Have we become a nation of cycle haters?
Discussion
The original question was have we become a nation of cycle haters. I think the answer is yes, due to the selfish behaviour of a (probably) ignorant minority.
I guess the % car v bikes running red lights argument falls into the two wrongs don't make a right category.
(and, I can only speak from my own experience, tis true
)
mybrainhurts said:
I have to admit I'm getting rather tetchy about being held up by skinny runts on bicycles, with the energy of a herd of elephants, demonstrating colour blindness every time they come to traffic lights.
Are they bloody aliens, or what...?
You are being held up by cyclist who run red lights? Are you also running the red light then?Are they bloody aliens, or what...?
I have to say that busdrivers (IMHO) seem to be one of the worst group of drivers on the road (I call them a group 'cos they generally all turn up at the same time 
). Unusually for me I was on 2 buses on friday (Park and ride to Norwich) - On the way there the bus driver jumped one red light and a yellow which he had time to stop for. On the return trip the driver (different driver) jumped 1 red and 2 yellows which he could easily have stopped for. Bad practice, maybe encouraged by timetable? but bad practice certainly.
If the OP had been knocked down it would have been the public (and indeed the plod) believing the word of the busdriver because he's a 'professional' Maybe he should think of that before he jumps red lights. There's a thought maybe I'll take a video next time I go on a bus - outcome could be interesting!
). Unusually for me I was on 2 buses on friday (Park and ride to Norwich) - On the way there the bus driver jumped one red light and a yellow which he had time to stop for. On the return trip the driver (different driver) jumped 1 red and 2 yellows which he could easily have stopped for. Bad practice, maybe encouraged by timetable? but bad practice certainly. If the OP had been knocked down it would have been the public (and indeed the plod) believing the word of the busdriver because he's a 'professional' Maybe he should think of that before he jumps red lights. There's a thought maybe I'll take a video next time I go on a bus - outcome could be interesting!
Fastpedeller said:
I have to say that busdrivers (IMHO) seem to be one of the worst group of drivers on the road (I call them a group 'cos they generally all turn up at the same time ). Unusually for me I was on 2 buses on friday (Park and ride to Norwich) - On the way there the bus driver jumped one red light and a yellow which he had time to stop for. On the return trip the driver (different driver) jumped 1 red and 2 yellows which he could easily have stopped for. Bad practice, maybe encouraged by timetable? but bad practice certainly.
If the OP had been knocked down it would have been the public (and indeed the plod) believing the word of the busdriver because he's a 'professional' Maybe he should think of that before he jumps red lights. There's a thought maybe I'll take a video next time I go on a bus - outcome could be interesting!
most buses have cameras pointing out the front window so if someone got knocked down they'd seize the camera footage.). Unusually for me I was on 2 buses on friday (Park and ride to Norwich) - On the way there the bus driver jumped one red light and a yellow which he had time to stop for. On the return trip the driver (different driver) jumped 1 red and 2 yellows which he could easily have stopped for. Bad practice, maybe encouraged by timetable? but bad practice certainly. If the OP had been knocked down it would have been the public (and indeed the plod) believing the word of the busdriver because he's a 'professional' Maybe he should think of that before he jumps red lights. There's a thought maybe I'll take a video next time I go on a bus - outcome could be interesting!
Dammit said:
Biker's Nemesis said:
They're getting right on my tits with their 2 or 3 abreast riding at 10mph on country roads, epically the slow ones at the back of a group of 20 or 30.
I am talking about Scott's Gap and Pigdon in Northumberland
So the 20-30 people should make way for 1 of you?I am talking about Scott's Gap and Pigdon in Northumberland
This is another common misconception - how can the actions of another person give you a bad name?
Certainly someone else might be intellectually lazy and judge you based on the actions of others- but that's their problem.
If you didn't jump the red/whatever, then you didn't jump the red.
Pandering to the laziness of others is not the way to drive change, especially given the incredible hypocrisy inherent in this one - cars, motorcycles, buses, taxis, lorries etc etc all jump red lights, but it's ignored there and simply used as a generic "all cyclists are bad because all cyclists do [insert lazy assumption] which I saw only this morning".
It's akin to the UKIP line of "All Romanians are thieves".
Certainly SOME Romanians are thieves, some UKIP MP's would appear to be, also, but saying that they all are stretches credulity a bit.
TL:DR - just because someone saw another cyclist jump a red doesn't mean that I did, and doesn't affect my "reputation".
Certainly someone else might be intellectually lazy and judge you based on the actions of others- but that's their problem.
If you didn't jump the red/whatever, then you didn't jump the red.
Pandering to the laziness of others is not the way to drive change, especially given the incredible hypocrisy inherent in this one - cars, motorcycles, buses, taxis, lorries etc etc all jump red lights, but it's ignored there and simply used as a generic "all cyclists are bad because all cyclists do [insert lazy assumption] which I saw only this morning".
It's akin to the UKIP line of "All Romanians are thieves".
Certainly SOME Romanians are thieves, some UKIP MP's would appear to be, also, but saying that they all are stretches credulity a bit.
TL:DR - just because someone saw another cyclist jump a red doesn't mean that I did, and doesn't affect my "reputation".
I'm not going to tar all cyclists with the same brush but I would say that 50% of the cyclists I come across display some very irritating behaviour patterns. Maybe it's just because I live in an area with lots of young students and so they are less thoughtful road users as a rule, but the number of times that cyclists persist on using the road when there is a separate, protected cycle track running PARALLEL, or snaking about in the lane as they are swaying with the exertion from pedalling uphill making it impossible to pass them safely etc etc. Just silly behaviour that shows lack of consideration for other road users, and also scant regard for their own well-being combined with a default hostile position towards motorists.
The only regulation governing when to use a cycle lane, when on a bicycle, covers when NOT to use one - which is when you speed is likely to be above 18mph.
A large number of cycle lanes are unsuitable afterthoughts tacked onto the side of roads by Councils that have to hit "X metres of cycle lane" before their budgets roll-over.
Also- stop blaming the victim. They are not showing "scant regard" for their own safety by not getting out of your way.
If you hit a cyclist whilst trying to pass them then that's on you - not them.
A large number of cycle lanes are unsuitable afterthoughts tacked onto the side of roads by Councils that have to hit "X metres of cycle lane" before their budgets roll-over.
Also- stop blaming the victim. They are not showing "scant regard" for their own safety by not getting out of your way.
If you hit a cyclist whilst trying to pass them then that's on you - not them.
Dammit said:
Biker's Nemesis said:
They're getting right on my tits with their 2 or 3 abreast riding at 10mph on country roads, epically the slow ones at the back of a group of 20 or 30.
I am talking about Scott's Gap and Pigdon in Northumberland
So the 20-30 people should make way for 1 of you?I am talking about Scott's Gap and Pigdon in Northumberland
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Dammit said:
Hyperbole aside, the figures suggest that it's (not surprisingly) exactly the same percentage of cyclists who jump reds as drivers- around 14%.
I'm not sure about that data. 
can't remember the last time I saw a motor vehicle run a red. Based on my data of yesterday in St Albans:
Three cyclists swerved past me as I crossed a pelican crossing on Holywell Hill. I then walked down Sopwell Lane where a cyclist was going the wrong way down it.
That was all within 5 minutes.
That's why most right minded people find cyclists infuriating.
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