Inconsiderate cyclists - Examples of poor cycling you have witnessed

[henryscat]

I believe that somewhere in the highway code it also says that it is acceptable for cyclists to ride two abreast where it is safe and not causing obstruction to other road users. If by riding two abreast you cause motorists to pass by closer than you would wish I would say that the answer is in your hands.

The only thing that "causes" a car to pass a cyclist too closely is the driver at the wheel. Nothing or nobody else.

If you're cycling (alone or with others) it is sensible to position yourself on the road to prevent overtaking where it would be dangerous (or as you put it, "causing" someone to overtake dangerously).

If I'm behind a car doing 30 or 40 mph dependant on speed limit I'm happy to stay behind it, on the other hand if I'm stuck behaind a group of cyclists doing 10 or 15 mph I, quite rightly, want to get past them.

Usually club cyclists will be going a damn sight faster than 10mph....

 

[Gramaisc]

I was reading somewhere the other day that somebody had done some experiments to find out if wearing a helmet was actually safer. He found that helmeted riders were passed significantly closer than bare-headed ones, and that wearing a feminine-styled wig caused a greater lee-way to be given. I'll remember where it was in a bit.

Here it is.

 

[Kingy]

If you're cycling (alone or with others) it is sensible to position yourself on the road to prevent overtaking where it would be dangerous (or as you put it, "causing" someone to overtake dangerously).

We have road markings to do this job. Having recently spent time driving and hiking in North Wales it was evident once again that many cyclists were oblivious to the havoc that they were causing on the roads behind them. Most of the hikers we passed were courteous enough to stand on the verge whilst a car was passing to allow them to journey along the road safely without having to overtake. We also did this after returning via the road after a coastal walk. The drivers thanked us for doing so as they went by.

The opposite occured on the way to Betws-y-Coed where two cyclists caused a tailback on one of the inclines. Rather than get off their bikes and let people pass by safely they continued their leisure activity without giving a thought for any of the people behind them.

 

[zebidee]

I always cycle along 'the backs' it's safer, quicker and a lot more interesting........

Being a relative newbie to the Stafford area, can you explain to me where these mysterious 'backs' are please? I'd be most indebted

 

[Gramaisc]

I always cycle along 'the backs' it's safer, quicker and a lot more interesting........

Being a relative newbie to the Stafford area, can you explain to me where these mysterious 'backs' are please? I'd be most indebted

'Backs' is a local term meaning the rear-access roads that run along behind many of the terraced houses, and some pre-war semis. They can provide a quiet route parallel to major routes such as Oxford Gardens and Corporation Street, for example..

 

[zebidee]

Ooh so I do know what they are...Thanks! Might be worth having a comprehensive list for interested cyclists perhaps? Just an idea

 

[basil]

I always cycle along 'the backs' it's safer, quicker and a lot more interesting........

Being a relative newbie to the Stafford area, can you explain to me where these mysterious 'backs' are please? I'd be most indebted

'Backs' is a local term meaning the rear-access roads that run along behind many of the terraced houses, and some pre-war semis. They can provide a quiet route parallel to major routes such as Oxford Gardens and Corporation Street, for example..

Oooh 'rear-access?..... shouldn't be allowed!......

 

[Gramaisc]

Being a relative newbie to the Stafford area, can you explain to me where these mysterious 'backs' are please? I'd be most indebted

'Backs' is a local term meaning the rear-access roads that run along behind many of the terraced houses, and some pre-war semis. They can provide a quiet route parallel to major routes such as Oxford Gardens and Corporation Street, for example..

Oooh 'rear-access?..... shouldn't be allowed!......

I avoided saying 'back-passages'......

 

[Withnail]

War on Britain's Roads

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01p7q2l/War_on_Britains_Roads/

Worth a watch - despite being heavily criticised by various cycling bodies prior to broadcast i thought it was quite even-handed. There are, after all, dicks on bikes as well as dicks in cars.

If we have learned nothing else, if we hadn't learned it already, we have learned very much not to take the inside line of a trailered vehicle of any sort - especially one that is very large and heavy.

I will have to paraphrase the wonderful lady that is the mother of the young woman who was killed by the cement mixer to say - we see it (the road) as a competitive space, we need to see it as a communal space.

Amen.

 

[Goldilox]

I'd forgotten about this thread...it's been interesting re-reading it in light of the fact I'm currently doing a lot of cycling - I'm still firmly of the belief that cyclists should be following the rules of the road like everyone else, it's just a shame that sometimes seems to antagonise motorists.

That documentary was interesting withnail - although it did make me want to take some cycle road safety training.

On the other side of the coin I was yelled at by a cyclist whilst driving a couple of months ago who I'm still not entirely sure what I did to antagonise... I was following him around the filter lane from Queensway onto Lichfield Road on the roundabout by ASDA as he moved from there into the lane to go down Wolverhampton Road. After much puzzling my best guess is that he though my changing down into second as I slowed to his speed was me revving my engine at him, or that he didn't like me passing him on the inside after he'd moved lanes (although I'm pretty sure when he is in a different lane with a different destination that's acceptable?).

 

[Withnail]

... the roundabout by ASDA...

That is the only part of my commute that i behave like a 'typical' cyclist (apparently) - i miss the thing out completely and either go the wrong way down the one way street on the island, or cycle on the pavement (past the Malt&Hops, vets etc) of the same. At a very cautious speed, i hasten to add - and giving way to pedestrians/getting out of the way of cars as applicable.

Before anybody jumps down my throat for doing this, the alternative would find me slap bang in the middle of the lane on the road - if you think i'm going to have cars flying past each side of me at touching distance you are very much mistaken - which would probably lead to a certain amount of waiting behind me as i manoeuvre the roundabout.

Obviously, if you think this preferable i could start using the roundabout - i'm no stranger to cycling in traffic - but my way is in some ways more considerate to car driver's interests i feel, and i have managed to not hurt any pedestrians even a little bit for something like seven years now.

(although I'm pretty sure when he is in a different lane with a different destination that's acceptable?).

Indeed, i can't see why that would have caused any anguish. Perhaps he was just a bit of a dick?

 

[Jonah]

I used to do the same thing round that island. It's not a nice place to ride around.

 

[Nicedave]

War on Britain's Roads



Worth a watch - despite being heavily criticised by various cycling bodies prior to broadcast i thought it was quite even-handed. There are, after all, dicks on bikes as well as dicks in cars.


purchasaed from here?

http://dicksbikeshop.net/#

 

[Withnail]

 

[flossietoo]

Ok, now don't shout at me...but...is that a real gorrilla or a man in a suit?

 

[andy w]

Yes the same one in Trading Places.

 

[Trumpet]

Had a group of about 20 - 25 cyclists riding at about 10 mph, three abreast on the uphill coming out of Chirk on Sunday, traffic backed up as far as I could see in my mirrors. Just enough oncoming traffic to make passing impossible.
Grrrr!
Mind you, the posts elsewhere about mal-adjusted winscreen washer nozzles has given me an idea!

 

[sweep]

Poor cycling: A number of times I've seen people cycling the wrong way on Queensville Bridge sometimes forcing other cyclists to move into the road.


Admin Edit: Cycling posts moved out of the driving thread.

 

[staffordjas]

A cyclist came pelting straight across from Riverway towards the retail park at the Riverway/Lloyds bank junction on Wednesday.Even though the lights had been on red for a while , all the other cars had stopped and I was half way across the pelican crossing
Then a very nice man cycling down the pavement on Radford Bank stopped to let me walk past, only for a kid on a bike moments later to come crashing into me even though I moved over to one side with plenty of room for her to zoom past. No..last few seconds she decided I needed to get a good prod in the side with the handle bars

 

[marky]

bikes on the path, don't get me started! anybody over say 12 should know better, if anyone is not confident to ride on road, then they shouldn't be riding the damn thing!

still see the tourettes lad, but I get the bus now, to avoid useless cyclists, or I would feel like pushing them into the road, especially from Radford bank, to near town with the cycle lanes