Is it time to start calling out bad cyclists?

Is it wrong of me to be enjoying watching RLJing cyclists being pulled by the police, each morning this week on Grovenor Road?

Are they being pulled up or pulled off?

I really wanted to but I didn't want to come over as being condescending, should have suggested cycle training but that often brushes people up the wrong way.. What does one say in these situations? (serious question)

Well, the other day a girl was about to try to go down a gap of less than a foot between pavement and bus. I said, "That's a really bad idea," and when I had her attention continued, "people get crushed doing that." She stopped but at the next light, now with less than two feet she muttered, "eh" and went down the gap. sigh

I get a sanctimonious pleasure pointing out someone's stupidity.

But even when I helpfully point out the potential danger of what someone is considering or has just done it tends to fall on deaf ears. Some people are just unwilling to learn or take advice. Perhaps evolution has moved on from predominantly selecting the physically strong to now weeding out the the fuckwits.

On Wednesday evening I had an interesting encounter with preachy commuting cyclist.

I was heading home from a ride, in quite heavy traffic. I slowed behind a fella on hybrid before the lights changed to green, he heard me clip back into my pedal and I cycled behind him for a bit before checking over my shoulder, signalling and coming past him (with plenty of room). As I passed him he said "Took your time", which was puzzling but I didn't think much of it.

Further up the road the traffic came to a standstill. I filtered the stationary traffic on the left for a couple of cars before looking behind, and moving to the right of the traffic. As I glanced over my shoulder said fella came down the right hand side declaring aloud "Do not undertake, it's illegal".

At the next set of lights I mentioned that it actually wasn't illegal. We had a silly exchange with him saying "Have you read the highway code" and "You'll cause an accident".

I told him the only accident was likely to be the result of him pissing other people off. He was pretty young (maybe 20) and was cycling with headphones in. He is either incredibly pompous or perhaps slightly special and/or mental.

Learn to trackstand better...

When trackstanding at lights, it's inevitable that there will be a certain degree of rocking back and forth (often more that you might admit to).

But what happens when this results in bumping the person behind that has pulled up close to your back wheel?

Tell them to leave more room, there's no reason to be less than 4" behind somebody.

It's difficult to know exactly what to say but that's what this thread was created for; to discuss that (before it just became a long, daily list of blah blah blah I saw this, blah blah blah idiots, cretins and morons). You may as well risk sounding condescending if there is at least some chance of her taking it on board and seeing how she put herself in danger.

Yeah, next time I will say something. I suppose being taken as condescending is a small price to pay if it makes someone think about how they are riding.

When trackstanding at lights, it's inevitable that there will be a certain degree of rocking back and forth (often more that you might admit to).

True, when Clive trackstands, it always looks a bit like this:

Tacoma Bridge - YouTube

Well, the other day a girl was about to try to go down a gap of less than a foot between pavement and bus. I said, "That's a really bad idea," and when I had her attention continued, "people get crushed doing that." She stopped but at the next light, now with less than two feet she muttered, "eh" and went down the gap. sigh

Ultimately, you've done your end of the bargain. How would anyone feel seeing someone riding in ignorance and eventually get crushed in front of your very eyes? If they throw it back...meh, you tried.

Learn to trackstand better...

THIS.
If you can't trackstand in total still

Nothing worse than that pained look of concentration as you make everyone watching in pity sea sick. Practise more in doors.

If you're struggling, you can always get somebody else to help
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml4HN3B51kc

Most roads in Britain camber upwards from left to right, so bike points left, front wheel turns right, right foot forwards.

Trying to do it any other way is asking to foot-down just before red->amber...

/pack it in, rape is never funny.

Unless your being raped by a clown

well done! did you make that up all by yourself?

Nope and I cant rep myself for it either shame.

Why have you gone back to make a joke about such a raw subject four days after the conversation about it had finished?

I made an error myself recently, I apologised for my poor taste and bad comedy.

Do you think this is funny?

noobs don't know about rape-gate.

/pack it in, rape is never funny.

This.

Why have you gone back to make a joke about such a raw subject four days after the conversation about it had finished?

I made an error myself recently, I apologised for my poor taste and bad comedy.

Do you think this is funny?

I don't really think it's funny more just mildly amusing, this forum tends to go a bit off track from what some people consider amusing and others don't. If you find a particular subject offensive I would suggest not reading it or skimming over that section of the page.

Welcome to the internets.

who the fuck are you to tell anyone what they should or shouldn't read? you find rape amusing do you? cunt.

This is the "Is it time to start calling out bad cyclists?" thread not the "I'm not funny, but I'll show the whole internet I'm not funny by making a joke that I like about something that shouldn't be laughed about if ever you know or knew anyone affected by it" thread.

Jog on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I think if you knew someone who'd been raped and seen the consequences your views on how amusing it was would change considerably.

You utter fucking cretin.

You might want to point this out to the people that started this whole subject then, maybe a whole forum ban on all subjects like this regardless of the tone. This sort of thing is often brought up in jest on many different pages, racism, rape, sexism, it's all here but mostly people don't get all up in arms about it because they realise the tone it is meant in.

I do know someone actually and she has gotten over it and now can make a joke about it herself, I'm sorry if people cant cope with that sort of humour, clearly wrong place wrong time.