Motorist view of cyclist. I AM A CYCLIST!!
Discussion
I know another car /cyclist thread, but please bear with me. So on my way to work this morning in my Left hand drive car. I come across two guys out for a good friday ride. They are side by side. No problem, I slow down, have to follow them for 100 yards to safe place to pass. I pass them, leaving what I thought was a good distance, given that i'm sat next to them in the car(it's LHD remember) the cheeky gits give me the condesending shake of the head!! So I pulled over and stopped the car. As they arrived I politley asked why the shake of the head?
"well you gave us a punishment pass " WHAT THE f
k!! I'm sorry I said, I pointed out that I cycled regularly myself and that I felt I'd left plenty of space ,Especially as I was actually looking at them as I passed to ensure they had penty of room.
Now I know there are idiots BOTH sides of the cycling/motorist fence, but I was really shocked at these guys attitudes. Unitersted in my view and I actually apologised if they felt I was to close, but no, apparently idiots like me are going to get a cyclist killed!
Sorry rant over
"well you gave us a punishment pass " WHAT THE f
k!! I'm sorry I said, I pointed out that I cycled regularly myself and that I felt I'd left plenty of space ,Especially as I was actually looking at them as I passed to ensure they had penty of room.Now I know there are idiots BOTH sides of the cycling/motorist fence, but I was really shocked at these guys attitudes. Unitersted in my view and I actually apologised if they felt I was to close, but no, apparently idiots like me are going to get a cyclist killed!
Sorry rant over
Unfortunately you appear to have encountered an idiot who just happens to be a cyclist. There are idiots who drive all types of vehicles.
Your only mistake was stopping to try and reason with them. Never try and reason with an idiot - he'll just drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
It sounds like you passed very considerately, so regardless of what they choose to do with their head shakes etc, just drive on and ignore them. You know you're in the right - let them get all upset for no good reason. If they can still be miserable when off work and out for a nice cycle on a gorgeous day like this, then pity them.
Your only mistake was stopping to try and reason with them. Never try and reason with an idiot - he'll just drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
It sounds like you passed very considerately, so regardless of what they choose to do with their head shakes etc, just drive on and ignore them. You know you're in the right - let them get all upset for no good reason. If they can still be miserable when off work and out for a nice cycle on a gorgeous day like this, then pity them.
Dammit said:
RGambo said:
In my estimation about 2m. I would have hit a car comming the other way.
And you waited to pull in until you'd got at least a cars length in front?RGambo said:
Dammit said:
RGambo said:
In my estimation about 2m. I would have hit a car comming the other way.
And you waited to pull in until you'd got at least a cars length in front?RichB said:
"A Punishment Pass" 
You mean they've invented a term for it? Punishment for what? Sounds like a massive chip on shoulder to me. On the OP's post, I'd say either they were having a bad day, or simply were idiots - assuming you genuinely did give them 2 m of space.
budgie smuggler said:
Yes, it happens regularly enough that there is a name given for it. It's when people pass excessively close or with unnecessary revving to try and intimidate or punish you for the perceived sleight of delaying them for a few seconds..
Good grief it must be a jungle out there - keep safe guys. I'm happy I left enough room. Funny thing was as i approached them, all I was thinking was, jammy buggers, It's a bloody beautiful day down in Wales today and i'm having to work on good Friday. I'd much rather be out on my bike. Them slowing me down and holding me up for what was probably a massive 10-20 seconds didn't even enter my head.
But hey ho, I guess there'll always be stroppy people.
But hey ho, I guess there'll always be stroppy people.
el stovey said:
Seems an odd story to me, would a normal person really pull over after overtaking someone to ask them why they shook their head? Doing that makes me think the OP is a bit odd.
Cheers for that. 
My councellor says I'm Special too I haven't stopped before, never had to. I've asked drivers before why they have overtaken close to me, if they have stopped at lights or junction, but never the other way around.
Who knows, if you didn't left hook them after the pass then it sounds fine.
Occams razor suggests that there was something, but who knows what.
Punishment pass- of course there is a name for this, it's such a common thing for the hard-of-thinking to do, costs someone in a car nothing in terms of exposing themselves to danger and is a terrifying experience for the cyclist, who is put in genuine fear of their lives. Underlines the risk disparity on the roads- none at all for the chap in the 1,600kg metal box, massive for the chap on the 8kg bike.
Occams razor suggests that there was something, but who knows what.
Punishment pass- of course there is a name for this, it's such a common thing for the hard-of-thinking to do, costs someone in a car nothing in terms of exposing themselves to danger and is a terrifying experience for the cyclist, who is put in genuine fear of their lives. Underlines the risk disparity on the roads- none at all for the chap in the 1,600kg metal box, massive for the chap on the 8kg bike.
Fastpedeller said:
RichB said:
"A Punishment Pass" You mean they've invented a term for it? Punishment for what? Sounds like a massive chip on shoulder to me. 
from another way of looking at this - 2m? you need to travel in the opposite lane to achieve than, most A roads get not much more than 2m for the actual lane in each direction.
The other thing I cringe over, is when a motorist gives loads of room to me on my bike, and risks an head-on collision. I really don't want to have that thing bounce back towards me when it hits the other vehicle, it's bound to end up in the hedge with me under it. Simple thing is, if there isn't enough room to get between the cyclist, and the other traffic, then THERE ISN'T ENOUGH ROOM. Don't pass and wait.
[/end of my rant]
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff