Do you 'engage' with cyclists?
Discussion
IroningMan said:
Johnnytheboy said:
IroningMan said:
I never see anyone cycling without appropriate clothing and lighting here in Somerset.
I do! 
To be fair I live bang on the Dorset border and mostly go that way, so maybe it's the folk of Dorset.
Finlandia said:
By following the laws and rules of road traffic, just the basic stuff like stopping for red lights and not going the wrong way up a one way street.
For every car I see doing the above, I see 10 cyclists doing it.
Oh come on, this is absolute rubbish! It is the drivers, not cyclists, who kill and injure hundreds of thousands a year, and you say the 'killers' should have respect from those who don't kill? For every car I see doing the above, I see 10 cyclists doing it.
And what is the statistic that shows the numbers of cyclists who also own cars? Is it 87% or something? There isn't an 'us and them' group, we all use the roads and virtually all of us drive cars a t some point, but for the reasons given in the Ian Walker article, motorists think differently to this when they see cyclists. It's ridiculous.
--
Saturday night last, I see a woman in an Audi TT drive the wrong way down a one-way. She then attempts to parallel park her car, but can't. A queue of traffic forms after she fails attempt after attempt to park her car. At some point she becomes aware that she is facing the wrong way in a one-way street, so attempts to turn round, which is every bit as unsuccessful as her attempts to park. The queue by now is really quite long. Eventually the woman decides to reverse back up the one-way street and get out of there, and fortunately her ability to reverse in a straight line was much better than all her other attempts at reversing.
In comparison, what would have happened had a cyclist gone the wrong way? Might I suggest 'nothing'?
I've never in my life been delayed by a cyclist jumping red lights. I am constantly delayed by cars jumping amber stop lights, indeed I once had to change my route home, so frustrated was I by law breaking stop light jumpers.
As motorists it might be said that we are a pretty dreadful group of people, and the harm we do is very tangible. The idea that another group of people who do no harm (in fact do society a whole heap of good) should show 'us' respect is absolutely laughable!
Where on earth are you guys coming from with this?!
JagXJR said:
IroningMan said:
JagXJR said:
This is absolute claptrap!
All the cyclists I know drive cars too. So not done out of poverty.
I have never heard of cyclist been called "rodents" and the only negative terms I have heard them being called stem only from their attitude, not social and economic background.
This article if at all true is seriously out of date.
All it needs is for a bit of respect being shown towards motorists to improve opinions of them.
No doubt the same can be said about some motorists too, I have seen some motorist drive so close to cyclists that the displaced air made them wobble. That is also unacceptable!
Do you recognize that your statement above portrays precisely the mindset described in the 'outdated' article?All the cyclists I know drive cars too. So not done out of poverty.
I have never heard of cyclist been called "rodents" and the only negative terms I have heard them being called stem only from their attitude, not social and economic background.
This article if at all true is seriously out of date.
All it needs is for a bit of respect being shown towards motorists to improve opinions of them.
No doubt the same can be said about some motorists too, I have seen some motorist drive so close to cyclists that the displaced air made them wobble. That is also unacceptable!
Will it ever dawn on you that the vast, vast majority of 'cyclists' are just 'motorists' on a different day and not some inferior subspecies?
Heaven help you and your blood pressure if the roads you want to use are ever closed for a cycle event...
you said:
All it needs is for a bit of respect being shown towards motorists to improve opinions of them.
Article said:
Cyclists are 'All the same'. The misbehaviour of a minority is held to reflect on the inner psychology of all cyclists. The behaviour of cyclists, as members of a minority out-group, is attributed to supposedly universal internal traits, whilst the behaviour of motorists is much more likely to be attributed to external, situational factors.
contango said:
DonkeyApple said:
I've always viewed it as a class thing as cycling, certainly in the SE is a very white, middle class persuit.
Certainly?Do you ride?
Most weekends on the North downs you will see brothers from Brixton cycle club, I smiled when I saw they had a couple of octogenarian white ladies in their group rides..... nice guys always enthusiastic and chatty.
Mave said:
When you beeped your horn at them, (before you got sworn at), do you think that would have been interpreted as "showing some respect"?
Did you actually read any of my posts? I sounded the horn for it's one legal use, to make them aware I was there as I am observant enough to notice they did not look back before changing course as required by the highway code. FOR THEIR SAFETY. Is that not respectful?Is it my problem that they mistook this for a non-legal use?
The more I think about it, such an extreme reaction could only be because of surprise, which just validates my use of it even more!
Before anyone else wastes my time or the forum's can I please ask you to read my posts, as all this has been covered before?
Thank you.
JagXJR said:
There was no "ill-thought-out overtake" As posted many times already.
You keep saying it, but that doesn't make it true. You seem to be a minority of one that believes it.Lets try flipping it around - you are driving along minding your own business. As you are approaching a parked car and start to move over, some leather-clad power-ranger wannabee on a motorbike comes flying up alongside you and beeps his horn at you for daring to impede his progress. What would your response be?
heebeegeetee said:
Finlandia said:
By following the laws and rules of road traffic, just the basic stuff like stopping for red lights and not going the wrong way up a one way street.
For every car I see doing the above, I see 10 cyclists doing it.
Oh come on, this is absolute rubbish! It is the drivers, not cyclists, who kill and injure hundreds of thousands a year, and you say the 'killers' should have respect from those who don't kill? For every car I see doing the above, I see 10 cyclists doing it.
And what is the statistic that shows the numbers of cyclists who also own cars? Is it 87% or something? There isn't an 'us and them' group, we all use the roads and virtually all of us drive cars a t some point, but for the reasons given in the Ian Walker article, motorists think differently to this when they see cyclists. It's ridiculous.
--
Saturday night last, I see a woman in an Audi TT drive the wrong way down a one-way. She then attempts to parallel park her car, but can't. A queue of traffic forms after she fails attempt after attempt to park her car. At some point she becomes aware that she is facing the wrong way in a one-way street, so attempts to turn round, which is every bit as unsuccessful as her attempts to park. The queue by now is really quite long. Eventually the woman decides to reverse back up the one-way street and get out of there, and fortunately her ability to reverse in a straight line was much better than all her other attempts at reversing.
In comparison, what would have happened had a cyclist gone the wrong way? Might I suggest 'nothing'?
I've never in my life been delayed by a cyclist jumping red lights. I am constantly delayed by cars jumping amber stop lights, indeed I once had to change my route home, so frustrated was I by law breaking stop light jumpers.
As motorists it might be said that we are a pretty dreadful group of people, and the harm we do is very tangible. The idea that another group of people who do no harm (in fact do society a whole heap of good) should show 'us' respect is absolutely laughable!
Where on earth are you guys coming from with this?!
Finlandia said:
So you think it's a bad idea to educate or threaten by law/fines cyclists to stop at red lights and follow basic traffic rules? Why is that a bad idea?
Haven't you been following? Cars and lorries are heavier than bicycles, therefore their adherence to the law should be enforced more strictly. It could be done on a sliding scale against weight.
Makes perfect sense if you stop and think about it.
Finlandia said:
So you think it's a bad idea to educate or threaten by law/fines cyclists to stop at red lights and follow basic traffic rules? Why is that a bad idea?
Given that they do virtually no harm, I don't see the point in doing that until motorists have been made to do the same.I mean, basic traffic rules - if you could just get motorists to use that little indicator stalk that they ignore, and just get them to drive in the correct lane at least some of the time, then maybe as a group they might earn some respect. Until then...
Mr Will said:
You keep saying it, but that doesn't make it true. You seem to be a minority of one that believes it.
Lets try flipping it around - you are driving along minding your own business. As you are approaching a parked car and start to move over, some leather-clad power-ranger wannabee on a motorbike comes flying up alongside you and beeps his horn at you for daring to impede his progress. What would your response be?
No you are correct, it does not make it true. What makes it true isLets try flipping it around - you are driving along minding your own business. As you are approaching a parked car and start to move over, some leather-clad power-ranger wannabee on a motorbike comes flying up alongside you and beeps his horn at you for daring to impede his progress. What would your response be?
I WAS THERE!!!
And so was the Mrs who believe me (I wish it wasn't true) is very vocal in making it plain if I am even 1 foot out of place!
Which is why I believe me and not the non-present, clairvoyant PistonHead driving Gods
Since I do not believe you for that very good reason and not having senile dentures creeping in, no matter how many times you post your made up theories and what ifs, I am fairly unlikely to change my mind.
So why're you all posting if not trolling? If it's to wind me up forget it, years of dealing with the public has made me thick skinned!
I said skinned dammit!
Can I flip you around?
Your hypothetical example will not happen because unlike some of you (obviously from some of the posts) I check my mirrors regularly. so no response would be needed.
I'm not perfect but not stupid either
Johnnytheboy said:
Finlandia said:
So you think it's a bad idea to educate or threaten by law/fines cyclists to stop at red lights and follow basic traffic rules? Why is that a bad idea?
Haven't you been following? Cars and lorries are heavier than bicycles, therefore their adherence to the law should be enforced more strictly. It could be done on a sliding scale against weight.
Makes perfect sense if you stop and think about it.
heebeegeetee said:
Finlandia said:
So you think it's a bad idea to educate or threaten by law/fines cyclists to stop at red lights and follow basic traffic rules? Why is that a bad idea?
Given that they do virtually no harm, I don't see the point in doing that until motorists have been made to do the same.I mean, basic traffic rules - if you could just get motorists to use that little indicator stalk that they ignore, and just get them to drive in the correct lane at least some of the time, then maybe as a group they might earn some respect. Until then...
JagXJR said:
Did you actually read any of my posts? I sounded the horn for it's one legal use, to make them aware I was there as I am observant enough to notice they did not look back before changing course as required by the highway code. FOR THEIR SAFETY. Is that not respectful?
Is it my problem that they mistook this for a non-legal use?
The more I think about it, such an extreme reaction could only be because of surprise, which just validates my use of it even more!
Before anyone else wastes my time or the forum's can I please ask you to read my posts, as all this has been covered before?
Thank you.
I've read your posts. All of them. Did you read mine? I did not ask about your intention in beeping your horn. I asked about how you thought it might have been interpreted.Is it my problem that they mistook this for a non-legal use?
The more I think about it, such an extreme reaction could only be because of surprise, which just validates my use of it even more!
Before anyone else wastes my time or the forum's can I please ask you to read my posts, as all this has been covered before?
Thank you.
JagXJR said:
Mr Will said:
You keep saying it, but that doesn't make it true. You seem to be a minority of one that believes it.
Lets try flipping it around - you are driving along minding your own business. As you are approaching a parked car and start to move over, some leather-clad power-ranger wannabee on a motorbike comes flying up alongside you and beeps his horn at you for daring to impede his progress. What would your response be?
No you are correct, it does not make it true. What makes it true isLets try flipping it around - you are driving along minding your own business. As you are approaching a parked car and start to move over, some leather-clad power-ranger wannabee on a motorbike comes flying up alongside you and beeps his horn at you for daring to impede his progress. What would your response be?
I WAS THERE!!!
And so was the Mrs who believe me (I wish it wasn't true) is very vocal in making it plain if I am even 1 foot out of place!
Which is why I believe me and not the non-present, clairvoyant PistonHead driving Gods
Since I do not believe you for that very good reason and not having senile dentures creeping in, no matter how many times you post your made up theories and what ifs, I am fairly unlikely to change my mind.
So why're you all posting if not trolling? If it's to wind me up forget it, years of dealing with the public has made me thick skinned!
I said skinned dammit!
Can I flip you around?
Your hypothetical example will not happen because unlike some of you (obviously from some of the posts) I check my mirrors regularly. so no response would be needed.
I'm not perfect but not stupid either
You attempted an overtake of a vehicle which was approaching an obstruction and then were surprised when they moved out to pass the obstruction. You were forced to abort the overtake, hit the horn and had to move back in to a space in the line of traffic.
Go on, tell me; what am I missing?
Finlandia said:
Like motorcycles, mopeds and scooters then, they don't do much more harm than a cyclist, should they be allowed to jump red lights too?
Just like motorcycle, mopeds and scooters, bicycles aren't allowed to jump red light. IIRC, when Westminster (or maybe Manchester?) did a study, the percentage of red light jumpers was pretty similar between cars and bicycles.I don't think I've commented on your posts so need to read them all.
I believe I answered that, surprise then anger.
Exactly the reason why you are supposed to check behind you before making any maneuver isn't it?
Had they done so we could have all continued on our merry way without any negative emotion necessary.
I believe I answered that, surprise then anger.
Exactly the reason why you are supposed to check behind you before making any maneuver isn't it?
Had they done so we could have all continued on our merry way without any negative emotion necessary.
Finlandia said:
Like motorcycles, mopeds and scooters then, they don't do much more harm than a cyclist, should they be allowed to jump red lights too?
A cyclist only has to jump off and run alongside his bike and he's legal, afaiaa. I'm not sure if bikers are in the same position, but they can try.Cyclists don't have to bother jumping off their bikes for me. I don't care, because it's a complete non-story. I would however be perfectly happy to see car drivers who jump stop lights (and those who stop in yellow boxes too) because they delay me repeatedly.
Indeed I probably lose more time to drivers who don't indicate than i do to any cyclist, by a factor of about a gazillion.
Mave said:
Just like motorcycle, mopeds and scooters, bicycles aren't allowed to jump red light. IIRC, when Westminster (or maybe Manchester?) did a study, the percentage of red light jumpers was pretty similar between cars and bicycles.
My experience tells me differently, on my daily commute I see at least 10-20 cyclists going through red lights everyday, and I honestly can't say when I last saw a car going through a red (emergency services uncounted for).Mave said:
So in return, how do you think motorists should show their respect for cyclists?
By following the rules that are there for the protection of all road users.heebeegeetee said:
A cyclist only has to jump off and run alongside his bike and he's legal, afaiaa. I'm not sure if bikers are in the same position, but they can try.
Cyclists don't have to bother jumping off their bikes for me. I don't care, because it's a complete non-story. I would however be perfectly happy to see car drivers who jump stop lights (and those who stop in yellow boxes too) because they delay me repeatedly.
Indeed I probably lose more time to drivers who don't indicate than i do to any cyclist, by a factor of about a gazillion.
It's not a non-story when that red light jump causes an accident.Cyclists don't have to bother jumping off their bikes for me. I don't care, because it's a complete non-story. I would however be perfectly happy to see car drivers who jump stop lights (and those who stop in yellow boxes too) because they delay me repeatedly.
Indeed I probably lose more time to drivers who don't indicate than i do to any cyclist, by a factor of about a gazillion.
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