Is it time to start calling out bad cyclists?

^Far too sensible it is much better to get pent up and angry then shout about it on the internet.

Cornie saying what has been said many times before. Only with more words.

I only come back so often will, and I'd rather use too many words than too few. And I couldn't be arsed to edit it down when the sunshine awaits and I get to smile at being out on the bike..

I only come back so often will, and I'd rather use too many words than too few. And I couldn't be arsed to edit it down when the sunshine awaits and I get to smile at being out on the bike..

You sick fuck, people like you make me so angry. Riding a bike and smiling; how the fuck are you supposed to seethe and look down your nose if you are grinning from ear to ear?

Hi guys

Getting my first post after signing up to the forum (more details about me when I can). But had a young lady riding along the paths crossing the side roads without stopping or looking as many do (even pedestrians) this morning, as I was approaching the side road junction on my bike (motor) she rode straight into the side of it FFS. In her own little bubble.

This is not a remark on our female riders just she happened to be remale.

Cheers, Mark

Remale = transgender Male -> Female -> Male?

Hi guys

Getting my first post after signing up to the forum (more details about me when I can). But had a young lady riding along the paths crossing the side roads without stopping or looking as many do (even pedestrians) this morning, as I was approaching the side road junction on my bike (motor) she rode straight into the side of it FFS. In her own little bubble.

This is not a remark on our female riders just she happened to be remale.

Cheers, Mark

Happens all the time on my route into work at Tabernacle/Leonard St. Cyclists fly out of the right with nary a passing glance, and peds walk from the left with seemingly no clue there's a road there.

Sorry about the typo, couldn't find the edit message button.
Glad it crept through with barely a mention as it could have been embarrassing ;-)

You're still in the nursery, you will be able to edit posts soon.

You're still in the nursery, you will be able to edit posts soon.

I hope so Bobbo, I have a few questions I would like ask the knowledgable people on the site.

Which site would this be?

No need to hope, you have just made your third post and none of them would be considered nursery evading material so you should get the ability to PM and edit posts within the next 24 hours.

^I think he is talking about tester.

I'm assuming this thread will become filled to bursting with the calling out of nameless cyclists who have the temerity to cycle in a manner not becoming of the cognoscenti on these fine pages, who will never know how badly they ride since they don't post here and will never read these finely delivered comments.

but:
"if you don't like something, change it, if you can't change it, change your attitude"

Because everyone who frequents these pages best get used to the fact that more and more people are going to be cycling in london, and probably in a manner that will infuriate all of you. And since there's nothing you can do to change that, probably a change in attitude will need to be administered..

#everyoneontwowhweelsisafriend

Quite a lot of people read this thread. What it could be doing, quite effectively, is raising an awareness of which behaviours are deemed as unacceptably anti-social amongst the cycling community - a more informed and less kneejerk set of examples, on the whole, than those spouted by the anti-cycling community.

There are also times when one gets the chance to comment on the faux pas in situ, so there are times when you do get a chance to change things, or attempt to, and either way, there aren't necessarily waves of fury rippling over the situation - more a sense of responsibility.

Stop being so negative all the time. #willnotemoticonhere

Quite a lot of people read this thread. What it could be doing, quite effectively, is raising an awareness of which behaviours are deemed as unacceptably anti-social amongst the cycling community - a more informed and less kneejerk set of examples, on the whole, than those spouted by the anti-cycling community.

True story: this is the only reason I even joined this site in the first place. Not to whinge about other cyclists, but to learn what other cyclists would regard as dick moves if I were to do them, so that I could avoid doing them. I'd only just started out and wasn't very confident. I didn't even have a single speed / fixed wheel bike.

Along the way I have rectified many of these issues, but it was threads like this that helped.

I do still think the really angry people need to chill out a bit, though.

It's so nice out I'm actually sort of apprehensive of what it's going to be like out there.

Who knows though? I had a nice spot on the way in so maybe I'll make a new friend tonight and all...

If anyone reading this thread has adjusted their riding style to be more responsible then it's been worth it.

If anyone has felt better by releasing any pent up frustration on this thread after almost being taken out by someone riding in a dangerously irresponsible manner, then it's been worth it.

"if you don't like something, change it, if you can't change it, change your attitude"

Posting that here complaining about people complaining makes you a hypocrite.

If there's been a sudden increase in the number of cyclists, there's been an equal increase in the number of cars.. two weeks ago traffic was flowing freely, now it's a four mile traffic jam between Battersea and Shepherd's bush. Same thing out East?

^ True dat. She Bu green was an absolute mess this morning, and even some of the backstreets were back. I think there have been some new road works / diversions on the weekend and it's backed things up.

Also nice wordz Jezston

When this thread was conceived it was as a discussion on whether, when and how to tell fellow cyclist that they are doing it wrong. As in; Should we be calling out fellow cyclists face to face out on the streets? It has since morphed into a spotted thread for bad cycling.

I'm not suggesting that that is a bad thing, the popularity of this thread in that form shows it is wanted and needed. But in my view some of the posts are getting dangerously close to declaring that "the roads are for us and the nodders should fuck off", which is somewhat reminicent of the "I pay road tax so I own the road" discussions that we've all had with a motorist at some point.

My only suggestion is that people have a think about why they are posting in this thread, ask themselves if they could have said something at the time and address the problem at source. I know it's not always possible or even advisable but it would be good, instead of daemonising the forces of brightness, to ask the humpster that has just elbowed past you to the front of the ASL why they think it is appropriate to behave like that on the road when they'd get a slap for doing the same at the checkout in ASDA.

jezston, I personally doubt anyone has adjusted their riding style because of this thread.
As middleofnowhere points out above, this thread has moved from being should I, or how can I speak to this person whose cycling in a manner which is possibly dangerous to themselves and to others, to I saw this person riding like this, what a (insert offensive word of choice).

I'm all for the former and against the latter. If you see someone riding in a manner that offends/outrages/infuriates/dismays you, and you can have a word, then do so. And if that isn't in your make up then either let it go, or grow a pair and have the conversation.

I come back on here every so often to remind people that the thread is called is it time to start calling out bad cyclists? not, is it time to slag off everyone who doesn't ride as I well as I think I do.

#anyoneontwowheelsisafriend

I personally doubt anyone has adjusted their riding style because of this thread.

bothwell, just a couple of posts above, has already said threads like this one have made them reflect on their riding. me too.

that said, I don't sympathise with the attitude of many of the posts here. but perhaps I have the great luxury of doing the vast majority of my cycling outside of rush hour, or at least against the flow.

The perpetual 'get to the front, get there quick, must be first' mindset is set to stay for the season.

how can it be?! in the sun, it becomes harder to remember to 'get there first' as you get distracted by just how wonderful it is to be out cycling... in bad weather, well a lot of people who find it miserable to be out on the roads might take their only satisfaction of the commute from some little egotistical race...

bothwell, just a couple of posts above, has already said threads like this one have made them reflect on their riding. me too.

.

Cornelius doesn't read threads, he responds to them. In a lapidary fashion. In fact I think he views the ten commandments as lacking in certainty and gravitas.

As ever, the quality of posts on this thread really depends on what you want them to do. If you just want to vent, why not do it in the Rant thread (https://www.lfgss.com/thread20503.html )? By all means discuss bad cycling, but why not be positive and constructive instead of just venting? Corny didn't mention something he normally says on these occasions: 'Each one, teach one.' If you've learned something, pass it on. This is assuming, of course, that you're in the right.

I did read bothwell's post, I was going to exempt them in my previous post as the exception that proves the rule, unless there is a spartacus esque eruption of confirmation, I'm more willing to believe that there isn't this hidden iceberg mass of cyclists reading this thread and using it for educational and training purposes.

I'd be delighted if I was proved wrong, but I'm doubtful.

bothwell's a she.