Is it time to start calling out bad cyclists?

I usually go for a call of "look up" on approach. Seems to be non confrontational enough.

Or i loudly whistle a jaunty tune when approaching a crossing where peds are crossing against my green light.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_MphtzCOEc

completely different culture^
that would never work with the fucktard public in london

Heading to work yesterday morning, arriving at major crossroads (Balls Pond Road and Mildmay Park). Bus lane on left with bus in it indicating right. Van on right indicating left. I hang back, waiting for them to dance.

Lights change and the bus heads off, van moves into the left lane to turn left. Cyclist turns left on the inside of the van, gets squashed against kerb before yelping and van swerves away and carries on.

I go up to her and ask if she's alright and then immediately tell her it was her fault for going on inside of van. She says that she thought the van was just changing lanes... I shrugged my shoulders and tell her to be more careful.

She was obviously shaken but I wasn't exactly very caring or tactful, could have been a lot nicer instead of telling her off just after she'd had a near miss. My intentions were honest though... but I felt pretty bad for the rest of my journey to work. Right thing to do?

I use on a regular basis "OI! OI!" and "Carfeul Now!"

You are either Tyres,

or Father Ted.

Anyway, I claim my £5...

@ Tavva - I reckon the experience and your words will stay long in the mind. You could have handled it differently but hindsight and all that..........

At least you said something, I probably would have checked to see that she was alive then ridden on.

Rockin and reelin, havin a ball, swinging and singin,straightjacket an all.

He's comin.watch out.he's the dancehallmaster

Heading to work yesterday morning, arriving at major crossroads (Balls Pond Road and Mildmay Park). Bus lane on left with bus in it indicating right. Van on right indicating left. I hang back, waiting for them to dance.

Lights change and the bus heads off, van moves into the left lane to turn left. Cyclist turns left on the inside of the van, gets squashed against kerb before yelping and van swerves away and carries on.

I go up to her and ask if she's alright and then immediately tell her it was her fault for going on inside of van. She says that she thought the van was just changing lanes... I shrugged my shoulders and tell her to be more careful.

She was obviously shaken but I wasn't exactly very caring or tactful, could have been a lot nicer instead of telling her off just after she'd had a near miss. My intentions were honest though... but I felt pretty bad for the rest of my journey to work. Right thing to do?

She put herself in a very dangerous situation and got a close look at what could happen. You removed any option she had to blame the van driver and ignore the lesson she should learn from a near miss like that.

Might not be a nice thing to do but I'd say it was the right thing to do.

Raaaas Ta far i.shout this on ya dread machine.

Hi Jason

Alright sweetie.

"Can't stop! Don't want to either!"

I pretty much have no choice but to say this to folks stepping out willy nilly around southwark/waterloo when it's raining because I haven't got time to explain how brakes and stopping distances are affected by rain..

I was once going through a junction in the pissing rain on an 80s racer with 80s brakes and 80s steel rims so my stopping power was about as good as you might expect. It was also the first time I'd really ridden the bike. I had a green light so wasn't really expecting to slow down, then some dude in a suit leapt out into the road in front of me (i say "in front of me", he was probably about 4 metres away). When I grabbed the brakes they predictably did fuck all, so I shouted "WHOAAAAA" at him, more in panic than as a warning, and he stepped back onto the pavement and said "alright, alright, for fuck's sake" in a really narky voice. Wonder if he'd have been less pissed off if I'd actually faceplanted into him.

I rode the rest of the way home at 8mph and still almost got knocked off because I wasn't able to stop in time when some FUCKING CUNT ON A BIKE jumped a red light and went right into me. Come to think if I said "WHOA" to him, as well, as he clipped me and wobbled off.

I pretty much have no choice but to say this to folks stepping out willy nilly around southwark/waterloo when it's raining because I haven't got time to explain how brakes and stopping distances are affected by rain..

Ride at an appropriate speed for the conditions, if your braking distance has increased then ride more slowly, will also give you longer to explain your problems to people.

Ride at an appropriate speed for the conditions, if your braking distance has increased then ride more slowly, will also give you longer to explain your problems to people.

Is is not a bit unreasonable to expect people to hang around listening to your problems ?

Sarcasm recognition failure.

He does not need the time to explain how wet weather affects his braking, just needs to moderate his riding accordingly, or get a bike with disc brakes that will brake more consistently in wet or dry conditions.

Here he is, judge dread himself again ha

[QUOTE=dancing james;3196221]Sarcasm recognition failure.

QUOTE]

Ha ha - not at all James - your problems.

^^Seems to work in Japan...

Wtf?

That is an accurate representation of a lot of the people who come out here, trust me.

As for bike bells, well... usually people ride on the sidewalk at almost walking pace and ring them arrogantly until people get out of the way. School kids also ride on the sidewalk but do so at a dangerous speed and ring them non-stop like a siren.

Japanese cycling is a complete mess and it's amazing there aren't more accidents.

That is an accurate representation of a lot of the people who come out here, trust me.

As for bike bells, well... usually people ride on the sidewalk at almost walking pace and ring them arrogantly until people get out of the way. School kids also ride on the sidewalk but do so at a dangerous speed and ring them non-stop like a siren.

Japanese cycling is a complete mess and it's amazing there aren't more accidents.

Surprised that it hasn't been turned into some weird Anime shit with tentacles and underaged schoolgirls in tartan skirts yet!

That is class... might have to try a London version... Then again...

I was once going through a junction in the pissing rain on an 80s racer with 80s brakes and 80s steel rims.

Was this during the 1980s by any chance?