Inconsiderate cyclists - Examples of poor cycling you have witnessed

[Goldilox]

A good cycle path would be along Corporation Street. It would improve the flow of traffic around the dangerous chicanes, and also there is lots of room to do it. Obvious in my opinion. Might even write to Mr Kidney to suggest the idea. .

Surely that would be a bit redundant on the basis that there's a handy back-lane running the full length of corporation street that's already an ideal cycle route?

 

[Gramaisc]

Corporation Street was an ideal cycle route before we spent £125,000 pounds putting chicanes and humps on it and allowing cars to park on the footpath.

 

[The Stafford Beast]

A good cycle path would be along Corporation Street. It would improve the flow of traffic around the dangerous chicanes, and also there is lots of room to do it. Obvious in my opinion. Might even write to Mr Kidney to suggest the idea. .

Surely that would be a bit redundant on the basis that there's a handy back-lane running the full length of corporation street that's already an ideal cycle route?

True, although some cyclists still, very rightly, use the road if they do not know about St John's Walk and/or Corporation Street's rear access track. Obviously car drivers would like to get to their destination faster than a cyclist can and try to overtake, although the chicanes and road humps make this a bit of a dangerous ordeal.

 

[henryscat]

Cycling down Corporation Street is a bit irritating. With parked cars it isn't safe for cars to overtake when there's any oncoming traffic. Ideally need to take the middle of the lane. Cycling over the speed cushions is a bit on the bumpy side. Cycle to the left of a speed cushion and some plonker is going to try their luck coming past. Remaining option is to go between the cushions if oncoming traffic is clear. In terms of speed for the most part of the day no driver can gain any advantage overtaking a cyclist because chicane give ways and traffic lights reduces the average speed of vehicles. On Corporation Street, you can virtually always catch up anyone who's overtaken when you get to the lights.

I had something of a hairy encounter on Corporation Street the other week. Cycling towards one of the chicanes on my priority, take the middle of the lane given the narrow road width, cars waiting at give way. As I approach stupid cow#1 decides she's no longer giving way and drives at me, around the chicane and swerves left. As if that wasn't bad enough, stupid cow#2 follows her, but by this time I'm practically at the chicane - I went right to the gutter to avoid her and when I looked round she'd swerved onto the pavement to avoid me. All of that for the sake of getting to the back of the queue for Lammascote Road lights 3 seconds faster.

 

[Gramaisc]

I had something of a hairy encounter on Corporation Street the other week. Cycling towards one of the chicanes on my priority, take the middle of the lane given the narrow road width, cars waiting at give way. As I approach stupid cow#1 decides she's no longer giving way and drives at me, around the chicane and swerves left. As if that wasn't bad enough, stupid cow#2 follows her, but by this time I'm practically at the chicane - I went right to the gutter to avoid her and when I looked round she'd swerved onto the pavement to avoid me. All of that for the sake of getting to the back of the queue for Lammascote Road lights 3 seconds faster.

Daily event for me - you soon get used to it.

 

[Mrs M]

I can just imagine cyclists, sitting at the pearly gates and St Peter asking ' and what happened to you my son', 'well, I got hit by a stupid motorist who hit me whilst I was trying to get in the right lane, but at least I was in the right'!

 

[Mrs M]

op

 

[basil]

For a good few years now i have cycled where i want when i want,and yes that includes footpaths i've never been in dispute with any pedestrians,enforcement officers or motorists, apart from the one who told me eff off .....

 

[Gramaisc]

Then you're not trying hard enough....

 

[Florence]

I was cycling on a footpath that runs from the top of Prospect Road down to the back of John Wheeldon and passed a PCSO. We exchanged a knowing look, and continued on our separate ways.

 

[basil]

a couple of years ago i was crossing from Churchill Way across a busy W'tonRoad to get a bar of choccy at the Tesco Express en route i had to dodge a car or two but one driver seemed a bit unfriendly. Anyway on leaving the shop with a bar of Galaxy the unfriendly chap looked up from filling 'his chav mobile' and said i should be more careful in future, i said maybe he should drive a little slower in future. 'Eff off grandad' he replied, well i saddled up and as i circled his car i called out that i hoped he soon went blind and that he stank a bit. Well that caused a few chuckles on the forecourt from a now increasing audience. Me i just pedalled off down Silkmore a bit sharpish, worried, but very pleased with myself.....

 

[Gramaisc]

I withdraw my previous accusation....

 

[Astro Boy]

They get in the correct lane blah blah and dayglo Derek in all the correct gear but it is still dangerous even for the most experienced cyclist. It is very unnerving to other drivers and is more likely to cause an accident.

Car drivers who get unnerved by other road users obeying the laws of the road and being sensible shouldn't be driving in the first place. If you're keeping your distance and are actually aware of your surroundings then we should all get along safely. Unfortunately, in the real world, dipshit Deidre has her head in the clouds thinking about which cake would taste better on her tea break while idiot Adrian squeezes through impossible gaps, racing to queue at the next set of lights.

I enjoy the fact that because cyclists are a minority, certain car drivers seem to think it's ok to bully them out of the way.
I've beep 'parped' and sworn at by inconsiderate drivers just because I've held my ground, not let them past and (in their minds) delayed them ever so slightly. It's funny how their attitude changes at the next set of lights when an adrenalin filled, enraged cyclist is 'knocking politely' on the window.

 

[Rikki]

Car drivers who get unnerved by other road users obeying the laws of the road and being sensible shouldn't be driving in the first place. If you're keeping your distance and are actually aware of your surroundings then we should all get along safely.

Quite right. I drive about town quite alot going from one job to the next and I can't remember a cyclist ever forcing me to slam my brakes on.

 

[Gramaisc]

Boris Johnson's near miss.

 

[Mrs M]

They get in the correct lane blah blah and dayglo Derek in all the correct gear but it is still dangerous even for the most experienced cyclist. It is very unnerving to other drivers and is more likely to cause an accident.

Car drivers who get unnerved by other road users obeying the laws of the road and being sensible shouldn't be driving in the first place. If you're keeping your distance and are actually aware of your surroundings then we should all get along safely. Unfortunately, in the real world, dipshit Deidre has her head in the clouds thinking about which cake would taste better on her tea break while idiot Adrian squeezes through impossible gaps, racing to queue at the next set of lights.

I enjoy the fact that because cyclists are a minority, certain car drivers seem to think it's ok to bully them out of the way.
I've beep 'parped' and sworn at by inconsiderate drivers just because I've held my ground, not let them past and (in their minds) delayed them ever so slightly. It's funny how their attitude changes at the next set of lights when an adrenalin filled, enraged cyclist is 'knocking politely' on the window.

My point is whether or not they are obeying the rules of the road, it is still dangerous for them. I am not 'unnerved' by them at all but you can tell that there are many drivers who are, agreeably it makes hardly any difference whether drivers get past them or not but they still try and that makes a dangerous situation. Personally I think if drivers are bothered that much about the time, they should leave home a little earlier.

 

[Astro Boy]

They get in the correct lane blah blah and dayglo Derek in all the correct gear but it is still dangerous even for the most experienced cyclist. It is very unnerving to other drivers and is more likely to cause an accident.

Car drivers who get unnerved by other road users obeying the laws of the road and being sensible shouldn't be driving in the first place. If you're keeping your distance and are actually aware of your surroundings then we should all get along safely. Unfortunately, in the real world, dipshit Deidre has her head in the clouds thinking about which cake would taste better on her tea break while idiot Adrian squeezes through impossible gaps, racing to queue at the next set of lights.

My point is whether or not they are obeying the rules of the road, it is still dangerous for them. I am not 'unnerved' by them at all but you can tell that there are many drivers who are, agreeably it makes hardly any difference whether drivers get past them or not but they still try and that makes a dangerous situation. Personally I think if drivers are bothered that much about the time, they should leave home a little earlier.

Yo, M. I understand your point, but your dayglo Derek satatment had the undertones of 'even if cyclists are obeying the rules of the road they shouldn't be there'. I know this wasn't your intention but it was there and I'll fight the cyclists corner 'till m ears bleed.

At the end of the day though, your intended point is quite right. We can argue the 'shoulds' and 'shouldn'ts' all day long but in the real world there are people who get unnerved. There are people who aren't aware. There are people who are reckless. Even if a cyclist is moraly correct, they're still tangling with a tonnage of steel and will always come off worse (I think you also made that point earlier in this thread, and rightly so!). Sometimes we need to have eyes in the backs of our heads!

Sorry to drag this thread up again - it seems that it was finished with about a week ago. It's just that I dont get on here much and don't live in the 'Ford (so can't comment on the bulk of local shizzle), but need to get involved in whatever way I can.

:peace:

 

[Withnail]

Only if driven without due care and consideration for others. I enjoy cycling but will not do it on public roads as a courtesy to other road users. I appreciate that it inconveniences/aggravates motorists and may increase the risk of an accident.

Alas I have diverted from the main thread and do not wish to upset all the cyclophiles and cyclopaths on here any further.

Your comments are a severe case of talking out of the wrong orifice and quite divorced from any kind of reality.

How on earth do you reason cycling on the road to be discourteous? Cycling does not inconvenience cars and if you get aggrieved by cyclists being on the road you probably should not be driving. If anything, anyone cycling is doing cars a favour by representing one less car on the road and one less car causing congestion.... At busier times of day I can cycle to and from work quicker than I can drive it.

Where accidents are concerned: how many pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users do car drivers kill every year?

Careful Kingy - i have a sneaking suspicion henryscat knows exactly how many.

I don't think he/she is easily upset though.

 

[Kingy]

Only if driven without due care and consideration for others. I enjoy cycling but will not do it on public roads as a courtesy to other road users. I appreciate that it inconveniences/aggravates motorists and may increase the risk of an accident.

Alas I have diverted from the main thread and do not wish to upset all the cyclophiles and cyclopaths on here any further.

Your comments are a severe case of talking out of the wrong orifice and quite divorced from any kind of reality.

How on earth do you reason cycling on the road to be discourteous? Cycling does not inconvenience cars and if you get aggrieved by cyclists being on the road you probably should not be driving. If anything, anyone cycling is doing cars a favour by representing one less car on the road and one less car causing congestion.... At busier times of day I can cycle to and from work quicker than I can drive it.

Where accidents are concerned: how many pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users do car drivers kill every year?

Careful Kingy - i have a sneaking suspicion henryscat knows exactly how many.

I don't think he/she is easily upset though.

Thanks for the advice Withnail. I am aware of the statistics henryscat as I am also aware that there are good and bad cyclists and drivers. However my opinion on cycling on roads will not change. I have witnessed a number of incidents where cyclists have caused potentially serious accidents and was fortunate enough to miss a head on collision with another car this year myself when a cyclist pulled out of a junction on the way to Eccleshall. I do think that more provisions for cyclists need to be made e.g. an increased number of cycle paths, widened tow paths, refurbishment of disused railway lines, cycleways and cycle routes. This of course requires significant investment from local authorities which sadly will not happen given current freezes on spending.

 

[basil]

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