pedestrian crossings and cyclists! rant

[dario]

There I was today going about my normal business driving down a road near me as as I am pretty well level with the crossing a guy on a peddle cycle puts his front wheel on the crossing and shouts sarcastically "THANK YOU!
now knowing this part of the highway code (as all good carv drivers do ;-) ) I respond with " you're supposed to dismount to use the crossing".

This made the cyclist very irate with me and he continued with obscenities until I was out of ear shot. Naturally I responded in kind and my roof was down I was able to flower my responds with had waving gestures.

I just wish cyclists would learn this rule of the highway code as itb would make life easier for all us well trained car drivers. ;-)

Rant over

 

[k.leeming]

If in doubt, do yourself and humanity a favour and just run the ***** over.

 

[andysat]

Annoys me also-my driving tutor years ago told me to never stop for a cyclist sat on their bike at a zebra crossing.

 

[-Tom-]

They think they own the road, for some crazy reason. Round here they ride in pelotons on twisty country roads, I've followed them at 20mph on 60mph roads for well over a mile many times. Really pees me off.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Angie4m]

Oh I know what your on about. I deal with that daily as a pedestrian almost been knocked over twice and when I've confronted them I get the abuse why? Because I was crossing the road using the green man for pedestrians.

I've actually started filming as I cross the road one guy I did it every night, I eve say smile for the camera. The first night I didn't say it he actually noticed I was filming him and wasn't very happy, however decided to promptly dismount as I told him I had filmed him for two weeks doing that. A cyclist who was actually stopped at the lights made some rude comments to me, to which I responded it because of other cyclists like that, that get other road users backs up and have no time for any of you. You aren't breaking the law and I have no issue with you. I did ask her of she wished to discuss it further but she declined.

I'm also one of these people who get so annoyed with cyclists on a pavement I'll actually dance about on front of them so they have to get off or get onto the road. I even did at a busy crossing at Stockbridge in Edinburgh, guy tried to weave through I just stopped, he kept himself up trying to balance until he fell off. Served him right! We all have to abide by the rules of the road be it car, lorry, buses, taxi drivers, bikers, pedestrians and cyclists.

 

[paulgs1000]

Modern road use doesn't mix with cycling well at all. The roads are not set up for cyclists to be fair but they could manage their road use more thoughtfully.
Around Newcastle cycling seems to be on the increase and large groups of cyclists can be found on most of the back roads - where they're in large groups they don't give much thought to how traffic is supposed to pass them. Long peletons call for long stretches of clear straight roads to pass them. It can make them very vulnerable if cars try to pass in frustration. Ought to be a code where they are expected to leave car spaces between smaller groups to give traffic somewhere to pull in as they pass.

As a casual and recreational cyclist myself I think the roads are dangerous and where possible I use the pavements/paths - but then again I don't cycle through towns - but logically I'm a lot safer on a pavement/path than on an A or B road and I can travel for miles and not pass many pedestrians - what a waste of space once your out of urban areas they are hardly used at all. . . . with a carefully thought out code of use, why couldn't many paths and pavements become cycleways?

:driving:

 

[Nelly Welly]

I detest the attitude that is displayed by cyclists who cycle on pedestrian areas, no lights, no consideration for other road users and worse of all two abreast on busy roads.

The Highway Code suggests not cycling more than one abreast when in busy traffic areas or on narrow roads. But once the Lycra is donned the rules apparently don't apply !

Worse of all are the strobe type led lights aimed high enough to illuminate the night sky, I suffer with migraine and flashing intense light is really annoying. Surely they are supposed to illuminate the road so the cyclist can see where they are going as well as showing other users they are on the road ?

Finally, yes i too cycle but never at night and always away from pedestrian areas.

:thumbsdown:

 

[paulgs1000]

Not much lycra in Amsterdam but lots of cyclists in designated zones interacting with the pedestrians - not perfect but a lot better than our cities.

Seems a different attitude from both cyclists and non cyclists there.

:driving:

 

[Number5]

What really boils my P*** is that when you overtake them, they want you wait, then to go to the other side of the road and give them about 3m clearance space..... However, They're quite happy to fly up my nearside at 20-30mph, when I'm queuing, just missing my wing mirror by about 3 inches. :headbang:

I now do the same to them once I catch up and pass them the 2nd time. I give them about 12 inches space , then wait for the verbals to start. oke:

Also why do they still use the road, when there is often a purpose built cycle track/lane, running parallel to the road only 2m the other side of a grass strip ?

Thirdly, why are most of the T055ers all camoflaged in black Licra ???

And finally... Why do they think red traffic lights do not apply to them ?

You've started me off now... :thumbsdown:

 

[TitanTim]

Ban all pushbikes off the road....Simples

Tim.

 

[Geezah]

Being a keen bicyclist, that's sounded a bit dodgy, I mean cyclist. I do have some sympathy for them and I always give way to them. I also never ride on the road, I value my life. I ride along cycle paths when I can and when I can't, ride respectfully and no faster than walking pace on the pavement and always give way to pedestrians. Natch.

It really is about time that cyclists were provided with a more comprehensive, safe network, I'm afraid a painted line with a cycle logo in it provides no protection whatsoever.

When my daughter passed her cycling proficiency at primary school, she came home excited with her certificate and said that the policeman said that if he saw them riding their cycles on the pavement they would be in trouble. I warmly congratulated her and told her that if I ever saw her cycling in the road she would be in even bigger trouble! She's is 23 now and her cycling friend recently ended up under a bus in Glasgow, thankfully she was unscathed.

But of course there are dangleberrys amongst them as in all walks of life. Pulled up behind a cyclist with no rear lights one dark evening at traffic lights. Pulled down my window to inform him his rear light wasn't working. He went all defensive on me and said in a brusque tone that it was working when he set off. " Mate, just trying to be helpful, I'm not the one who's going to be squashed by a car that doesn't see you!" He then saw reason and thanked me. WTF?

 

[DanStarr]

Where i live we have a purpose built cycle track into the west side of bristol which follows a bypass yet they still cycle on a 60mph road makes no sense! :headbang:

 

[a340driver]

As a keen road cyclist and Z4M (and now 595c) driver I have to say this attitude is pretty common amongst people who who only drive cars.

Try to remember how bad the roads are especially towards the edge. A cyclist may be manoeuvring around a bloody great hole that you can't see. They may have missed a gear, they may just be knackered.

We are perfectly entitled to ride on the road and two abreast if we wish. But any thoughtful rider should pull into line astern if they're aware someone is behind. They are less likely to if you're trying to intimidate them. But just like if you're sat behind a tractor or traction engine or any slow moving vehicle you have to give them space and only overtake when appropriate.

A lot of people think they are giving us plenty of space when they overtake on an empty road at 60/70mph, but from 2 ft away the bow wave from a larger vehicle especially in crosswind can be quite challenging!

I've had impatient vehicle drivers nearly drive me off the road on numerous occasions and I suspect thats why we tend to give ourselves plenty of space and are expecting you to try and kill us. It can feel very dangerous at times when people in a metal box are playing with your life.

Maybe that's why cyclists can react so angrily. I know I have and the driver wasn't even aware that he had nearly killed me.

There are idiots everywhere but cyclists are the more vulnerable when it goes wrong.

I ended up driving through a triathlon on the way home early this morning and I got home around 30 minutes late. But I got nothing but waves and "passing clear" signals from the competitors.

Please please remember that the silly lycra clad arse that is holding you up is someone else's son/daughter/mother /father.

 

[a340driver]

Ban all pushbikes off the road....Simples

Tim.

Quite right! Sod all those stupid poor people that can't afford a Z4 to get to work eh?

 

[Bing]

Worse of all are the strobe type led lights aimed high enough to illuminate the night sky, I suffer with migraine and flashing intense light is really annoying. Surely they are supposed to illuminate the road so the cyclist can see where they are going as well as showing other users they are on the road ?

I'm not going to get involved in this debate again, ended up offending unintentionally last time

However this is an interesting point - especially in a low-slung Z these lights are very, very bright, to the point of distracting in some cases, which is not ace. I have often wondered, when driving to / from work in the dark, whether any driver has ever suffered a photosensitive epileptic fit as a result of strobing bike lights... I guess it's unlikely, but there are soooo many of them about.

 

[Angie4m]

However this is an interesting point - especially in a low-slung Z these lights are very, very bright, to the point of distracting in some cases, which is not ace. I have often wondered, when driving to / from work in the dark, whether any driver has ever suffered a photosensitive epileptic fit as a result of strobing bike lights... I guess it's unlikely, but there are soooo many of them about.

Something I have wondered myself. I always thought years ago when these flashing ones became the norm they weren't allowed to use the strob(ish) type setting?

Ban all pushbikes off the road....Simples

Tim.

Quite right! Sod all those stupid poor people that can't afford a Z4 to get to work eh?

I have to say if my office was to move stil within the Edinburgh area I would cycle, I'm lucky to have a lot of nice people at work who have in the past provided me with some cycle routes to and from work.

I know helmets are not mandatory but I do fear for the people who seem to have all the right kit, light, hi viz jackets, hi viz back pack but no helmets, cycling the busy city centre roads at peak times and they are usually the ones taking the gamble at lights etc.

 

[paulgs1000]

Hadn't thought about the medical aspect of the strobing lights but they must be one of the most effective safety improvement for cyclists in a long time - you can't but fail to notice them at night (and particularly in the twilight) - always thought they were excellent (certainly compared to the old battery and dynamo type).

:driving:

 

[pvr]

It does seem that cyclists in the UK in general have more of an attitude as I see more issues here than in all the years I drive / cycle in The Netherlands where there are millions more cyclists than in the UK.

 

[dr_john]

Got stuck behind a mob of Lycra clad gentlemen on bicycles on a main road a couple of days ago. There must have been about 30 of them, riding 4 abreast, causing a ridiculous traffic tailback. We were pleased.

I could go on about similar cyclist blatantly disregarding the Highway Code, but last time I did I got flamed and condemned to hell so I think I'll leave it at that this time.

 

[Anonymous]

Not much lycra in Amsterdam but lots of cyclists in designated zones interacting with the pedestrians - not perfect but a lot better than our cities.

Seems a different attitude from both cyclists and non cyclists there.

:driving:

Aren't they..err...more "mellow" over there?

I thought there were 2 types of cycle light....ones to see with, and ones to be seen with? Are the strobing ones more so the cyclist can be seen?

Perhaps they are just poorly aligned/positioned? Some cars have lights like that.

Dont get me started on cyclists not wearing helmets...my favourite is when you see a family out for a ride and the kids have helmets on, but the parents dont!

ok, a helmet wont protect from many collisions, but surely every little helps!

My attitude to cyclists is always give them room..mainly cos I dont want a dent in the car! but at the same time, logically (not fairly) the cyclist should be overcautious, cos in a collision, its them that is going to come off worse. I repeat, this is not necessarily fair.