Is it time to start calling out bad cyclists?

+1

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great weather today, less stressing, more cycling.

Each one, teach one. If you see someone doing something stupid, have a word, if they don't take it on board, or react joyously to the information you've just given them, don't worry, you did your bit. Move onto the next one, if you feel so inclined.

Summer's coming and the roads are only going to get fuller, probably filled to bursting with cyclists, and if we want to see more safer, experienced cyclists on the road, the onus is on us, the experienced to spread our knowledge.

Each one, teach one...

As you were..

can't i just tut and go 'pshaw!' in a passive aggressive fashion and then ride away quickly in case it gets a bit shouty-fists? it's a lot less effort.

I'm normally the most mellow of road-users in terms of not getting wound up... but last week I was on a bit of 2-way cycle path in Bloomsbury/Holborn, where there was a mesh fencing round some roadworks right next to it, a cyclist coming the other way who was doing the cycling equivalent of sitting on the tube with your knees far apart, ie. he was taking up one-and-a-half cyclists width, sort of flailing his legs slightly, so I wait on the near side of the roadworks to allow him to pass through first. Instead of a nod, thanks, or plain ignoring me (any of these would have been fine), as he emerges he swerves towards me in a deliberate attempt to startle me off my bike - how hilarious that would have been! Cue complete rage RAGE face. For at least 5 minutes. Before I banished him from my thoughts. Wanker.

assume everyone else is a massive twat who is driving with their eyes shut and will at any moment do the most stupid possible thing.
because of that signal early, get eye contact before moving, still assume they will run me over so make sure to be always watching.

I probably spend a third of my time checking over my shoulder so I know whats around me at all times.

its also why im not really planning to cycle in londons busy areas but looking for something more recreational,** i dont want to get in everyones way or cause problems with my lack of london road riding savvy**.

you don't need any special london savvy. it sounds like you'll be a blessing to all of us that encounter you!

cycling in London is more often than not a joy, honest!

+1

However, if you are a safe and confident rider who can manage to relax and ride with a smile on your face then London is a fantastic place to ride. Just try not to let things wind you up.

+1

RLJ thread >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The one begat the other.

If I'm under a load of stress and wound up with the world I sometimes end up entering into a bird flipping/cunt calling match.

I don't like it and its something I'm going to work on. When I get like that I just don't enjoy my riding.

EDIT: Just remembered this is the bad cyclist thread. I have never done that to a fellow cyclist, only drivers.

unlock your bike, lock your bike to hers and the stand. Get a borris bike home.

KEN Bike

***BORIS ***bike

KENcycle

/just rolls off the tongue better

On the roundabout at North end of Lambeth bridge last night, a bloke on a chrome charge plug heading from Parliament shouted at a white van to use his mirrors and then steamed at full speed through a zebra crossing, almost taking out a load of people crossing the road from Thames House - had he hit them no doubt he'd be off to Guantanamo Bay.

^^tfl hire bike

Pink SS guy again this morning, this time riding onto the pavement at the busy bus stop at the bottom of Pentonville Road to get past the bus, rather than dismounting like everyone else. Hmm.

just read the last couple of pages in amazement!

probably because i dont ride in london...

Out here in the sticks(derby) I do 20+miles a day on fairly busy roads and in the main area but never see any of this nonsense.

the lack of cycle lanes means most cyclists just ride in the traffic like any other road vehicle.

my experience on motorbikes means i ride my bike in a similiar manner!

assume everyone else is a massive twat who is driving with their eyes shut and will at any moment do the most stupid possible thing.
because of that signal early, get eye contact before moving, still assume they will run me over so make sure to be always watching.

I probably spend a third of my time checking over my shoulder so I know whats around me at all times.

its also why im not really planning to cycle in londons busy areas but looking for something more recreational, i dont want to get in everyones way or cause problems with my lack of london road riding savvy.

I saw 3 bikes this morning and we all said a friendly morning as we performed an overtake on the right side.

^This... Except for the bit about not planning to do busy areas to avoid getting in peoples way. You sound like a pleasure to share the road with and will put most London cyclists to shame.

***BORIS ***bike

KENcycle

/just rolls off the tongue better

Barclays Cycle.

/end_of

^^tfl hire bike

cuntcycle (pronounced cunsickle)

much better

Is it wrong for peds that have green lights to cross to push RLJing cyclists off their bikes?

Don't listen to the idiot^. YES IT IS VERY WRONG.

of course. it's assault. where did you quote that from?

I doubt that! yes if someone goes out of their way to push a bike so much that they have to move towards the rider to push them off!
But if Im on a crossing on a greenman and a cyclist comes so close that my reaction is to put my arms up and shove away or drop my shoulder into them and they go flying then never in a million years am i going to be done for assault.

and actually knowing our system probably not in the first case either!

I had two experiences today that literally defy belief, not sure if this is th right place for them but here it goes:

Experience 1:
Nearing the end of my commute and turned left off Uxbridge road using a mixed use foot / bike path across Ealing Common to cut a corner cycling on the left, as you do. As I was nearing the end of the path I noticed another cyclist coming toward me in the centre of the path, she looked nervous and had kiddy seat on the back of her bike, so I slowed down and moved as far left as possible. The woman started screaming at me, the following conversation ensued:

Woman: whatthefuckdoyouthinkyouweredoing (deep breath) you were cycling straight for me you were trying to kill me and my baby!
Me: errr no I wasn't, I'm sorry if you got that impression but actually slowed down and tried to give you as much room as possible.
Woman: no you didn't you sped up and rode AT ME.
Me: if that is your impression then I'm sorry, but it definitely was not my intention.
Woman: you could have seriously hurt me and my child.
Me: look I've................................... Hold on that isn't fucking kid its a fucking DOLL.
Que me cycling off laughing so hard I may have weed a bit.

Experience 2

Saw some fool cycling on the pavement alongside his girlfriend (presumably) chatting. Looking only at gf not where he was going actually cycled into a ped, pushing ped backwards into a pile of rubbish bags. Ped gets up and says "sorry mate" and walks off instead of doing what I would consider to be the logical thing and chinning the prick!

should have got her number from experience 1.
crazy girls ftw.

All winter i have been waiting for the days when i do not have to layer up and my feet do not freeze over from bad circulation no matter how many pairs of socks im wearing and i do not have to check the weather for snow and rain. But with the better weather comes all the fair weather cyclists Im not one to loose it with other cyclists but the last few weeks have been leading up to today.

Its 6pm just out of work cycling down oxford street Buses going past me on my right heavy traffic towards the lights at the bottom when a woman on a moutain bike with her helemt and reflective gear UNDERTAKES me.

I shout what are you doing where are you going, as as far as i could see either straight on the kerb or under a bus! She says you are riding to slow. We get to the lights im like what the fuck she is like chill out i told you i was going to go past you thats what are voice is for. Im now screaming as she can not see the danger in undertaking especially in heavy traffic. Ignorane and arrogance like this causes accidents for her self and others around her.

Right rant over!

I have been doing the morning commute for the past few weeks and its as a general rule the slower someone rides their bike the more likely they are to do dangerous riding getting in front of all the faster rides in the ASL, undertaking everything and RLJ.

To the courier with black hair and yellow back-pack on the white fixed bike who blindly RLJ'd the junction of Moorgate and Ropemaker st at 17.30 yesterday through a narrow gap between a bus and a van - you total and utter wanker. Anyone could have been crossing and you wouldn't have known or had time to stop.

One day you're going to get hurt and much more importantly probably hurt someone else while you're at it.

WAC

I have been doing the morning commute for the past few years and my riding is anything but slow,there is no where to go at rush hour at 6pm its better just to sit behind the buses and LGV when the lights are on red if there is no space to move which is what exactly happend to me. If I had breaked suddenly or moved slightly to the left a bit more this woman would of fallen off her bike and slammed into a bus.