Is it time to start calling out bad cyclists?

it's astounding how often it pops up in newspapers, news broadcasts and most depressingly - interviews with high-ranking politicians and public servants.

^ sigh.

"While descriptivists and other such laissez-faire linguists..."

I witnessed the most appaling piece of suicidal cycling I've ever seen on the way home tonight. Apologies if trying to describe it in detail is a bit long-winded...

Riding West along New Cavendish St towards the junction with Portland Place, about 8.15 so not very busy. I was in the right hand lane on account of turning right up Portland Place, and there were two big fuckoff eight-axled construction trucks ahead, the nearest of which was sort of straddling both lanes, so I held back.

As I got nearer the lights the truck indicated left, and I did a quick check that the cyclist (bloke, mid 30s wearing jeans and shirt, fairly typical nodder) I'd just passed wasn't about to go up the left hand side. He looked like he'd spotted the indicator and held back. However, as I turned right I noticed the truck suddenly stop just before turning the corner, and looking back a couple of seconds this utter bell-end appears from behind the truck and saunters straight on across the junction. I was a state of disbelief that the pillock was probably completely unaware that his life might have been ended (or at least ruined) were it not for the fact that the driver did a damn good job of looking out for him. I'm not even sure he had lights, despite it being pretty obviously dark at that time. Of course he was wearing his plastic invincibility hat, which means his family, friends and colleagues are all assured that he's very safety concious.

Riding home I really wished I'd gone after him and offered some helpful advice, although previous experience of constructively criticising people's cycling suggests I'd have either had a shrug of the shoulders or a 'fuck off' in return. I appreciate that in an ideal world no one should be killed on the roads, but seeing people with such a massive disregard for their own safety and leaving it the hands of others is very depressing.

I'd be the first to admit cyclists are the worst road users.

1/

Silly cyclists can be annoying, and they piss me off because they make things harder for me, and I don't RLJ or cycle on pavements.

2/

Bad cyclists are an annoyance, no more. To say cyclists are "the worst" on the road is to say 2500 deaths is greater than the, on average, half a death a year caused by cyclists. Ever played the game where you add up the fines in your head at the laws you see motorists break on an average commute?

Sorry for being a bit shouty.

I meant as a proportion and specifically cyclists not yielding (for traffic and pedestrians) - not deaths per year. Sorry, should have been clearer.

I rlj, but only for reasons of personal safety. Turning right accross traffic I often slip through with the ped crossing light, provided there are no peds. It feels a hell of a lot safer than waiting in the middle of the street with cars passing on the inside while facing oncoming traffic, waiting for a gap to turn.

^ this all the way.

oh hey gav - where the heck have you been hiding?

Have been working in France making the vino and generally causing trouble with the locals. Got back Sunday and immediately moved house. Oh. The. Joy.
On the upside I'm now living in the wilds of Brixton so you lot will probably see more of me. That's an upside, right..?

...do you know the secret handshake yet?

Finger up the clacker isn't it?

^ sigh.

It's all Fox' fault:

While descriptivists and other such laissez-faire linguists are content to allow the misconception to fall into the vernacular

:)

it's astounding how often it pops up in newspapers, news broadcasts and most depressingly - interviews with high-ranking politicians and public servants.

I sort of knew it. But still misused it.

I'm guessing that it's because it is confused with "it beggars belief".

It really beggars the question that it begs such belief.

It's all Fox' fault:

Fox's.

;)

#schickburn!

Another point on Brun's story and something worth considering....
It really scares the shit out of you when you're driving and a cyclist, unbeknown to them, comes within an inch of their life as a result of some ridiculous move on the road. I've been in both situations, behind the wheel and on the saddle where i thought someone was going to die. I know the outcome is far worse for the cyclist, but it can also ruin someone’s life if someone has died as a result of their actions. Even if it wasn't their fault.

Fox's.

;)

This has been discussed before somewhere with BMMF. :)

I can't find it now, though.

This has been discussed before somewhere

Just drop it, for fox' sake.

ffs http://twitpic.com/6u3qdf

^Chiswick High Road?

^Chiswick High Road?

With the power of Twitter I shall enquire :-)

see a similar thing near my house sometimes, some scally guy riding the wrong way up the road with his kid on the top tube, and either a phone or a cig in his hand depending on the day, twat

Almost fell off my bike into a guy who was overtaking me this morning. He was passing a bit close but not dangerously so as we were only going at about 3mph. I just wobbled into him because I am a Bad Cyclist, and also ill, but mostly a Bad Cyclist. He looked v angry as he pedaled off but didn't say anything.

Sorry :-(

crazy business coming in this morning - some fella on a silver langster decides at the drop of a hat to let some woman in a polo make a last second left turn across his, and by extention my, path - threw down the anchors and narrowly avoided being bounced over her bonnet. cue much 'wtf are you playing at mate' yelling from me, he pootles off and starts having a go at me over his shoulder, not looking where the fuck he's aiming his bike mind you. hey ho - so we get to the lights at the south lambeth road/vauxhall gyratory intersection and some bell end in a white van starts yelling at us for no reason other than the fact that langster bloke and i are having a bit of a shout at one another. van man is getting all 'you facking cyclists shouldn't be on the facking road you caaahnts!' all the while with what looked like a pre-school kid sat next to him. at this point langster bloke says nonchanlantly: 'excuse me for a second...' and unleashes a stream of abuse at the van bloke that nearly took my eyebrows off. top work mate! anyroads - langster bloke and i saunter up to the ASL - i made a half arsed apology to him, he did the same and we got chatting about bikes and stuff, lights changed, said our 'see you later, be safe mate' and off we went on our merry ways.

#csb

• We must unite against our common enemy!

• The Judean People's Front!

• No, no, no! The Romans!

Me getting a ticket from mounted police officers for a RLJ on Upper Thames Street. Fair enough. Can attend a Road Safety road show on the 14th October and get my fine revoked. Anyone else attending?

It's a trap