[Cycloid]

A couple of other threads on the Forum are talking about road rage incidents. I am asking the fundamental question – Why Road Rage?

A popular psychology book from the local library gives some insights.

Outgroups – an outgroup is a group of people to which you do not belong. People tend to make generalisations which they then apply to the group as a whole, for example, (All) Muslims are terrorists, wfe beaters, etc (Not True). Cyclists are reckless, law breakers and they ride through red lights. Vegetarians are an outgroup (Thanks Ian Walker) but nobody really hates them, though they are a pain when they come round for dinner. So there must be other factors.

Free Riders – Altruistic punishment – This is probably best explained by an example. You go to watch a cricket match. The match has just started, it’s a lovely sunny day and you are sitting down with a pack of sandwiches and a can of beer when a guy climbs over the fence and sits next to you. It should not be a problem, he’s done nothing to detract from your experience, but many people would get a steward to eject the wrongdoer. This is altruistsic punishment, in order to get your version of justice done you have missed a bit of the match.

Cyclists don’t pay Road Tax (OK it’s VED), have no training, don’t have to take a test or hold a license. They have no insurance. They don’t have to buy expensive highly taxed (79% tax) fuel. They don’t pay for parking but they cause congestion.

Cyclists Ignore the Highway Code, Redlights, Oneway streets, Footpaths, Etc… They are inconsiderate, Ride in the middle of the road, two abreast, cause delays. They jump queues, are inconsiderate and aggressive.

However, Cyclists are Fitter, Healthier and place Fewer demands on the NHS. They Don’t pollute, Use fewer resources .They take up less road space, and Don’t damage the roads. More reasons to hate them. They are a load of Smug, Sanctimonious bastards.

Every group or society has it’s laws, rules, traditions and manners and people who do not conform are punished.

From (some) motorists viewpoint – Cyclists don’t pay or contribute to use the infrastructure, they abuse the privilege and break the laws – They should be punished for the good of society.

 

 

Topic

[Captain Badger]

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

Well the other point is he is probably using Zwift or some other electrically powered device for his indoor cycling so how much pollution is generated for the electricity to run the trainer, the laptop / ipad for Zwift, the servers in Zwift headquarters to take his data and all the other bits and how does that add up to the amount of polution he has “caused” when cycling on the road?

Our Smiffi is so conscientious I’m almost certain that when he Zwifts (or might he be a Peletoner?) he’s hooked up to the feed-in tariff to do his bit for humankind. Gawd, what a toff!

[hawkinspeter]

Get out of my way – can’t you

Get out of my way – can’t you see how busy and important I am?

[PRSboy]

ktache wrote:

They hate our freedom.

 

They can take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!

[Captain Badger]

Nigel Garrage wrote:

……

Point #3 does matter though – it puts cyclists center stage in culture war where they needn’t (and shouldn’t) be.

If we are in a war we’re obvs not doing it properly…..

Don’t dwell on it Nige, you’re 3/4 there this time. I had to do a double-take that it was really you posting, but point #3 reassured me

“That’s our Nige!” I thought to myself

[Captain Badger]

Smiffi wrote:

Smiffi wrote:

….. Your view may be that as a cyclist you have the right to ride wherever and whenever you desire…..

You’ve got this the wrong way round. Being a cyclist doesn’t confer any right, but being a member of the public does

As members of the public, we all (even Smiffi) have the right to use the public highway. We can do this on foot, on horseback, by bike, even rollerblades. It’s what the public highway is for. So instead of reading “cyclist”, “horserider” or “pedestrian”, read “member of the public going about their lawful business”

However, should you desire to use a motorised vehicle you are required to observe further responsibilities (note, you have no right to use a motor vehicle, and passing your driving test conveys no rights regarding use of the public highway, rather states that you are licensed to use a vehicle on the highway under certain stipulations and conditions)

You need to ensure that you are licensed (revokable if the vehicle is not used in accordance with the law), insured (due to the high risk of massive damage you can inflict on people’s lives should you fail to observe your duty of care), your vehicle must be taxed (scaled according to the local emission of harmful and environmentally damaging pollutants), and carry an MOT certificate (an annual declaration that at time of inspection the vehicle was safe to operate).

In spite of the above, you seem still to be under the impression that as a driver you have priority on the public highway over other members of the public simply by being behind the wheel. 

Dude, chill out. Your errand is not time-critical to the few seconds you have to wait before overtaking, and you certainly are in no position to claim that your journey is more important than any other member of the public’s.

[Captain Badger]

ktache wrote:

They hate our freedom.

 

Stupid thing is that that freedom is open to them. Anyone who rides a bike is a cyclist, and there’s no test to pass, insurance, MOT or duty (as they love to remind us).

They chose to imprison themselves, and then blame those that chose not to.

[AlsoSomniloquism]

Well the other point is he is

Well the other point is he is probably using Zwift or some other electrically powered device for his indoor cycling so how much pollution is generated for the electricity to run the trainer, the laptop / ipad for Zwift, the servers in Zwift headquarters to take his data and all the other bits and how does that add up to the amount of polution he has “caused” when cycling on the road?

[Anonymous]

Captain Badger wrote:

Nigel Garrage wrote:

Some (not all or the majority) of motorists hate cyclists for a variety of reasons: – because they generally hate everything, including themselves – because of the illusion that cyclists don’t pay for the roads yet impose negative externalities such as holding people up and providing danger to pedestrians by breaking traffic laws – because of the myth propagated by the Guardian and often this website (and people like Jeremy Vine/cycling Mikey) that feeds a narrative that all cyclists have the same left-remain viewpoints and personal characteristics – because they don’t cycle themselves and therefore your “outgroup” comes into play

You were doing really well until bullet 3

Then you started to froth a bit

But then recovered and brought it back for a reasonable point 4. Well done! You’ve come so far I’m proud of you!

Point #3 does matter though – it puts cyclists center stage in culture war where they needn’t (and shouldn’t) be.

[Captain Badger]

hawkinspeter wrote:

….

It does highlight the difference in acceptable behaviour between people walking around and people driving.

indeed, people wouldn’t get physical over a trolley, but will run you off the road and then dare to try and invoke HWC as a justification

[Captain Badger]

hawkinspeter wrote:

Thought of an analogy – drivers hating cyclists on the roads is like shoppers with shopping trolleys hating people using the 10-items-or-less tills.

It breaks down before the point where the trolleyer gets the hump with the basketist and kicks ’em in the fruit aisle…. just doesn’t happen

[Captain Badger]

Cycloid wrote:

I’m not so sure. I think that for every motorist that does a punishment pass there are another nine sitting in their cars muttering about “bloody cyclists”.

Indeed. Whereas people at work will nod sympathetically when you describe a pretty egregious close pass, they’ll then say “but y’gotta admit, cyclists…. rhubarb, BS, taking up road, squit, red lights, quack, road tax”

 

[Cycloid]

I’m not so sure. I think that

I’m not so sure. I think that for every motorist that does a punishment pass there are another nine sitting in their cars muttering about “bloody cyclists”.

[brooksby]

I think smiffi has a point.

I think smiffi has a point.

I think it’s very important for cyclists to get out of the way of motorists when outside of urban areas, because they are clearly therefore not utility cycling but are just cycling recreationally.

I think, therefore, as an Absolute Priority we need to get these Evil Cyclists off of the roads.

And therefore, I think we need to make all non-urban roads one-way.

One lane of every two-lane non-urban roadway can be made into a dedicated cycle lane.  The cars can have the other lane.

Problem sorted 😀

[OldRidgeback]

The minority of motorists who

The minority of motorists who hate cyclists tend to be vocal. I come across them from time to time as I’m sure all of us do. They seem to be angry and unhappy people who want to take out their aggression on someone, anyone. They aren’t allowed to be sexist, homophobic or racist (outwatrdly at least) so they take it out on cyclists, as that’s still allowed. While it’s not quite so common, I sometimes get the same kind of hate from motorists if I’m on my motorbike.

[Awavey]

Not that rare ime I was
Not that rare ime 🙁 I was thinking about this yesterday when I drive its exceedingly rare to experience/witness road rage,but if I ride my bike it’s a rare ride where nothing of note ever happens,theres always something even if it could be counted as micro aggression,so I’m literally experiencing road rage directed at me for purely being a cyclist, I’m not riding in a particular way that encourages or provokes this, every ride.

I’ve never had anyone spit at me for just driving through the village they live in, I cant say the same for cycling through unfortunately.

[Author]

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