Is it time to start calling out bad cyclists?

i have to have a rant because this morning whilst driving into work (which is once a year) i had 7 cyclist in front of me at a set of lights all of whom decided to race one another completely ignorant of what was behind them. They were overtaking each other oblivious of other road users! its no wonder drivers give cyclist abuse if thats what they are confronted with...

i used the word "wrong" you said that the move was not "wrong" but a stupid move, i feel that any move which is stupid is also a wrong move

Your mum's a wrong move.

Your mum's a wrong move.

She's also stupid.

A curious question to all. Do you feel safer (naturally "safer" being subjective) keeping up with traffic or riding at a more leisurely pace?

Keeping up with traffic.

Keeping up. Always feel really out of sorts if I'm riding with someone who'd rather travel slowly and stay out of the general flow.

Keeping up with traffic. Drivers get annoyed if they feel you are holding them up. If you are a safe stopping distance behind the vehicle in front there is no reason to overtake. Most sensible drivers will see this. The odd twat will try to muscle in front on you. At this point you can ride more defensively. This for me would be riding in the primary position and lots of glances over my shoulder.

This. And if they are dick enough to still muscle you - get out of their way and slot in behind them. They're nutters and best avoided.

I've started walking close behind slow peds making threatening engine rev sounds and giving them a blast from my horn.

Japanese commute is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Exactly. Not worth getting rear ended for, just let them pass and try not to look smug when you pass them again at lights.

@OSNB

As nonsensical as it seems at times, Peds have the ultimate right to use what ever roads they chose. I suggest you find an alternate speed and brush up your anticipation skills. Alternately if you're filtering in a tight spaces consider a bell or your vocal chords to alert folk that you can't see [behind high sided vehicles] before you get there.

Saying that ^ peds do have a responsibility to other road users' safety in how they use the road.

I get irked by the peds that step out into the road when the pavement is totally clear and has enough space without looking then when you alert them to your presence they give dirty looks and tut. The further past sundown, the more colourful their reaction is (swearing and attempting to push). I've had to u-turn a couple of times and politely ask, would you prefer I rode on the pavement or the road?

Japanese commute is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgqdLfSrHvY"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgqdLfSrHvY[/ame
]

I often wish there were jaywalking laws in London especially when riding through Camberwell Green, not that it would make any difference.

I realised the major reason why I enjoyed the "jaywalker" is that it made the countryside even more of a pleasant to ride.

I'm much happier when keeping up with traffic, in primary. Unfortunately, to 'fit in' with the traffic flow, this often means travelling at a distance behind the vehicle in front that is acceptable in terms of being able to stop, but risky in the sense of not seeing upcoming road defects in sufficient time.

I'm not sure how best to handle this - drop back (frustrating drivers behind), get tougher wheels, or start writing letters to the council about the road quality?

Cant see why dropping back a bit would bother them.

It would be worthwhile to not worry about bothering others.

Why is it impossible to ride in primary without some complete bell-end taking it as an invitation to pass between yourself and the kerb in the most stupid circumstances?

On this occasion, following a line of traffic down Highgate West Hill at 20-something miles an hour. Fortunately I heard/saw him coming so left plenty of room (in hindsight I should've shut the door), but what really annoyed me is once he'd passed me there was nowhere else for him to go. He sat a few feet behind a Passat estate, which I was secretly hoping would brake suddenly for one of the many speed bumps so I could point and laugh while the inconsiderate cretin was picking bits of rear windscreen from his face.

I didn't 'call him out', since past experience shows people get offended at you daring to suggest they'd done anything wrong, followed by blaming you for riding 'in the middle of the road'.

TBF (if you're in the middle of the lane) the amount of space left either side of you is simply too inviting for a fellow cyclists. The polite thing to do if undertaking would be to say I'm passing on your left. I draw the line at undertaking me if I'm riding on the cycle lane border.

I'm not sure how best to handle this - drop back (frustrating drivers behind), get tougher wheels, or start writing letters to the council about the road quality?

Riding in primary means a little more aggressively simply because the main roads I travel on have a ridunc amount of potholes in them. So speed + dodging holes = meandering, which I sometimes worry might be mistaken as insanity by drivers. Problem is further complicated at night.

Drivers thinking you're insane sounds ideal to me.

Cant see why dropping back a bit would bother them.

Because if I'm less than a car length from the vehicle in front, it's (hopefully) obvious that there's no point trying to overtake, because there's nowhere to go. If the gap opens up to two or three car lengths, then I get perceived as a cyclist who's not keeping up with the traffic flow, so the driver behind is likely to start thinking about how/when he's going to get past.

Hold a steady space and if they start to look like they plan to pass give them a flat palm to tell them you know they're there and you want them to be patient.

If you're going at the same speed as the traffic, can't see why the vehicles would want to overtake you.

Also a good road position will reduced that likelihood.

i have to have a rant because this morning whilst driving into work (which is once a year) i had 7 cyclist in front of me at a set of lights all of whom decided to race one another completely ignorant of what was behind them. They were overtaking each other oblivious of other road users! its no wonder drivers give cyclist abuse if thats what they are confronted with...

How do you know how ignorant they were?
And what exactly is the problem with 7 cyclists in front of you moving at different speeds?
Were they in your way or something?
Were you unable to pass?
Good job you only do this one day a year.

i have to have a rant because this morning whilst driving into work (which is once a year) i had 7 cyclist in front of me at a set of lights all of whom decided to race one another completely ignorant of what was behind them. They were overtaking each other oblivious of other road users! its no wonder drivers give cyclist abuse if thats what they are confronted with...

Maybe you should be thankful to those 7 cyclists for not being 7 motorists holding you up for even longer...

TBF (if you're in the middle of the lane) the amount of space left either side of you is simply too inviting for a fellow cyclists. The polite thing to do if undertaking would be to say I'm passing on your left. I draw the line at undertaking me if I'm riding on the cycle lane border.

You're not wrong... however anyone squeezing to the left of be gets shouted at. It's not ok, that's the space I use to survive unforeseen, dicy, emergency shit.