Is it time to start calling out bad cyclists?

You leave those nice, white, Polish people out of this, racists!

I wonder if you can report plumbers to a governing body? "He touched my flange!"

these days you have to disseminate the info yourself if you want anything to happen.

we should start a site. is plumbingleaks.org still available.

Regents Park was hosting a borris bike challenge / race last night. The normal levels of stupidity on that loop reached previously unimagined high.

*I am of course now a 9 stone asian woman with luxurious flowing hair.

I'm so glad my work laptop is being replaced on Monday otherwise I'd have to send you the repair bill for the tea I splurged over it :-).

Poor old nodder yesterday on CS7 by stockwell- rear ended me at the lights and proceeded to babble on about his juddering front brake and the fact that he had the required part to fix it in his bag.

that reminded me, saw a gutter rider ambling her way down endell street ahead, traffic was high so no do the overtake and chill ride home. going up ze hill after the corner of betterton where of course she performs the standard pull-out in front of oncoming traffic and wobbles along in the door zone. I over take with plenty of space and proceed up to the zebra crossing. Shoulder check and pull in - she's miles behind. Waiting for peds to cross and feel a bump - turn and look and she has ridden into my back wheel. Sigh. Proceed home. Good luck out there.

One way roads are something that frustrate me. They are really only a way of getting cars and trucks around a road network that really wasn't designed for them.

They're not. In most cases of residential streets, they were always designed for two carriages to pass. Most high streets are wide enough for three carriages (except Mare Street Narroway). The main reason for the continuing existence of one-way streets is kerbside car parking--stationary cars. As for one-way systems/gyratories, they have well and truly had their day. While car parking has in the past been removed from most of them (as part of conversion to Red Route no-stopping controls), in London they are now virtually all signalised, which generally removes any motor traffic capacity advantages they may once have had.

Lack of permeability is a serious problem for the development of cycling.

http://hackney.cc/permproj.htm

Everyone on CS7

This and the CS8.

I also saw some seriously dodgy tracksuit and trainers bso riders in south London as well as worryingly bad kids on bikes antics this week - today I encountered a pair (one on the handlebars) ploughing through red at a busy brixton junction earlier, laughing as I "Oi"ed them for nearly crashing in to me. Too many other fails to mention - mainly people running reds to get ahead before running out of steam and slowing down right in front of me, repeatedly.

Easter holidays + first warm/sunny weather of year = some crap cycling

My nemesis on his bloody Brompton, he generally pops up between Brixton Rd and Kennington Rd. Has a habit of busting a gut to get infront of me then slowing down, also likes to go to the front of of waiting cyclist at red lights waiting a few seconds then riding through the red light..

One way roads are something that frustrate me. They are really only a way of getting cars and trucks around a road network that really wasn't designed for them. I feel no guilt riding the wrong way up them but you have to be very careful about pedestrians who may have become conditioned to only looking for traffic coming from one direction.

And cars driving into you? And you causing drivers to swerve in order to avoid you, thus potentially cutting up other cyclists?

Regardless of whether you feel the rule shouldn't apply to you riding the wrong way along one-ways just perpetuates the driver aggression/disregard against cyclists (as seen on a daily basis).

shared responsibility klaxon

I do seem to have slipped into that kind of thinking don't I? Should I just HTFU and revert back to the "I'm the king of the road"/fuck them all/can't stop won't stop mentality?

shared responsibility klaxon

Oh good grief, not again. Find a new hobby horse, will you? The horse you're currently sitting on is way too high.

or you could fuck off... how's that sound?

And cars driving into you? And you causing drivers to swerve in order to avoid you, thus potentially cutting up other cyclists?

Well I suppose I didn't make it clear that I'm not advocating riding up the road swerving in an out the oncoming traffic like in a Hollywood car chase, but putting such hyperbole aside, there is usually plenty of space on a suburban road to allow contraflow cycling without any impact on motor traffic.

Regardless of whether you feel the rule shouldn't apply to you riding the wrong way along one-ways just perpetuates the driver aggression/disregard against cyclists (as seen on a daily basis).

I accept there is a case for cyclists being seen to be following the rules but I would also argue that judicious infringement of the rules can demonstrate the validity of exempting cyclists from certain rules. By showing certain rules can be broken without impact on other road users you could strengthen the case for allowing things like left turns on red.

Bristol

90% of cyclists are utter fucking pavement riding whoppers. Trying to teach drivers about cyclists can be a challenge, explaining road positioning was a real difficulty as practically no one rides on the road. Did not feel any sympathy for the idiots who tutted when I would not make room on the pavement to let them cycle past!

@middleofnowhere - fair points. I guess I was had a few specific roads in mind when commenting and you seem to be talking in general (or thinking of different roads to me).

@DJ - Welcome to the world outside the M25. I've lived in Reading for a month now & pavement riders must outnumber normal people 5 to 1!

I accept there is a case for cyclists being seen to be following the rules but I would also argue that judicious infringement of the rules can demonstrate the validity of exempting cyclists from certain rules. By showing certain rules can be broken without impact on other road users you could strengthen the case for allowing things like left turns on red.

Curiously enough having just read this I went up to Stoke Newington Church St and noticed that Edward's Lane has been made two-way for cyclists now. In essence, formalising something that has been happening for years in the way you suggest.

this comes to mind

Bristol

90% of cyclists are utter fucking pavement riding whoppers. Trying to teach drivers about cyclists can be a challenge, explaining road positioning was a real difficulty as practically no one rides on the road. Did not feel any sympathy for the idiots who tutted when I would not make room on the pavement to let them cycle past!

Strangely enough I was in Bristol yesterday - driving - and was horrified at the standards of driving and cycling I saw there

I had a pedestrian walking on the cycle lane today. It is green strip on the road with a cycle painted on it about every 20 meters, and isn't close to/looks like the kerb at all. The kerb was clear of any obstacles so I could see no reason for, basically, walking on the road.

Didn't get out of the way either despite me shouting "oi, you're on the road" escalating to "hey get out of the way!".

Is this a karmic balance reaction to all the kerb cyclists? Either way...very strange.

A change of job has led to a change of commute, taking in part of the Hipster Highway.
My God, I can see what people have been talking about now. To the guy who jumped a red from Upper Street to St John Street, scattering pedestrians, you are a cock!

Bottom of the Balham Hill dip, older fellow sweeps in from Yukon Road without a glance to see what's coming. Very Belgian move. Hi. Apology accepted.

Group of tough boys all hooded up, riding BMXs and mountain bikes in a stretched pelleton across both lanes. Holding up traffic and shouting at people. Yes, I understand I have an awsome bike you would like. I also understand that you're used to taking what you want from people by force. But try to understand that I was fucking pissed off and you running in to me trying to cause a confrontation was not a smart move. Also you won't know how to ride my bike. Dicks.

^ 5th floor?