Cyclist, another close call today

DeeGee

Member
Location
North East Wales
No matter what we drive or ride, courtesy and common sense from all parties is usually all that is required.
I try to use both whether driving a tractor or a car. When I used to ride a bike I hope I did likewise.

One thing I do admit to doing however is repaying the very occasional overtly arrogant and inconsiderate cyclists who insist on riding two or three abreast and holding me up on lanes and B roads, by just staying behind them after they have eventually seen fit to give a quick hand signal to pass them.

I just stay behind them, and I stay behind them Sir, and they don’t like it Captain Mainwaring, they do not like it Sir when I stay behind them you see Sir. But they can get as annoyed as they like Sir, just as I have been annoyed Sir, very annoyed indeed you see Sir, sitting behind them for miles while they choose to be ignorant pillocks holding up traffic just because they have the right to ride two abreast and sod everyone else.

They don’t like it at all, but if that arrogant minority of cyclists want to hold up everyone else, then just sitting on their tail for a mile or two, if you have the time, is a wonderfully legal method of payback with compound interest.
 

Pie face

Member
No matter what we drive or ride, courtesy and common sense from all parties is usually all that is required.
I try to use both whether driving a tractor or a car. When I used to ride a bike I hope I did likewise.

One thing I do admit to doing however is repaying the very occasional overtly arrogant and inconsiderate cyclists who insist on riding two or three abreast and holding me up on lanes and B roads, by just staying behind them after they have eventually seen fit to give a quick hand signal to pass them.

I just stay behind them, and I stay behind them Sir, and they don’t like it Captain Mainwaring, they do not like it Sir when I stay behind them you see Sir. But they can get as annoyed as they like Sir, just as I have been annoyed Sir, very annoyed indeed you see Sir, sitting behind them for miles while they choose to be ignorant pillocks holding up traffic just because they have the right to ride two abreast and sod everyone else.

They don’t like it at all, but if that arrogant minority of cyclists want to hold up everyone else, then just sitting on their tail for a mile or two, if you have the time, is a wonderfully legal method of payback with compound interest.
Anyone noticed a theme here?
 

slackjawedyokel

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Northumberland
It isn’t just cyclists. I think that a minority of folks that use the road for exercise seem to think they have automatic priority over all other road users and that this means they don’t have to give any consideration to anyone else when engaged in their activity of choice. This includes cyclists, walkers and joggers.

I’m hauling straw at the moment. There are a couple of narrow sections of road along the route, not much more than a car and a half of tarmac wide. Yesterday I was just coming towards the end of one of these narrow sections when, coming around the corner a jogger was just approaching the bit where the road narrows (headphones in, checking watch). She clocked me and kept coming. From my point of view, she was on the LHS (as she should be). There’s a wide grass verge on the LHS, no verge just hedge on the RHS so she could have stepped onto the verge and kept moving, but no - in the road she was going to keep going. I did the safest thing, which was to pull over to the right and stop as she jogged on.
Now, I’m not 100% sure off the top of my head who had priority but common courtesy would say that the person already in the narrow bit should be allowed to proceed. In reality the person bullying their way in and likely to get squished unless you give way to them that has priority.
 

Tomr10

Member
It isn’t just cyclists. I think that a minority of folks that use the road for exercise seem to think they have automatic priority over all other road users and that this means they don’t have to give any consideration to anyone else when engaged in their activity of choice. This includes cyclists, walkers and joggers.

I’m hauling straw at the moment. There are a couple of narrow sections of road along the route, not much more than a car and a half of tarmac wide. Yesterday I was just coming towards the end of one of these narrow sections when, coming around the corner a jogger was just approaching the bit where the road narrows (headphones in, checking watch). She clocked me and kept coming. From my point of view, she was on the LHS (as she should be). There’s a wide grass verge on the LHS, no verge just hedge on the RHS so she could have stepped onto the verge and kept moving, but no - in the road she was going to keep going. I did the safest thing, which was to pull over to the right and stop as she jogged on.
Now, I’m not 100% sure off the top of my head who had priority but common courtesy would say that the person already in the narrow bit should be allowed to proceed. In reality the person bullying their way in and likely to get squished unless you give way to them that has priority.
Dont get me started on runners that run on roads where these a path next to them w⚓
I was told years ago when approaching a road narrows where I had right of way, as a car didn't let me through you only have right away if someone gives it to you if they dont give you should as something may have caused them to not
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
The fact you are given a hard time in life does not compel or permit you to behave similarly. I too have been held up by or experienced other road users but I do not then emulate their behavior or get into a lather about it.

The roads today are extremely busy and very dangerous in my view. We all see extremely dubious driving or road use on a near daily basis which means those of us that constitute the remaining 95 percent of traffic need to be 110 percent road users.

I still think using a push bike on the roads today is staggeringly dangerous.
Following the EADT and EDP (local papers) on FB, the number of deaths on the road this last weekend , of all road user types , ages and road types is staggering. To every driver and road user, stay safe, considerate and aware whatever the alternative provocation or circumstances
 
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Grassman

Member
Location
Derbyshire
I have had exactly this issue and I was driving a van. A group of 10 ish cyclists going slowly due to ice patches and wet roads. Possibly 10 vehicles behind who all waited courteously till a nice straight slightly downhill bit of road. Numerous vehicles took the opportunity to get past. But the cyclists decided to split up and speed down the road leaving about 4 vehicles stuck on the wrong side of the road. Totally and utterly inconsiderate driving by the cyclists. Some cars tried to get back in lane but the cyclists wouldn't let them. Down at the roundabout further on the cyclists all were shouting abuse at the car drivers.
They were in the wrong to speed up!
 

hoff135

Member
Location
scotland
I have had exactly this issue and I was driving a van. A group of 10 ish cyclists going slowly due to ice patches and wet roads. Possibly 10 vehicles behind who all waited courteously till a nice straight slightly downhill bit of road. Numerous vehicles took the opportunity to get past. But the cyclists decided to split up and speed down the road leaving about 4 vehicles stuck on the wrong side of the road. Totally and utterly inconsiderate driving by the cyclists. Some cars tried to get back in lane but the cyclists wouldn't let them. Down at the roundabout further on the cyclists all were shouting abuse at the car drivers.
They were in the wrong to speed up!
yes but if there had been an accident who would have taken the blame?
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
Put £5 litre tax on road fuel, roads will become quieter, less pollution if we all cycled like only 70 years ago we would be a lot healthier.
I think it's a bit more than that. I agree to a point. More cycle lanes, stop the namby pamby attitude from the school authorities regarding cycling to school. A girlfriend of mine's Daughter in Holland just started High School and cycles 19km each way every day

This thread highlights how vulnerable certain classes of road user can be yet there are a minority of the said road users who act in a very cavalier manner with regard to their own safety

I'd still be devastated if I hurt a cyclist, horse rider, motorcyclist or whatever if I could have done anything to mitigate it. The number of road users in my area flying round country lanes well outwith their ability to stop is truly frightening as @Exfarmer and others often find out
 
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Grassman

Member
Location
Derbyshire
Blame in law is not always common sense.
I remember an incident where a taxi driver turning right hit an oncoming motorcycle and the rider died.
Investigations showed the motorcycle was doing over 70mph in a 30mph zone in rain and poor visibility and gave the taxi driver very little time to see the motorcycle.
But the taxi driver was ultimately to blame!
 

Robt

Member
Location
Suffolk
we had a very sad one last year. Young lad high on drink and drugs crossed the A14. He was hit. A lady in a car then hit his body again. A police car and an ambulance behind her also hit the body... It doesnt bear thinking about. The poor lady had it not been a police car behind her could have been prosecuted.
 

Pie face

Member
Could it be that the people on here that are allways having problems with cyclists, runners etc maybe need to be looking at their own driving behaviour. I drive now at least 20k miles a year and at one time did a lot more, I drive tractors, cars, vans on all types of roads and despite getting around a fair bit I just don't seem have these issues like you guys - maybe I'm just lucky? . Another thing is the golden rule that's seemingly forgoton these days is to drive so that you can allways stop in the distance you can see to be clear. If people drove like that a lot of accidents would be prevented.
 

SteveHants

Member
Livestock Farmer
I think it's a bit more than that. I agree to a point. More cycle lanes, stop the namby pamby attitude from the school authorities regarding cycling to school. A girlfriend of mine's Daughter in Holland just started High School and cycles 19km each way every day

This thread highlights how vulnerable certain classes of road user can be yet there are a minority of the said road users who act in a very cavalier manner with regard to their own safety

I'd still be devastated if I hurt a cyclist, horse rider, motorcyclist or whatever if I could have done anything to mitigate it. The number of road users in my area flying round country lanes well outwith their ability to stop is truly frightening as @Exfarmer and others often find out

Last time I was in Germany was when I was still a schoolkid and I was struck by all the cycle lanes, meaning it was safe to cycle pretty much anywhere. Some ran alongside roads, but others didn't, especially the ones between the little villages we stayed in.
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
Last time I was in Germany was when I was still a schoolkid and I was struck by all the cycle lanes, meaning it was safe to cycle pretty much anywhere. Some ran alongside roads, but others didn't, especially the ones between the little villages we stayed in.
I was brought up for the first 13 years of my life in Harlow New Town, a London overspill town. When I was 8 I'd cycle two miles along their network to get to Pets Corner to help Mr Wood with the livestock. There was a cycle lane and a footpath. Still plenty of broken glass on them even then sadly
 

Pie face

Member
I have had exactly this issue and I was driving a van. A group of 10 ish cyclists going slowly due to ice patches and wet roads. Possibly 10 vehicles behind who all waited courteously till a nice straight slightly downhill bit of road. Numerous vehicles took the opportunity to get past. But the cyclists decided to split up and speed down the road leaving about 4 vehicles stuck on the wrong side of the road. Totally and utterly inconsiderate driving by the cyclists. Some cars tried to get back in lane but the cyclists wouldn't let them. Down at the roundabout further on the cyclists all were shouting abuse at the car drivers.
They were in the wrong to speed up!
Suprise - bikes go faster down hill who would expect that? Also don't always assume the cyclists know you are there - they don't have rear view mirrors.
 

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