Is it time to start calling out bad cyclists?

It seems like lots of commuters have been inspired by the Olympic Kierin races. Marylebone Road was a nightmate this morning. I was about 1m away from another cyclists back wheel, a guy on a hybrid tries to overtake but then realises he cannot go fast enough so pulle in thinking that the gap between me and the cyclist in front is big enough for him. It is not so I slam on my front brake and let him in - he had never looked around to see if it was safe to pull in. I shouted 'look out' to him, he turns around and sticks his finger up at me, the rider originally in front turns around, says 'hey, leave him alone, everyine can make a mistake', he turns back only to see that the traffic in front has stopped and has to stop quickly by skidding and putting his foot down on the floor. I then managed to filter through the traffic only to be undertaken by the guy on the hybrid who has undertaken a bus on the inside - this bus was already indicating to pull into a bus stop. Because of this guys previous behaviour I did not give him further advice on safe cycling...

every time a person on hybrid/barclays etc. undertakes the bus/lorry on the inside, god kills a kitten

Take yourself back to the time when you were totally unaware of that danger.

Probably not long after I joined here. Fucking nazis

Dal I thought you were still pootling about like a nodder anyways.

I saw two guys on single speed FREEWHEEL with only the front brake, one today whom I nearly crashed into because he jumped out from the pavement without looking, and one from yesterday whom I couldn't overtake despite many attempts because he was wobbling all the way. Is this a new trend? Wobbling on a freewheel with only a front brake?

^theres a guy that ride a black create with just a front brake, single speed, running something like 42x18, spins like mad through every red down holloway road in the morning, not sure he actually knows how to ride a bike

I cycle very slowly on the pavement when I'm taking the dog or dogs to the local park. As I cycled VERY slowly a woman came out of her house turned and saw me and literally jumped in fright (I was at least ten yards away and as I said going very slowly and had a dog on a lead).

'You shouldn't be cycling on the pavement'
'I've got a dog'
'You still shouldn't be cycling on the pavement'
'But I've got a dog, and I'm cycling VERY slowly' (as I have mentioned)
'Doesn't matter you shouldn't be on the pavement'
(At this point I am past her so only have one thing left to say before she fades into the distance. I wish I had said 'you must be fun at parties' or 'I bet you were popular at school' but instead said)
'Please stop lecturing me'

To put that into context it is a sleeply little side street, very few if any peds about and cycling with dogs can be sketchy because they are unpredictable, can shy away if something spooks them, or bolt after something like a squirrel or cat. I haven't yet come a cropper (riding fixed is brilliant for walking dogs, the level of control at slow speeds) but there have been moments, like when a ped lost control of a yappy terrier that then charged a spoked my dog (he a big soppy lurcher, utterly brilliant to ride with at the park: let him off the lead and then sprint full pace and he will catch then run alongside, sheer fucking joy) so...

Actually I'm not sure what the point was. I think it's ok to be on a pavement with a dog, too dangerous for us both to be on the road. And that woman needs to stop being a pedantic prick. I was cycling sans-dog on the road and she saw me, pointed and started laughing, which was weird

I dunno about anyone else but I'd say she sounds a bit narky and you should consider walking the dog.

Let the dog ride the bike. It's not illegal for dogs to ride on pavements.

Having an elderly relative who suffered a broken hip (which has made their remaining years suffering incredible pain and diminished mobility) through being hit by someone riding on the pavement, there is NO excuse!

to the lady on Oxford st at the rathbone place soho sq lights, you were very lucky the cab driver had his wits about him, you went right through a red light as he was pulling out you didnt even notice as you were locked in to your headphones on your borris bike.

walk the dog and the bike to the park, if you want to do the riding in the park with dog running thing.

Did anyone spot the bit about going VERY slowly? Not putting anyone in danger and walking is for squares

Jimmy Fingers you should be lynched

Last Christmas my Aunty Kath had a pop at me for cycling from the lounge the kitchen to make a brew.

The bitch.

Jimmy Fingers you should be lynched
He should Anker Sorensen his fingers to punish himself.

Jimmy_Fingers lynch mob list:

1. the-smiling-buddha
   
2. shinkuu kiss
   
   

I passed someone riding with his dog's lead tied to the handlebars down a fairly busy road, I can't remember where exactly but I have a feeling it was Cromwell Road. I didn't call him out just gazed in wonder.

... a yappy terrier that then charged a spoked my dog

aerospoked?

Did anyone spot the bit about going VERY slowly? Not putting anyone in danger and walking is for squares

I really don't care how fast you were going! The relative who suffered a broken hip is scared of ANY people riding on the pavement as I'm sure are many other people regardless of speed!

I'd rather be thought of as square than thought of as a monumental bellend any day of the week!

I really don't care how fast you were going! The relative who suffered a broken hip is scared of ANY people riding on the pavement as I'm sure are many other people regardless of speed!

I'd rather be thought of as square than thought of as a monumental bellend any day of the week!

Calm down Furious, I said it tongue in cheek. I am very sorry for your relative, but it wasn't me that did it. I do not habitually ride on pavements, but do so with the dog on the short ride from home to park, as I pointed out slowly, in control and on sparsely populated pavements. I realise there is a knee-jerk reaction to this, thou shalt not kind of thing, but as sentient inhabitant of this planet, of sound body if not always mind, sometimes I look at situations and make my own judgement as to the safety. Sometimes I even cross the road without waiting for the green man.

I have never come close to hitting anyone on my ride to the park, and partly I ride on the road with them anyway, just not usually this point because the road is narrow and there are parked cars on either side. 99% of reaction from peds is a smile for me and my dog

He should Anker Sorensen his fingers to punish himself.

he probably isn't going fast enough to injure his fingers

aerospoked?

Yes. My dog has an irrational fear of thunder, lorries reversing and aerospokes. And I'm fucked if he sees a disc wheel

Is this the "time to start calling out pedestrians startled by my somewhat dubious riding" thread?

Or the "time to call myself out on my knowingly anti-social riding then defending myself against people calling me out on my anti-social riding" thread?

^ the latter

Is this the "time to start calling out pedestrians startled by my somewhat dubious riding" thread?

Or the "time to call myself out on my knowingly anti-social riding then defending myself against people calling me out on my anti-social riding" thread?

I seem to have inadvertedly wandered into tabloid land.