Do you 'engage' with cyclists?

Do you 'engage' with cyclists?

Author
Discussion

DonkeyApple

54,932 posts

168 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
Mave said:
So have they actually held you up at all? Or did it just take a bit longer to catch the chap drivers in front? :-)
The core benefit of being held up for some time by a slow moving object is that singular pleasure of the open road that then lies in front of you before you catch back up with the car traffic.

Of course, if you are in a mundane car then you don't get this pleasure. And not do you deserve to as you are the real reason why driving these days is so boring. It's not the few chance encounters with horses or bikes or tractors but the millions upon millions of pointless drones clogging the roads with their bland, pointless utility vehicles. And sticking a body kit on doesn't hide the pointlessness of their existence.

Keep all the cyclists, riders, motorbikes, tractors and real cars and get rid of the real problem, the utility drones.

It's like pensioners complaining about immigrants clogging up the NHS when there are 100 pensioners sucking the NHS dry daily for every immigrant who wanders in.


JagXJR

1,261 posts

128 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
JustinF said:
GEARJAMMER said:
I was driving across the new forest on Thursday (in a tipper truck I might add, lol, cyclists love those), whole bunch of the lycra clad wkers were on a jolly (must have been 20-30 of them), they were riding two-three abreast, not giving a f**k about anyone trying to get past/overtake, I eventually got alongside them but gave them sod all room, they didn't give a toss about anyone else so I don't see why I should give a toss about them....

I left them behind, went a few miles further on and got to a place called Brook where there is a 4 way junction, here I found another bunch of the c**ts, but heres the best bit, they had there own van there parked just inside one of the roads off the junction, with a table set out behind it serving them all drinks, yes, 20-30 cyclists all stopped completely blocking the WHOLE road while they sat and had a chin wag and a drink, if ANY type of vehicle, even a motorbike had wanted to turn into the road they'd set up camp on they would have been screwed.

But hey there cyclists, they can do what they like eh! C**ts
cyclists 2 abreast riding on roads as they are perfectly entitled to do, so you decide a punishment pass in a potentially lethal vehicle is the way to proceed, you sir are a of the highest order and need you driving licence removed...

You drive a tipper truck so it's not likely you'll understand all that I write but I'll try to make it simple, just for you...

There are many classes of vehicle on our roads, from horses to hyper-cars, they all are allowed to be there and will all be travelling at different speeds.
When you come across slower vehicles, you need to slow to their pace until you can pass safely.

Erm that's it really, anything you don't get from the above two rules?


Edited by JustinF on Sunday 1st March 00:41
But that's not it.

This is PistonHeads. How many pistons does a cycle have? Zero.

But you are allowed to post here as long as you follow the rules. Don't imagine however when you don't, and whinge and complain in an inappropriate way (often rudely) that this will be welcomed with open arms.

Your vehicles of misery (for others) have every right to be on the roads as anything else, it is the attitude that sets some (most?) cyclists apart.

Example; I slow right down to a crawl for horses. They are vulnerable vehicles too and can be frightened by a speeding, noisy car. so I give them priority. Mostly I get a cheery, appreciative wave. Everyone is happy.

Contrast this with the attitude of cyclists. I have never had anything but abuse from these road-users.

I posted an example of their bad behavior recently and got third degree burns from the flame war that followed.

Here is a quote of it in case anyone missed it.

Mopar440 said:
JagXJR said:
People need to stop being so judgemental!
JagXJR said:
The 8 or 10 or so Lycra clad muppets on cycles riding around the NSL country roads around a reservoir near my house close to dinnertime today. Riding nose to tail leaving no gap to pull into if I am trying to get past. When I overtook you given a reasonable clear straight, the leaders proceeded to overtake some parked vehicles without even a backward glance, causing me to sound the horn to alert you to the fact I was there. I could still get past but it was a bit tight and did not want you to suddenly veer into my path without looking. Giving me the beans in no way improves my opinion of you and your crap riding, neither did you shouting "wker". I had the Mrs in the car FFS!

In fact it is a good job the Mrs was in the car as otherwise I may have stopped the car and wrapped the bike around your ears and threw you both in the reservoir!

Suggestion. Instead of riding around like a tit in my home neighbourhood upsetting the locals, why don't you ride like a tit near your own house?
I got stuck behind a long stream of cyclists for about a mile before I could safely overtake. kept my distance, no intimidating driving even though they slowed me down to a third of my usual speed on this NSL road.

On overtaking when it was safe, seeing the cyclists move out without a backward glance into the middle of the road leaving me only the opposite carriageway, I was concerned that the margin for error was less than I like. I like a lot of margin, what happens if one of them falls off in front of me? So I sounded my horn to make them aware that I was there. Perfectly legal and acceptable use of the horn.

The rude and intimidating response I got from them was completely unjustified, to the extent that my Mrs who normally criticises my driving if I do the slightest thing wrong (yes checks and balances) commented on their poor riding.

The comment about getting out of my car was to show my annoyance, I would never get out of my car in a rage and would probably get my arse kicked if I did! Perhaps I could have worded the post better, not a good idea to write anything when you are annoyed, as I was.

This is just one instance of many, of the rude, arrogant and abusive behaviour of cyclists that I have come across or heard about.

Respect has to be earnt. If you behave like this you are never going to get it. Giving abuse on the Internet will not change that either.

In closing I am aware not all cyclist are the same and some mechanised vehicle drivers have similar appalling attitudes too. Some should not even be allowed behind a wheel, but that is for the authorities to weed out, that is their job. They should be the ones doing the 'engage', not other road users!

Edited for spelling before the Spelling and Grammar Police arrive.


Edited by JagXJR on Sunday 1st March 11:35

carlove

7,539 posts

166 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
Mave said:
So have they actually held you up at all? Or did it just take a bit longer to catch the chap drivers in front? :-)
The Sunday morning ones don't. I would say the Friday rush hour ones do. Not as annoying as the many 40mph Honda Jazz drivers, you can't get past those knobs.

JustinF

6,795 posts

202 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
JagXJR said:
I got stuck behind a long stream of cyclists for about a mile before I could safely overtake. kept my distance, no intimidating driving even though they slowed me down to a third of my usual speed on this NSL road.

On overtaking when it was safe, seeing the cyclists move out without a backward glance into the middle of the road leaving me only the opposite carriageway, I was concerned that the margin for error was less than I like. I like a lot of margin, what happens if one of them falls off in front of me? So I sounded my horn to make them aware that I was there. Perfectly legal and acceptable use of the horn.

The rude and intimidating response I got from them was completely unjustified, to the extent that my Mrs who normally criticises my driving if I do the slightest thing wrong (yes checks and balances) commented on their poor riding.
The sad thing here is that you don't even see that you were in the wrong, what did you expect the vehicles ahead of you to do when they got to the parked cars, ride into them? stop? of course they were going to go around them, this is obvious and yet you chose the moment they were approaching a stationary obstacle as an appropriate time to overtake. Take a good look at your driving standards before you get behind the wheel next.

Edited by JustinF on Sunday 1st March 12:37

DonkeyApple

54,932 posts

168 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
carlove said:
Mave said:
So have they actually held you up at all? Or did it just take a bit longer to catch the chap drivers in front? :-)
The Sunday morning ones don't. I would say the Friday rush hour ones do. Not as annoying as the many 40mph Honda Jazz drivers, you can't get past those knobs.
Yup. The Friday rushour cyclists are easy to pass as they are typically just one bike and there are always hundreds of safe points to pass and not be genuinely held up. You are absolutely spot on that the real problem is the thousands of mongs in their utility transports that hold you up.

Blaming a bloke on a bike when you are stuck behind a thousand drones in their body kitted, diesel stboxes seems like madness.

Antony Moxey

8,016 posts

218 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
JustinF said:
JagXJR said:
I got stuck behind a long stream of cyclists for about a mile before I could safely overtake. kept my distance, no intimidating driving even though they slowed me down to a third of my usual speed on this NSL road.

On overtaking when it was safe, seeing the cyclists move out without a backward glance into the middle of the road leaving me only the opposite carriageway, I was concerned that the margin for error was less than I like. I like a lot of margin, what happens if one of them falls off in front of me? So I sounded my horn to make them aware that I was there. Perfectly legal and acceptable use of the horn.

The rude and intimidating response I got from them was completely unjustified, to the extent that my Mrs who normally criticises my driving if I do the slightest thing wrong (yes checks and balances) commented on their poor riding.
The sad thing here is that you don't even see that you where in the wrong, what did you expect the vehicles ahead of you to do when they got to the parked cars, ride into them? stop? of course they were going to go around them, this is obvious and yet you chose the moment they were approaching a stationary obstacle as an appropriate time to overtake. Take a good look at your driving standards before you get behind the wheel next.
I was going to post exactly the same thing. If it had been, say, a tractor approaching a line of parked cars would you still overtake the tractor or would you expect it to stop and wait while you overtook it? If not a tractor apply that to anything on the road holding you up - would you overtake them as they approached parked cars, or was it simply because it was a bunch of cyclists? I wonder if JagXJR checks his mirrors every time he passes parked cars just in case there's someone behind in the middle of a stupid overtake?

JagXJR

1,261 posts

128 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
JustinF said:
JagXJR said:
I got stuck behind a long stream of cyclists for about a mile before I could safely overtake. kept my distance, no intimidating driving even though they slowed me down to a third of my usual speed on this NSL road.

On overtaking when it was safe, seeing the cyclists move out without a backward glance into the middle of the road leaving me only the opposite carriageway, I was concerned that the margin for error was less than I like. I like a lot of margin, what happens if one of them falls off in front of me? So I sounded my horn to make them aware that I was there. Perfectly legal and acceptable use of the horn.

The rude and intimidating response I got from them was completely unjustified, to the extent that my Mrs who normally criticises my driving if I do the slightest thing wrong (yes checks and balances) commented on their poor riding.
The sad thing here is that you don't even see that you where in the wrong, what did you expect the vehicles ahead of you to do when they got to the parked cars, ride into them? stop? of course they were going to go around them, this is obvious and yet you chose the moment they were approaching a stationary obstacle as an appropriate time to overtake. Take a good look at your driving standards before you get behind the wheel next.
I didn't do anything wrong. I was overtaking in a perfectly safe manner. As I've explained many times to what I now think are lots of very thick people! Who apparently can't read. That is the sad thing.

"yet you chose the moment"??? I was overtaking the line of cyclists a quarter of a mile before the lead cyclist reached the parked cars. The only thing I did wrong was not to boot it hard, had I done so I would have been past before the lead cyclist reached the parked cars. As the Mrs has a neck and back problem it is painful for her if I accelerate like that, so I don't tend to if I can avoid it.

The two people in the car (and the Mrs is very vocal if I am in the wrong) that were there agree. Some muppets on the Internet despite not being there are ?constantly telling me I was wrong. Am I not explaining myself clearly?

And just so you know the correct course of action when passing parked cars is to look back and check you are not in danger. Says so in the Highway code I believe. As does (unless it has been removed) slow moving vehicles should let faster ones past. Of course this does not apply to cyclists obviously, they can do what they like.

My annoyance was not with the cyclists disregard of this, all this meant to me was having to move out a few more feet into the opposing carriageway. My gripe is with my legal use of the horn to alert them I was there, perfectly reasonable given that they failed to look back to check, resulted in a load of abuse.

NOT ACCEPTABLE

Neither are the posts I am getting on this incident. I gave everyone consideration and got a load of abuse for it.

Treat someone as you want them to treat you and we'll all get along. What part of that are you not getting?


JagXJR

1,261 posts

128 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
Antony Moxey said:
I was going to post exactly the same thing. If it had been, say, a tractor approaching a line of parked cars would you still overtake the tractor or would you expect it to stop and wait while you overtook it? If not a tractor apply that to anything on the road holding you up - would you overtake them as they approached parked cars, or was it simply because it was a bunch of cyclists? I wonder if JagXJR checks his mirrors every time he passes parked cars just in case there's someone behind in the middle of a stupid overtake?
Yes I do, don't you? If you don't then perhaps instead of flaming others you should take a good look at your own driving!

Quote from https://www.gov.uk/using-the-road-159-to-203/overt...

"2. Overtaking (162 to 169)
162
Before overtaking you should make sure

the road is sufficiently clear ahead (it was)
road users are not beginning to overtake you (no)
there is a suitable gap in front of the road user you plan to overtake. (there was)
163
Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so. You should

not get too close to the vehicle you intend to overtake
use your mirrors, signal when it is safe to do so, take a quick sideways glance if necessary into the blind spot area and then start to move out
not assume that you can simply follow a vehicle ahead which is overtaking; there may only be enough room for one vehicle
move quickly past the vehicle you are overtaking, once you have started to overtake. Allow plenty of room. Move back to the left as soon as you can but do not cut in
take extra care at night and in poor visibility when it is harder to judge speed and distance
give way to oncoming vehicles before passing parked vehicles or other obstructions on your side of the road
only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so
stay in your lane if traffic is moving slowly in queues. If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are, you may pass on the left
give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car (see Rules 211 to 213) and 214 to 215).
Remember: Mirrors – Signal – Manoeuvre"

All points followed. As I said my gripe is from the abuse I got despite driving legally and courteously. How often do I have to say this?

uncinquesei

917 posts

176 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
GEARJAMMER said:
But hey there cyclists
Cyclists said:
Hey there GEARJAMMER!

Dammit

3,790 posts

207 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
JagXJR - issue is, you should have been in the opposing carriageway to execute the overtake, not only moving into it when the cyclists had to move out around the parked cars.

What, exactly, did you anticipate happening when you got to the cars - the cyclists vanishing in a puff of smoke?

You are describing your lack of anticipation as someone elses problem, hence why you are being called out on it.

If we look at it again, and you'd pulled out into the opposing carriageway at the start, then you would not have had to alter your line and sound your horn when you got to the parked cars.

Ergo, you got it wrong - it doesn't matter what the other people in the car thought.

mdavids

675 posts

183 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
GEARJAMMER said:
I was driving across the new forest on Thursday (in a tipper truck I might add,
Let me guess, it was either working behind the counter at Maccy D's for minimum wage or become a "professional" driver.

Does the brief moment of glory you get from intimidating vulnerable road users make up for being too inadequate to get an interesting job?

Antony Moxey

8,016 posts

218 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
JagXJR said:
Antony Moxey said:
I was going to post exactly the same thing. If it had been, say, a tractor approaching a line of parked cars would you still overtake the tractor or would you expect it to stop and wait while you overtook it? If not a tractor apply that to anything on the road holding you up - would you overtake them as they approached parked cars, or was it simply because it was a bunch of cyclists? I wonder if JagXJR checks his mirrors every time he passes parked cars just in case there's someone behind in the middle of a stupid overtake?
Yes I do, don't you? If you don't then perhaps instead of flaming others you should take a good look at your own driving!

Quote from https://www.gov.uk/using-the-road-159-to-203/overt...

"2. Overtaking (162 to 169)
162
Before overtaking you should make sure

the road is sufficiently clear ahead (it was)
road users are not beginning to overtake you (no)
there is a suitable gap in front of the road user you plan to overtake. (there was)
163
Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so. You should

not get too close to the vehicle you intend to overtake
use your mirrors, signal when it is safe to do so, take a quick sideways glance if necessary into the blind spot area and then start to move out
not assume that you can simply follow a vehicle ahead which is overtaking; there may only be enough room for one vehicle
move quickly past the vehicle you are overtaking, once you have started to overtake. Allow plenty of room. Move back to the left as soon as you can but do not cut in
take extra care at night and in poor visibility when it is harder to judge speed and distance
give way to oncoming vehicles before passing parked vehicles or other obstructions on your side of the road
only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so
stay in your lane if traffic is moving slowly in queues. If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are, you may pass on the left
give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car (see Rules 211 to 213) and 214 to 215).
Remember: Mirrors – Signal – Manoeuvre"

All points followed. As I said my gripe is from the abuse I got despite driving legally and courteously. How often do I have to say this?
You can say it as often as you like, it doesn't make you any more right. You basically got an overtake of slow moving traffic wrong and are blaming them. What if the line was cars travelling at 15mph that you wanted to overtake? Would you expect them all to stop at a line of parked cars so you could omelette your ill-thought out overtake?

You appear unable to comprehend that bikes are just as much a part of normal traffic as every other road user, and that they're entitled to the lane they're occupying just as much as you are. You need to realise that when you overtake a bike you should treat it exactly the same as you would if overtaking a car, lorry, caravan, bus, tractor, whatever. This isn't what you did when you tried to overtake the line of cyclists and got it wrong by not seeing the line of parked cars they, as well as you, had to pass.

Antony Moxey

8,016 posts

218 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
JagXJR said:
give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car

All points followed.
Except that one, obviously.

JagXJR

1,261 posts

128 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
"you should have been in the opposing carriageway to execute the overtake, not only moving into it when the cyclists had to move out around the parked cars." I was, I don't overtake cyclists with no room in case they fall off. I do give them plenty of room unlike other motorists I see passing within arms reach of them. Have said this already. rolleyes

"You are describing your lack of anticipation as someone elses problem" There was no "lack of anticipation" beyond after warning them, the abuse. Didn't anticipate that. Then cyclists wonder why motorists give them a hard time???

I did not "have had to alter your line and sound your horn", I was already on the opposite side of the road, but it reduced the room available to less than what I like and feel comfortable with. I moved a few feet nearer to the kerb and sounded my horn as a courtesy. And got abuse for my trouble.

"You basically got an overtake of slow moving traffic wrong" I got nothing wrong. As you would know had you been there!

"What if the line was cars travelling at 15mph that you wanted to overtake?" It wasn't, why are you making things up?

"You appear unable to comprehend that bikes are just as much a part of normal traffic as every other road user, and that they're entitled to the lane they're occupying just as much as you are" I have already said I consider them, what is the point of just making stuff up?

"got it wrong by not seeing the line of parked cars" Again something else made up, I don't overtake anything without making sure it is clear

I will be fixing my cigarette lighter ASAP so I can use my dashcam again. That is my only mistake.

Said enough on the matter, seems I am not getting through and people are starting to make stuff up and ignore what I post so waste of my time really.

If you can't even 'engage' sensibly on the Internet you are going to be even less successful on the ground when tempers may be rising, so the answer to the OP's question is No.

Enjoy your weekend all!

A.J.M

7,894 posts

185 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
Don't bother with cyclist's. Give them space for overtaking, i've stopped to let them past a few times and have been thanked for it.

My only issue is a guy who cycles on the pavement's when i'm walking my dog.
I've spoke to him twice to say that for his own safety he should wear a helmet and also a rear light for same reasons.

He still hasn't got a helmet or the lights, and still cycles on the pavement which freaks the dog out every time he comes up and tries to shove past. The dog doesn't bother about much, fireworks etc don't faze him but that guy gets him spooked.

I've spoke to cyclist friends who have all called him a selfish wker. ( they don't mince words )

I wish he would stop cycling on the pavement, however, he doesn't seem to give a fk about me or the clearly spooked Labrador i'm walking.

IroningMan

10,154 posts

245 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
JagXJR said:
"you should have been in the opposing carriageway to execute the overtake, not only moving into it when the cyclists had to move out around the parked cars." I was, I don't overtake cyclists with no room in case they fall off. I do give them plenty of room unlike other motorists I see passing within arms reach of them. Have said this already. rolleyes

"You are describing your lack of anticipation as someone elses problem" There was no "lack of anticipation" beyond after warning them, the abuse. Didn't anticipate that. Then cyclists wonder why motorists give them a hard time???

I did not "have had to alter your line and sound your horn", I was already on the opposite side of the road, but it reduced the room available to less than what I like and feel comfortable with. I moved a few feet nearer to the kerb and sounded my horn as a courtesy. And got abuse for my trouble.

"You basically got an overtake of slow moving traffic wrong" I got nothing wrong. As you would know had you been there!

"What if the line was cars travelling at 15mph that you wanted to overtake?" It wasn't, why are you making things up?

"You appear unable to comprehend that bikes are just as much a part of normal traffic as every other road user, and that they're entitled to the lane they're occupying just as much as you are" I have already said I consider them, what is the point of just making stuff up?

"got it wrong by not seeing the line of parked cars" Again something else made up, I don't overtake anything without making sure it is clear

I will be fixing my cigarette lighter ASAP so I can use my dashcam again. That is my only mistake.

Said enough on the matter, seems I am not getting through and people are starting to make stuff up and ignore what I post so waste of my time really.

If you can't even 'engage' sensibly on the Internet you are going to be even less successful on the ground when tempers may be rising, so the answer to the OP's question is No.

Enjoy your weekend all!
Time, perhaps, to consider that there may just be a reason that you're attracting so much flak?


gazza285

9,780 posts

207 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
JagXJR said:
...sounded my horn as a courtesy...
Does it make a different sound for courtesy? Or does your horn sound the same for "Get out of my way, you lycra lout plebs."

Antony Moxey

8,016 posts

218 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
JagXJR said:
"You basically got an overtake of slow moving traffic wrong" I got nothing wrong. As you would know had you been there!

"What if the line was cars travelling at 15mph that you wanted to overtake?" It wasn't, why are you making things up?

"got it wrong by not seeing the line of parked cars" Again something else made up, I don't overtake anything without making sure it is clear
But you did get it wrong! If you'd performed the overtake correctly you would have been in front of them before they reached the parked cars.

Regarding a line of cars travelling at 15mph, it's not making things up, it's asking you how you'd handle an identical situation where the slow moving vehicles were cars and not bikes. If you wouldn't have overtaken a line of slow moving cars why would you overtake a line of bikes in the same scenario.

And finally the not seeing the parked cars - you say it was clear but obviously it wasn't because you came upon parked cars before you'd completed your overtake. So you either saw them and thought fk it I'm going for it anyway or you didn't see them and got caught out mid overtake and decided it was the cyclists' fault and not yours for trying to execute a poorly thought out overtake.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
JagXJR said:
I will be fixing my cigarette lighter ASAP so I can use my dashcam again. That is my only mistake.

Yes, post a few clips up, like that other chap did. He successfully highlighted the fact that he no patience and then messed up the over take. Do you not think when all and sundry are pointing out that you could have had something to do with it that maybe.....

Devil2575

13,400 posts

187 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
JustinF said:
JagXJR said:
I got stuck behind a long stream of cyclists for about a mile before I could safely overtake. kept my distance, no intimidating driving even though they slowed me down to a third of my usual speed on this NSL road.

On overtaking when it was safe, seeing the cyclists move out without a backward glance into the middle of the road leaving me only the opposite carriageway, I was concerned that the margin for error was less than I like. I like a lot of margin, what happens if one of them falls off in front of me? So I sounded my horn to make them aware that I was there. Perfectly legal and acceptable use of the horn.

The rude and intimidating response I got from them was completely unjustified, to the extent that my Mrs who normally criticises my driving if I do the slightest thing wrong (yes checks and balances) commented on their poor riding.
The sad thing here is that you don't even see that you were in the wrong, what did you expect the vehicles ahead of you to do when they got to the parked cars, ride into them? stop? of course they were going to go around them, this is obvious and yet you chose the moment they were approaching a stationary obstacle as an appropriate time to overtake. Take a good look at your driving standards before you get behind the wheel next.

Edited by JustinF on Sunday 1st March 12:37
Indeed. You shouldn't have tried to pass anyone if you couldn't get past before you reached the parked cars.