Killer motorists!

brat

I'm speaking here as a road cyclist who regularly cycles more than 7,000 miles a year on the road. I drive too, in fact I have advanced driving certificates.

But why is it, when we have many stories in the news about cyclists falling victim to motorists who have failed to give enough space to cyclists, that the majority of motorists I witness still drive far too closely past cyclists. Why do they drive too close behind cyclists? You would think that the threat of prison time if they collided with a cyclist because they were driving too close would cause them to see sense, but no, they carry on regardless.

It's really not the minority either. Most motorists do this. Some drink and drive too - a disaster waiting to happen, especially from a cyclists perspective.

It's really little wonder that motorists have a dreadful reputation among cycling groups.

Strider590

It's tribal mentality, drivers see other drivers as being part of the "in group", they view cyclists as non-conformists and when they abuse one they feel they do so with the approval of the group.

In that respect it's almost identical to racism, except that within this "in group" of drivers, you have sub divisions based on vehicle type and apparent wealth, which creates a hierarchy situation.

So not only is a cyclist seen as non-comforming, but they're also seen as lower class. Which in turn aggrevates drivers who feel they are better and should be in front, it especially aggravates them when cyclists filter passed huge queues of traffic.

Like racism, it won't stop until it becomes socially unacceptable (in the majority).

System

Wow, that is a rather deep load of boll**. It may describe your mentality but that is as far as it goes

SailorSam

I'm not a horse rider but i see the same motorists that try and drive cyclists off the road doing exactly the same to poor horses.
I'm sure that extra 2 minutes driving with a bit of thought for others isn't going to kill them.

zagfles

It works both ways of course. Other day in slow moving traffic, I was coming up to a junction where I wanted to turn left, had been indicating for ages, just as I got to the junction some idiot cyclist tried to overtake me on the left!

Few years ago was waiting at a red light, oncoming traffic had green light and green filter to turn right (into road on my left). Some idiot cyclist going in my direction straight on jumped the red light at the same time as some idiot oncoming motorist turned right without indicating. Guess what. Luckily cyclist not injured by the sounds of the slanging match! Both their faults of course.

And don't get me started on the idiots who cycle at night with dark clothes and no lights...

Marktheshark

The rise in "militant" angry cyclists who seek out confrontation is also a contributing factor in my opinion.
Some of the hilarious videos of cyclists riding straight in to motorists who have made minor transgressions have left even the most novice cyclist wondering why Experienced riders have no brakes.

It's about "right and wrong" these days.
In the old days it was about give and take, people make mistakes, you help them correct them.
Riding in to the side of a car at 20 MPH to prove a point that you were in the right when you could have clearly stopped.
Two sides to every tale.
They are some very bad drivers and they are some equally as bad cyclists.

27col

Well, I for one, could do without cyclists who insist on riding in the road when there is a perfectly satisfactory cycle path on the pavement.

wheelz

They do it to smaller motorcycles too and bigger ones sometimes. And of course smaller cars. I agree with what Strider590 says. The main problem is that there has been no investment and no respect for cyclists. Yes they do get jealous of filtering cyclists and motorcyclists. All I can say get a (motor)cycle yourself if you want to do the same.

I read an interesting article the other day. In the Netherlands the law states that anyone who drives into a cyclist from behind is at fault, so if we would have that here, they would be more careful. http://www.theplanner.co.uk/features/bike-ability-are-planners-geared-up-for-the-cycling-revolution

wheelz

27col wrote: »

Well, I for one, could do without cyclists who insist on riding in the road when there is a perfectly satisfactory cycle path on the pavement.

'When' yes, but most of the time there is no cycle path. The pavement is for pedestrians and although I love cycling myself I currently don't as it's too dangerous and I don't want to be run over on the pavement by cyclists.

wheelz

Marktheshark wrote: »

They are some very bad drivers and they are some equally as bad cyclists.

And who gets hurt? Yes not the car driver as he/she's in their safe cage. It's the cyclist (and/or motorcyclist). But in general yes bad drivers/riders in every category. When you drive a small car, a motorcycle and ride a bicycle there is only one enemy though. If you see what I mean. Certain makes are notorious. The road is a race track for them.

Marktheshark

A couple of Weeks back I saw the unbelievable.
A female was attempting to reverse out of a side street which was blocked, she was about a foot in to the cycle lane on a long straight road when I heard a shout OYYYYY !
On comes militant cycle man peddling full out making no attempt to even slow down despite been at least 20 metres away and rides straight in to the back of the car.
Gets up and starts shouting abuse at the car window and then takes his helmet off and starts bashing the car window.

It was like watching a movie set, I was looking for that Dom Jolly bloke off the television.