"Conclusion – there are inconsiderate a*******s in all walks of life, be they on foot, on two-wheels or in four. It will always be that way. You just gotta hope you don't have the misfortune to meet them when moving around for work or play ..."
Defensive driving/cycling is key, although on a bike it's harder to do for obvious reasons.
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"Conclusion – there are inconsiderate a*******s in all walks of life, be they on foot, on two-wheels or in four. It will always be that way. You just gotta hope you don't have the misfortune to meet them when moving around for work or play ..."
Defensive driving/cycling is key, although on a bike it's harder to do for obvious reasons.
Not necessarily - as a cyclist myself, I often dispair at how other cyclists suddenly swerve at the last minute to avoid a parked car, drain, etc or to turn right, rather than far earlier and more gradually (but not to the nth degree) moving and especially signalling when needed.
Sometimes the chatting or pseudo-professional (they wear the garb, but don't have the taletn) larger groups of weekend wannabe yellow jerseys and social cyclists don't pay attention and cause long delays by staying a a large peleton or varying the width of the road used randomly, but, to me, and by a large margin, THE WORST cyclists (other than teenage boys who are mainly just bored and deliberately mucking about) are the couriers in urban areas, who I (and I'm sure many of us have seen) regularly:
- Ride at breakneck speed;
- Disregard traffic signals, one-way streets and pedestrian-only pavements;
- Weave in between vehicles stopped in traffic/at junctions and lead to many near misses with both other road users and pedestrians trying to cross the road;
- Rarely think it's their fault.
I remember one time at college walking down Tottenham Court Road in London, and witness an accident when one of these couriers smashed at high speed into a pedestrian crossing the road when he was going the wrong way (for those who don't know that street, its a very busy one-way street with 2-3 lanes, though not always marked, with several pedestrian crossings [busy shopping/business area] and junctions/traffic lights for roads joining and diverging). By some miracle, both parties weren't seriously hurt, but the courier found the time to shout obscenities at the pedestrian and others trying to help and quickly roade off.
On the other hand, many drivers seem to deliberately target or at the very least don't care about the welfare cyclists, even when they are behaving responsibly, cutting them off, beeping their horn at them for slowing them down, even goading them to start a fight if they feel they've been slighted in any way (e.g. by slowing them down). The same can go with pedestrians being unattentive (engrossed in conversation/with their smartphone/jogging listening to loud music, etc) and walking out in front of bikes or cars/HGVs.
It seems that far more of society is on edge and one incident (even minor ones) away from the rest mist turning them into some kind of raging monster.
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You have made my point for me.
Yes the so called expert cyclists, in the yellow lycra, are often the worst as they are aggressive.
I don't think society has got worse. Cyclists and car drivers are worse in places like London due to heavy traffic and the ridiculous numbers of road signs and markings. Round my way they are usually okay. Dorks are rare, and the recent bad cycling I've seen here is unusual.
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I don't think society has got worse. Cyclists and car drivers are worse in places like London due to heavy traffic and the ridiculous numbers of road signs and markings. Round my way they are usually okay. Dorks are rare, and the recent bad cycling I've seen here is unusual.
Maybe it's because there are more road users on the road, especially in urban areas. There are LOTS more cyclists, especially commuters, a good number of students and inner city couriers using them and riding round at breakneck speeds, often disregarding the rules of the road, but then there's so many more 'angry drivers' out there, often people in a hurry (of both types of transport) trying to get to work, a job, meeting, a delivery. More road users = more to keep an eye on as well.
Too crowded. Its often just as busy out here in the sticks, just not for so long. I used to like driving, even the commute to work, but that was some years ago. Nowadays it's just making it in one piece without having to spend 15 mins on arrival calming down after some near miss or joker taking The Mike. I often deliberately avoid the busiest times of the day to travel even if that inconveniences me in other ways.
Far less stressful and safer, and mny car uses less fuel. As a cyclist I now avoid most major roads (never did in my younger years) and prefer a bit more piece and quiet of country lanes, though that is now getting more dangerous as many motorists use them as rat runs thanks to satnavs.
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I am a recreational cyclist. Quite a lot of yellow clothing - because I want to be seen and I know from my own experience that dark clothed cyclists are hard to spot. I have never jumped a red light and will not cycle on footpaths. I slow down to walking pace when passing pedestrians on cycle paths. On country lanes when vehicles approach I will stop as soon as I can and let them pass me easily. Just look for a Farm gateway or wider space.
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In the course of a days riding, say 30-40 miles of mainly lanes with some B roads I will meet a lot of very nice motorists who wave, slow down and seem to be perfectly happy. Without exception someone will shout abuse, honk, drive too close or too fast or make obscene hand gestures. Not because I have done anything to deserve it but because that is who they are.
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Then. I put the bike back on the car or motorhome and re-join the motoring public. And try to be kind to cyclists.
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Conclusions: there are too many cars, not enough cycle lanes, too many people who are intolerant and not enough kindness. I will just continue to cycle as kindly as I can, avoid causing a problem where I can and continue to assume that every car, van and lorry I meet is trying to kill me and take precautions accordingly. I think it’s called defensive cycling.
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I think that sums it up. Most people are nice, but it only takes one numpty to ruin your day, or your life, and our roads do not cater for cyclists.
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our roads do not cater for cyclists
Its been said many a time, but as more are going to be using the roads and whatever cycle lanes are put in (more are expected in Central London) I think we are going to have to live with it and keep calm as the roads are not going to get any easier imo.
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It's been said many a time, but as more are going to be using the roads and whatever cycle lanes are put in (more are expected in Central London) I think we are going to have to live with it and keep calm as the roads are not going to get any easier imo.
Most of our roads are not going to get noticeably wider any time soon, while most vehicles except bikes already are - so things get steadily worse, without allowing for any growing volume of traffic. Part of the reason why I stopped cycling many years ago.
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(Duplicate post)
Edited by Avant on 08/11/2018 at 23:43
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Yes I have in part chosen my job based on the commute. I left my last job as I had to leave home at 6:15 am to make it to work in 55 minutes, rather than 2 hours at normal times. But your area must be bad compared to mine. For years I lived 7 miles or less from work, bliss.
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I used to cycle but I want to live so no longer do.
I try to drive assuming other occupants of the road are absolute idiots and want to kill me or themselves. I find with some cyclists on narrow twisty country roads with zero forward visibility think they are immortal doing 20mph downhill in the centre of a blind corner. So I drive round them at 10mph with dipped headlamps. So far I have neither killed or injured any despite their endeavours.. (They remind me of some Audi drivers and motorcyclists on the Leek to Buxton road: . Anumber kill themselves each year)
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(They remind me of some Audi drivers and motorcyclists on the Leek to Buxton road: . A number kill themselves each year)
Much like the Buxton-Macclesfield road I guess. The other hazard there is coming round a bend to find an ambulance blocking a lane while rescuing another biker.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6372549/Teenage-cyclist-rides-straight-car-sending-bike-flying-lands-feet.html
This dash cam footage is self explanatory
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6372549/Teenage-cyclist-rides-straight-car-sending-bike-flying-lands-feet.html
This dash cam footage is self explanatory
He started off right by overtaking stopped bus rather than going up its nearside or taking to pavement.
Rest is just poor observation.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6372549/Teenage-cyclist-rides-straight-car-sending-bike-flying-lands-feet.html
This dash cam footage is self explanatory
He started off right by overtaking stopped bus rather than going up its nearside or taking to pavement.
Rest is just poor observation.
The bus was moving. It looked like he tailgated the bus, then raced it and had no hope of getting past. Let’s hope he never drives a car.
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The bus was moving. It looked like he tailgated the bus, then raced it and had no hope of getting past. Let’s hope he never drives a car.
Reviewing the full video you're quite right. What I initially thought was a Bus Stop sign is actually start of a 20 limit. It also shows how woeful his observation was, he had ample time to see the car coming.
There are loads of hazards there. It's school kicking out time so lots of youngsters who might step into road either to cross or because they're skylarking with mates. Several parked cars which, particularly given it's school run time may move or have doors open without warning. The bus is likely to stop at some time with possibility of inattentive passengers crossing road. Had to brake sharply on my commute last week to avoid just such a dozy 'apporth. Aware of possibility I'd included peering through the bus in my 'scan' so was prepared for her not looking right before stepping into my path.
Edited by Bromptonaut on 10/11/2018 at 11:32
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This dash cam footage is self explanatory
So is this footage.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6372303/Cyclist-p...k
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This dash cam footage is self explanatory
So is this footage.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6372303/Cyclist-p...k
Let’s hope the motorists are prosecuted for driving without due care and attention.
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That happened to me. Course I was on an 1100cc Honda ST1100. See its just a two wheels invisible thing for some drivers. Best thing is for car drivers to start out doing a year on a motorbike. Imo.
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That happened to me. Course I was on an 1100cc Honda ST1100. See its just a two wheels invisible thing for some drivers. Best thing is for car drivers to start out doing a year on a motorbike. Imo.
Where I live there are lots of accident due to other road users not paying enough attention/not anticipating and mitigating, either when entering a road, or watching for vehicles coming out of side roads, especially rural country lanes coming on to fast-moving single carriageway trunk roads, or short slip-ons from the same onto dual carriageways, especially at night or in poor weather.
I think it would be a good idea for learner drivers (including HGV learners) to spend some time on the road on cycles or motorbikes to get the perspective from such road users and hopefully be more considerate.
One thing that I would ask - directed at those backroomers who have children of the age that used to take part in such things - is the cycle proficiency test still in operation via schools? I thought the training to pass it was very helpful in making me a more considerate cyclist.
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One thing that I would ask - directed at those backroomers who have children of the age that used to take part in such things - is the cycle proficiency test still in operation via schools? I thought the training to pass it was very helpful in making me a more considerate cyclist.
Not sure about Nationwide, but from what i have seen, it is still in operation in the Aberdeenshire area. There have been a few times in different areas when i have been cleaning windows on quiet streets and came across lots of kids on bikes with their high vis vests on, and i remember when my youngest did his. A few years ago now, but i remember him being really chuffed that the instructor had complimented him on his bike (which was an Islabikes).
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One thing that I would ask - directed at those backroomers who have children of the age that used to take part in such things - is the cycle proficiency test still in operation via schools? I thought the training to pass it was very helpful in making me a more considerate cyclist.
In England I think it's been subsumed into something called Bikebility:
bikeability.org.uk/what/
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One thing that I would ask - directed at those backroomers who have children of the age that used to take part in such things - is the cycle proficiency test still in operation via schools? I thought the training to pass it was very helpful in making me a more considerate cyclist.
In England I think it's been subsumed into something called Bikebility:
bikeability.org.uk/what/
Good to see something along the lines of the old cycling proficiency scheme is still going, though I wonder how widely it is taken up, given how many people seem to be inconsiderate on our roads today. Even for the occasional cyclist, I think they are worth it, as it can give them later on as a car/van/HGV driver or just a pedestrian a better appreciation of the road environment.
Of course, then there's the 'next level' of hate between cars, vans, HGVs, far more than of cyclists, but of motorcyclists, including mopeds and scooters (the dreaded pizza delivery guy or the 'yoof' having a 'larf'). Perhaps for anyone thread. Maybe we should all go round driving Morris Minors - I don't think anyone hates them, even if they are rather slow. Or perhaps Morgans.
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That happened to me. Course I was on an 1100cc Honda ST1100. See its just a two wheels invisible thing for some drivers. Best thing is for car drivers to start out doing a year on a motorbike.
Hmmm. I've never been a biker, nor had any urge to. I don't think that is because in his younger days my father had a fairly minor accident on an Ariel which put him in hospital for 18 months. But as you ride a bike with an engine as big as those in many small cars, you may cause more irritation than you realise by exploiting that power and manoeuvrability while sneaking through marrow gaps in traffic.
I remember driving eastwards over Stainmore (a very snaky road) among a small fleet of bikes who seemed to think many of the bends were not actually blind corners. As always, there are good ones and others.
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Two young lads in dark clothing on after dark, no lights showing front or back cycling down a main road. Not even reflectors.
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This dash cam footage is self explanatory
So is this footage.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6372303/Cyclist-p...k
That reminds me that a week ago I was approaching a T junction, and I just knew the car at the junction would pull out. Sure enough, she pulled out right in front of my car, forcing an emergency stop. She was so absorbed watching for a gap from the left that she ignored the right. I have it on video, and it is as I remember it. I pity a motorcyclist meeting this woman.
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A couple of years ago i remember coming home from work on a single carriageway road in the dark and having to swerve to avoid a young male on a bike with no lights, high vis, or even reflectors. And that is not the worst part, (drumroll) he was on the wrong side of the road!!
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A couple of years ago i remember coming home from work on a single carriageway road in the dark and having to swerve to avoid a young male on a bike with no lights, high vis, or even reflectors. And that is not the worst part, (drumroll) he was on the wrong side of the road!!
What can make it worse is when as last night on a 25mile trip in the pouring rain and flooding, just managed to see 5 cycle riders within a mile or so all with dark clothing and no lights or reflectors, and counted 12 cars over the entire trip without lights as well, several had not got DRLs either to make it worse.
this all in London and the only Police I saw was around a football stadium
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Again this morning, B road and three cyclists strung out on a bend, they were ok but a BMW decides to overtake the lot which caused fun and games getting out the way for me coming the other side. Red rag to a bull for some drivers the cyclists have become.
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Again this morning, B road and three cyclists strung out on a bend, they were ok but a BMW decides to overtake the lot which caused fun and games getting out the way for me coming the other side. Red rag to a bull for some drivers the cyclists have become.
If they'd been riding in a echelon or 2+1 BMW man might have thought better and waited.
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A couple of years ago i remember coming home from work on a single carriageway road in the dark and having to swerve to avoid a young male on a bike with no lights, high vis, or even reflectors. And that is not the worst part, (drumroll) he was on the wrong side of the road!!
That was not uncommon in the Slough area when I lived there 15 years ago. Sadly.
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