A cyclist's rant to incompetent road users...

pigeonpie

well, to clear up any misunderstanding - I cycle in London. If I looked over my shoulder every time I overtook a parked car, I'd have to learn to cycle without looking forwards at the road. Besides I have to look at the parked cars in case one of them has someone in it who decides to open their door just as I go past.
If drivers don't anticipate that a bicycle riding along in front of them is going to have to overtake a parked car, then they are extremely bad drivers!

Rolandtheroadie

pigeonpie wrote: »

well, to clear up any misunderstanding - I cycle in London. If I looked over my shoulder every time I overtook a parked car, I'd have to learn to cycle without looking forwards at the road. Besides I have to look at the parked cars in case one of them has someone in it who decides to open their door just as I go past.
If drivers don't anticipate that a bicycle riding along in front of them is going to have to overtake a parked car, then they are extremely bad drivers!

Its not about the driver anticipating what your doing, its about self preservation.
Your point about someone opening a door is what ALL road users have to do but as a biker, I do a lifesaver for EVERY change of direction.
Passing a parked car, returning to the left after passing, entering a roundabout, leaving a roundabout, turning left, turning right. All that AND obey the road signs/traffic lights/pedestrian crossings etc inbetween times.

mikey72

pigeonpie wrote: »

well, to clear up any misunderstanding - I cycle in London. If I looked over my shoulder every time I overtook a parked car, I'd have to learn to cycle without looking forwards at the road. Besides I have to look at the parked cars in case one of them has someone in it who decides to open their door just as I go past.
If drivers don't anticipate that a bicycle riding along in front of them is going to have to overtake a parked car, then they are extremely bad drivers!

Will it feel better if an extremely bad driver hits you, rather than a good one missing you?
At least a car door won't leave tyre marks across the back of your head.

johnfarquhar74

Strider590 wrote: »

he said something like "F**K OFF! W*****" and proceeded through the red lights on the footpath......

You can't fool me with your cryptography, I know you're that Latin lovegod from X-Factor :rotfl:

Strider590

^^ Busted

:rotfl:

Fatcat1974

mystra wrote: »

One thing i will say... what kind of crazy person would have a bike....WITHOUT BRAKES?!?! I've seen loads!

.

They're probably riding a "fixie" i.e. a bike with a fixed rear cog. It takes the place of the rear brake. Pedal forwards - it goes forwards. Pedal backwards - it goes backwards. Stop pedaling, it stops! ButThat said, they should really have a front brake to make them road legal.

Strider590

^^ I recall over 15 years ago, I got onto the back of my friends mountain bike and didn't realise neither of his brakes worked.... We went flying down through this small village (in broad daylight) only to have a car pulled out in front of us from a side road, we both screamed out "OHHHH SH1TTTT!!!!" as we flew past this car, narrowly avoiding it. The driver chased us, pulled in front and stopped dead in the road, this time we hit it and both went flying up onto the back of the car... There's was lot's of verbal abuse from the driver until someone living opposite came out and backed us up.

My mates fault the brake's didn't work, my fault for getting on the back and drivers fault for being a braindead moron.

Ahhhh memories lol

pwllbwdr

Didn't you get it on your camera?

rev_henry

mystra wrote: »

well there's idiots behind the wheels and handlebars of all kinds of transport!

moved to London in March and decided to save a few bob and cycle to work, so been cycling every weekday to and from work in all weathers. I really enjoy it and it beats that zombifyed feeling i get on the bus (forces me to concentrate and use my brain rather than just sitting there dribbling slightly...)

Anyway. I know I've not been doing it that long, but to be honest the only road users i shout at or have come close to accidents with are other cyclists :mad:

I don't have a flash racing bike and i don't dress like i'm doing the tour de france. i wear a high vis jacket and jeans normally (well waterproof trousers when its chucking it down!). I am always being overtaken by other cyclists etc as my bike is quite heavy and slow (and my fitness is still dreadful ) but i do my best to be safe and i'm forever looking over my shoulder etc.. i'm not perfect i'm sure but i do my best to be considerate and safe. However i'm sick and tired of jibes and abuse from a select few 'racing' cyclists. they can be so nasty and dangerous! I've had them UNDERtake me (on a cycle lane, thats a tricky and stupid thing to do!) and overtake me coming so close to almost knock me off.

I have them taking the mick saying "ooh you should get a quicker bike!!" ( i do have a sense of humour normally but they do my head in too much now). They just seem to act like they have more of a right to cycle than me!

the saving grace was once day watching some idiot who came far to close to me sail off and as he pedalled up the hill he had to 'stand' and his stupid lycra shorts split up his bum crack! :rotfl:

The drivers seem ok round here, the odd maniac but i'd get that driving!

One thing i will say... what kind of crazy person would have a bike....WITHOUT BRAKES?!?! I've seen loads!

Also the rental bikes... bad idea in my eyes... i've seen loads of people decide they fancy a bike ride for the first time in years take one round the busiest bits and nearly fall off at busy junction by Monument. I can see the idea... but i do think you should pass some sort of test before being allowed to cycle on the roads etc, or at least something to show you understand the highway code etc... i would have done it gladly.

Your story sounds very similar to mine. I wear a similar attire for cycling and have an old mountain bike (although it does have racing slicks so its actually quite quick). I've never had comments like that from 'pro' cyclists though. Why would you say something like that? Oh well done for wasting 3 grand on a bike that gets you there about 2 minutes quicker than mine that's worth nothing!? Although no one here seems to just cycle for fun round here, its just commuters dressed in clothes of varying seriousness. It is irritating when other cyclists undertake. I'd say I overtake about as much as I'm overtaken, I've come to learn to judge whether they're going quick enough for me by just looking at them now, so I know whether to line up next to them to set off first on the ASL.

mystra

rev_henry wrote: »

Your story sounds very similar to mine. I wear a similar attire for cycling and have an old mountain bike (although it does have racing slicks so its actually quite quick). I've never had comments like that from 'pro' cyclists though. Why would you say something like that? Oh well done for wasting 3 grand on a bike that gets you there about 2 minutes quicker than mine that's worth nothing!? Although no one here seems to just cycle for fun round here, its just commuters dressed in clothes of varying seriousness. It is irritating when other cyclists undertake. I'd say I overtake about as much as I'm overtaken, I've come to learn to judge whether they're going quick enough for me by just looking at them now, so I know whether to line up next to them to set off first on the ASL.

YAY i'm not alone! lol

I don't mind them overtaking but they just love to do it at insane times (like when a car is also overtaking or a bus) and they come so close, like 2 cm away aarghh:eek:

ah well, hopefully getting a new bike in the new year sales so maybe i will be a little faster... i certainly don't agree with spending thousands on a bike it's insane!!

Also... when i'm driving in my little Ka i don't get heckled by sports car drivers because their car is soooo much better...so why do sports cycle riders heckle us lowly normal cyclists!