Discussion

Main Board| Accommodation Wanted| Accommodation Offered
Start a new discussion on this board

Let your next career move come to you.

Hello I’m a cyclist

A proper one not like you amateurs so I won’t use the massively expensive new cycle path right next to me. I’ll use the road cos I’m a proper cyclist with more rights than all you idiot car drivers and cause a 3 mile tailback cos I’m a cyclist and think I can ride just as fast as a car on a 60mph road and anyway even if I can’t, it doesn’t matter cos I’m a cyclist and you’ll just have to be patient cos there’s no way you can pass me without someone being killed. 

PS I look fooking great in all my gear don’t I. 

Cyclists can use cyclepaths or the road. You need to accept that. That how life is. Literally in the rules of the road. If you don't like it, that's your problem. But maybe driving isn't for you.

Hello I am a cyclist and  and I am going to go too fast and you had better get out of the way. There will be another cyclist along in a second going too fast not on a cycle path but a foot path but you must get out of my way I am going too fast but I am in a cyclist pressure group that has closed half the roads but I am still not on the road but a footpath because I am a  🎛️

The rules of the road give a graded duty of care. Bigger vehicles have a greater duty to smaller modes of transport. You can pass a cyclist where safe to do so, giving (1.5m clearance at speeds of up to 30mph and more at greater speeds). It doesn't say it's okay to kill them, or to kill anyone (as your op  suggested). Hope that clarifies. 

Hello i am a cyclist. Spittle flecked fury at the audacity of drivers using the roads that are my domain is my default commuting MOOD. I consider traffic lights and zebra crossings optional i'm going places and im in a hurry so GET OUT OF MY WAY. Why is everyone else such a stupid C UNT why cant they see i am CYCLING TO WORK.

I HATE CYCLISTS!!

THEY THINK THEY LOOK GOOD IN ALL THEIR CYCLING GEAR BUT THEY DON’T REALISE THAT I LOOK MUCH BETTER THAN THEM BECAUSE MY CAR IS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THEIR BICYCLE!!

STUPID CYCLISTS!!

CYCLISTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT I CAN KILL THEM IN MY CAR AND THEY SHOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE I COULD KILL THEM I COULD YOU KNOW I COULD KILL THEM I THINK ABOUT KILLING THEM IN MY CAR I AM BETTER THAN THEM AND I CAN KILL THEM THEY SHOULD THINK ABOUT ME KILLING THEM WITH MY CAR GET OUT OF MY WAY CYCLISTS

AND IT IS NOT THEORETICAL YOU UNDERSTAND BECAUSE CARS KILL CYCLISTS ALL THE TIME AND CYCLISTS CAN’T KILL CAR DRIVERS AND IF I HIT THE CYCLIST IN MY CAR THEY ARE GOING TO BE KILLED BY MY CAR YES MY CAR WILL KILL THEM AND THEN THEY WILL BE SORRY FOR CYCLING ON MY ROAD AND GETTING IN THE WAY OF MY CAR WHICH CAN DEFINITELY KILL THEM IF THEY GET IN MY WAY I CAN KILL THE CYCLISTS WITH MY CAR

I was cycling home yesterday on my way up a hill and nearly got mushed by a range rover.  Had to take a break to get my composure back, closest I've come to death in quite a while (ever?).  Driver swung out into the oncoming (my) lane at full acceleration to overtake and I had to swerve into the kerb to avoid being hit.  Bloody terrifying.  He was followed immediately behind by a police car with sirens going (they'd come out of a junction so hadn't been visible until right before it all happened) so clearly a chase.  

My big issue is why so many regular cyclists seem to think that they are 'entitled' to ignore red lights? Would really like to know why they think certain traffic rules should not apply to them.

As someone who rides a lot I see it more from people in cars than people on bikes. I think the difference is that drivers tend to go through more immediately after the light has gone red whereas the cyclists who go through red lights nonchalantly do so throughout the cycle. Both are illegal. One is likely to kill other road users by maiming them. The other is likely to kill telegraph-reading retired army types by apoplexy. 

While Jelly is correct on the rules of the road those rules absolutely should be changed so that where a cycle track runs parallel to the road cyclist are obliged to use it and not the road.  

Why tf should drivers watch out especially for cyclists when they cruise thru red lights all the time, generally fvkcing up the order that everyone supposedly benefits from? Cars get cameraed in the same circs. In such a general free for all you’ve got to be mad to cycle, and by extension you have no reasonable expectation of safety. It’s a fvkcing jungle out there. 

you have no reasonable expectation of safety

YOU HAVE NO REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF SAFETY WHEN I AM DRIVING MY CAR WHICH CAN KILL CYCLISTS AND THEY NEED TO REMEMBER I CAN KILL THEM AND THEY CAN’T KILL ME I CAN KILL THEM ALL IN MY CAR

I don't cycle in London, but whenever I cycle through generally small towns in the North.  The cycle lanes are generally not cleaned and so filled with rubbish and road debris and so massively increase the chances of a puncture.  No chance - I'll always use the road, as I'm fully entitled to do.  I would never run a red light because I respect the rules of the road.  I'm a driver as well as a cyclist and if I had to say who's more likely to be a dick on the road - cyclists or drivers - it's drivers all day long.

those rules absolutely should be changed so that where a cycle track runs parallel to the road cyclist are obliged to use it and not the road

AND IF A CAR IS PARKED IN THE CYCLE TRACK THEY MUST WAIT UNTIL THE DRIVER COMES BACK BEFORE PROCEEDING!!

 

OK... a fair few gammony myths to dispell here.

  1. "Expensive cycle lanes" - Cycle lanes are much cheaper than building/maintaining general roads. The entire UK active travel budget is tiny.

     

  2. red lights - exactly what Alan said. When actually monitored and studied cars and bicycles run reds at a similar-ish rate. What makes it more obvious when bicycles do it is it tends to happen in the middle of a phase, whereas cars do it it's just after the end of the phase. It's so prevelent the govt even had to run a mass tv campaign in the 70s against "amber gambling". The latter is also much more dangerous than the former which is why the vast, vast majority of injuries caused by red light running happen when a motor vehicle does. Why do some people ignore road rules? because some people just do - eg: around 70% of all motor vehicles speed when not in traffic queues. Bertha - only a tiny proportion of traffic lights are set up with cameras to detect cars red light jumping.

     

  3. Darko - as a quick reminder... general roads are for all types of traffic. We then have some types of specific infrastructure for specific uses. eg: the motorway network for motor vehicles only, cycle lanes for cyclists only etc.. Cycle lanes are important for mass utility cycling but for faster moving cyclists (around 18+mph), the road is usually a better choice, unless the cycle lane is a really good one. There's no requirement to use cycle lanes in exactly the same way there's no requirement on motor vehicles to use the motorway or strategic road network if the driver prefers a route on smaller A or B roads. When you build good cycle lanes they get loads of use, when you see cyclists not using a cycle lane - it's usually because it's not suitable. Exactly the same reason drivers prefer a fast tarmac A-road to a dirt farm track.

     

  4. "No cars on the footpath" -  If only... cars driving on pavements is the overwhelming cause of pedestrian death and serious injury.

“As a quid pro quo. Israel ought to recognise Catalunya/ Basque and the give Ireland back to the Irish.”

if you want the big bonus you have to mow down the line of hate krishna

Dirt farm tracks are fun.

The other day on the big hill up to Crystal Palace a cyclist pulled off the nice big new segregated cycle lane into the road and plodded up the hill for a few hundred yards before pulling back onto the cycle lane and giving me a wave.  No apparent logic for what he did.

Having cycled in France, Spain and the UK, the major difference is that a large majority of UK drivers seem to think that cyclists are "on their road", and should always give way to cars. And they, like the moronic op, get frustrated when this happens. I'm not sure if it's down to alt right media pushing cars over bikes, or just innate selfishness. 

 

Recall being out with a 9 year old on a back street. An on coming car cut right across us to make a right turn, forcing a stop.  I shouted "hey" and the gammon stopped, got out and screamed "fooking bike aunts!". On what planet is that appropriate?

 

On the same trip, going through a traffic calming chicane, the child was going through and a car decided to overtake. A middle aged woman in a Micra blithely thinking that fine. She gave about 30cm clearance to the kid on a bike. 

 

Road users in cars take ridiculous risks with bikes out of entitlement. I honestly think they take more care to avoid hitting another car as that's an insurance claim, than knocking down a cyclist. 

Well said BigMac. Also appreciate the irony of the morons berating cyclists for both not using cycle lanes and running into pedestrians at floating bus stops. I use plenty of cycle lanes and also avoid a number. The ones I avoid tend to be: (i) low quality, potholed, full off rubbish; (ii) poorly designed for the route I'm taking (e.g. don't allow you to turn where you need to); and (iii) create conflict with pedestrians/vehicles (there is one near the Old Vic in London which cuts inside a floating bus stop and crosses several side roads (where the cars are stopped) - literally no one uses it.

The ones in Balham have created the comical situation where it's now almost impossible for two buses going in opposite directions to pass each other.  It's almost as if they stuck them it without measuring how much road would be left for other vehicles.

Horrible drunken take from the OP. As Jelly says it explicitly says in the Highway Code that cyclists can use the road even when there is a cycle lane adjacent. I usually use the road as it's safer and I'm going the 20mph speed limit on my road bike so not holding anyone up.  

“ I shouted "hey" and the gammon stopped, got out and screamed "fooking bike aunts!". On what planet is that appropriate?”

Never. But 14 years of Tories, Brexit, Covid, and our good old feudal ‘democracy’ throughout. Shouting at cyclists is the least of it. 

Some of those floating bus stops haven't given though to drainage, so when it rains the elevated pedestrian crossing bit stops the rainwater from drawing off. So the cycle lane is 15cm deep. Nonsense. 

I assume the opening post is an attempt at satire: a pedestrian pretending to be a driver pretending to be a cyclist claiming cyclists are selfish to subtly highlight drivers’ hypocrisy?

These are footpaths running along side a river. There are no cars. Cyclists of which there are many have no regard for others and expect everyone to stop or move. If the cycle lanes are full of debris it needs to be addressed as it’s obvious from this thread there is an issue with cars and cyclists sharing the road. 

there really should be no issues.  cycle lanes in this country outside of central london are garbage.  they either have cars parked over them, they cross junctions where you don't have priority (but would on the road), they get all the glass swept onto them, wheely bins etc etc etc 

as someone said - cycle abroad it is totally different, Belgium particularly.  We are just stupid and ignorant in UK, none more so that the car whiners who have actually never ridden themselves

There's not an issue. 

 

Some cyclists are assholes. Some motorists are assholes. 

 

Cyclists, in 2021 and 2020, were responsible for zero motorist deaths. They were responsible for 4 pedestrians deaths in 2021 and 1 death in 2020. And no deaths in 2022.  

 

Motorists caused 141 cyclist deaths, and 346 pedestrian deaths, in 2020

 

Motorists caused 111 cyclist deaths, and 361 pedestrian deaths, in 2021

 

Motorists caused 91 cyclist deaths, and 385 pedestrian deaths, in 2022.

 

 

So let's definitely focus on how your car journey was delayed. Because that's the real tragedy in this. 

 

 

 

Can the figures be broken down into per number of journeys made, miles travelled, etc?

GOOD POINT!!

AT FIRST BLUSH CYCLISTS CAUSING ZERO MOTORIST DEATHS AND ZERO PEDESTRIAN DEATHS IN 2022 IN COMPARISON TO MOTORISTS CAUSING 91 CYCLIST DEATHS AND 385 PEDESTRIAN DEATHS MIGHT SOUND BETTER BUT I AM SURE IF YOU BREAK DOWN THE FIGURES THEY TELL A VERY DIFFERENT STORY!!

Donny, I disagree that cyclists should be obliged to use cycle paths if they're there. Car drivers need to learn to "see" and drive with other road users and factor them in as part of safe driving practice. limiting cyclists only to cycle paths makes car drivers more complacent and a risk to other road users.

Where I am, the traffic and driving culture is take way rather than give way, and it's dicey as fvck to be cycling on the roads. We keep as far as possible to right, but the car drivers are used to sharing the road with two wheeled vehicles so they aren't too bad. So I'd take my chances here rather than in London. (It's the motorcyclists that are the real menace here. Two of our club members were hit today, one somersaulted over a concrete barrier and was lucky as traffic was slow when it happened and another was rear ended on a bridge and injured her wrist. Both v v lucky.)

For balance: yes, some cyclists are indefensible cu.nts, running red lights, weaving in between trucks and semi trailers in predawn traffic with no fvcking lights on. Wtf wtf wtf

 

Is there any explanation as to how ot is incredibly dangerous for a car to overtake a bike woth a gap of 1m at 10 mph but its perfectly safe for a bike to undertake a car travelling at 15 mph with a gap of only 15cm?

In London the delivery mopeds are the far bigger issue as if you're driving in late rush hour/early evening they will happily come past  you on both sides and it's almost impossible to count them all in the rear view mirror then count them past as you usually do with motorbikes.

Was that a serious question ftse? If so then you are severely in need of some basic physics tuition. There's also the general point that the law tends to aim to protect people from others rather than prevent people undertaking risky activities themselves

There are very few cycle lanes outside London.  Also, I live in a rural area.  The nearest cycle lane is c 100 miles away.  And even that is invariably full of broken beer glasses and wine bottles from the drink-driver blokes for whom smashing glass onto cycle lanes is a form of banter. 

Is there any explanation as to how ot is incredibly dangerous for a car to overtake a bike woth a gap of 1m at 10 mph but its perfectly safe for a bike to undertake a car travelling at 15 mph with a gap of only 15cm?

 

----------------------------------------------

 

Cyclists often are young, elderly, tired, and sides of roads are full of holes, litter and glass

"As I said, if you don't want to follow the rules of the road, don't drive. Really that simple. "

 

That would take 50% of cyclists out of circulation immediately.  I drive and cycle and, funnily enough particularly when cycling, I note at least half, probably a majority of cyclists do not follow the rules of the road- in particular they seem to think they can go through red lights (this is not a small minority, it is a huge number)

Cyclists don't always give way at junctions. The considerate motorist will have prepared for this by rolling down his window. Oi, Bradley. No need to take risks. The peloton's miles back. W***er. 

BigMac - I am talking about what the rules should be, not what they are. I don't care if a cycle lane means you can't easily cycle at more than 18 miles an hour. Go slower, on the cycle lane because you are on a frigging bike! The alternative is holding up traffic on the road. 

Guy, I'm sure that far more than 50% of drivers break the law at least once every time they drive (do you honestly never go a single mph over the speed limit)? I would be more than happy with all drivers and cyclists who break the law being off the roads - would be cycling heaven.

I'm sure that far more than 50% of drivers break the law at least once every time they drive (do you honestly never go a single mph over the speed limit)?

ACTUALLY, IF YOU’RE A GOOD DRIVER - LIKE ME!! - THEN IT IS OFTEN SAFER TO DRIVE FASTER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT!!

SO THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT AND NOT COMPARABLE!!

Haven't read much of the above but my experience as a motorcycle rider told me to always look to the left when pulling up at lights. not for a pedestrian or HGV, but a gung-ho cyclist. 

Unpredictable. And the lycra clad lunatics who held onto my bike's grab rail looking for a tow. Are they oblivious as to what might happen?

“BigMac - I am talking about what the rules should be, not what they are. I don't care if a cycle lane means you can't easily cycle at more than 18 miles an hour. Go slower, on the cycle lane because you are on a frigging bike! The alternative is holding up traffic on the road. “

How about you go slower, Donny?  How much difference would it actually make to you if you drove safely around cyclists?

Guy, I'm sure that far more than 50% of drivers break the law at least once every time they drive (do you honestly never go a single mph over the speed limit)? I would be more than happy with all drivers and cyclists who break the law being off the roads - would be cycling heaven.

I try not to, of course I cannot guarantee it, that is why the police have tolerance levels of speeding.  What I dont to do in a car or on a bike is deliberately go through red lights.

I try not to, of course I cannot guarantee it, that is why the police have tolerance levels of speeding.  What I dont to do in a car or on a bike is deliberately go through red lights.

So you're taking a subjective view of what offence is worse. Far far more people are killed/injured due to speeding (even if only a few miles over the limit) than cyclists going through red lights (which in most instances creates risk for the cyclist rather than anyone else). And let's also not forget all of those motorists who drive/park in cycle lanes, drive into advance stop zones, talk on their mobiles, race through ambers/reds etc. The latter is particularly dangerous (especially for cyclists who may get an advance green light at a junction and then need to dodge motorists trying to beat the red) but I bet most motorists won't give this a second thought and just think it's par for course (while having a hissy fit about a cyclist ambling through a red even if it has zero impact on them).  

No I am talking about the difference in accidently slightly exceeding the limit which everyone does from time to time and which is tolerated for that reason and deliberately going through a red light (not an amber light, a red light) it happens all the time and as well as putting cyclist themselves at risk it puts pedestrians at risk too.

I have no axe to grind here, I am a keen cyclist as well as a motorist I am just calling what I see, there are a few bad drivers, a few drivers that delibrately disobey the rules but most do their best to comply with the rules of the road, I cannot say the same about cyclists.

Given the average speed travelled on most uncongested roads will almost always be nearly 10mph over the limit I think "accidentally" is a bit rich (try sitting at 70 on the outside lane of any motorway and find out). And, at least in London, police are tending to no longer allow for much tolerance at all given the massively increased risks to pedestrians/cyclists of travelling even slightly over the limit.

I also don't have a particular axe to grind but the reality is that motorists on the whole seem to get annoyed with cyclists going through red lights more out of a sense of unfairness that they can't do the same rather than any real concern for safety. I commute by bike and have nearly got in fights with other cyclists when I've called them out on nearly running down pedestrians on crossings etc (which massively annoys me). However, my mantra is that if someone is doing something which may be against the law but doesn't impact me or anyone else then who cares. Also, as an aside, a cyclist running a red light is not necessarily comparable with a motorist doing the same. There are plenty of situations where the road design (e.g. a T junction or a two way control for roadworks) makes it completely safe for a cyclist to go as they are not merging into traffic or taking priority over pedestrians.      

Join the discussion

Login Register