DOTD

[Riggers]

. . . goes to the "I'm-cycling's-gift-to-women", or whatever he thought he was, in all-the-gear-but-no-idea as he made his way through two lanes of traffic Saturday afternoon on Brighton seafront. We (my friend and his dog) were crossing at the most convenient point for us while the lights were red 30 yards further down the road . . . as you do. No probs.

Apparently it was for God's-gift-to-cycling who, when we were on the pavement yelled "What's wrong with the proper bloody crossing!!?"

I'll point out, in no way were we impeding or in any way close to him, only aware of him as he sailed past, but he obviously decided to put us in our place. Naturally we shouted back at him and, whaddya know it, he breezed through the red light. We shouted "RED LIGHT!!!"

Knob jockey.

[Eccentrica Gallumbits]

Just seen a bloke on an unlit bike, attempting to trackstand at a traffic light crossroads and failing so badly he wobbled right to the other side of the road and was nearly hit by a Domino's driver.

[Steph]

Riding to work yesterday evening at 1935 hours, fully dark. Coming towards me on the Balcombe Road, two cyclists riding side by side. One is fully lit, front and back. The other is in all-dark clothing with no lights. The one with the lights was the one on the footpath...

[IJL]

Lord Beardface of Hackney is a contemptible maggot. If he reckons 99% of RTCs were down to a fault on the part of the rider then with 16 deaths a year you only have to find 2 blameless riders to show the absurdly self-important gobshite is talking pants. The majority of riders were blameless. Risky or illegal cycling is a factor in just 6% of KSI RTCs, Sugar claims almost the opposite of the reality. He's a slime-ball Murdock spiv with "Lord Sugar" written across his crossbar, the stupid big penis.

I agree 99% is rather OTT. but could have avoided is not the same as being responsible for.  Or as I was told many years ago when I started riding motorbikes "being in the right is no consolation if your lying in the gutter with a broken leg"  I see many bikers and riders put themselves into entirely legal but very risky situations.  I think to some extent this is the nature of cycling most of us are not keen to give the momentum we have worked hard for.  To many road users (of all types) behave as though all the other road users were attentive and intelligent, the reality is many of them are like sheep on the road, only not quite as predictable or sharp witted

[Wycombewheeler]

Lord Beardface of Hackney is a contemptible maggot. If he reckons 99% of RTCs were down to a fault on the part of the rider then with 16 deaths a year you only have to find 2 blameless riders to show the absurdly self-important gobshite is talking pants. The majority of riders were blameless. Risky or illegal cycling is a factor in just 6% of KSI RTCs, Sugar claims almost the opposite of the reality. He's a slime-ball Murdock spiv with "Lord Sugar" written across his crossbar, the stupid big penis.

I agree 99% is rather OTT. but could have avoided is not the same as being responsible for.  Or as I was told many years ago when I started riding motorbikes "being in the right is no consolation if your lying in the gutter with a broken leg"  I see many bikers and riders put themselves into entirely legal but very risky situations.  I think to some extent this is the nature of cycling most of us are not keen to give the momentum we have worked hard for.  To many road users (of all types) behave as though all the other road users were attentive and intelligent, the reality is many of them are like sheep on the road, only not quite as predictable or sharp witted

This seems to be at odds with the views of the police.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/uk-roads-policing-expert-i-would-not-commute-by-bike-in-london-there-are-too-many-risks-a3099096.html
I would expect (no basis in statistics) that around 5% of accidents are the fault of the cyclists, probably some 15% where both cyclist and driver are both at fault.  40% where the driver is at fault, but the cyclist may have been able to proactively manage the risk, and probably 40% where the cyclist could do nothing to avoid the accident, short of travelling around in a tone tonne motorised steel safety cage.

also consider that one of the strategies for managing risk is often to claim more road space, but this will lead to aggression from drivers, so we are pushed away from the safer course in many cases.

[Si S]

The brakeless rider on Oxford Road who learned the hard way that unless you really enjoy bouncing off buses it's very important you put your flip-flop hub in the right way round . 

[Ham]

A special award

http://road.cc/content/news/181268-cyclist-riding-wrong-way-bike-lane-sues-motorist-after-crashing-%E2%80%93-and-loses

(of costs)

[matthew]

The dunce on a bike this evening who in the dark is riding an unlit county road with no lights, earphones in, and in the 2km I rode escort to him didn't even look over his shoulder once. This was despite two roundabouts taking first and then second exit (only two exits on either).

The only reason I didn't t-bone him as I pulled out of the side turning was a I saw him silhouetted by the lights of a passing car.

[perpetual dan]

Approaching a roundabout with three lanes, left hand is left turn; other two feed two lanes straight ahead and turn right. Cyclist in front went from secondary in middle lane to primary in right hand lane, with cars behind in both lanes, and no looking back or indication. Then onto left hand of the straight ahead lanes. Sigh.

[essexian]

I had a SMIDSY yesterday late afternoon when out for a pootle along Long Lane, just before its junction with Station Road near Haughton Staffordshire.

I knew riding conditions would be tricky as the sun was very low in the sky meaning that it was difficult to see clearly. However, I had my rear light on its brightest setting and was wearing a bright red top and a yellow lid.

However, popping along at somewhere north of 15mph, I rounded a corner only to spot a white shape up against the hedge…it took me a few milliseconds to realise it was a dog and a few moments longer to work out that the black shape driving into the hedge to get out of the way of a “lycar lout” was the dog emptier.

Sorry mate, I didn’t see you….. 

[essexian]

To the bloke in Lichfield who shot two red lights yesterday whilst I waiting for them to change and then had the affront to shout at me for stopping at the next one after I had overtaken him yet again; Sir, you are what I called you, "A dickhead."

[MagnusOpus]

To the bloke in Lichfield who shot two red lights yesterday whilst I waiting for them to change and then had the affront to shout at me for stopping at the next one after I had overtaken him yet again; Sir, you are what I called you, "A dickhead."

I'm in Lichfield....but it wasn't me!

[davelodwig]

Yes I know the towpath is closed, but that doesn't mean you can propel your electric assist bike along the pavement and almost knock me down as the pair of you zoom round the corner.

I'd have shouted but I was too busy giggling at the fact you had all the kit, bibs, clipless shoes, shoe covers, bright yellow jacket, helmet, bright yellow helmet cover, and then rode on the pavement.

[Ham]

Special award for the bloke I saw receiving the attention of two (count 'em) police cars today.

He was on the M45 thobut, going towards the M1. There is nowhere, but nowhere to go but the M1 from where he was, and he would have already have ridden some 6 miles on motorway, with only about 1 to go before the M1.

Looked like a nice bike and expensive lycra, couldn't see any ideas in evidence 

[hellymedic]

I blame a meatware error onthe SatNav...

[TigaSefi]

What lane was he in ?

[SoreTween]

Bit late but I nominate me last Monday. Trying to get to the ASB at some lights where there's no bike filter lane I failed to fit between two cars and hit the wing mirror of one. Cue much apologising.

[TigaSefi]

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cyclist-caught-trying-to-ride-to-heathrow-on-hard-shoulder-of-m25-a3219881.html

hahahaha!

[Torslanda]

Erm . . . Me. Last week.

Center Parcs supply hire hire bikes with a horseshoe type lock on the rear triangle. I stopped, locked the bike, went to the shop and came out again to find that there was nowhere in the lock for the key to fit. Cue searching of pockets and the ground near the bike for a missing lock barrel. Ended up pushing/ carrying the bike back to the villa before the youngest pointed out I was looking on the wrong side of the bike  . . .

What is it I do for a living, again?

[fuzzy]

Erm . . . Me. Last week.

Center Parcs supply hire hire bikes with a horseshoe type lock on the rear triangle. I stopped, locked the bike, went to the shop and came out again to find that there was nowhere in the lock for the key to fit. Cue searching of pockets and the ground near the bike for a missing lock barrel. Ended up pushing/ carrying the bike back to the villa before the youngest pointed out I was looking on the wrong side of the bike  . . .

What is it I do for a living, again?

Good question Tors my old mate

[SoreTween]

That would be Mr all-the-gear-little-idea on the Wye Valle Wiggle Sportive getting shirty with me today.  Wave your arms all you like pal, I am NOT going to overtake you round the outside of a bend.  I'm out near the centre line , you're hugging the gutter.  I can see a great deal further round the corner than you and it isn't enough. So flap your arms all you wish mate, you're just wasting a little bit of the energy you seem short of.

[Wycombewheeler]

Yoof on a BMX, only means of braking appeared to be rubbing th sole of his shoe on the tarmac, riding down an 8% hill on a busy dual carriageway. Shot between the lanes of cares at the bottom, didn't stop at the roundabout.

Unbelievable, luckily no one turning right across his path.

[Ruthie]

This dick 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/pedestrian-badly-hurt-after-car-flips-on-to-pavement-a7081646.html

[Ham]

That's a VERY naughty car

[hatler]

I rather thought this thread was for examples of cyclists' ineptitude and the 'Today's Motorised Moron' thread was for drivers of motorised vehicles.

Or have I got that wrong ?