C'mon people! Share the road!

[incorrigible]

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20 ... video?lite

Every now and then I find myself in a position where a cyclist (usually a group of cyclists) absolutely will not move over to the side and let automobile traffic pass. In the USA, cyclists have the same rights as automobiles, and I suspect the cyclists that don't move over have a chip on their shoulder because SOME automobile driver at SOME point gave them trouble, and so, by association, they percieve all automobile drivers as bad, and should therefore have to follow along at 5 mph and kiss their behinds as they take their sweet time.

If I were the cyclist, I'd be considerate by moving over and letting the car go past. If I were the driver of the car, I'd grit my teeth and let this jerk cyclist have his way until it was safe to pass because I know that it's a no-win situation for me. I'm a middle-aged guy, not a hot young female, and so I can't get away with what she's doing.

It's a no-win situation for me because the cyclist is happy if he gets his way and keeps me behind him OR he's happy if he gets a reaction out of me, i.e., I beep the horn and yell at him. This guy is looking for a fight, and I don't feel like getting arrested by giving it to him.

I see instances of this all the time; no matter if it's pedestrian traffic, cyclist traffic, equine (horse) traffic, automobile traffic, skate-board traffic WHATEVER. There's one in every group that just doesn't want to share the road with any member of the other group. Even when it's walkers vs. runners. Some folks just think the world revolves around them.

I'm so glad I ride off-road and can therefore avoid inconsiderate people like this cyclist.

Stupid humans! I hate 'em! :evil: ....

....um, except for you guys, of course

In the inimitable words of one Mr. Rodney King: "WTF? Why can't we all just get along?"

OK, that's my rant. I'm done, thanks.

By the way, I'd sure like to get to know that feisty red-head! Wow! She's hot!

 

[gtRTSdh]

Having recently nearly been killed whilst doing 30 mph on my road bike by a massive 4x4 overtaking me towards a corner with oncoming traffic.

A couple of weeks before being squeezed so tightly into the inside of a left hand corner I had to beat on the car to warn them of my presence, unfortunately I didn't manage to cause any damage.

Last weekend, a big fat classless woman was hanging out of the passenger window of a golf window screaming abuse along the lines of, 'get off the road you're a f****** menace' at us.

I genuinely feel all vehicle drivers should have to redo their theory & practical test every year, failure of either would result in removal of licence pending retest, and I say that as a driver, living in Somerset where it seems most people can't manage more than 40mph down a straight road in perfect conditions in modern cars.

 

[Raging_Bulls]

The best way to survive as a cyclist, is to assume you are invisible and every other person on the road is either crazy, psychopatic or has just had a seizure.

As for me, I am a bit careful with some of my current bikes, but my previous Bulls has been (deliberately) slammed into so many cars that it was full of scratches, dents and other battle scars. I even had a handlebar strapped to the frame (using one of those pump holders that attaches to the bottle mounts), just in case. My Trek is heading in the same direction.

Basically the road is mine, the rest can have it when I'm done playing.

 

[incorrigible]

Granted, there are plenty of automobile drivers who are not only inconsiderate of others on the road, they're also downright dangerous as well. Again, they are usually people that think the world revolves around them. The truck driver you mentioned was definitely a jerk, and I’d say it’s a safe bet that the fat, loudmouthed woman has never been on a bicycle before, otherwise she would have kept her big fat yapper shut.

I understand when it’s not convenient for a cyclist to move over because I, too, am a cyclist. It’s those times when it is convenient and when the cyclist does not move over and keeps me waiting for several minutes that it gets to me.

I, for one, would never pass anyone (cyclist, pedestrian, horse, whatever) in an unsafe manner whether I was driving, cycling, or running, but then again, I’m only one guy. It would be nice if everyone on the planet was considerate, but sadly, that’s not the case.

I don’t know how you road-bikers find the courage to turn your back on some of the oblivious automobile drivers on the roads, especially nowadays when there are even more distractions than ever. It was bad enough when soccer moms were driving their behemoth SUVs while talking on their cellphones, but now you have 17-year-old inexperienced drivers texting while driving. Add booze or drugs into that mix, and it’s an accident waiting to happen.

When I did ride my MTB anywhere near traffic, it was always AGAINST traffic so I could see them coming at me. This gave me time to react, rather than be surprised by somebody that didn’t even see me. If there’s a sidewalk, I’m using it, and I’ll hop off the curb onto the street if there are pedestrians coming my way on the sidewalk, or I’ll stop and dismount on the sidewalk if oncoming automobile traffic prevents hopping off the curb. If the law prevents me riding against traffic, well, they have to catch me first, don’t they?

The best way to survive as a cyclist, is to assume you are invisible and every other person on the road is either crazy, psychopatic or has just had a seizure..

I totally agree. I assume that to be the case whether I’m cycling, driving, or running. If I expect the worst, I reason that I’ll never be disappointed.

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

I teach this shizzle. Riding 2 abreast (with the outside rider half a bikes length behind, not directly alongside) or even well out into the carriageway, is not only lawful but allows one to control the traffic flow around you. Once the flow speeds to the point that you can't keep up then move into single file and/or the primary position about a metre from the kerb. This keeps you out of the gutter but should still allow you to prevent to bulk of the spodes from suicidally squeezing past.

The typical car driver is very ignorant towards cyclists. On one course I had a student arrest a bus drive who had an attack of the verbals at the sight of cyclists riding 2 abreast. Funny, though it bolloxed that days training.

Conversely, the typical bike rider (I hesitate to call most of them cyclists) is woefully dangerous.

The world is full of arrissholes and the chosen mode of transport doesn't seem to correlate to the likelihood of them using the road like a class A chump.

 

[john]

Oh good, always enjoy this one.

In the USA, cyclists have the same rights as automobiles

And maybe why this is why they don't feel they need to jump into a ditch to expedite your passage.


Interesting case this one anyhow, as many agencies have picked up suspect there will be more to come when both parties are tracked down. The car seems able to pass without issue at the end of the clip on the BBC News > http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gl ... e-18057463

 

[makster]

Nice arse

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Shouldn't the motorist be knocked off for filming while driving?

 

[incorrigible]

And maybe why this is why they don't feel they need to jump into a ditch to expedite your passage.

I certainly don't expect anyone to jump into a ditch, and I apologize if I gave anyone that impression. As I said, "to move over...when it's convenient".

When motorcyclists come up behind me and I'm in a car, it's not inconvenient for me to move over to expedite their passage, and it's no hair off my behind to accomodate them. Likewise if I did have the gnads to ride a bike with my back to automobile traffic, I certainly wouldn't block automobile traffic if it were convenient for me to move over.

The world is full of arrissholes and the chosen mode of transport doesn't seem to correlate to the likelihood of them using the road like a class A chump.

Agreed. As for myself, however, I cannot bring myself to turn my back on a potentially lethal situation, and that is why I choose to ride against traffic if there is a curb that separates me from it. By being conscious and considerate of other people (pedestrians, automobile drivers, other cyclists, i.e., other human beings), I don't consider myself among that class of chumps.

If there is no curb, I won't take that route. That said, I realize that I am fortunate enough that I can choose whether or not to drive an automobile and am not forced to cycle a particular route in order to get where I want to go.

I wish I knew the solution to how to get people to cooperate and be considerate to one another; I only know what I can do for my own safety and for the safety of others near me.

Nice arse

Finally! Someone else noticed! I wish she was my girl.

 

[JeRkY]

Don't worry it happened in Gloschter.