Increased Aggression at Cyclists ?

ridertothesea

Am I correct in perceiving a noticebly increased aggression towards cyclists in recent times?

It seems every week now I'm getting abuse of some sort or other from other road users which is almost always totally unwarranted. In addition I see increased number of opinion articles in the media (usually incoherent bull**** -as seen in previous threads)

Why?
A presumption that we all break the law?
Are we seen as being somehow smug?
College Green Bus Gate and other restrictions?
Is it a perceived association with 'Green' politics?

Or is it just good 'ol Irish begrudgery?



R

Gavin

Haven't noticed

dub_skav

To be honest I haven't noticed any more aggression while I'm cycling. However, while driving I have noticed a lot more risky and plain stupid behaviour by drivers; dangerous overtaking, breaking lights etc.

Maybe it's just the time of year - lots of traffic, bad weather more road rage?

bcirl03

ridertothesea wrote: »

It seems every week now I'm getting abuse of some sort or other from other road users which is almost always totally unwarranted.

Can you give us an example when it would be warranted?

beans

That's odd, actually - I've seen a noticeable increase in kind acts over the past fortnight, cars letting me out at busy junctions, pulling out from the kerb when they see me in their mirrors and I'm in a bike-lane, that kind of thing.

Some people are always going to give out and rage against others, be it cyclists, motorists, breast-feeding mothers, whatever. All you can do on an individual level is not succumb to similar urges. I think that if one is behaving in a correct manner then they shouldn't have anything to worry about, but then, there's always an a$$hole lurking around the corner somewhere

I guess what I'm saying is, don't take it personally. Some people are just jerks

Beasty

I don't think I've experienced much aggression at all by motorists towards me in Ireland (although most of my commute is on country roads or a hard shoulder, and I cannot comment about city centre cycling). In fact, since it has been getting dark and I have been lit up like a christmas tree I am finding drivers are generally giving me a much wider berth than in broad daylight.

I generally feel that those drivers who do skim too close to me do this out of ignorance or error, rather than playing any games, and I can only recall one occasion where someone pipped their horn at me (at a time I was moving from 2 abreast to single line to let them past), and another when a passenger deliberately hung out of their window to smack me (on a Friday afrenoon, when they were probably drunk)

TheJones

Don't think there's been any increase in agression whatsoever but think there has been a significant increase in stupidity with both motorists and cyclists over the last few months and a complete lack of patience and consideration for each. As if injury and casualty rates were not high enough I and I'm sure most on boards have probably lost count of the number of near misses caused by both parties in recent weeks.

Why can't we all just get along, learn the ROR and be happy?

tunney

Arsonist wrote: »

i mostly see those cyclists who get abuse r the young people who go 2 or 3 side by side and those who stay in the middle of the road just so cars cant get past
i dont c a reason 4 abuse if your in the bike lane or even at the side of the road but with the economy getting worse it might just be there r more people on bikes

Is that you Tim?

Captain Havoc

I was actually going to post in the broomwagon there about how I cycled yesterday through rush hour in Dublin (have cycled many times this year out of rush hour)for the first time since I lived there away two and half years ago and I found it safer. Even the buses were going around me, now reading previous posts I do realise there's still bus drivers acting the maggot. Also Dublin cyclists appear to be far better lit and safer than here in Kilkenny. I only saw one instance of red light breaking. I did make a pigs ear of crossing there after the Customs House but a driver let me change lane, sound.
Also some really sound guy was going near where I was going to Lambs cross and guided me, gift

Bunnyhopper

Arsonist wrote: »

those who stay in the middle of the road just so cars cant get past

cos deliberately annoying people in cars is the only reason a cyclist would ever be in the middle of the lane... :rolleyes:

blorg

Car driver blatantly broke a red light on my way back last night. Crossroads with pedestrian crossings all green, he took that as a sign to just drive through. I was waiting behind him, had to wait all of 20 seconds for the light to change :rolleyes:

DePurpereWolf

I've noticed that car drivers start driving like idiots if the weather is bad.

The last couple of days have been pretty horrible here in Cork, so I don't understand why car drivers are being such aszholes on the road. It's like they need to drive fast because their car is getting wet. I just don't understand why they wouldn't slow down a bit when the weather is bad, instead they speed up.

Lumen

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

I've noticed that car drivers start driving like idiots if the weather is bad.

The last couple of days have been pretty horrible here in Cork, so I don't understand why car drivers are being such aszholes on the road. It's like they need to drive fast because their car is getting wet. I just don't understand why they wouldn't slow down a bit when the weather is bad, instead they speed up.

It's because the traffic gets worse when it rains, so people get frustrated and drive like twunts.

Húrin

No I haven't noticed any more aggression. I would blame extra aggression on darkness, and also coldness because the feel-good factor of warm weather has been taken away. I doubt anyone is stupid enough to think that all cyclists are Green party (and thus FF) supporters.

SleepDoc

Had'nt noticed and I cycle everywhere. Of course you get the odd idiot, but really, 99.9% of car drivers are grand. Having said that a taxi driver nearly side swiped me last week and told me I look like an old granny in my lycra?!

Bicyclegadabout

I actually am noticing an increased level of aggression toward cyclists.

But from what I can tell, it's only me myself who is having increased feelings of aggression toward them. No lights on the bike, weaving around, undertaking me when I've signalled that I'm turning left, roaring at motorists about stuff that's actually their own fault etc. etc., it's really bugging me.

I think the motoring public are coping pretty well with bad cycling habits, by and large.

It's all to do with the bad weather and the darkness though, as has been said. People start doing stupid things, and doing them more stupidly.

tunney

Bicyclegadabout wrote: »

I actually am noticing an increased level of aggression toward cyclists.

But from what I can tell, it's only me myself who is having increased feelings of aggression toward them. No lights on the bike, weaving around, undertaking me when I've signalled that I'm turning left, roaring at motorists about stuff that's actually their own fault etc. etc., it's really bugging me.

I think the motoring public are coping pretty well with bad cycling habits, by and large.

It's all to do with the bad weather and the darkness though, as has been said. People start doing stupid things, and doing them more stupidly.

Like turning the radio up, turning the heating up and switching off to the world and then wondering "Where the F*&K did that damn cyclist come from?"

Caroline_ie

I think a lot of people out there have bad vision without even kowing they do.

Eye tests should be mandatory every couple of year to keep a drivers licence.

emty

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I think a lot of people out there have bad vision without even kowing they do.

Eye tests should be mandatory every couple of year to keep a drivers licence.

Also for posting on the Boards

tomasrojo

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I think a lot of people out there have bad vision without even kowing they do.

Eye tests should be mandatory every couple of year to keep a drivers licence.

I remember working in a university and one of the lecturers used to drive students on field trips in a van. It was a well-established joke how bad his eyesight was and how he used to collide off street furniture.

Of course, it wasn't really funny at all and the department head should have forbidden him to drive until he got his eyes sorted.

LastGasp

Mostly stupidity, but I've only recently started commuting about 3 days/week, but over the last 2 days:

Blown out of it by a skip lorry for using the (edge of) road instead of crap Cycle path.

Approaching roundabout, passed by Micra which immediately took the first exit and almost took me out.

Crossing on Green through lights in the dark with High Vis and Fenix TK11, Audi coming other way turned right... almost blah blah ...

Commuted today on my "New" old Fixie. First time ever on one, remembered (mostly) to keep pedalling, thankfully managed not to get catapulted off, and all traffic behaved well. If I had to stop in a hurry I would have been in trouble !

godihatethehils

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I think a lot of people out there have bad vision without even kowing they do.

Eye tests should be mandatory every couple of year to keep a drivers licence.

I think drivers have quite enough red tape and regulations without throwing more eye tests into the mix...

tomasrojo

How often do drivers have their eyes tested?

I've had two full driver's licences and I've never had my eyes tested by the issuers. I've never really used either of the licences, but that's another story.

tomasrojo

I do remember something about a cert. from an optician. I don't remember whether that was required when renewing.

seamus

Drivers only need to have their eyes tested when they apply for their first provisional licence and then again when they're 70 (or something like that).

Which is insanity, really. I know of people who need glasses for clear vision but are stubborn about it and so don't wear them when they "don't have to", which for some reason includes driving simply because it doesn't say so on their licence.
There should be a mandatory re-test every time you renew, which is every ten years. That would do something at least.

I'm blind as a bat and I took my glasses off last night while a passenger in a car to see what it would be like. Just a big blur of lights and shades. I'd crash or kill someone within a couple of minutes if I didn't have my glasses. In fact, I think I'd have difficulty reversing out of my parking spot.

But yes, many if not most people are unaware that they may need glasses - deterioration in eyesight is very gradual and you will naturally compensate and adjust. It's only when you find yourself struggling to read something that someone else claims to be able to see perfectly that you'll notice there's a problem.

godihatethehils

Agreed, an eye test every time you reapply would be a reasonable requirement.

Stark

godihatethehils wrote: »

I think drivers have quite enough red tape and regulations without throwing more eye tests into the mix...

The only eye test I've ever had for a driving license was the one I took when getting my provisional. Didn't have to be retested when getting my full license and I haven't heard of anyone who's been retested when renewing. It's ridiculous to assume that an eye test someone took when they were 21 is still valid in their later decades. From personal experience: I'm slightly short sighted and while I can see fine in the daytime, at night-time I find it impossible to see people in dark clothes and the like and there's far more glare from oncoming lights if I'm not wearing my glasses. In fact I've nearly run into people on the footpaths out jogging at night without glasses if a car happens to be coming against me on the road.

Caroline_ie

When I lived in Canada it was a requirement everytime you had to renew your licence ( I can't remember how often you have to renew it though, but it was quite often ). You had to bring your glasses and do a quick eye test.

lukester

The old UK driving licenses remain valid until your 70th birthday. Conveniently, I have one.

Agree that sight tests should be ongoing though.

blorg

You need a medical only when you pass 70. I am not sure if this includes an eye test. Obviously for many people eyesight would begin to deteriorate well before this point.

mockler007

I haven't noticed it at all???
i had a poll on breaking red lights and the last time i looked it was 88% said they didnt,
I do notice the people that do are blow-ins to ireland on bikes they found in the canal, and alot of ladies break the lights wearing heels and no lid on them talking on the fone, any car drivers reading this please feel free to run them over aswell as fixie fcukheads 20points extra, I came from kimmage to Palmerstown today and bet a car over and the traffic wasn't bad at all!!! The two ladies kept looken at me. The i Should have cycled look..if your a bad cyclist you will get abuse, and i see it all the time

please feel free to punch fixie riders :rolleyes:

Stark

Add to that: car drivers should feel free to run over people who lack the faculties to type properly or form coherent sentences. Congratulations, you are the English language's answer to a fred.

mockler007

ridertothesea wrote: »

Am I correct in perceiving a noticebly increased aggression towards cyclists in recent times?

It seems every week now I'm getting abuse of some sort or other from other road users which is almost always totally unwarranted. In addition I see increased number of opinion articles in the media (usually incoherent bull**** -as seen in previous threads)

Why?
A presumption that we all break the law?
Are we seen as being somehow smug?
College Green Bus Gate and other restrictions?
Is it a perceived association with 'Green' politics?

Or is it just good 'ol Irish begrudgery?



Maybe your just a crap cyclist that cycles with his fone in his hand, his ipod on, a smoke in the other hand, you kid on the handle bars, wearing all black and wiggle and weave !!!

mockler007

Stark wrote: »

Add to that: car drivers should feel free to run over people who lack the faculties to type properly or form coherent sentences. Congratulations, you are the English language's answer to a fred.

you talking to me stark, here find attached a lovely bike i picked out just for you!

mmclo

I'd be in the "it's getting a lot better camp" I encounter a lot of giving way and waving through at junctions. So much so that it's a problem as have often slowed right down in high gear and look desperate trying to grind it up again quickly

blorg

To a certain extent I think you'll find your own behaviour will reflect your experience. If you cycle carefully and defensively you may experience less aggression... I find this to be the case anyway.

Of course there will always be the guys yelling out of cars, throwing eggs, leaning on the horn because you are stopped at a filter red, homicidal Dublin Bus drivers teaching lessons about cycle lane usage, etc. But in general I think if you cycle carefully and are calm yourself these will be more the exception than the rule.

BostonB

mmclo wrote: »

I'd be in the "it's getting a lot better camp" I encounter a lot of giving way and waving through at junctions. So much so that it's a problem as have often slowed right down in high gear and look desperate trying to grind it up again quickly

I'm getting a lot more wave throughs too.

concussion

Yep, things have been really good the last few weeks. So good I couldn't even get angry at the woman who passed me 20 feet before a Stop sign - I had to hit the brakes and ended up giving her rear left door a quick kick to let her know she was drifting to the left. The look of surprise on here face was priceless and let me know she realised how stupid she'd just been. Happy days recently, despite the terrible weather.


(Have I just summoned Tim? Does he run searches for door kicking, red light jumping and wing-mirror breaking?)

Raam

concussion wrote: »

(Have I just summoned Tim? Does he run searches for door kicking, red light jumping and wing-mirror breaking?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9dbAQJIu1o

ridertothesea

Well I guess in that case my experiences are not reflective of those of my cycling peers.

Yet I can respectfully assure you that I am not a "crap cyclist". :cool: I 'penned' the thread after a series of inicdents, the latest of which was on Monday. A driver pulled out of a side junction with merry disregard for me or the laws of physics - when I shook my head in restrained dissaproval he unleashed a most unholy and prolific string of abuse :eek: This wasn't an isolated incident.

Now I'm not saying that Irish driving has gotten any more dangerous. All I'm saying is that I sense a certain breed of people seem more willing to have a go at cyclists for some reason unknown to me.

For those that theorise that this is simply because i am a "crap cyclist" who cycles with iPhone in one hand, fag in the other & slapper holding a bag of spuds on the crossbar - how do you explain a similar trend in certain media articles?

Ridertothesea.

"Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not all out to get me."

SleepDoc

Just found this. It's good to be a superior form of transport.

http://www.bikeradar.com/fitness/article/fitness-33-reasons-to-cycle-23965

delta_bravo

What i have noticed in recent weeks is more and more stupid and inconsiderate cyclists. Men and women cycling around town in complete darkness and without lights or a helmet - its madness. And then people you overtake while cycling and then say you stop at a red light they stop ahead of you at the lights, that really annoys me because its just a waste of time and you have to overtake them again. Another thing i have noticed on windier day is a cyclist 'coasting' right behind another to get a handy cycle home even if they are more than capable of overtaking the cyclist

blorg

delta_bravo wrote: »

What i have noticed in recent weeks is more and more stupid and inconsiderate cyclists. Men and women cycling around town in complete darkness and without lights or a helmet - its madness. And then people you overtake while cycling and then say you stop at a red light they stop ahead of you at the lights, that really annoys me because its just a waste of time and you have to overtake them again. Another thing i have noticed on windier day is a cyclist 'coasting' right behind another to get a handy cycle home even if they are more than capable of overtaking the cyclist

Are you a self-hating cyclist?

cdaly_

Another thing i have noticed on windier day is a cyclist 'coasting' right behind another to get a handy cycle home even if they are more than capable of overtaking the cyclist

I see nothing wrong with that. Just yesterday I was pushing against the wind and overtook (among the many) a cyclist who looked like he wasn't enjoying it. He picked it up and tucked in behind me for about 10 min or so. Called a "Thanks for the tow" as we parted ways. Didn't cost me anything.

Another time, two of us did the Clontarf cycle path on the morming commute spelling each other in front. Mutual benefit and a bit of fun passing everyone else...

blorg

cdaly_ wrote: »

I see nothing wrong with that.

Like many things, it is fine- indeed a beautiful thing- but only if consensual.

Stark

How close do you have to be before it counts as coasting behind someone? I wouldn't go riding wheel to wheel with someone, but at the same time, I wouldn't go out of my way to maintain a triathlon style exclusion zone.

blorg

Stark wrote: »

How close do you have to be before it counts as coasting behind someone? I wouldn't go riding wheel to wheel with someone, but at the same time, I wouldn't go out of my way to maintain a triathlon style exclusion zone.

In the rules, it is quite far, 7 metres I believe. That is triathlon, the commuter racing rules are more relaxed, a metre is more than enough.

BostonB

delta_bravo wrote: »

...And then people you overtake while cycling and then say you stop at a red light they stop ahead of you at the lights, that really annoys me because its just a waste of time and you have to overtake them again. Another thing i have noticed on windier day is a cyclist 'coasting' right behind another to get a handy cycle home even if they are more than capable of overtaking the cyclist

I suspect you overtaking people, and them coasting you, are not unrelated.

Most of the people on my commute (in town anyway) are only going a short distance, and if they've passed me while stopped at the lights, or overtaken, then I think they are fair game for coasting. If its windy most of my route home is against the wind, on fairly open roads, canal/park. So I have no issues taking a tow for the first couple of km, as there'll be no opportunities for coasting the rest of the way. Anyone who knows what coasting is, is unlikely to tuck in being me on the mtb as I'd be going a lot slower than them. I get the odd commuter hanging on for a while, but anyone half fit on a road bike or fast hybrid wouldn't bother.