Cyclists and the Crazy that they do

As a professional driver I see all kinds of crazy on a daily basis but cyclists are becoming a growing danger as following Highway Code changes last year they seem to think they rule the road these days , cycling up the inside of vehicles is a particular problem as this chap demonstrates in spectacular fashion , to be fair he is heard admitting his fault in the incident but the fact he attempted such a stupid manoeuvre is for me emblematic of the growing problem.

The video says the incident has sparked online debate .... not much of a debate from where I sit , who would you say is responsible for this ?

a reply to: gortex

Being a commuting cyclist on a daily basis that cyclist was just being stupid, he was behind the van and tried to undertake. Cyclists stupidity.

Though I was well ahead of a car and about 5 metres from a left hand turn and this wanker car driver sped around me and squeezes me into the kerb.

I yell out expletives, then chase him down where he parked, and thought he did no wrong.

My opinion if a car is ahead of me I give way a car behind they give way to me.

Fair enough

a reply to: robsmith

I don't really have a problem with commuting cyclist and find in general they don't cause a problem it's the Tour de France road race wannabes dressed up in lycra who feel they need to dominate the road , we have cycle paths and lanes for regular cyclists but they're not part of the fantasy for those guys.

a reply to: gortex

I've found, mainly where I live in the US, that most of the type that you are describing want to have throw around "share the road" but don't want to follow the same rules.

Can't tell you how many times I have had a cyclist cut through a red light right in front of me, almost get hit, then act like it was the other guys fault.

There are those that do follow the rules; Stay in the bike lanes, follow all traffic signs/laws, etc. But just like with any other group of enthusiasts, the minority give the majority a bad name.

a reply to: gortex

I agree with you, even on a ride, if I am not on the very left I copped grief from the Lycra squad as their peloton had to move to their left.

I use bike paths though the nearest along the creek is a lot safer from cars.

a reply to: gortex

I saw a Youtube video of people on bicycles running red lights and basically ignoring all traffic laws. They demand they have the right to use the roads just like a car, but don't have to obey any of the laws.

A couple of them ran a red light at a busy intersection and learned the hard way not to do that.

What gets me is they dress like they're in the Tour De France to ride to the grocery store.

a reply to: gortex

I remember one time I had a green light and was proceeding to move forward. But this cyclist runs the red light and had the audacity to yell at me. He runs the red light and somehow I'm the bad guy.

a reply to: grey580

I have noticed recently while cycling the new trend o those elrctric stand up scooter riders, they ride on the road at 50 kilometres an hour don’t stop at red lights nor wear safety gear.

I can’t understand why they are worse than cyclists

Cycleists around here are taking over the roads and some are not following the rules they are supposed to be following. I thought it was great to start promoting bike riding, but am questioning how crazy the cyclists are getting now. When a cyclist is riding on the roads, they must follow the rules of the road. I am seeing more and more that they are breaking the laws and their actions may cause safety issues. Not all cyclists are like that, but I would bet over five percent around here are. It is lucky that more are not getting hit by cars when they don't properly follow the regulations. A lot of cyclists believe they are considered pedestrians and have the same rights as pedestrians even though they are riding on roads, that is not true, they are not on the shoulders of the road and they are not supposed to be riding on the sidewalks just as cars are not supposed to be riding on sidewalks.

As a full time cyclist, I always am careful, by this I try to read the minds of the drivers. Sad thing is, many drivers are using their phones and are not paying attention.
By the way, I just completed the 1000 km bike ride of Shikoku, Japan. I made a post with links of my adventure. I think you can still find the post. I had one flat tire and I fell off the bike which led me to the nearest hospital. It took me 22 days to do the Shimanami Kaido and Shikoku tour/camping.

www.japan-guide.com...
cycling-island-shikoku.com...

Here in so.ca it's become fashionable for groups of teens to ride stunt bikes (no brakes, can go in reverse) called 'fixies'. They pop wheelies and other stunts while packing up in traffic.

It's become a problem as people try to avoid hitting them. There have been some awful accidents.

a reply to: gortex

Had an idiot cut across 4 lanes of traffic a few months ago as we were coming off a bridge. I almost turned him into pudding.

I slowed to pull along side him and cursed him out.

A bicyclist riding across a crosswalk, came from nowhere, real fast, no chance of seeing him or stopping
Couldn’t understand it was a crosswalk, anyway, adds to the joy of driving
Common courtesy and common sense

nothing more fun than being behind a group of cyclist doing 20 in a 50 for 5 miles straight.

I am a cyclist, but i do not ride roads. I ride to keep my cardio up and stick to bicycle paths. On the road i ride a motorcycle a lot.

I have yelled at some cyclists while having my bicycle visible in the back of my pickup. They seem to listen better when they see you ride a bicycle and are calling them an *******.

As a pedestrian, my own objection is to the cyclists who insist on using the footpaths.

a reply to: rickymouse

Seeing the same thing where I live. Certain cities you basically can't even drive through anymore, like the University towns. The cyclists like to bunch up, take over a street and block automobile traffic as much as they can. The cops do nothing unless a motorist loses it and starts running down the cyclists.

I see them as human waste on 2 wheels.

originally posted by: robsmith
a reply to: grey580

I have noticed recently while cycling the new trend o those elrctric stand up scooter riders, they ride on the road at 50 kilometres an hour don’t stop at red lights nor wear safety gear.

I can’t understand why they are worse than cyclists

The people on scooters or electric bikes doing stupid speads and breaking the rules of the road are usually drug dealers.

I have a brain injury and loads of mechano in me from cycling at over 20mph on a normal bike and hitting spilt diesel on a corner - was incredibly lucky as would be in a morgue if I wasn't wearing a helmet. There was a double decker bus right behind me but he noticed the problem and managed to brake in time.

I've always followed the highway code but refuse to follow the new one as it gives pedestrians and cyclists right of way over cars - one of the rules instructs cyclists to stop in the middle of a roundabout if a pedestrian looks as if they may cross the road.

It'd be impossible for any driver to spot a stationary cyclist on a busy roundabout and just creates huge hazards for all drivers using the roundabout

It's far safer and respectful to drivers for cyclists to hang around at the back of traffic when there's queue as if you cycle to the front of traffic it creates a hazard for every driver in the queue when they overtake you and slows down traffic to a crawl so people are rightfully pissed off.

originally posted by: TonyS
a reply to: rickymouse

Seeing the same thing where I live. Certain cities you basically can't even drive through anymore, like the University towns. The cyclists like to bunch up, take over a street and block automobile traffic as much as they can. The cops do nothing unless a motorist loses it and starts running down the cyclists.

I see them as human waste on 2 wheels.

Yeah, the worst place here is in the town the University is in. The little towns outside of Marquette are not nearly as bad.

When bicyclists start respecting the rules of the road, which they are supposed to follow, I'll start respecting them.

Until then, no.