Cyclists - let's kill them all

[Roobubba]

I've had several accidents while on my bike in Oxford, about half of them my own fault, involving only me and the road - I've always been extremely careful when around traffic or pedestrians, and I NEVER go through red lights or ride on the pavement (except where it's also a cycle path).

The nastiest accidents I've had have been caused by other cyclists: one woman who I was overtaking decided to ride into the middle of the road without warning, without looking and without signalling. She was about 300 yards from the junction that I presume she intended to turn right at, and travelling at less than 10 miles an hour. I had no chance (and luckily for her I wasn't the bus that was 100yd behind me, otherwise she'd have been dead outright).

The second accident was when a cretin was cycling on the pavement, I was on the road. He decided to pull out onto the road (again, no warning, looking, signalling, and not in an obvious place, either). Again I had no chance. I broke my wrist on that occasion and how have a 2 inch screw through my scaphoid. I also had massive bruiding on my leg where I'd been run over by a car as a result of the crash. I wish I'd have taken the cyclist's details down: though I am hugely against person injury claims on the whole, where they have been caused by wrecklessness and result from someone's abject stupidity, there may be a place. I consider myself lucky to be alive after that one, and have rarely cycled since (now I commute a very long way as I have a new job so don't need to cycle to work).

While the most idiotic behaviour I've seen has arguably come from cyclists, I have also seen some very considerate and good cyclists about. Likewise for cars (and I cover a lot of miles, I see a LOT of cretins on the road, particularly middle lane drivers who reduce 3 or 4-lane motorways to 2-lane motorways... thanks, idiots).

As with all things in life, there are good and bad examples. Don't hate all cyclists because many are cretins. Just hate the cretins.

[tomjackson]

I cycle and drive so If I'm driving past a bike I always give the bike plenty of room and when I'm on my bike I don't go through red lights and try to at least get somewhere close to the highway code rules.  I remember riding home from work one day, minding my own business and a car had to wait behind me for 20 seconds or so.  When it past the female driver and her kid who was about 6 were both giving me the w**ker sign. You can tell that lots of drivers hate cyclists as some purposefully get as close to you as possible or in crawling traffic come as close in to the left as possible so you can't pass.  Becuase of this attitude by some drivers you end up having to be more agressive as a cyclist just as a measure of self preservation. 

But with regards to pedestrians I don't have much trouble when cycling.  Don't ride on the pavement and stop at crossings, it's pretty easy.  But I do get somef tuts when out on my mountain bike.  I don't go down footpaths but when on bridalways walkers often scowl as you go past, even though you have slowed down and been courteous.

The thing that really gets on my nerves when driving though is cyclists riding 2 wide on busy roads, holding up all the traffic.  That should be a criminal offence!

[Philly Q]

A cyclist friend of mine told me the reason he sometimes runs red lights is simply to get ahead of the cars and buses so as not to get too badly caught up in traffic. 

Obvious really, but I hadn't thought of it (I'm not brave enough to cycle on London roads!!).  And not a problem provided there are no pedestrians trying to cross the road at the same time!

[Ian Price]

The thing that really gets on my nerves when driving though is cyclists riding 2 wide on busy roads, holding up all the traffic.  That should be a criminal offence!

+1

The other thing that really gets my goat is when cyclists use the main road when there is a cycle path running alongside it! This happens often in Reading on the A33 relief road that links up to the M4. There is a very very wide cycle path that runs alongside the entire stretch of road (probably 3 or 4 miles) but cyclists insist on using the road and as a result clog up the traffic.

This is the only time that I will tut at cyclists (although I don't give the w&nker sign)

[Madsakre]

A cyclist friend of mine told me the reason he sometimes runs red lights is simply to get ahead of the cars and buses so as not to get too badly caught up in traffic. 

I bet that he listen to music while he rides too.
What a bad excuse. What about the cars from the other direction. If he gets distracted just once, then he's going to be hit by a car riding 50 km/h.

[Ratrod]

I don't support any killing, even of cyclists. Here in Holland it would ask serious dedication, since there are more cyclists than flies. Btw, they're protected very well by the law. If you as a cardriver hit one, no matter the situation, it's always mainly your fault, even in the dark when they bike without any light.

And that gives them the 'I can do whetever the f*ck I want' attitude.

It should be the other way around.

Same for dangerous driving motorists. Take out the airbags and seat belts and put a big, sharp metal spike on the steering wheel.

[MisterMuncher]

Bad cyclists are a menace, and make us decent ones who know and apply the law look like c--ks too.

[AndyR]

I definitely wouldn't say "kill them all", but I do think it should be made legal (or even compulsory) for pedestrians to knock a cyclist off his/her bike if he/she is riding on the pavement. A well-placed walking stick in the back wheel should do it.

On the rude and thoughtless cyclists, though... well, there's rude and thoughtless drivers as well, and rude and thoughtless pedestrians for that matter.

And there's definitely rude and thoughtless planners. What fekwit puts a cycle-way through a pedsetrian area in such a way that three different cyclists can think that three different parts of the area are now their exclusive "right-of-way" and everyone else should get lost? Come tw@t-hour (rush hour for cyclists) there is not one single piece of ground a pedestrian can walk on without being scowled at, shouted at, or deliberately "buzzed" (cycled at and then swerved round at the last minute) by a cyclist.

No, I don't say "kill 'em all...", but I'm very much afraid that I would probably stand by and watch without making any effort to intervene if someone decided to give it a go.

[dave_mc]

On the rude and thoughtless cyclists, though... well, there's rude and thoughtless drivers as well, and rude and thoughtless pedestrians for that matter.

+1

What annoys me is that when i'm driving i seem to be watching out for pedestrians, and when i'm a pedestrian i seem to be watching out for the drivers and cyclists (i don't cycle, too dangerous :lol: ).

Still, i guess it's worth it if it means i avoid being in an accident. but it's very tiring :lol: EDIT: not saying i'm an amazing driver or anything, or that i've never done anything stupid, but at least i'm on the watchout, kind of thing.

[Matt77]

Can't we all just learn to live together in peace and harmony?
Except for the lorry drivers of course.................don't get me started on the one that nearly rammed me off the road today.  :?

[richard]

I was very angry when I started this thread having had yet another narrow escape from the Gods on Two Wheels who can do No Wrong. Obviously, I don't really want to kill them all. Maybe just lop off two or three limbs so they'll be more careful in future.

[_tom_]

Lorry drivers and white van men, they can definitely f uck off :lol:

Speaking of limbless cyclists, when I was in Canada I saw a one-legged road rider a few times. He was a beast, still really fast.

[FredD]

Slightly off topic, transport/road safety common sense relative....
Bus drivers and Taxi drivers, seem to have thier own version of 'The Highway Code'.
In particular when pulling out from a 'parked/loading-unloading position', their code must read :
"Indicate but don't look" or "Signal, Manoever, and Mirror if you like".... :shock:

[Ian Price]

Lorry drivers and white van men, they can definitely f uck off :lol:

Indeed they can. I was trying to leave work today (in my car) when a lovely white van man decided it would be funny to block me in. The traffic light had gone red about 20 metres in front of him and rather than wave me through to the lane on the other side of him (it was obvious that was where I was going due to my indicators and road position) he slowly pulled up so that I couldn't get past.

Him and his neanderthal tw@t of a mate obviously thought it was funny and I reckon they were looking for a reaction from me so they had justification to get angry about something. Cretins.

[Johnny Mac]

I fall into a few road using categories. Motor Bike rider, Car Driver, Lorry Driver & sometimes Cyclist. I can see these arguments from different view points. Everyone has the right to use the road providing they do so in a safe manner ect. When I've been on a Motor Bike, Car drivers can be a nightmare, as can Peds, in Central London, when I worked as a Dispatch Rider,  they tend step off the pavement without looking or are aware what they're doing but don't give a shite anyway. In a Lorry in London, you need eyes in the back of your head. I give Cyclists, Motor Bikes all the room they need and don't get right up behind them as this is intimidating. 9 times out of 10 a Cyclist will give you a wave for giving them time/room. Sometimes though all my good intentions can get flung back at you. In Summer when Cyclists are in high numbers in London, turning left in a Lorry can be very testing. I've had indicators on well before junctions and they still undertake you despite campaigns aimed at Lorry drivers to take extra care to look out for them. I've even been given the finger been told to $%&# off ect. So I use the air horns as I'm turning in short bursts to basically stop them from going under the wheels, but they don't like it.  I don't think they understand how much room a Lorry needs to make a turn. You need to take them wide so your arse end doesn't mount the kerb and run people over on the pavement or run parked cars over but Cyclists will nip up the inside of your Lorry. I wouldn't dream of doing that on my bike. A lot of car drivers treat Cyclists badly. I've not had any problems but i did on my Motorbike and have plenty of scars to prove it. My brother Cycles everywhere and he had a bloke confront him over him thinking he was getting in his way. When he Squared up to him the car driver shat himself and drove off with a flea in his ear and his tail between his legs.
There's good and bad in all road users.
What can you do eh!