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Are you irritated by bicycles on the road?

(39 Posts)
BlueBelle Wed 29-Jul-20 16:39:16

Are you irritated by the cyclists on the road ?
No because I am one of them
Whenever I go on a cycle track I get a wandering pedestrian going from side to side in front of me or knock into by mobility scooters If I go on the road car drivers open their doors as I m passing, come out of side roads without stopping (punctured my daughter in laws lung doing that) and drive so close you could shake hands with them
So no I don’t think I should irritate YOU

kjmpde Wed 29-Jul-20 16:38:08

what is worse is when cyclists insist on driving on the pavement - where are pedestrians supposed to go ? i accept little kids but adults then no. and what is wrong with ringing a bell if they are behind you? i do not have eyes in the back of my head so why should i be forced to move when the cyclist can see me.?

Toadinthehole Wed 29-Jul-20 16:33:42

Are we not allowed on the roads either? There’s a thread running about cyclists on pavements, which is wrong of course. We cycle a lot, mainly on cycle tracks avoiding roads. Most of them are not in good repair, overgrown, potholes, etc. One track we go on, which is a well known cycle path, we have to give way to pedestrians and horse riders! Boris wants us to cycle, we want to cycle, but we’re at risk of losing our lives on the roads, and tracks put by for cyclists make everyone else a priority. It does put us off, but is such a lovely and productive way to exercise.

AGAA4 Wed 29-Jul-20 16:27:57

I used to drive along a very busy road which had a cycle lane. The problem was that people parked in the cycle lane causing the cyclists to move out into a steady stream of traffic, which was a danger to themselves and the cars.

TerriBull Wed 29-Jul-20 14:51:42

We have an unbelievable amount of cycle lanes in my area, one in particular, highlighted in a national newspaper, mainly because it was extended to take up half a busy road into town, thus causing traffic jams, whilst the "odd" cyclist or two whizz past, cars are squeezed into one lane, from what was two and some on occasions," the double the size normal cycle lane" is completely empty contrasting with the other half of the road practically gridlocked. When their lane eventually fizzles out the cyclists are then spewed out into heavy traffic anyway having been lulled into a false sense of security. Like the general population both demographics produce good and bad, people People I know who work up in London, before the lockdown tell me that "SOME" cyclists up there behave like pigs and will think nothing of ploughing into pedestrians and expecting them to literally jump out of the way. Undoubtedly cyclists suffer more at the hands of the motorists, nevertheless, it hasn't been unknown to have pedestrian fatalities caused by cyclists.

I had a woman ride into me in our local town on what is a pedestrian thoroughfare she had slowed down so it was more a screech of the brakes before impact, so a non collision, but she still had the cheek to say to me "not to tell her to get off her bike because she knew what she was doing" in spite of the "no cycling" signs some cyclists, like some drivers, are still a law unto themselves.

Baggs Wed 29-Jul-20 13:51:57

I see that craftyone has said the same things about bad cycle lane maintenance. Just so. It can even be quite dangerous. One cycle lane I was in recently was covered with quite large stones that had spilled over from the verge between the road and the cycle lane. If you have road tyres rather than off-road tyres on your bike, such stones can cause you to skid and fall off.

cangran Wed 29-Jul-20 13:50:34

Cyclists and pedestrians should have priority over cars everywhere and drivers have to get over this feeling of entitlement on the roads. We are facing a climate crisis and some of us are getting tired of breathing in fumes and dodging fast cars!

Baggs Wed 29-Jul-20 13:39:44

I would just like to know why, when there is a cycle lane, a lot refuse to use them

I used to wonder this myself. Now I know why: it's often because cycle lanes are not maintained very well and end up being very uncomfortable to cycle on.

Another reason, which I had to deal with in north Oxford, is that cycle lanes that share pavement space (when there is enough width for both riding and walking) have to give way to EVERY garden gate. This is utterly ridiculous. Bikes are traffic. So are pedestrians and vehicles on the road. Pedestrians and cars don't have to give way at every garden gate so why do bikes?

Galaxy Wed 29-Jul-20 13:39:17

Yes I am but it's my problem not theirs.

craftyone Wed 29-Jul-20 12:13:25

if they cleaned up the cycle lanes, removed rubbish, plants and hedging material and if they were wide enough, then yes cyclists would use them. They are often just a very narrow add-on and are never maintained. Many of us cyclists are also car owners btw and yes some groups of cyclists do ride in a very selfish manner, there is an etiquette that they should be following.

There are car drivers who get into their cars and use that car like a weapon, dog walkers, pedestrians, cyclists are all at risk as the drivers come hurtling around narrow bends

Luckyoldbeethoven Wed 29-Jul-20 12:12:49

P. S. I'm tempted to start a thread headed 'are you irritated by cars on the road?'
It would be followed by irritations such as drivers who speed, who are impatient and intolerant of others, who use phones and eat at the wheel, who park in considerately in cycle paths and over driveways, who complain bitterly when they can't drive straight up to the shop they intend visiting and then the ones who drive without tax or insurance and who run away from accidents if they possibly can. The latter leaving dead or irretrievably injured humans in their wake. Goodness, makes cycling four abreast quite innocent really.... Why not just run them over?

Luckyoldbeethoven Wed 29-Jul-20 12:06:03

I once heard a radio programme discussing this and I was impressed and amused by one caller. He said 'well, I've got a silver Mercedes, it's more expensive and faster than anything else out there, so I think all other road users should get out of my way'.

The roads are shared space but the invention of the car and its effect on those who drive one has been to bring a sense of entitlement and a barrier between themselves and other human beings who happen to be doing something else in the same shared space.

Just as speed limits are not a target to aim at, roads are not allocated solely to the owners of cars.

vampirequeen Wed 29-Jul-20 11:26:23

I'm a cyclist and a driver. I can't stand some cyclists.

The ones that ride two, three or four abreast or in a big group. Yes I know you have the right to use the road too but if you're cycling at 10mph and I'm driving at 30mph then you should let motor vehicles pass.

The ones who refuse to use cycle lanes on busy roads. We live near one of the major routes out of the city. £millions was spent a few years ago creating cycle tracks so that the cyclists don't have to go on the road and risk their lives in 60mph traffic.

The ones who don't have/refuse to use a bell or warn pedestrians that they're about to overtake.

The ones who think the highway code doesn't apply to them so go through red lights or turn suddenly without indicating.

The ones who don't think they have to stop at zebra/pelican crossings.

The ones who insist on undertaking because there is a 6 inch space between the motor vehicle and the kerb.

Adult cyclists who don't stay with the children they're cycling with. It's no good rushing off at your normal speed and leaving the children to cope. They need protection and support as they learn to ride longer distances.

The ones who think they're visible when wearing dark clothing on dark roads. For heaven's sake buy some decent lights.

I love cyclists who remember that there are other road users and that cycle tracks are often paths too so watch out for pedestrians.

Bazza Wed 29-Jul-20 11:01:14

I live in area where there are many bicycles on our quite narrow roads. Before all you cyclists let me know that they are kind to the environment, good exercise etc., yes, I absolutely agree. I would just like to know why, when there is a cycle lane, a lot refuse to use them. Why do they insist on cycling sometimes as much as four abreast? They frighten the life out of me when overtaking them. Is it just me?