Cyclists

[jcsd]

I think I'll put you on a 24 hr ban for your own sake, because your downward slide into total tosserdom is a sight I'd like to spare other readers.

Are you drunk or something, btw?

No, just very pissed off after almost being runover by a cyclicst for the nth time.

 

[Dubversion]

No, just very pissed off after almost being runover by a cyclicst for the nth time.

so it's one cyclist? or - if you've almost been runover, perhaps, 5 times (as an instance), five cyclists?

how many cyclists are there out there? what proportion have ever almost run you over? do you feel a little silly now?

 

[peppery]

No, just very pissed off after almost being runover by a cyclicst for the nth time.

Doesn't justify the rather grotesque poll though does it?

 

[editor]

No, just very pissed off after almost being runover by a cyclicst for the nth time.

And you think that posting up a poll asking if "cyclists are unworthy of life" and ranting wildly about hating every "middle-aged cyclist in lycra shorts" is an appropriate response?

 

[pinkychukkles]

I think you're totally sounding off in the wrong place, if that's all you can say. Another entirely negative post - it's not like you qualified your opening post with how this situation came about? or bothered to even differentiate between those cyclist that do offer good consideration. You've posted your crap on here trying to get a rise out of the cyclists (and possibly bring other car-lovin' cycle haterzzzz out of the woodwork here to boot) to just make yourself feel better by shouting a few generalisations about and the overwhelming odds are that no cyclist on here was the one that yelled at you today.

How about if you go the same route everyday, you keep an eye out because there's a chance that you may, ahem, *bump* into him again.

Like I said, just another negative post that doesn't do this board any favours. What is the matter with people? THINK before you post, the polarisation and intolerance on urban these days just seems to mimicing what's happening on the streets - sort it out!

 

[gentlegreen]

No, just very pissed off after almost being runover by a cyclicst for the nth time.

I imagine you're one of those pedestrians who follows the stupid markings on cycle paths which puts pedestrians on one side and cyclists on the other ?
(there would be total chaos if anyone took any notice of that stupidity on MY commuter route ...)

 

[Flashman]

No, just very pissed off after almost being runover by a cyclicst for the nth time.

Well don't walk in cycle lanes then, they're for cyclists not peds.

Fuckin' spiders, it's not rocket science.

 

[gentlegreen]

You must be going some to be hit by a cyclist - I've never done it or seen it ...

Do you mean these novice cyclists are wobbling all over the shop ?

 

[George & Bill]

I'm not fat and they'll have alot more pressing thing son their mind the next time one of these rotund lyrca clad tossers rings their bloody bell at me.

cyclist-hating motorists who demonstrate their feeling too openly loose a wing-mirror.

Cyclist-hating pedestrians are unfortunate in having fewer non-personal apendages.

 

[pk]

I hate cyclists, partciualrly today after just having to yet again experince their total rudness and disregard for pedestarians.

Or perhaps that was just total disregard for YOU ?

 

[pk]

Yes I hate all middle-aged cyclists in lycra shorts, I think I will invest in a wlaking cane to stick in their spokes as they go past.

Thing is - I see anyone doing that and they'll be in Guys Hospital having said cane surgically removed from their arsehole.

Get out of the fucking road if you don't want to be hit by cyclists.

 

[Mini]

I imagine you're one of those pedestrians who follows the stupid markings on cycle paths which puts pedestrians on one side and cyclists on the other ?
(there would be total chaos if anyone took any notice of that stupidity on MY commuter route ...)

Eh? Have I totally misread your post? Are you being sarcastic?

What's so stupid about that? Pedestrians on one side, cyclists on t'other - sounds pretty sensible to me.

 

[gentlegreen]

Eh? Have I totally misread your post? Are you being sarcastic?

What's so stupid about that? Pedestrians on one side, cyclists on t'other - sounds pretty sensible to me.

Nope - hardly anyone in Bristol takes any notice of that - and our cycle path was the first.
During the rush hour it's a "2 way country road" with the odd pedestrian ...

(I've been using it for 17 years and have yet to hit a pedestrian)

In practice, pedestrians can do what they like since they're slow enough to avoid whichever side they walk on ... Sunday cyclists can be a bit of a pain if they have no road experience and actually obey the markings ...

How can two cyclists (or pedestrians come to that) pass each other in 4 feet ? The daftest idea was sacrificing half of the Bristol to Bath path for a light railway

The worst culprits are the local council who mark out cycle paths that cannot be used - there is one split path I encounter every morning where the "cyclists" path is impossible to get on without doing a wheelie (or riding on the pavement)... (it also creates a blind spot for the cyclist and endangers pedestrians)

 

[Floh]

Wish everyone could experience the absolute joy of cycling safely here in Germany.

not an attractive pic, but gives you the idea of what cycling in a town is like.

 

[gentlegreen]

Wish everyone could experience the absolute joy of cycling safely here in Germany.

not an attractive pic, but gives you the idea of what cycling in a town is like.

Difficult to say how best to tackle a genuinely mixed use path like this one with all those entrances and exits. I suspect the most likely danger in the UK would be kids on bikes (the sort that probably ride on the pavement in any case). If the road was clear and I wanted to make progress I would quite likely use the road ...

Common sense and consideration is probably a cultural thing ...

 

[Floh]

Difficult to say how best to tackle a genuinely mixed use path like this one with all those entrances and exits. I suspect the most likely danger in the UK would be kids on bikes (the sort that probably ride on the pavement in any case). If the road was clear and I wanted to make progress I would quite likely use the road ...

Common sense and consideration is probably a cultural thing ...

I think it is.

people appear to be able to negotiate quite safely. but then again, they've been doing it for years. i have to pull visitors to one side if i haven't explained to them they have to take care not to wander all over the pavement.

i try to remember to explain, nowadays.

Americans find it the most difficut to 'get'. they seem to feel cycling is just a sport and not a major form of local transport in this land.

and cyclists (me) appear to understand how to measure entrances and exits safely, without anyone getting hurt.

 

[jcsd]

I may of been a little OTT in my righteous and understandable rage, but as a rule I never walk in cyclce paths unles sit's unavoidable, for example there's a part of the pavement where I walk were the pedestrian path is overgrown by a hedge, eher I was almost run down by a (middle-aged) cyclist (in lycra shorts) who took no efforts to avoid running me down (even thoguh there was plenty of room on the cycle path) because it was his right of way. Toda I was walking along a bridleway (a pedant would point out pedestarians have right of way oevr cyclcist on a bridleway) andyet another lycra clad middle-aged cyclist came up behind me rigning her bell shouting "watch out!" expecting me to dodge out of her way even though there was plenty of room to pass.

It's not kids; kids are sensible in tht they see a pedestarin and they at least try to avoid them, but it's serious cyclicsts of an age where they should no better.

 

[George & Bill]

no good backpedaling now, how about you fuck of and die painfully instead?

 

[geminisnake]

If you have ride along bridle parths and expect pedestarians to dive out of the way when you ring your bell you are one of these people.

If you shout abuse at pedestarians for even daring to put one foot in the cycle path you are one of these people.

I don't own a car, but I am thinking of investing one to run these tossers off the roads.

Oh dear, oh dear

Yes there are twatty cyclists out there but then there are also twatty pedestrians, twatty cars drivers, twatty pram pushers, so where are all the other threads condemning these twats?

Suppose I won't get an answer as you've been banned for the day.

I suggest you never go to the Netherlands, particularly Amsterdam. Cyclist mayhem there.

 

[Agent Sparrow]

Yes there are twatty cyclists out there but then there are also twatty pedestrians, twatty cars drivers, twatty pram pushers, so where are all the other threads condemning these twats?

Well, quite!

In fact considering this, and the resulting level of general irritation (from the collective unconscious of all road users) that must arise from all of this, its amazing that anyone ever gets anywhere we want to!

 

[gentlegreen]

I have to confess I might have been guilty of scaring a pair of newbies off the cycle path a few years ago - these two girls used to ride two abreast during the rush hour without any gesture towards switching to single file for pedestrians or blind bends so I used to stand my ground to encourage them to do so (I was going through a particularly grumpy phase at the time)
.
.

 

[LJo]

So your fury stems from these two events:

1. You ignored the fact that cyclists have right of way on a cycle path.
2. You objected to a cyclist warning you she was approaching on a bridleway.

From which I deduce that you really don't have enough to think about. Have you considered campaigning against overtly intrusive wheelie bins? Might keep you occupied for a bit. You could make posters and everything.

 

[Major Tom]

I may of been a little OTT in my righteous and understandable rage, but as a rule I never walk in cyclce paths unles sit's unavoidable, for example there's a part of the pavement where I walk were the pedestrian path is overgrown by a hedge, eher I was almost run down by a (middle-aged) cyclist (in lycra shorts) who took no efforts to avoid running me down (even thoguh there was plenty of room on the cycle path) because it was his right of way.

take more care then - as you said it is his right of way - do you carelessly step out into the road like that when the pavement is blocked?

I have similar problems round Leyton when the cycle path becomes overgrown - coupled withe peds leaving shopping bags or push chairs on the remaining portion of cycle lane while waiting for buses - I often run into conflict with peds who seem strangely reluctant to let me pass even though there is plenty of space.

Toda I was walking along a bridleway (a pedant would point out pedestarians have right of way oevr cyclcist on a bridleway) andyet another lycra clad middle-aged cyclist came up behind me rigning her bell shouting "watch out!" expecting me to dodge out of her way even though there was plenty of room to pass.

Isn;t ringing a bell and issuing a warning just a sensible precaution - a courtesy. I use a bell on the canal towpath and only occasionally a ped gets upset at my use of a bell to warn them that I'm coming up behind them. Is it better that I just let them wander straight into my front wheel when passing them then?

It's not kids; kids are sensible in tht they see a pedestarin and they at least try to avoid them, but it's serious cyclicsts of an age where they should no better.

Well there are pig headed arseholes on all sides. Nearly every day I encounter someone walking on the bike lane who absolutely refuses to move out of the way however much I ring my bell.

 

[maomao]

Isn;t ringing a bell and issuing a warning just a sensible precaution - a courtesy. I use a bell on the canal towpath and only occasionally a ped gets upset at my use of a bell to warn them that I'm coming up behind them. Is it better that I just let them wander straight into my front wheel when passing them then?

Well there are pig headed arseholes on all sides. Nearly every day I encounter someone walking on the bike lane who absolutely refuses to move out of the way however much I ring my bell.

I've given up the bell in favour of shouting 'excuse me sir/madam' at the top of my voice. The advantage being that this actually tends to result in people getting out of the way whereas ringing a bell usually results in them looking round and going 'oh look, a bicycle'.

It's amazing how many people complain about being 'nearly' run over by bicycles and yet pedestrians being badly hurt by bicycles is very rare indeed. Cyclists sometimes have to realise that while passing something a foot away at 20 miles an hour isn't even a near miss to a cyclist it can be a little bit scary for a pedestrian who isn't expecting it.

 

[gentlegreen]

Well there are pig headed arseholes on all sides. Nearly every day I encounter someone walking on the bike lane who absolutely refuses to move out of the way however much I ring my bell.

I'm generally fairly easy going - gawd, half the human race walks around glued to their mobile phones these days ... I tend to work around pedestrians wherever possible and click my gears or cough before I resort to the bell ....

I also have one of these on my bike though I would never use it on pedestrians and disconnected it when the push button shorted and almost caused a scrap between rush hour motorists
.
.

 

[maomao]

What is that exactly?

 

[gentlegreen]

What is that exactly?

A very loud 12 volt car horn

 

[Floh]

I left London around 9 years ago and i'm interested to hear all of you speak of cycle paths.

when i was living there, there weren't many cycle paths to speak of. it's sounding as tho this has changed, somewhat?

 

[maomao]

A very loud 12 volt car horn

I want one

Seriously, I don't think that would go down well with pedestrians. I think part of the failing with bicycle bells is that they seem so inpersonal. You're not behind a windscreen, you're only six foot away, why not ask the person politiely to get out of the way? (and then if they still don't pay any attention let that little fucker off two foot from their earholes oh yes )

 

[maomao]

I left London around 9 years ago and i'm interested to hear all of you speak of cycle paths.

when i was living there, there weren't many cycle paths to speak of. it's sounding as tho this has changed, somewhat?

Yes, now we have cycle paths to speak of but unfortunately not to actually use because they either don't actually go anywhere or they're blocked with parked cars or broken glass.