Yeah but I was in the right"
I cycle 90% defensively. I assume primary position very rarely and always pull over when I can regardless of speed loss (bearing in mind I ride a hybrid).
Motorists can see when I'm struggling up a hill and give me a wide berth.
Similarly, they can also see when I'm zooming down a hill and give me an equally wide berth or stay behind.
I suspect the reason they do that is because I don't have an 'attitude problem' and treat them with consideration.
In my experience, that courtesy is usually reciprocated.
I think that the attitude of many cyclists is to race and treat the roads as their own race track which reduces their tolerance towards others.
Of course, I suspect that some of you will disagree but I hardly ever have any confrontations or close shaves.
The sad part for me is that so many are killed or injured.
I don't want an epitaph that says "Yeah but I was in the right"
You put way too much trust in complete strangers.
uclown2002
Guru
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- Harrogate
No, that's not cycling defensively.
For you to discredit the entire idea of defensive cycling - as it is properly defined, not as you seem to use it - is incredibly audacious.
When you're hugging the gutter, don't you find that a lot of drivers behind will take advantage of that and force their way through?
Fact is, most drivers ARE courteous, but it's because of the few who aren't that vehicular cyclists ride the way they do.
How often do you really think we have near-death experiences because we ride in primary?
Personally, most of the time that I have felt endangered by a driver's actions, it was when I was riding in secondary. As a result, the driver behind has come past without a care in the world, despite oncoming traffic. Something they could not have done if I did not give them the chance to in the first place.
I applaud you for airing your views on here, in the face of adversity. You probably know that you are likely to be shot down, what with this being a cycling forum. I tend to agree with most of what you say, but gave up the fight a long time ago.
I have always just settled for the fact that there are nobbers on bikes who think they are right, and there are nobbers in cars with the same attitude. Cars are big and sore when they hit you, so I keep out their way.
Human nature being as it is, there will always be us and them, whichever side you are on.
Perhaps, but they are controlled by human beings, like you and me. Their operators are taught how to stop them and control their speed & direction, and they regularly do so. What they aren't taught (or taught well enough) is how to deal with cyclists properly. We can't rely on them knowing when it's safe to overtake such a narrow vehicle in an urban space, but we can rely on them knowing to slow down for something that's blocking their path, because they do that all the time with other cars. If we can't rely on that, then we may as well stop riding on roads altogether.
morrisman
Guru
I reckon I meet most individual cars/drivers once or twice in my cycling life time so how they are to know that I am being courteous and they should treat me the same when I'm doing 15mph (on my hybrid) and they are doing twice as much.
If someone looks like they won't slow down, by all means take evasive action - in fact, that's part of defensive cycling. The vast majority will slow, and really, no single road position will protect you from the Rambo drivers you seem to describe anyway.
If a shouty, aggressive and stubborn cyclist frustrates a motorist then the next cyclist he sees may well be subject to his anger.
I can't believe that you thought I meant that I get to know the people that drive by!
I understand what you're saying, but I was trying to make the point that some will maintain primary (for the reasons you mention) when they could quite easily take secondary but choose not to.
There are dozens of different situations with hundreds of options so it's very much a judgement call really.
Perhaps I'm spoilt here with (relatively) quiet roads but in over 50 yrs I can count on one hand the close encounters I have.
I therefore maintain that my strategy is sound or I'm very, very lucky
Edit: Sorry but I tried to address your points within your quote and messed it up
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