Why do so many people hate cyclists?

[Garethgas]

?

So this 'respect' carp is actually all about bowing down to a bully because they could hurt you?

The ONLY drivers I respect are the safe, considerate, competent, forward-thinking drivers.

Any other driver doesn't deserve respect. They deserve to have their license taken away for good.

I think you are mistaking self-preservation with showing respect.

Sorry but you're selectively quoting part of a sentence to misconstrue it's meaning.
Big Nick hasn't mistaken anything. He's simply pointing out that sometimes discretion is the better part of valour.
He was also pointing out that the respect was for the damage that could ensue not respect for an individual driver.
I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong.
I find it difficult to believe that some don't understand this basic and simple concept, preferring instead to bleat about their rights.
I have the right to walk down a dark alley in the Bronx at 2am but I wouldn't.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

A small minority of cyclists are peanuts, just like a small minority of drivers are. I was coming to work the other day driving along a busy short section of dual carriageway where people speed often in excess of 85mph. It was pitch black and all the cars were moving into the second lane to overtake something moving very slowly. When I got close it was a cyclist obviously touring with panniers and a crap back light where the battery was obviously just about flat. He was about 2 feet out to the right of the verge white line, as though to say I'm a cyclist fark you. If he or she was from around here they would not ride that way on such a dodgy road where everybody speeds. The other left side of the verge white line has a good 2.5 feet or so of excellent road surface not full of crap either. I always try to avoid that section of road, but if I am on it I will always go to the left of the verge line as it is not a cycle lane but it is perfectly smooth and very little debris on it, plus I value my life. Every other cyclist that I see on this busy road does exactly the same, but there is always 1 tool I guess. Still it is legal I guess the way the cyclist was riding, doesn't make it right.

 

[oldstrath]

A small minority of cyclists are peanuts, just like a small minority of drivers are. I was coming to work the other day driving along a busy short section of dual carriageway where people speed often in excess of 85mph. It was pitch black and all the cars were moving into the second lane to overtake something moving very slowly. When I got close it was a cyclist obviously touring with panniers and a crap back light where the battery was obviously just about flat. He was about 2 feet out to the right of the verge white line, as though to say I'm a cyclist f*** you. If he or she was from around here they would not ride that way on such a dodgy road where everybody speeds. The other left side of the verge white line has a good 2.5 feet or so of excellent road surface not full of crap either. I always try to avoid that section of road, but if I am on it I will always go to the left of the verge line as it is not a cycle lane but it is perfectly smooth and very little debris on it, plus I value my life. Every other cyclist that I see on this busy road does exactly the same, but there is always 1 tool I guess. Still it is legal I guess the way the cyclist was riding, doesn't make it right.

But you think that driving in excess of 85 mph is perfectly acceptable?

"there is always 1 tool I guess." or alternative there is one normal person, and what sounds like an entire road full of tools, if by 'tool' you mean criminal eejit.

 

[oldstrath]

Sorry but you're selectively quoting part of a sentence to misconstrue it's meaning.
Big Nick hasn't mistaken anything. He's simply pointing out that sometimes discretion is the better part of valour.
He was also pointing out that the respect was for the damage that could ensue not respect for an individual driver.
I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong.
I find it difficult to believe that some don't understand this basic and simple concept, preferring instead to bleat about their rights.
I have the right to walk down a dark alley in the Bronx at 2am but I wouldn't.

That's not respect. that's fear. Probably a healthy response to maniacal myopic clowns who seriously believe that a 10 second delay will wreck their lives, and who are in not-quite control of a few tonnes of rapid metal. But not the same as respect, not by a long way.

 

[Garethgas]

But you think that driving in excess of 85 mph is perfectly acceptable?

"there is always 1 tool I guess." or alternative there is one normal person, and what sounds like an entire road full of tools, if by 'tool' you mean criminal eejit.

Again, that's not what he said.
Given that the conditions were as described, (rightly or wrongly) surely the prudent thing to do would be to move over?
He was describing what the cyclist could have done to mitigate the risk not condoning driving at 85

 

[oldstrath]

Again, that's not what he said.
Given that the conditions were as described, (rightly or wrongly) surely the prudent thing to do would be to move over?
He was describing what the cyclist could have done to mitigate the risk not condoning driving at 85

So we're back to fear again. Shame our police force can't be bothered to enforce the law, and a bigger shame that almost everyone who gets into a car feels it is acceptable to break the law.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You've missed the point by a country mile, what you say about overtaking is correct but in the real world some impatient git in a car/van etc doesn't follow the same rules. The bottom line is if you don't respect the person driving it you need to respect the potential damage their vehicle can do to you if it hits you

You've also contradicted your initial point by giving way to buses because you feel like it but no one else as they don't fit you code.....tends to prove the 'stubborn' point I made earlier.....

More tosh. You are afraid of the bullies. As to buses; look up the power-to-weight ratio of, say an Insignia or A4, vs a single decker bus and do the maths.

Sorry but you're selectively quoting part of a sentence to misconstrue it's meaning.
Big Nick hasn't mistaken anything. He's simply pointing out that sometimes discretion is the better part of valour.
He was also pointing out that the respect was for the damage that could ensue not respect for an individual driver.
I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong.
I find it difficult to believe that some don't understand this basic and simple concept, preferring instead to bleat about their rights.
I have the right to walk down a dark alley in the Bronx at 2am but I wouldn't.

You prefer to be ruled by fear.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

A small minority of cyclists are peanuts, just like a small minority of drivers are. I was coming to work the other day driving along a busy short section of dual carriageway where people speed often in excess of 85mph. It was pitch black and all the cars were moving into the second lane to overtake something moving very slowly. When I got close it was a cyclist obviously touring with panniers and a crap back light where the battery was obviously just about flat. He was about 2 feet out to the right of the verge white line, as though to say I'm a cyclist f*** you. If he or she was from around here they would not ride that way on such a dodgy road where everybody speeds. The other left side of the verge white line has a good 2.5 feet or so of excellent road surface not full of crap either. I always try to avoid that section of road, but if I am on it I will always go to the left of the verge line as it is not a cycle lane but it is perfectly smooth and very little debris on it, plus I value my life. Every other cyclist that I see on this busy road does exactly the same, but there is always 1 tool I guess. Still it is legal I guess the way the cyclist was riding, doesn't make it right.

I recently had to ride a few miles on an NSL DC on which "everybody" speeds. I held the centre of the left hand lane. I didn't get one squeeze pass. Not one horn. I was probably safer than when being passed on an NSL SC.

If you want to gutter hug carry on but stop trying to make out that those of us who refuse to do so have got some sort of problem.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Regarding your first point, I disagree:
1. Highway code 168 and 169
168
Being overtaken. If a driver is trying to overtake you, maintain a steady course and speed, slowing down if necessary to let the vehicle pass. Never obstruct drivers who wish to pass. Speeding up or driving unpredictably while someone is overtaking you is dangerous. Drop back to maintain a two-second gap if someone overtakes and pulls into the gap in front of you.
169
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.
The above refer to cars but I think they serve the cyclist equally well particularly as many motorists don't cycle and are often unaware of the problems cyclist face.

2. Your second paragraph is, however quite right.
I too, find that most riding (and driving) is less stressful if you're polite and considerate to others.
A belligerent cyclist will have a more unpleasant experience and expose him/herself to a higher risk of an accident (my opinion).

Sorry, mate, but even though I'm not that familiar with the UK highway code, being an Australian, even I know that safety trumps rules 168 and 169 every time. Given what I've read on these fora about the attitude of some UK motorists, they seem pretty similar to Australian ones. If you hug the gutter whilst cycling, a lot of motorists will simply take advantage of that, and squeeze past you while trying to stay in the left lane. The end result: being overtaken with stuff-all clearance and unsafely. So I repeat: safety comes first, so claim the lane, i.e. ride in primary position, when necessary.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

We do have a problem though. Every cyclist who does the getting out of the way thing. They make our roads more dangerous by conditioning the expectation

Are they themselves not actually just an unenlightened outcome of the society wide conditioning that Mr Toad is king of the road?

The bunnies may not drive cars but they cycle absolutely with a car drivers mindset.

I blame the lead they used to put in petrol myself.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Fraid so

The conditioning appears so deep that no amount of reasoned argument will change their behaviour.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

We have pretty much enslaved ourselves to the car, although some add cats to that mix.

It woz the cats wot dun it guv. My approach to car ownership changed radically once I stopped being a cat owner. I think we know the answer.

 

[Brandane]

My approach to cycling on main roads changed a long time ago when I was the first Police Officer at the scene of an RTA involving a cyclist on a dual carriageway with 70mph limit.
Low summer sun, car and cyclist both heading west into sun. Driver doesn't see cyclist and hits bike from behind. Cyclist's head hits car windscreen and helmet disintegrates. Cyclist died at the scene. It was not a pretty sight.
So it was 100% the car driver at fault, but that is of no consolation to his wife and family.
From a personal preservation point of view, I will always plan my routes to avoid any kind of busy trunk routes. If that means diverting up big hills, then so be it. Where I live, that is not difficult. If it wasn't possible, then I wouldn't cycle. The simple fact is, in this area at least, that cyclists are few and far between, so drivers don't expect them. Therefore I am not going to entrust my life on their ability to deal with the unexpected.

 

[screenman]

Seems some cyclist hate cyclist, wear Rapha and according to some you are all the gear no idea, ride a shopper, hybrid, chopper, road, mtb, bmx or a fat wheel and you need your brains inspecting according to others. Use a HRM, Strava, Ritmo or a jet wash and god forbid you should breath the same oxygen as a cyclist who does not.

It seems a fact that the Brits just cannot all get on together all of the time.

 

[Brandane]

Seems some cyclist hate cyclist, wear Rapha and according to some you are all the gear no idea, ride a shopper, hybrid, chopper, road, mtb, bmx or a fat wheel and you need your brains inspecting according to others. Use a HRM, Strava, Ritmo or a jet wash and god forbid you should breath the same oxygen as a cyclist who does not.

It seems a fact that the Brits just cannot all get on together all of the time.

I don't think it's limited to Brits. It's called human nature!