AIBU expecting cyclists to use the cycle tracks?

Better, smoother, well thought-out cycle tracks might help. They don't have to run alongside roads.

Tricky and almost impossible to do with kiddies on bikes.

But perfectly doable for cycling clubs, and any regular bike use.

Bikes should be checked too. So many cyclists around here cycle on ramshackled bikes that shouldn't be anywhere near a road. Flat tyres, no brakes, no lights, seat too low/high, handlebars too low/high are but a few of the regular faults I see. Then the cyclist boodles along with earphones in listening to music or chatting on the phone totally oblivious to the traffic and pedestrians.

As soontobe says a numberplate would let people report dangerous cyclists and dangerous bikes.

If bikes had numberplates, bad cycling could get reported.

What you see in discourses about cycling is the absolute classic 1960s and 1970s social psychology of prejudice. It’s exactly those things that used to be done about minority ethnic groups and so on – the overgeneralisation of negative traits, under-representation of negative behaviours by one’s own group, that kind of thing. It’s just textbook prejudiced behaviour. This is played out in the media, on television and radio and, most virulently, via social media and website comments."

Forgot to bold it!

True crun I'm re-posting your quote.

"What you see in discourses about cycling is the absolute classic 1960s and 1970s social psychology of prejudice. It’s exactly those things that used to be done about minority ethnic groups and so on – the overgeneralisation of negative traits, under-representation of negative behaviours by one’s own group, that kind of thing. It’s just textbook prejudiced behaviour. This is played out in the media, on television and radio and, most virulently, via social media and website comments."

Dr Ian Walker
Senior Lecturer in Traffic and Transport Psychology, Bath University

Wonder how many people read, and more importantly UNDERSTOOD your post

But they do practice a lot Anya. How do they find the money for all that Lycra when they're out practising every day I don't know. Don't they have jobs to go to?!

Sorry, I don't believe that there are road races almost every day.

I think there is a difference between a cyclist using the road for his normal travel, But is it fair to hold road cycle races . It used to be every weekend now its almost everyday probably some of the time they are just practising. but racing each other none the less. we don't allow cars to race on our roads and ive never seen a horse race on the road! so why are cycles allowed [ I wont mention that they don't pay road tax]

Which bit of "Some road users, including some cyclists, are selfish bastards" didn't you understand, sunseeker? I think I'd interpret that as admitting some others have a point. Can't think of any other way to interpret it, actually. Hey ho.

Festival of Cycling, Tour of Britain, National Cycling Championships, 232 routes in our county recommended in cycling magazines - why not just ban cars from the roads round here and be done with it?

I wonder if you live near me Cherrytree59!

where I live we have the Wiggans effect . Lots of lycra esp at the weekends. because we are rural a lot horse riders as well. so patience is needed. The other day I was following a cyclist wobbling away whilst chatting on his mobile phone completely oblivious to me or the other queue of traffic behind as the road was too twisty to pass him.

I don't know if he was prosecuted, stb, he allegedly went on his way.

thatbags Obviously you are not prepared to admit that others have a point so we must all take it that cyclists are the angels of the road, never make a mistake, are always courteous and wave people through (not in my experience - but then according to you I am a driver who tries to "ram their back wheel"). In fact I always give cyclists plenty of room, which is why when they are riding in a selfish manner I am unable to pass them because I would not be able to leave adequate room in case they fall off). I was hoping for an intelligent discussion but it would appear that is not possible so I'm off!

No, there aren't always cyclists on the road; however, there seem to have been more and more in the past couple of years.
Yes, I do give them consideration and wait for a safe place to overtake, which is very, very infrequent on the road I have to use. We usually have an acknowledgement of thanks between us of thanks.

However, where they could pull over (in a road up to the forest or a farm track) to allow the build-up of traffic past, they never ever do.

Not everyone is as patient as me and I do see people pulling out to overtake where there could be a potential hazard of a car coming in the opposite direction. I don't, but I can understand their frustration.

As a driver I rarely have a problem with cyclists. As a pedestrian in a city I am constantly irritated by the way many of them treat pavements, paths and crossings as if they had sole right of way. An earlier poster said that pedestrians are protected by law - not as far as these cyclists are concerned they aren't!

In an area I go to, cyclists rule for a short distance.
Car drivers are so terrified of there being an accident, that we all drive with the utmost care.

Are cyclists allowed to ride abreast?

rosequartz, in the situation you describe was the cyclist prosecuted?

Thanks, trisher. That does sound troublesome. However, as you say, the crossing isn't for cyclists. I expect the junctioon wasn't designed with cyclists in mind either. As crun says, road planners don't (or didn't) include cyclists' needs in their plans.

sunseeker, I hadn't missed the point. I know groups of cyclists sometimes ride several abreast. It happens here too. What also happens, when there is a safe place for a car to pass, is that they string out and wave one past. Perhaps they only do it for drivers who don't seem to be trying to ram their back wheels. Or maybe people are just more civilised up here.

I shall now try to leave you all to grumble and grouse and sound bad-tempered in peace. It's like cycling up a steep hill this thread is for people like me. I haven't ridden a bike for years, btw, so I'm not arguing for my own sake.

The advice about overtaking cyclists is that you should leave enough room for them to fall off sideways. In effect it's the same as overtaking a car as far as amount of space needed goes. If there's that much space between the bike and the car a bike wobble shouldn't affect your driving. So the police say anyhow.

If there are always cyclists on the road you use to go and collect your grandchild from school, rq, then yes, I'd say you do have to allow extra time. I don't see that unreasonable. All road users, including cyclists, have to take other road users into consideration always. Some road users, including some cyclists, are selfish bastards but the vast majority are really quite as decent and careful as you and me.

If one lived in a city and walked to work along very crowded rush hour streets with other pedestrians, so many that one couldn't get up a decent walk rhythm and kept having to avoid people and all this slowed you down, you'd allow extra time to deal with that. Why should it be different in (or on) wheeled vehicles?

I also have a problem when passing a cyclist in a safe place that they often move out at the last minute and it is pretty scary!
Luckygirl that is what allegedly happened when the two cars collided near us.

Has anyone wandered along by the river in Bath?
You take your life in your hands there if out for a stroll because of all the speeding cyclists.
At least one or two of them seem to have a bell that they use.