• In my opinion if you see a cyclist doing something dangerous of which they are seemingly unaware then perhaps have a quiet, unpatronising word.

    Shouting 'Red!' at RLJ-ers probably won't have much effect and will only result in them thinking that you're a bit of a dick and might even make the situation more dangerous.

    I don't buy into this whole, 'cycle as if you represent the whole cycling 'community'' idea, no other form of transport does it. Are there forums of pedestrians saying 'if you walk out into the road without looking, cyclists think all pedestrians are brain dead zombies'? Are there driver forums where people say 'If you change lane or turn without indicating, cyclists think all car drivers are unpredictable twats'? So why should we consider ourselves in the same way and take this defensive stance?

    The kind of driver that thinks all cyclists are RLJ-ing scum will always have a reason to hate cyclists, they hate anyone who gets in their way, it has nothing to do with us breaking traffic code Every road user breaks the highway code from time to time. These same people will often say 'why not ride on the pavement?' (unless they happen to be on the pavement). They will never be satisfied so why bother?

    Lets say for arguments sake every single cyclist in Britain stopped RLJ-ing tomorrow, how many years would it be before these small minded, hate filled and self centred drivers stopped thinking of cyclists in this way? They just want you out of their way. As with all prejudiced people they are happy with their stereotype and their logic is totally flawed (if every cyclist became a car driver their journey would be twice as long) so don't let their attitude have any bearing on how you ride or how you perceive others to ride because it will make no difference, and even if you spend the rest of your life screaming 'Red!!' you won't stop people RLJ ing, you'll just end up with throat cancer or some other stress related shouting disease.

    Cycling and expecting every other cyclist to ride as if they represent the whole cycling community reinforces a road hierarchy and perpetuates the idea that we are guests on the road, that we need permission to be on the road and we don't! If someone accuses you of being RLJ-ing scum simply ask if they have seen you do it? Use logic at them, it tends to completely floor them. Just ride with caution and consideration yourself and only intervene when others are riding in a(n actual as opposed to perceived) dangerous way. But I reiterate, it's my opinion.

    Tl:Dr Cyclists don't or at least shouldn't represent every cyclist in the world, don't cater to the attitude of prejudiced dicks.

About

Avatar for mellion @mellion started