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So why do cyclists get a bad name?

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  • July 28, 2014 at 6:11 pm #22011
    Eebijeebi

    I haven’t cycled into central London to work for many years now but often have to drive in and out. Yes, there’s bad driving and riding on both sides, but to give an idea of why so many have a downer on cyclists, here are my observations from just one short leg of a journey in this afternoons rush hour.

    At cyclist coming towards me from opposite side of a crossroads who was chatting on a mobile phone, makes a left and all the way to the next lights and who knows where one handed still chatting.

    A minute later, I overtake a lady well in front of red light cross roads. She rolls up my inside through the stop line, sees that the traffic crossing us is stationary, then swings a left straight through the pedestrians crossing on the green man.

    A mile down the road, ladies ambling two abreast swinging out past stationary vehicles etc with not a look or signal or a care in the world. Only went to single file to get up the inside of queuing traffic before resuming two abreast in font of said vehicles.

    Within another mile, three kids (teenage at a guess), all on one bike riding on the wrong side the road against the traffic (as in opposite kerb).

    Why post? Admittedly they may have been ‘fair weather’ non-commuting cyclists this afternoon, but they were a let down. I see enough bad with the commuters too to understand both sides of the argument.

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  • August 1, 2014 at 9:31 am #806215
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    md6

    dunnoh wrote:Cyclists get a

    dunnoh wrote:
    Cyclists get a bad name because its socially acceptable. Most car drivers think they are the best drivers in the world. A lot of Cyclists think they are beyond reproach. A lot of really poor car drivers are now in the ‘Pro-Peloton’ at the weekends.

    All I can say is that I ride everyday of the week, 48 weeks a year. Sometimes I ride way too quick for the conditions and I have to reign myself in. But I never run lights, I always thank drivers for waiting and I’m getting better at not chasing down poor drivers and threatening to beat them senseless – I prefer just to keep my head down now.

    I think better training all round is the answer. Car drivers should be tested more regularly and Cyclists should do some kind of CBT and defensive riding instruction.

    This!

    absolutely agree. How is it acceptable that someone could do a test once, at 17 and then never be checked again until they are 65+. Personally I think retests every 10 would be sensible – given that’s how long your photocard driving licence last before you need to renew it why not test people at that time???

    July 31, 2014 at 10:53 pm #806213
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    Matt eaton

    dunnoh wrote:Cyclists get a

    dunnoh wrote:
    Cyclists get a bad name because its socially acceptable. Most car drivers think they are the best drivers in the world. A lot of Cyclists think they are beyond reproach. A lot of really poor car drivers are now in the ‘Pro-Peloton’ at the weekends.

    All I can say is that I ride everyday of the week, 48 weeks a year. Sometimes I ride way too quick for the conditions and I have to reign myself in. But I never run lights, I always thank drivers for waiting and I’m getting better at not chasing down poor drivers and threatening to beat them senseless – I prefer just to keep my head down now.

    I think better training all round is the answer. Car drivers should be tested more regularly and Cyclists should do some kind of CBT and defensive riding instruction.

    I’ve given up trying to reason with poor drivers too; it achieves nothing other than putting you in a bad mood. I’ve also given up reporting dangerous drivers to the police; they just seem totally disinterested.

    I agree with you on the need for better training but I disagree that there should be compulsary training for cyclists. The world would be a better place if more people cycled (even if they cycled poorly) and we need to removed barriers to cycling rather than introduce them.

    July 31, 2014 at 10:41 pm #806211
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    dunnoh

    Cyclists get a bad name
    Cyclists get a bad name because its socially acceptable. Most car drivers think they are the best drivers in the world. A lot of Cyclists think they are beyond reproach. A lot of really poor car drivers are now in the ‘Pro-Peloton’ at the weekends.

    All I can say is that I ride everyday of the week, 48 weeks a year. Sometimes I ride way too quick for the conditions and I have to reign myself in. But I never run lights, I always thank drivers for waiting and I’m getting better at not chasing down poor drivers and threatening to beat them senseless – I prefer just to keep my head down now.

    I think better training all round is the answer. Car drivers should be tested more regularly and Cyclists should do some kind of CBT and defensive riding instruction.

    July 31, 2014 at 2:01 pm #806209
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    Matt eaton

    FluffyKittenofTindalos

    FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
    truffy wrote:
    Jimmy Ray Will wrote:
    many cyclists/pedestrians have not had the luxury of this schooling…. you could look at it like this… when a cyclist is being an idiot, at least he has the excuse of ignorance,

    Everyone took the cycle proficiency when I was at primary school. And that was 40 years ago. Perhaps times have changed.

    I suggest it may have at least as much to do with _where_ your school was as what era it was.

    I think times have changed. Cycling proficiency no longer exists and Bikeability does not seem to have been universally adopted by schools in the way that cycling proficency once was. Some schools actively discourage cycling these days (on safety grounds) or dictate to pupils who choose to ride to school on matters such as high-viz and helmets (although I can’t understand how they enforce such rules).

    July 31, 2014 at 1:11 pm #806207
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    Bikebikebike

    I’m a cyclist and your post
    I’m a cyclist and your post here is giving me a bad name. In no way do I want to be associated with your judgemental twattery.

    July 31, 2014 at 12:41 pm #806205
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    FluffyKittenofTindalos

    truffy wrote:Jimmy Ray Will

    truffy wrote:
    Jimmy Ray Will wrote:
    many cyclists/pedestrians have not had the luxury of this schooling…. you could look at it like this… when a cyclist is being an idiot, at least he has the excuse of ignorance,

    Everyone took the cycle proficiency when I was at primary school. And that was 40 years ago. Perhaps times have changed.

    I suggest it may have at least as much to do with _where_ your school was as what era it was.

    July 31, 2014 at 12:16 pm #806203
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    truffy

    Jimmy Ray Will wrote:many

    Jimmy Ray Will wrote:
    many cyclists/pedestrians have not had the luxury of this schooling…. you could look at it like this… when a cyclist is being an idiot, at least he has the excuse of ignorance,

    Everyone took the cycle proficiency when I was at primary school. And that was 40 years ago. Perhaps times have changed.

    July 31, 2014 at 11:38 am #806201
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    farrell

    One point that is often
    One point that is often ignored is that many traffic lights are for controlling traffic so that certain roads and junctions don’t get blocked by motor vehicles.

    So, in these cases, what difference does it make if bikes go through on red?

    If there was a bike lane, how is that any different to someone walking down the pavement?

    July 31, 2014 at 11:25 am #806199
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    HKCambridge

    Saturday wrote:The actions of

    Saturday wrote:
    The actions of the people mentioned would be bad regardless of what they were on but it’s more polarised as unlike driving anyone can get on a bike and ride.

    I think you’re missing the word ‘legally’ there. Estimates for numbers of unlicensed, banned, uninsured drivers on the road is actually quite frightening.

    That is also assuming that having a license is a badge of quality. I have my doubts.

    July 31, 2014 at 10:09 am #806197
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    Jimmy Ray Will

    Eebijeebi wrote:
    1. Riding

    Eebijeebi wrote:

    1. Riding through a red light? What’s good for the goose.

    2. Problem with reaction? Reaction was to come on a cycling forum and effectively say, “From what I can see I understand why many have a downer towards cyclists on the road’.

    3. Re fault and killing machines why should the cyclist not give the same attention and ride to the same standard as you would expect the driver to adhere to?

    1. Its not though is it? All road users know its wrong and that’s why we don’t do it… we get frustrated by those that do run them because we’d all love to be doing what they are doing really. That doesn’t mean it should dictate how I see all other road users… The way some car drivers ‘interpret’ the lights in my home town is laughable… however I don’t right off all car drivers as red light jumping lunatics.

    2. As mentioned so many times already, this isn’t a tribal thing, its a bunch of individuals utilising a particular form of transport, what one person on a bike does has nothing to do with me in exactly the same way that one car drivers inability to understand red means stop doesn’t mean you are going to jump every light.

    3. Do you not feel that the car driver, in control of the machine that is more likely to do serious damage should bare more responsibility? But in answer….
    – as a car driver, you have undertake mandatory tuition and should have reached a level of competency that means you know how to conduct yourself appropriately on the roads…. many cyclists/pedestrians have not had the luxury of this schooling…. you could look at it like this… when a cyclist is being an idiot, at least he has the excuse of ignorance, where as those idiot car drivers have consciously chosen to flout the instructions of their schooling.
    – As touched upon… a cyclist will be a bit annoying, hell may even hold you up on your journey a bit, but chances are, they are ultimately only going to really hurt themselves. Every time a cyclist seriously hurts another road user its national news… that is a stark example of its rarity as an event. Being late, being a bit frustrated is never good, but it pales into insignificance compared to being seriously maimed or killed.

    July 31, 2014 at 9:15 am #806195
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    Matt eaton

    I think we should be a bit
    I think we should be a bit ballanced in our attitutes to unlit/low-viz cyclists.

    On one hand, cycling on a ‘proper’ road at night without lights is maddness, no argument there.

    On the other, I don’t get upset when I see kids without lights in well-lit, built-up areas. I went out for a spin last night after dark and saw 4 or 5 of the usual suspects: young lads, no lights, on the pavement, one of them giving their mate a backie. I had no trouble spotting them and the same goes if I’m driving the car. I just don’t think it’s a big deal and I’d rather see these kids outside and being active than indoors locked onto games consoles, even if they don’t play by all the rules.

    July 31, 2014 at 8:49 am #806193
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    bamilton wackademical

    THAT WAS ME! Not really – he
    THAT WAS ME! Not really – he sounds like a pillock.

    There are loads of kids in South london who cycle around on black bikes, wearing black clothes and no lights at night time…quite often with more than one kid on the bike. Is there any kind of cycling education now? When I was a bairn it was all cycling proficiency tests and public service ads about safe cycling. It was boring as a kid – but at least it instilled a bit of common sense about safe riding.

    July 31, 2014 at 8:43 am #806191
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    Shades

    Got to get this one off my
    Got to get this one off my chest. To the complete Darwinian f#ckwit who was cycling on the A368 in Somerset last night (opp direction to me) at 2115 in dark clothes, no helmet, no lights, reflectors, nothing!…barely visible. WTF do you think you were playing at! Like me, every motorist who saw you (at about 2 car lengths!) must have said WTF!! and non-cyclists would have had ‘zero sympathy’ for reports of cyclists who get ‘totalled’ on the roads. Highly likely he’s never heard of this forum anyway.

    July 29, 2014 at 10:02 pm #806189
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    HalfWheeler

    Human beings are selfish
    Human beings are selfish c***s whether on four wheel, two wheels or two legs.

    I know, it sucks.

    July 29, 2014 at 9:06 pm #806187
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    Saturday

    The actions of the people
    The actions of the people mentioned would be bad regardless of what they were on but it’s more polarised as unlike driving anyone can get on a bike and ride. This I feel leads to having more road users with little or no idea of how to act safely. We all have our horror stories of seeing what these inexperience riders do,

    I know it’s not popular or probably even remotely enforceable but I do feel if you are going to be on the road with a bike you need to prove you can be.

    Also considering how small a % of road users are cyclists their actions are far more noticable and I feel because they are more likely to impact someones journey , slow them down , get past them in traffic etc they have a higher chance of been remembered over other more commonplace traffic. You could even argue that good roads users will remember them more as they will be cautious around them.

    And as much we would like to think it’s only inexperienced riders who contribute to the ire cycling can get we cannot discount the more experienced ones who seem to have an entitlement complex exhibit poor behaviour as well.

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