Aggressive cyclists

There are two separate stereotypes at play here. In urban areas, we don't so much hear the complaints about the roadies, as that's more a countryside issue.

In the inner city, the stereotype is changing from 'eccentric, probably poor old bloke with a flapping hi-viz vest, weird hair, and knotty legs riding at 2mph one inch away from the kerbline' to 'selfish middle-class people who only care about getting to their well-paid jobs in the City of London or the City of Westminster'. The aggression is felt mostly in constrained environments like canal towpaths--as campaigners, we hear that one all the time.

Needless to say, both kinds of stereotypes are nonsense, but they are convenient for people to distance themselves from cycling. The favourite excuse for not cycling is still 'it's too dangerous', but if and/or as the 'selfish' accusation gains ground, we'll probably hear that one more.

The real reason why people perceive 'aggression' is because they come into closer contact with cyclists than they do with car drivers. The closer contact is actually a good thing. It will still require a good deal of shifting their thinking, though. There's a great reluctance to change for those who see London as predominantly a walking and cycling city. A lot of people feel threatened by the recent increase in cycling in London.

http://forums.mtbr.com/recycle-bin/conceal-carry-while-biking-679502.html

I closed it after a page.

I'm so glad I don't live in a country where carrying a gun is considered a perfectly normal thing to do.

^
"I've packed before while mountain and road biking."
"That said, I have yet to carry while riding."

what a fucked up state of affairs where you can make comments like these and expect people to understand what you're talking about

Packing Heat: The Best Gun for Cyclists - YouTube

I've packed before while mountain and road biking. Dog owners who refuse to believe that Fido actually chases people on bikes, snapping at them, were one reason.

It's a totally reasonable response to carry a fucking firearm in case a dog worries you a little bit.

People are pathetic

turn your irony meters off before you read the last page of that thread. the attacks on non-gun owners, liberals and non-americans whilst bemoaning their own victim status is quite special.

Mu Mu:

When it comes to overtaking bicycles, though, they are ten billion times more careful than any british driver. They slow down, give plenty of space and, more often than not, make friendly comments or shout enthusiastic greetings as they go past. Even on busy roads with big old lorries, every driver I encountered gave me plenty of room.[quote]

Depends on where you are. I've had bruises because of being hit by a car. got in a fight with a frenchy (he started it), and other dangerous situations caused by cars. cars going past me over 100KM/h on a 50 road with upcoming traffic, almost throwing me off the bicycle (actually was thrown off by the wind coming off a car once because of that). I was driving on a roadbike with a heavy bright orange cart behind it (very unstable). That was more in the middle of the country. When I went to the coast, people were a lot nicer. More people were actually capable of driving. That was, untill I reached Calais. Because then there were a lot of brittish people and really, they don't give me ANY room at all. Might be that they aren't used to driving on the correct side of the road? People in Belgium are really nice. They have a lot more respect for cyclists. Here in Holland people like cyclists unless they are on a road bike, wearing a jersey and a helmet. (for some reason people are so angry at me if I'm wearing a helmet on a bicycle).

miro_odonor:
[quote]An example of this is the use of car horns. In most of the world a beep of a horn means "hello, I'm here". If you hear it in the UK it means "I'd like you to die".

Really?

I drive a moped as well. Always use my horn to ask if I can pass. I do the same with my car if there is a group of cyclists. But I'm not from the UK.

Oliver Schick:

There are two separate stereotypes at play here. In urban areas, we don't so much hear the complaints about the roadies, as that's more a countryside issue.

As a cyclist, moped rider, car driver from holland. We have cycling paths in most of the country but especially in the city's. Only in smaller villages and on smaller roads they don't give us the ability to drive on cycling paths.

When driving my bike in the city, fixed or roadbike, I have a problem with people driving a bike that don't pay attention at all. They are causing dangerous situation by swerving over the road and making sudden moves while I'm trying to pass them. They care more about replying to that Facebook/Whatsapp/whatever application on their iPhone then to pay attention to the damn road. Another big problem are people walking. For some reason, they think it's normal to cross a busy cycling path withouth looking. I used to be a scooter messenger and those have to ride on the cycling paths in big towns. I've hit people that doen't pay attention. I almost never have any problems with cars. That changes when going out of the city's. Riding in a normal outfit or on a normal bike is ok. Car drivers consider you a normal cyclist and pay attention to you, are carefull etc. That changes when your on a road bike and wearing a jersey and a helmet. For some reason that makes it OK to drive you off the damn road.

As a moped rider, most cyclists are pretty annoying. A lot of them wear headphones, play with their smartphones and make a lot of sudden moves. I try to avoid big towns and just ride the countryside. Car drivers don't care about you at all and wished you were dead.

As a car driver (I live to far away from my job and have to start way to early in the morning to take my bicycle to work), I hate most car drivers. I watch out for cyclists, moped/scooter and motorcycle drivers and try to be as carefull as possible. If I see a cyclist that needs to cross a road on a busy time where I don't need to stop and it rains, I'll make sure the cyclist can cross the road. I will stop for him/her. I got a roof over my head, they don't.

Kidney punch (TM)

That is all

...like a boss!

Kidney punch (TM)

That is all

what's malaysian done now?

#peoplewithiphonesonbikesarecunts

I imagine most cyclists carry a phone.

Have to agree about cycling abroad. Particularly France. Mental drivers, but polite and considerate when overtaking a bike.
I've had some right run ins with brain dead twats here. The last one on new years day (when u think all will be calm and roads empty, especially on the IoW). 2012. After screamin abuse at me, 'cos basicaly I was cycling on a road, he swerves accross me. I stop, I shout at him & call him some names. He carries on up the road and pulls into a small dirt layby. I observe as he gets out of his car. A youngish lad about 20. As I get nearer to him I stop. He starts to walk/run towards me, I take off my shoes, much to his amusement and when he tried to grab me, I twatted him around the head with my shoe. The look cleat made a bit of a dent on his forehead. Moral of this is don't fuck with old men who ride bikes. We used to young and angry once. Now we are just old and feckin' mental.

[/QUOTE]

I took the Greenwich Foot Tunnel yesterday, which is not a regular occurrence for me. Several of my cycling brethren in the lift set off at the bottom, immediately riding past some peds coming the other way. One of said peds politely pointed out that there were signs saying no cycling in the tunnel, and was told to "Fuck off" for his troubles.

I'm not the worst stickler for every regulation, and believe that a bit of consideration on all sides (cars, cyclists, pedestrians) goes a really long way. But some people don't help themselves.

What did you did you do in the aftermath of that knobhead's aggro? If you just carried on then you're potentially a tiny part of the problem. Because as you cycle off/leave, the bloke the rightly pointed out the numerous NO CYCLING signs sees the back of you and that gobby tit as indistinguishable hence that collectivism that we're all tarred with.

@OP:
I reckon cyclists are generally aggressive but you only have to look at typical road conditions to see why. Look at the Police's, at times, shambolic treatment of cycle related crime (both on and off bike) to see why there's a sense of 'hard bitten' in a lot of riders. As someone mentioned most of these issues aren't known to those that do not cycle. Until there is a widespread knowledge of issues then the misunderstandings and confusion will continue to add to the atmosphere. Lest we forget we have the most to lose and the most pain to gain, so heightened aggression is to be expected.

I think there's a fair amount of ignorance from cyclists, too. I've seen so many situations when a motorist is turning left, got there first and people that can't bear to pass on the right start mouthing off/banging on the bonnet/roof of the driver for having the temerity to change direction stopping them from hugging the gutter. And that thing of ALWAYS bum rushing to the front of queues even when there's little benefit to be gained.

Although anyone in a situation where they might get seriously injured or killed in an accident caused by someone else is always going to get upity if there's a near-miss.

The only way to get non cyclists to understand this is by firing a gun near them or throwing knives past their head.

so we should be carrying guns?

We should be carrying more and larger guns.

Nope.
TBH it was all over pretty quickly. I just had time to think.

• Feck I dont want to hit the floor at this speed.
  
• I should jump onto the car.
  
• I cant jump, I'm spinning infinity cadence.
  
• If I go down, I'm grabbing this c*nts arm.
  
  

Then he let me go, and I slowed to a stop, untill the steam stopped rising from my legs.

I think they must have just seen ET. Pretty sure that happens to the older brother in the beginning. Except he wasnt

Goonies. This was Goonies.

Feck. Goonies thats the one.

turn your irony meters off before you read the last page of that thread. the attacks on non-gun owners, liberals and non-americans whilst bemoaning their own victim status is quite special.

"I spent a lot of time memorizing our statues on weapons and self defense."

I bet that guy is SO MUCH FUN at parties.

We should be carrying more and larger guns.

I knew that front rack would come in useful

Ha!

French drivers are lovely -- I was climbing the Joux Plane in 2007, going up at a good rate, nice wide stretch of road when behind me some guy in a renault starts beeping repeatedly. Coming from London I stick my middle finger up behind my back. Eventually the guy pulls level and I'm starting to worry about my safety - turns out it's a pensioner with his grandkids on the back seats, and they're all waving and shouting 'allez!'. Embarrassing.

I would have died from embarrassment in that situation.

That or going off the cliff.