Author Topic: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?  (Read 5266 times)

How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« on: 15 April, 2020, 08:20:29 pm »
I simply cannot defend the behaviour of a small minority of cyclists.

What gives them the right to pass me on the bike without giving me the absolute minimum of 2 meters social distancing?
(And the latest research I have seen suggests more like 4 meters is needed due to the speed of passing cyclists)

They give all of us cyclists a bad name.

3 times today I was overtaken by guys in their late twenties and mid thirties - looked like so-called uber cyclists given their gear and physique.

I am sick to death of this happening. The roads are empty so going over to the centre of the road or even the other side should be no issue.
Their behaviour is totally inconsiderate and puts me at risk.

I'm half wanting a total lock down so that these t***sers are kept off the road.

Very angry about this.

telstarbox

  • Loving the lanes
Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #1 on: 15 April, 2020, 08:27:56 pm »
Either call them out on the road or get over it - moaning on here about it is useless.
2019 🏅 R1000 and B1000

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #2 on: 15 April, 2020, 08:29:30 pm »
Or just get faster, then you can make sure you give everyone you overtake enough space.
"Yes please" said Squirrel "biscuits are our favourite things."

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #3 on: 15 April, 2020, 08:29:50 pm »
They probably drive like that, too.

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #4 on: 15 April, 2020, 08:32:02 pm »
Either call them out on the road or get over it - moaning on here about it is useless.

Lots of stuff on this forum is useless - it's conversation.  Don't call people out over it, get over it! :)

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #5 on: 15 April, 2020, 08:39:03 pm »
You want everyone (including you) to have their freedom to go outside taken away because of the behaviour of a small minority of cyclists? I've no doubt that the majority of everyone is doing their best to do the right thing.
If it bothers you that much, you could voluntarily remove that freedom from yourself?  I'm just riding the turbo at the moment.

Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #6 on: 15 April, 2020, 08:40:55 pm »
They probably drive like that, too.

This...
It is simpler than it looks.

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #7 on: 15 April, 2020, 08:42:08 pm »
In my experience, basically all of them. I've discovered that if you see a busy pavement and decide to ride a bit away from it, it summons a cyclist out of the ether who rides up the gap you've left.

The good thing is that with less traffic we have much more choice of which roads to ride on, so instead of getting angry, change up your route.

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #8 on: 15 April, 2020, 09:02:17 pm »
FWIW, I haven't witnessed any inconsiderate cycling during the lockdown, other than adults (who aren't accompanying younger children) riding on pavements that are also being used by pedestrians.  The ones on the road all seem to have sense.  I should say that I'm avoiding the places that tend to appeal to runners and muggle cyclists for ease of distancing - I expect the poor behaviour is mostly happening there.

I've only encountered a handful of speeding motorists, too.  And I've had one close pass of what seemed to be the oblivious, rather than vindictive, nature.

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #9 on: 15 April, 2020, 09:18:24 pm »
Nice first post.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #10 on: 15 April, 2020, 09:23:51 pm »
Nice first post.
It’s a classic. Lots of boxes ticked. Good effort.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

rob

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #11 on: 15 April, 2020, 09:49:03 pm »
Have you tried passing a rider giving them 4m of room ?  And why does what they’re wearing or riding matter ?

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #12 on: 15 April, 2020, 09:53:53 pm »
"Uber cyclists"

Can you summon them with an app?

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #13 on: 15 April, 2020, 09:57:13 pm »
Nice first post.
Curious.
Lurking since June 2018, and now joins us to complain about cyclists as a group. It's odd behaviour, but I'm open to hearing the reasons.

I've only seen one possibly bit of lack of consideration, and that was a middle aged lady on a shopper-type machine barging her way through a couple of groups of pedestrians on a narrow footpath - but that would've been unpleasant six months ago, and is almost certainly not related to the present situation.

On my rides the cyclists passing me (and they generally are faster than me) are passing wide, and cheerfully.
Too many angry people - breathe & relax.

Davef

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #14 on: 15 April, 2020, 10:03:01 pm »
Based on the research they can pass very close without any problem. The issue is if you stay in their slipstream. If they pull in in front directly after passing you, then simply move 1m to the right. This “being overtaken” has not happened to me, partly because I obviously cycle very very fast, and secondly as I have a mirror I can stop to adjust something at critical times.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #15 on: 15 April, 2020, 10:07:56 pm »
I've only seen one possibly bit of lack of consideration, and that was a middle aged lady on a shopper-type machine barging her way through a couple of groups of pedestrians on a narrow footpath - but that would've been unpleasant six months ago, and is almost certainly not related to the present situation.

We have one of those.  Older woman on a 20" wheeled bike with electric assist that she seems to struggle to control.  She's not really up to weaving between pedestrians and other obstacles on busy pavements, but is evidently terrified of motor traffic.

Since the lockdown, I've only seen her riding on the road.   :thumbsup:

Wowbagger

  • Former Sylph
    • Stuff mostly about weather
Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #16 on: 15 April, 2020, 10:17:44 pm »
Can I go off topic for a moment and say that today's ride was beleaguered by some of the worst driving it has been my privilege to experience in quite a long time?

The first 300 yards ended with some twat in a van revving like mad to overtake us at a pelican-style crossing and then having to stop for the red light.

Because he had forced us to the left, that meant that a load of other vehicles overtook us at an inappropriately hight speed. Once we got to the roundabout, we took the correct lane (right lane for straight on and right, left lane for a left turn) for going straight on. Some bloody silly moron in a Merc decided to overtake us on the left on the roundabout and then go straight on. She seemed to be giving us a cheery wave as she started to come through until she hear dmy Very Loud Holler of "You bloody stupid bag! You are in the wrong lane!"

This all set the adrenaline running and I wasn't in the best of sorts for the rest of the ride.

We saw quite a few cyclists and none of them behaved badly.

I wonder if the drivers who behaved badly worried about giving drivers a bad name?
Quote from: Dez
It doesn’t matter where you start. Just start.

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #17 on: 15 April, 2020, 10:31:19 pm »
How about the bus driver who pulled out from a side road a kilometre from my home while I was at better than evens, all while impassively looking through me? Luckily my brakes were good enough to prevent me hitting behind the driveside front wheel. Was he inconsiderate?

How about the walker facing away from me on the RH side of the road who decided to veer across the road without a glance, again as I am doing evens? My yell of fear provoked a chicken dance. Braking hard enough to get the back wheel well off the deck meant my front tyre barely rubbed her heel. Was she inconsiderate?
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

rob

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #18 on: 16 April, 2020, 07:08:06 am »
I had a runner run straight across the road in front of me last night.  I was joking with Junior that everyone has got so used to the roads being empty that there will likely be more accidents post lockdown.

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #19 on: 16 April, 2020, 07:32:29 am »
I too had one of those runners.  6 a.m. she was running down the right hand side of a road in a housing estate.  Parked cars on the left so I could not pass and maintain social distancing, so I held back a way until she had cleared the cars.  Just as I was about to make my move on the left of the road, she veered across without looking.  Obviously I am one of those inconsiderate cyclists since I politely suggested she look behind.

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #20 on: 16 April, 2020, 08:42:58 am »
Erm, the "research".  It has nothing to do with viruses and spreading, it was an aerodynamics? piece which was released into the public domain without proper peer review and even the author has admitted does not relate to the spread of viruses or ever intended to.  In other words:  #fakenews.

As for inconsiderate cyclists:  just go into a supermarket.  The chaverati are still behaving like er, chavs: pushing past, leaning across, coming back down the one way aisles and generally not giving a shit.  And when they get outside they wander all over the pavements, meet their mates for a fag and get in their cars, speed off and continue to dangerously close pass cyclists.

A few ignorant cyclists is the least of your corona worries mate.

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #21 on: 16 April, 2020, 08:52:03 am »
Also I meant to add: if you want to find something to properly moan about, go and look at the assaults on emergency and front line workers.  They are being assaulted, their property is being vandalised and their families intimidated.

Puts a road warrior with head down enjoying some open tarmac into some perspective I think.

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #22 on: 16 April, 2020, 03:10:02 pm »
I was joking with Junior that everyone has got so used to the roads being empty that there will likely be more accidents post lockdown.

I've been deliberately riding a few roads I know will be busier so I don't lose my ability to deal with traffic.

simonp

Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #23 on: 16 April, 2020, 04:19:51 pm »
The proposed contact tracing app, according to the article I read just now, says you have to be within 2m for 15 minutes before you're considered at risk. You would not be flagged by this app in any of the situations described in this thread.


Re: How many cyclists are inconsiderate?
« Reply #24 on: 16 April, 2020, 04:57:03 pm »
Yes, I read that too.  I would hope that this is based upon some sort of facts and not merely an assumption.