A cycling type question
Discussion
flemke said:
Mojocvh said:
flemke said:
Garlick said:
I do think cyclists should move, if as described then courtesy should be shown (by both parties).
Bad cyclists, bad drivers. They're out there
IMO almost all cyclists do move over, once they become aware that a motor vehicle is now behind and would like to overtake. On a bike, it's no fun to have breathing down your neck a car that might attempt a dodgy overtake at any moment. If you're cycling at high-teens or greater speed, there's enough aero noise to mask the sound of most cars that would be following behind. A polite toot on the horn should never be a problem, for either driver or cyclist. When the cyclist becomes aware, normally he will pull over, if only for self-preservation. Bad cyclists, bad drivers. They're out there
In the major cycling nations on the Continent, it is common for an approaching driver to toot for a cyclist. Almost invariably, the toot is intended both as a friendly caution and as recognition and encouragement to the cyclist. Those intentions would be opposed to the horn's frequent meaning in the UK: "Hey, you - get the fu<k out of my way!" (Please note that none of those words has more than one syllable.)
Obviously, when a cyclist is made aware of a following vehicle and yet refuses to budge, that's a different story.
One could ask, "Why can't cyclists ride single file constantly?" The answer to that might be, "Because they're waiting for that practice to be demonstrated by car passengers' traveling for hours without speaking to each other."
On the continent [Southern France, Thursdays afternoon ish] the pack sorts itself out post haste and it's happy happy all round.
Hmm indeed.
The tooting bit is unfortunately more complicated than it ought to be. A lot of modern horns cannot be modulated very well (at least not by me). You're intending a minimum of sound, just enough politely to alert the cyclist of your presence and wish to come through. Despite the intention, the sound tends to be a "HONK!" that the cyclist interprets as bullying.
I'm sure that what makes things far worse than necessary is the attitude that too large a minority of British drivers have. IME, the distribution of British drivers' mentalities has something of a dumbbell shape (pun perhaps intended). That is, a meaningful % of British drivers are exceptionally accommodating and cooperative with other road users, whilst a meaningful % of the same universe are some of the most selfish, aggressive, thoughtless scumbags I have found in any country. Some of the 5hit that I have encountered in Britain as a cyclist, pedestrian, and driver has been breathtaking. One does not see this stuff on the Continent, and not usually in the States either. Because of cyclists' especial vulnerability to sub-human drivers of motor vehicles, and because the British driving population is blighted by too many of such sub-humans, cyclists here are more inclined to interpret what was meant to be an "Excuse me" toot as a "Get the fu<k outta my way" HONK, and resent it.
On the continent, a large proportion of motorists have experience of cycling/scooters/motorbikes prior to driving and hence are far better placed to understand the risks of these modes of transport and drive/react accordingly, than in the UK. Why do you think that is?
DocSteve said:
Yawn....
There are poor drivers and poor cyclists. When they have the misfortune to come together, it's the cyclist that suffers.
I am a keen cyclist and keen driver. I drive an E60 M5 and ride a variety of bikes. I am occasionally, as a driver, slightly inconvenienced by cyclists performing poor manoeuvres. On my bike, I regularly witness and avoid poor driving that could kill me.
Any driver who rants about cyclists causing them a regular obstruction is clearly a) unaware of the relative vulnerability of road users, and b) in need of some advanced driving tuition.
Steve
Yawn, yourself...There are poor drivers and poor cyclists. When they have the misfortune to come together, it's the cyclist that suffers.
I am a keen cyclist and keen driver. I drive an E60 M5 and ride a variety of bikes. I am occasionally, as a driver, slightly inconvenienced by cyclists performing poor manoeuvres. On my bike, I regularly witness and avoid poor driving that could kill me.
Any driver who rants about cyclists causing them a regular obstruction is clearly a) unaware of the relative vulnerability of road users, and b) in need of some advanced driving tuition.
Steve
You are right, of course...
However, there is a goodly number of belligerent bicyclists in my neck of the woods who deserve to be berated.
Like the one who followed a bus down the bus lane and hammered his fist down the side of the bus because it stopped at a bus stop.
And the one who deliberately held up a bus for half a mile, then pretended to turn right and spat in the driver's face as the bus passed.
And the ones I mentioned in my previous post who ride in a group to reclaim the roads from the car...
These people are louts and I would happily glue their legs together...
I cycle most days and cannot be arsed with the critical mass, millitant cyclists, I cant wither by bothered with selfish arses in cars.
I experience more problems when cycling than I do in the car, certain sections of society see your vulnerability and choose to use it to their advantage, sometimes even for amusement, there are some sad little cretins out there but I find most drivers are brilliant and patient, I try to minimise and delay and always try to acknowledge if a driver has waited for me or been courteous, I know when a cyclists, other driver or biker does that when I am in my car it makes me feel good, probably more than it should be thats me, I like affirmation
I experience more problems when cycling than I do in the car, certain sections of society see your vulnerability and choose to use it to their advantage, sometimes even for amusement, there are some sad little cretins out there but I find most drivers are brilliant and patient, I try to minimise and delay and always try to acknowledge if a driver has waited for me or been courteous, I know when a cyclists, other driver or biker does that when I am in my car it makes me feel good, probably more than it should be thats me, I like affirmation
geeteeaye said:
Experienced this earlier when two cycling bum chums in full regalia were coming the other way on a country lane (long straight). Rather than pull in behind his mate he insisted on staying two abreast, I returned the compliment by making sure the wing mirror passed close enough to give him a draught, stubborn 
.
Blud, I feel sorry for you. You're going to get banned by the oh so ever PC Mr Garlick any time starting from NOW.. nouze said:
geeteeaye said:
Experienced this earlier when two cycling bum chums in full regalia were coming the other way on a country lane (long straight). Rather than pull in behind his mate he insisted on staying two abreast, I returned the compliment by making sure the wing mirror passed close enough to give him a draught, stubborn .
Blud, I feel sorry for you. You're going to get banned by the oh so ever PC Mr Garlick any time starting from NOW.. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff