Aggressive cyclist

T-Square

I've never driven past such a tool in all my life.

A guy cycling along, decides to give me the middle finger,
because I passed him in the car

I didn't pass him initially, because he was far from that curb
that it wasn't safe to do so due to on coming traffic.

What is up with that kind behaviour?

Considering he was on a decent bike, and had the lycra,
a slightly more professional attitude would be expected,
especially as my driving had been considerate. I'm a cyclist, and biker myself.

x in the city

wouldnt lose sleep over it tbh

sexpot

Reads like a poem

Stark

T-Square wrote: »

What is up with that kind behaviour?

Probably didn't have the facility to switch his lights to high beams to denounce your audacity in overtaking him. I wouldn't worry about it.

Gavin

Some people are just assholes. Get over it, why post this ?

T-Square

You give me a reason for not posting, first.

dave.obrien

Firstly, I do think that the guy sounds like a bit of a pr**k, there's no need for stupid rudeness.

On the other hand, if we were all to post every example of a road users rudeness towards us, we'd probably not end up finding out about anything else, such as the best place to get cake, or how many flavours lindt have. The guy, while being a spanner, didn't do anything dangerous, just something annoying.

Mmm... chocolate

Lumen

T-Square wrote: »

You give me a reason for not posting, first.

OK.

He didn't give you the finger because you overtook him. That would be ridiculous - he'd have to do the same to hundreds of people on a single ride.

He presumably did it because he thought you did something wrong. Maybe you did, maybe you didn't, maybe he's an idiot, maybe not. We have no way of knowing, since he's not here to give his account.

So, with respect, this thread is pointless. If you wanted to know why he gave you the finger you should have asked him at the time.

Paul Kiernan

Out of curiousity, where'd it happen? How wide was the road?

I was driving from Lusk to Blakes Cross last Monday week. It's a narrow, windy, busy stretch. A guy on a nice road bike was cycling along, keeping 6 inches from the verge so the traffic could squeeze past even with oncoming traffic. The cars in front all passed him, but out of respect I slowed waiting for a gap the other way so I could allow plenty of room. But a gap didn't come. So I'm crawling behind him, probably pissing him off, certainly pissing off the growing queue of cars behind me. Still no gap. Eventually decide I've got to just squeeze by too.

Now, if he'd given me the finger I'd probably have stopped and shook his hand.

T-Square

Sounds like what happened.

And you know what, if I'd stopped I'd have shaken the guys hand too.

Either way I'm over it.

DirkVoodoo

I consider "flipping the bird" the cycling equivalent of beeping, do you get upset every time you get beeped at?

sesna

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I consider "flipping the bird" the cycling equivalent of beeping, do you get upset every time you get beeped at?

I always beep to warn someone of something. If their interchangable, I should just start flipping them the bird.

Maybe cyclists should attach air horns to their bikes...

abcdggs

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I consider "flipping the bird" the cycling equivalent of beeping, do you get upset every time you get beeped at?

I dont know about you but i always get upset when someone uses their horn on me

Guessing you didnt go to goldsprints then

Barname

the last cyclist that flipped me proceeded to rearend my car broke some teeth, dislocate his shoulder and damaged a rim

I called the relevant authority and to make a long story short the guy had to pay me for a cracked light and paint touch up

I was kind enough not to report his roadrage....

DirkVoodoo

abcdggs wrote: »

I dont know about you but i always get upset when someone uses their horn on me

Guessing you didnt go to goldsprints then

Finished eating right around match time so stayed at home to watch it, then headed into town to meet my friends. I had missed the start at this stage and the lads weren't moving anywhere so I didn't go. Got a text from Pete though, didn't sound too good and I felt a bit bad not being there to relieve him of the title of "worst placed boardsie".

Also added another 24km of cycling onto today, argh!

abcdggs

Did he not win the last gold sprints?

DirkVoodoo

I best let him explain it, I don't know the full story.

PrettyBoy

I see this kind of thing every day. Not as extreme in most cases but a lot of cyclists, like a lot of drivers, are ignorant pricks that think they own the road and have no consideration for anyone else.

Personally, I have no time for cyclists who think they have the right of way in every situation. No mirrors, no licence plate (and no lights a lot of the time), swerving out in front of cars, running red lights and stop signs - WTF are they doing on the roads??

BostonB

If you were driving for example a tractor unless you are a complete muppet you'd pull in and let traffic pass, where appropriate. If you'er behind the tractor, and decide to over take dangerously, you are also a muppet.

Doesn't matter what your driving.

DirkVoodoo

PrettyBoy wrote: »

Personally, I have no time for cyclists who think they have the right of way in every situation. No mirrors, no licence plate (and no lights a lot of the time), swerving out in front of cars, running red lights and stop signs - WTF are they doing on the roads??

No, really, I am utterly puzzled.

PrettyBoy

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

No, really, I am utterly puzzled.

Why is that? Not sure how much clearer I can make it?

RobFowl

PrettyBoy wrote: »

I see this kind of thing every day. Not as extreme in most cases but a lot of cyclists, like a lot of drivers, are ignorant pricks that think they own the road and have no consideration for anyone else.

Personally, I have no time for cyclists who think they have the right of way in every situation. No mirrors, no licence plate (and no lights a lot of the time), swerving out in front of cars, running red lights and stop signs - WTF are they doing on the roads??

You forgot the motor tax road tax

And the lack of a driving cycling licence :rolleyes:

Captain Havoc

RobFowl wrote: »

You forgot the motor tax road tax

And the lack of a driving cycling licence :rolleyes:

He's two days late

I'd say Tim is about orgasm knowing where this thread could possibly be going.

If anyone has a problem with cyclists they should report it to the gardaí, nobody here is going to do anything for you or give a monkeys if you are taking an anti-cyclist stance. I think you really have too much faith in humanity and should realise that there are arseholes everywhere, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. You need villians to have heroes

Beasty

Captain Havoc wrote: »

You need villians to have heroes

And we have our very own Super Hero to root out and deal with these evil villains...

...he's brave, he's bold, he's fast, he's...



...TimAllenCaptain Havoc

DirkVoodoo

I'll break it down for you, it's not a clarity issue rather your understanding of driving that puzzles me:

PrettyBoy wrote: »

Personally, I have no time for cyclists who think they have the right of way in every situation.

What does this mean? You still have a duty of care, whether or not you "have time" is immaterial. I actually wonder sometimes, if you were to analyse the driving time lost to traffic jams, waiting at lights, bad weather, breakdowns, accidents, etc. where "delayed by cyclists" would rank on this list. Much like the 30 km/hr limit, people seem to get worked up about the smallest things.

PrettyBoy wrote: »

No mirrors, no licence plate

You are talking about a bike that you pedal right? They don't have mirrors normally and aren't required by law to have any. Yeah a lot of people don't bother looking around, funnily enough I see similar stuff when I drive.

As for license plates, why should a mode of transport bound under common law require a license plate, they don't have license or registration systems for bikes. Like I said, utterly puzzling. Should pedestrians be branded with numbers also, maybe on their wrists....oh no wait, I think some guy tried that before, didn't end well.

PrettyBoy wrote: »

swerving out in front of cars - WTF are they doing on the roads??

I left out the "no lights, red lights, stop signs" bit because this is the only thing you wrote that makes any sense. I haven't seen too many bikes swerve out in front of cars if I'm honest. I have seen wobbly cyclists if that's what you are referring to. Given the relative speed difference between a car travelling at 50-60 km/hr and a cyclist travelling around 15-20 km/hr, swerving, as you put it, would result in a lot of accidents of the type we don't see.

Look, you're young, you probably haven't been driving too long (4 years maybe) but in your eyes there is untapped potential there and you must have missed your calling as an F1 driver. You never make mistakes and your upshifts are perfect. Driving fast is good. I just hope your arrogance doesn't cause an accident someday. They are just f**king bikes after all, get over it.

Don't get me wrong, I like a rant as much as the next person, but I try and keep it to specific incidents. I've seen plenty of crap cyclists doing suicidal things, I've even done a few stupid things myself. But just remember you are the bigger guy on the road so give them a wide berth and don't do what I see a lot of young male drivers do and "try to teach them a lesson" by driving like an idiot.

petethedrummer

PrettyBoy wrote: »

WTF are they doing on the roads??

Cycling.

coolbeans

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I'll break it down for you, it's not a clarity issue rather your understanding of driving that puzzles me:



What does this mean? You still have a duty of care, whether or not you "have time" is immaterial. I actually wonder sometimes, if you were to analyse the driving time lost to traffic jams, waiting at lights, bad weather, breakdowns, accidents, etc. where "delayed by cyclists" would rank on this list. Much like the 30 km/hr limit, people seem to get worked up about the smallest things.




You are talking about a bike that you pedal right? They don't have mirrors normally and aren't required by law to have any. Yeah a lot of people don't bother looking around, funnily enough I see similar stuff when I drive.

As for license plates, why should a mode of transport bound under common law require a license plate, they don't have license or registration systems for bikes. Like I said, utterly puzzling. Should pedestrians be branded with numbers also, maybe on their wrists....oh no wait, I think some guy tried that before, didn't end well.



I left out the "no lights, red lights, stop signs" bit because this is the only thing you wrote that makes any sense. I haven't seen too many bikes swerve out in front of cars if I'm honest. I have seen wobbly cyclists if that's what you are referring to. Given the relative speed difference between a car travelling at 50-60 km/hr and a cyclist travelling around 15-20 km/hr, swerving, as you put it, would result in a lot of accidents of the type we don't see.

Look, you're young, you probably haven't been driving too long (4 years maybe) but in your eyes there is untapped potential there and you must have missed your calling as an F1 driver. You never make mistakes and your upshifts are perfect. Driving fast is good. I just hope your arrogance doesn't cause an accident someday. They are just f**king bikes after all, get over it.

Don't get me wrong, I like a rant as much as the next person, but I try and keep it to specific incidents. I've seen plenty of crap cyclists doing suicidal things, I've even done a few stupid things myself. But just remember you are the bigger guy on the road so give them a wide berth and don't do what I see a lot of young male drivers do and "try to teach them a lesson" by driving like an idiot.

BOOM!

Paul Kiernan

Barname wrote: »

the last cyclist that flipped me proceeded to rearend my car broke some teeth, dislocate his shoulder and damaged a rim

I called the relevant authority and to make a long story short the guy had to pay me for a cracked light and paint touch up

I was kind enough not to report his roadrage....

How did that happen? Did you brake? Had you passed him out?

sesna

PrettyBoy wrote: »

I see this kind of thing every day. Not as extreme in most cases but a lot of cyclists, like a lot of drivers, are ignorant pricks that think they own the road and have no consideration for anyone else.

Personally, I have no time for cyclists who think they have the right of way in every situation. No mirrors, no licence plate (and no lights a lot of the time), swerving out in front of cars, running red lights and stop signs - WTF are they doing on the roads??

How dare you criticise cyclists. They are morally superior to motorists.

DirkVoodoo

sesna wrote: »

How dare you criticise cyclists. They are morally superior to motorists.

Haha, so funny! I think the joke works because you brilliantly highlighted how mutually exclusive the two choices are. I remember when I bought my first bike, they asked for my driver's license and tore it up in front of me. The moral superiority didn't come till I wheeled the bike out of the shop.

Seriously, grow up.

Captain Havoc

*waits for we are the cyclists video to make an entrance*

emtroche

This was the last post when i had a look at this thread yesterday

T-Square wrote: »

Sounds like what happened.

And you know what, if I'd stopped I'd have shaken the guys hand too.

Either way I'm over it.

Finding it kinda funny that the thread is still going to be honest!

RobFowl

Captain Havoc wrote: »

*waits for we are the cyclists video to make an entrance*

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2008/monkey-dust-cyclists-p1.php

Redjeep!

What exactly is the OP expecting by posting this ?

Is he looking for everybody on this forum to defend the cyclist ? Well we're all cyclists after all so he must have been in the right. Wrong. Just as you probably don't always defend every other driver on the road, we won't defend every other cyclist.

Comments like "They (cyclists) are morally superior to motorists" and reopening the argument about motor tax and driving licenses because a cyclist gave you the finger. Jeezus christ are you just bored and looking for a fight?

Nobody knows why he gave you the finger, and really don't care. Maybe you were riding up his @rse for the past 20 minutes or maybe you passed so close to him that he felt threatened. Maybe he's just a d!ickhead.

Without the full story, nobody knows what happened. Get over it.

Just for the record. A cycling friend of mine was knocked of his bike today by a car that pushed him of a roundabout by driving so close that he would have hit him had he not taken evasive action.
This guy is a very experienced cyclist of 'mature' age and one of the most passive guys I know. I've not gone onto the motoring forum and called all motorists w@nkers because of it, because I don't see all drivers as one amorphous group. There's good and bad.

You need to develop your powers of perception and appreciate that there's a whole range of different people, some drive cars, some ride bikes, some walk and some do all three.

They're not all the same because they drive, cycle or walk.

DirkVoodoo

Argh, I know I shouldn't get involved again, but your story about the roundabout just reminded of something that happens to me on my saturday morning rides out to Dundrum for boards spins. I used to go N11, longer but safer. Now I go through Sandyford and the roundabout is awful, no provisions for cyclists without putting your life in mortal danger or getting off and walking.

All I do is signal, move into the right lane and go around as if I'm a car, fine enough, I'm not as fast but a bike can go round a roundabout faster than you would think and in the end everyone is delayed by maybe 5 seconds. This might be a problem if you were racing an F1 circuit, not so bad on a saturday morning. The last time some silly **** went into the inside lane to leave at the same exit as me, the 3rd exit. This is highly dangerous (a car going straight could plow into her) and when you have a car right beside you behaving unpredictably it can be a bit terrifying.

Anyway, rant over, no damage done. I rolled up beside her at the lights in the industrial estate, looked over and started shaking my head. I doubt she had a clue how dangerous that particular maneuver was.

concussion

Do you mean you were in the right hand lane (closest to the centre of the roundabout) and she was in the lane to your left? Just confused over inside/outside lanes on roundabout as it would seem to be opposite to that of a normal road.

If so, a similar thing happened me last night, took the third exit in the right lane but as I was exiting the car which had been tailgaiting me tried to go the whole way around in the left lane!!! Only for checking over my left shoulder I would have thought he was following me into my exit - and I was in a car!

DirkVoodoo

Yes, same thing, I made an image

I'm the green arrow. Just to highlight how much of an arse I try not to be, I use the inadequate off road cycle path on my good road bike so I don't inconvenience anyone. I rejoin the road then at the estate before the turn for leopardstown (not on map). The red is the silly driver.



1) Potential car crash between cars going straight through roundabout from the right hand lane where I am.

2) This is where the car pulled up alongside me, trying to nudge ahead of me as the exit has only one lane.

3) This is the exit we are both taking. Total delay to driver, I reckon less than 5 seconds had she stayed behind me. Instead she drives irresponsibly and cuts me off. Nice.

concussion

Utter twattery. Assertive positioning and lots of glaring seems to keep most of the offenders behind me but there's always one.

tunney

Barname wrote: »

the last cyclist that flipped me proceeded to rearend my car broke some teeth, dislocate his shoulder and damaged a rim

I called the relevant authority and to make a long story short the guy had to pay me for a cracked light and paint touch up

I was kind enough not to report his roadrage....

So you overtook someone, slammed on the brakes and then seriously injured another road user and then brag about it?

WhisperingDeath

+1

That short of sh*t if reprehensible - that sort of thing could and should land you in jail

dave.obrien

@ DirkVoodoo, that is a really horrible roundabout. I go through that on my way to Orwell spins and then normally have to deal with the hellish one up towards the M50 exit for Dundrum Town Centre where I have to go straight through to get back to the industrial estate, the two worst parts of any spin.

blorg

tunney wrote: »

So you overtook someone, slammed on the brakes and then seriously injured another road user and then brag about it?

In fairness to him he didn't say he did that, I took the two to be unconnected. The cyclist certainly would be unlikely to be paying for the repairs if he deliberately slammed on the brakes.

blorg

@DirkVoodoo, I know that roundabout well and it is a nightmare all right, frequently have drivers swerving across me to take an exit when I am continuing on the roundabout. Just have to be assertive but ready to brake if this happens.

Jawgap

Barname wrote: »

the last cyclist that flipped me proceeded to rearend my car broke some teeth, dislocate his shoulder and damaged a rim

I called the relevant authority and to make a long story short the guy had to pay me for a cracked light and paint touch up

I was kind enough not to report his roadrage....

I know I should know better not to post on these threads, but what the hell:)

There seems to be a disturbing sutext to this message that suggests Barname thinks the cyclist got his comeuppance - I'm not sure broken teeth and a separated shoulder are exactly what someone deserves for displaying a mildly offensive gesture?

Likewise it doesn't seem to have entered the OP's head that maybe the original gesture wasn't directed at him?

Hermy

Possibly off topic but I've just spotted this thread and thought I'd give the flip side to what happened the OP.
A few weeks ago I was driving down Carrickbrack Road in Howth and had to slow down when I caught up with a cyclist going in the same direction as me at a narrow spot in the road. When the road widened I indicated, passed the cyclist and headed on my way. As I passed him he waved, presumably acknowledging my patience which I thought was pretty decent of him considering I was only doing what I'm supposed to do.
My point is just that it's not all bad out there.

Lumen

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Yes, same thing, I made an image

I'm the green arrow. Just to highlight how much of an arse I try not to be, I use the inadequate off road cycle path on my good road bike so I don't inconvenience anyone. I rejoin the road then at the estate before the turn for leopardstown (not on map). The red is the silly driver.

...

1) Potential car crash between cars going straight through roundabout from the right hand lane where I am.

2) This is where the car pulled up alongside me, trying to nudge ahead of me as the exit has only one lane.

3) This is the exit we are both taking. Total delay to driver, I reckon less than 5 seconds had she stayed behind me. Instead she drives irresponsibly and cuts me off. Nice.

It's been a long while since I passed my test, but ISTR that:

(a) It is acceptable (even required unless roads marked otherwise) to use the left hand lane for going straight on. I'm not sure whether the turn you both used counts as "straight on" or not, but it's not clear cut that the driver used the wrong lane.

(b) When using the inner lane on a roundabout, it is the responsibility of the road user cutting across the outer lane (in this case, you) to only do so if your exit is clear. If the exit is not clear, you should continue round the roundabout and try again.

It seems possible that from the drivers perspective you were in the wrong.

From my own experience as a new driver (some years ago) roundabouts are more difficult the slower you go. Above a certain speed they become much easier to navigate.

I could, of course, be completely wrong on these issues. It's a bit hazy.

I find whenever this happens (usually with motorists, only once with a cyclist) the best thing to do is to politely ask them would they like to have a chat about it. Anyone who feels it necessary to abuse a fell road user with handsigns and abuse is 99% of the time a handbag that sh**e themselves at the thought of actually getting out.

Before Christmas in a bank car park in Galway I was parked illegally (along with 15 other cars, placed was jammed), when I returned to the car two lads in a van waited till I got in then one of them started pointing at his head to signify I was brain dead, I calmly got out and approached the van, at which point the two tough guys started locking their doors and rolling up their windows :rolleyes: Asked him did he have a problem, he gave me some crap about parking where I had parked, I said yes, I shouldn't park there but I am in no ones way, also mentioned life is bad enough without pr1cks like him going around antagonising people. He kept on about the parking so I asked him would he like to get out and talk about it, no he said. I went back to my car and as I drove off they both give me the middle finger, what a pair of handbags :rolleyes:

Some day I may regret my course of action but I'm willing to risk it

DirkVoodoo

Lumen wrote: »

It's been a long while since I passed my test, but ISTR that:

(a) It is acceptable (even required unless roads marked otherwise) to use the left hand lane for going straight on. I'm not sure whether the turn you both used counts as "straight on" or not, but it's not clear cut that the driver used the wrong lane.

Technically it is the 3rd exit. There is an exit before the one for the M50 although I think it is into a business park or a private area. My point is, I drive this way regularly and no one does this when I drive. I go around the roundabout pretty quick on the bike, I'm not plodding along at 10 km/hr so in my view it's just plain rude to try and "race" me around. If I end up trying to second guess them and wondering are they going to continue onto Brewery road exit because they are that rude. In which case I may end up braking and the car behind me might plow into the back of me. The only solution is to bunny hop the roundabout.

Also, ROTR state that if leaving by the third or subsequent exit, you must be in the lane I was in.

blorg

RoverJames wrote: »

Before Christmas in a bank car park in Galway I was parked illegally

You want to watch that, a cyclist is likely to plow into the back of you.

brianthebard

T-Square wrote: »

I didn't pass him initially, because he was far from that curb
that it wasn't safe to do so due to on coming traffic.

Sounds like you were trying to skim past him rather than pass him out properly by crossing the white line completely. If this was the case I can understand why he might flip you off, although it happens so often that my middle finger would get tired if I flipped off everyone who does this, so maybe they were exceptionally angry this morning.

concussion

Third exit (plus just past 12 o clock) so definately the correct lane choice. If the car had entered from the same road they would be in the incorrect lane if they were on the left. If they had entered on a subsequent road they should be in the left lane.

As Lumen says, if you can't move into the left lane you should continue around BUT for the car to block you off they have overtaken you on the left and that's illegal when aproaching a junction.