Peoples disregard for cyclists is worrying.. **Mod Warning Post #1**

Zyzz

Really only noticed it on my past few 50k+ cycles in and around Dublin city, from drivers in cars to people breaking/second guessing the lights to cross the road..

(Yes this thread was spurred by tonights 'interesting' cycle)

Mod Warning - repeat of post#49

OK, for those of you unfamiliar with it, this is the cycling forum. Anyone coming on here just to have general swipes at cyclists can expect appropriate disciplinary action

Thanks

Beasty

billyhead

Zyzz wrote: »

Really only noticed it on my past few 50k+ cycles in and around Dublin city, from drivers in cars to people breaking/second guessing the lights to cross the road..

(Yes this thread was spurred by tonights 'interesting' cycle)

True. I notice it a lot when cycling on rural roads. Ignorant motorists who rev the engine possibly out of frustration when passing you and not giving you enough room overtaking.

ck101

The one that gets me is after they overtake and have to stop at the next line of cars they pull in as close as possible to the kerb so you can't fit past. Happend to me twice today. Grrrr..

Cookie_Monster

That's cos they hate you for taking up their road space. Cyclist don't pay road tax doncha know

ManMade

Tried cycling bloody dangerous. Once I have the money it'll be a big suv with bull bars. Nobody will rev their engine at me out glare at me when the overtake me.

Firewalkwithme

Perhaps they are simply tired of trying to use a pedestrian crossing to get to their parked car (or any other destination) only to have a cyclist completely ignore the red light for road traffic and almost plow right into them and many other pedestrians as they attempt to cross the road?

Dermot Illogical

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

Perhaps they are simply tired of trying to use a pedestrian crossing to get to their parked car (or any other destination) only to have a cyclist completely ignore the red light for road traffic and almost plow right into them and many other pedestrians as they attempt to cross the road?

Yes! That's it! You're a genius.
Now go on away and congratulate yourself.

Deank

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

Perhaps they are simply tired of trying to use a pedestrian crossing to get to their parked car (or any other destination) only to have a cyclist completely ignore the red light for road traffic and almost plow right into them and many other pedestrians as they attempt to cross the road?

Have that every day crossing the road outside Heuston, pedestrian lights are green to cross, cars stop, cyclists however think they have a different rule , don't know how many times I've nearly been flattened, am surprised i have hauled one off a bike yet...:mad:

Praetorian Saighdiuir

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

Perhaps they are simply tired of trying to use a pedestrian crossing to get to their parked car (or any other destination) only to have a cyclist completely ignore the red light for road traffic and almost plow right into them and many other pedestrians as they attempt to cross the road?

Yeah thats the big problem out there isnt it.

A car/bus/van/truck is more dangerous to a cyclist than a cyclist to a pedestrian. Cyclists dont aim for pedestrians the way drivers aim for cyclists.

The only time I have nearly hit a pedestrian is when they have walked out in front of me at a red pedestrian light.

Dermot Illogical

Deank wrote: »

Have that every day crossing the road outside Heuston, pedestrian lights are green to cross, cars stop, cyclists however think they have a different rule , don't know how many times I've nearly been flattened, am surprised i have hauled one off a bike yet...:mad:

Make sure to post back when you do. We're all the same here so it'll teach us all a lesson.

Firewalkwithme

RT66 wrote: »

Yes! That's it! You're a genius.
Now go on away and congratulate yourself.

Yeah I expected a response such as this. Cyclists are only too happy to ignore basic rules of the road that inconvenience them and fail to see the double standards in their own arguments.

funnights74

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

That's cos they hate you for taking up their road space. Cyclist don't pay road tax doncha know

Cars don't pay road tax either, it's called motor tax. There is no such thing as "Road tax"

Zyzz

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

Perhaps they are simply tired of trying to use a pedestrian crossing to get to their parked car (or any other destination) only to have a cyclist completely ignore the red light for road traffic and almost plow right into them and many other pedestrians as they attempt to cross the road?

I never break red lights, I'll admit I go through some amber lights as I'd rather not skid and ruin my tyres. But on that note, today I had the green light (road traffic) and the pedestrian light was red, people continued to cross the road and I unfortunately collided with one of them. I have good breaks but even heavily pressed and with a skid I sent the person to the floor. There was no injuries, but still, as my thread title goes, just because I'm on a bike I don't get the same respect as a car?

Dermot Illogical

funnights74 wrote: »

There is no such thing as "Road tax"

Unlike sarcasm.

Deank

benwavner wrote: »

Yeah thats the big problem out there isnt it.

A car/bus/van/truck is more dangerous to a cyclist than a cyclist to a pedestrian. Cyclists dont aim for pedestrians the way drivers aim for cyclists.

The only time I have nearly hit a pedestrian is when they have walked out in front of me at a red pedestrian light.

And the amount of times I've seen cyclists going straight through red lights and nearly getting flattened by a car coming off a green light at the junction ahead is unreal, who'd get the blame, the motorist who was going through their green light possibly... The rules of the road apply to all that use it there is not a different set of rules for cyclists when it comes to obeying traffic lights.... Rant over.

Dermot Illogical

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

Yeah I expected a response such as this. Cyclists are only too happy to ignore basic rules of the road that inconvenience them and fail to see the double standards in their own arguments.

All-seeing you, eh?

Praetorian Saighdiuir

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

Yeah I expected a response such as this. Cyclists are only too happy to ignore basic rules of the road that inconvenience them and fail to see the double standards in their own arguments.

And what about dangerous incompetent drivers?

Any comments?

kenmc

oh god its Friday somewhere already....

Firewalkwithme

benwavner wrote: »

Yeah thats the big problem out there isnt it.

A car/bus/van/truck is more dangerous to a cyclist than a cyclist to a pedestrian. Cyclists dont aim for pedestrians the way drivers aim for cyclists.

The only time I have nearly hit a pedestrian is when they have walked out in front of me at a red pedestrian light.

I never said or implied that it is the big problem, but it is a problem just as a motorists dangerous driving is. My point is simply that there is a big case of double standards here and it's hard to have much sympathy for cyclists when it's not even being acknowledged.

hardCopy

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

benwavner wrote: »

Yeah thats the big problem out there isnt it.

A car/bus/van/truck is more dangerous to a cyclist than a cyclist to a pedestrian. Cyclists dont aim for pedestrians the way drivers aim for cyclists.

The only time I have nearly hit a pedestrian is when they have walked out in front of me at a red pedestrian light.

I never said or implied that it is the big problem, but it is a problem just as a motorists dangerous driving is. My point is simply that there is a big case of double standards here and it's hard to have much sympathy for cyclists when it's not even being acknowledged.

It doesn't even approach double standards, if said cyclists were killing pedestrians then the two might be comparable.

Firewalkwithme

Zyzz wrote: »

I never break red lights, I'll admit I go through some amber lights as I'd rather not skid and ruin my tyres. But on that note, today I had the green light (road traffic) and the pedestrian light was red, people continued to cross the road and I unfortunately collided with one of them. I have good breaks but even heavily pressed and with a skid I sent the person to the floor. There was no injuries, but still, as my thread title goes, just because I'm on a bike I don't get the same respect as a car?

I've driven cars, motorbikes and ride bikes. No matter what mode of transport I was using I always tried my best to respect other road users but not everyone does.

Pedestrians are road users also, so in the case you described above, they were clearly the guilty party and I'm glad to hear that you were not injured as a result of their thoughtlessness.

ManMade

After dodging all those bleedin potholes and dodgy drivers I don't care about skipping a light if its safe. What are they gonna do give me penalty points. Motorists sometimes forget that cycling is a physical task the lack of infrastructure makes it a headache.

Praetorian Saighdiuir

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

I never said or implied that it is the big problem, but it is a problem just as a motorists dangerous driving is. My point is simply that there is a big case of double standards here and it's hard to have much sympathy for cyclists when it's not even being acknowledged.

I acknowledge that there are terrible cyclists out there. This thread is about "peoples disregard for cyclists is worrying".......not about bad cyclists.

Most of the people in this forum are very experienced and very capable cyclists. The kind that dont act the bollox like some inexperienced casual commuters. I am a driver and a cycle commuter, its only until I started cycling that I realised how bad the drivers are.

I stop at every red light and dont act the bollox but it doesnt stop in considerate drivers being di*ks!

Firewalkwithme

benwavner wrote: »

And what about dangerous incompetent drivers?

Any comments?

I have done, read back.

hardCopy wrote:

It doesn't even approach double standards, if said cyclists were killing pedestrians then the two might be comparable.

Don't try to claim that a cyclist has never killed a pedestrian please.

Dermot Illogical

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

I've driven cars, motorbikes and ride bikes.

Likewise, and I obey the rules of the road. I still find myself lumped in with a group called "cyclists" who apparently break every law going. It's like we're all in it together or something.
My take on it is slightly different to yours. Essentially most cyclists around town are dumb as plankton from what I can see, but it's not because they're cyclists. It's because they're people, and most people are dumb as plankton. They're equally as thick on foot or behind the wheel. They will try anything they think they can get away with, no matter how stupid it appears to the rest of us. It's plankton nature.

Praetorian Saighdiuir

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

I have done, read back.

I asked the question before your comment, so, no need to read back.


Bad drivers + Bad cyclists + Bad pedestrians - Common Sense = bad day

Wishbone Ash

ManMade wrote: »

I don't care about skipping a light if its safe

Unfortunately you give the rest of us a bad name. What's so difficult about waiting at a red light? And, wouldn't you be annoyed if motorists adopted your policy - i.e. deciding what is safe. I'm sure many drunk drivers also think they are safe.

Kurz

ck101 wrote: »

The one that gets me is after they overtake and have to stop at the next line of cars they pull in as close as possible to the kerb so you can't fit past. Happend to me twice today. Grrrr..

I've never thought to do this but I will now. There's nothing worse than having to overtake a cyclist on a tight urban road only to have them skip to the front of the queue at the lights. You then have to overtake them again, possibly on a tight corner. Thanks for the tip.

SHOVELLER

Unfortunately nothing will change as the law is routinely ignored. As a cyclist and pedestrian I see it every day as I'm sure everyone else does.

Cyclists ignoring red lights and also cycling on footpaths. Sadly these are in the majority.

Pedestrians walking on cycle lanes.

Until the Gardaí take this seriously this will continue.

Dermot Illogical

Kurz wrote: »

Thanks for the tip.

Here's mine. If you do it to me I'll overtake on the right and sit in front of you as we toddle along that windy road.

karl_m

Don't try to claim that a cyclist has never killed a pedestrian please.[/QUOTE]

Yes a cyclist may have killed a pedestrian, but how many pedestrians were killed this year by motor vehicle, and how many were killed by a cyclist this year?

Also, in every type of road user, there will be some that break the ROTR, that is a given. One isn't necessarily better than the other, but one type of road user(cars) will have more significant consequences if they break the rules, that's just logic.

Kurz

RT66 wrote: »

Here's mine. If you do it to me I'll overtake on the right and sit in front of you as we toddle along that windy road.

Fair enough but if it goes wrong I'll have a scratch in my paint and you'll have no legs.

Cookie_Monster

People's disregard for everything but cars, not just cyclists. Plenty of motorists will do their best to cutoff buses pulling out, to dangerously overtake tractors to clear them ASAP, not give HGVs the space they need or simple not defer to pedestrians or animals.

Generally it can be traced to the complete lack of eduction given to driving at every stage of the process. People don't bother reading the ROTR, it's not taught in school, older generation re-enforce the same tired old messages as the teach their kids to drive, the automatic feeling of entitlement to drive and not bother with a test etc. It's going to take a very long time for this to start changing in Ireland and continually building cycling lanes and segregating traffic types is doing little to help (probably making it worse tbh)

Firewalkwithme

RT66 wrote: »

Likewise, and I obey the rules of the road. I still find myself lumped in with a group called "cyclists" who apparently break every law going. It's like we're all in it together or something.
My take on it is slightly different to yours. Essentially most cyclists around town are dumb as plankton from what I can see, but it's not because they're cyclists. It's because they're people, and most people are dumb as plankton. They're equally as thick on foot or behind the wheel. They will try anything they think they can get away with, no matter how stupid it appears to the rest of us. It's plankton nature.

Fair enough, I would love to hear from one of the serial abusers of pedestrian crossing as to what their justification is to breaking the lights though wouldn't you? I doubt we will hear from them in this forum though. It seems like you can't use a pedestrian crossing in Dublin City these days without having to dodge and weave your way past a cyclist or two though and I'm sure you've experienced that too. So, given that you are someone who is conscientious enough to obey the rules of the road, I'm sure you can appreciate the frustration that causes.

My initial point was that more of a 'why can't we all just get along' kind of ramble really since as you say yourself, you get lumped in with all the idiots even though you are not necessarily at fault for anything yourself.

rich.d.berry

Kurz wrote: »

ck101 wrote: »

The one that gets me is after they overtake and have to stop at the next line of cars they pull in as close as possible to the kerb so you can't fit past. Happend to me twice today. Grrrr..

I've never thought to do this but I will now. There's nothing worse than having to overtake a cyclist on a tight urban road only to have them skip to the front of the queue at the lights. You then have to overtake them again, possibly on a tight corner. Thanks for the tip.

ck101, what is wrong with overtaking properly, on the right?

Kurz, the strange thing is, that in cities, bicycles are the fastest form of transport. It's the other cars that hold you up, and if you have a bit of patience and follow the cyclist to the next red light or the next traffic queue you will find that you make no quicker progress than if you bully pointlessly past.

Look on YouTube for multiple examples of the MGIF (must get in front) mentality. Perhaps if you put in your own registration number there'll be a video of you too.

Firewalkwithme

benwavner wrote: »

I asked the question before your comment, so, no need to read back.


Bad drivers + Bad cyclists + Bad pedestrians - Common Sense = bad day

Yeah I know, just didn't want to repeat myself is all

Cookie_Monster

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

Fair enough, I would love to hear from one of the serial abusers of pedestrian crossing as to what their justification is to breaking the lights though wouldn't you?

I used to not bother stopping at lights in general but since buying a road bike and doing serious cycling I never do any more, even when just commuting. Dunno what changed but as annoying as it can be I always stop and wait at lights now regardless. That's only in the last two years I've "kicked the habit"

Firewalkwithme

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I used to not bother stopping at lights in general

BURN HIM!!!

Mr Benevolent

ManMade wrote: »

After dodging all those bleedin potholes and dodgy drivers I don't care about skipping a light if its safe. What are they gonna do give me penalty points.

Really, really intelligent. The law is there for a reason. Are you aware that in Ireland, pedestrians have right of way over ALL other road users? Stop at red lights.

I use a car, and bike and my feet. If I hit you with a car you'll expect compensation, and if you hit me with a bike I'll expect compensation. Oh wait, you won't be insured on your bike. Expect an eye-watering bill if so.

Praetorian Saighdiuir

The proper cycling infrastructure just isnt there. Most "cycle lanes" are badly designed and badly "constructed".

Here's a great idea....why not have the smallest most vulnerable user of the road, share a lane with the one of the biggest unforgivable users of the road, a bus. Yeah, a bus/cycle lane. Best.idea.ever.....ooooh ooooh, also let speeding taxis use it too.

Most cycle lanes are falling apart, are riddled with bad patched up pot holes, drainage shores, sewer grates, broken glass and are gernerally a menace. Couple that with the weather and dodgy drivers and things get dangerous.

ardmacha

Cyclist's disregard for people is worrying.
Get off the footpath, louts.

ManMade

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

ManMade wrote: »

I don't care about skipping a light if its safe

Unfortunately you give the rest of us a bad name. What's so difficult about waiting at a red light? And, wouldn't you be annoyed if motorists adopted your policy - i.e. deciding what is safe. I'm sure many drunk drivers also think they are safe.

Suburbs <snip> with nobody aroundin the Summer. Don't worry I gave up city cycling. I live near <snip> so infrastructure is good for my daily routine. Honestly though people use any excuse to be rotten to cyclists.

karl_m

ardmacha wrote: »

Cyclist's disregard for people is worrying.
Get off the footpath, louts.

I'll admit, my most used mode of transport is my bike, but nothing boils my blood more then seeing a cyclist on the path, especially Grafton Street, GTFO the bike and carry it down, cnuts.

Praetorian Saighdiuir

karl_m wrote: »

I'll admit, my most used mode of transport is my bike, but nothing boils my blood more then seeing a cyclist on the path, especially Grafton Street, GTFO the bike and carry it down, cnuts.

Yeah thats taking the piss. Its hard enough dodging people, never mind cyclists.

Dermot Illogical

Kurz wrote: »

Fair enough but if it goes wrong I'll have a scratch in my paint and you'll have no legs.

Oddly enough I've never met anyone 'brave' enough to take that option in real life.

Firewalkwithme

karl_m wrote: »

nothing boils my blood more then seeing a cyclist on the path, especially Grafton Street, GTFO the bike and carry it down, cnuts.

It's a close call between them and the chuggers that's for sure

Beasty

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

I .... ride bikes.

So you're actually aiming this little pearl of wisdom at yourself:

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

Cyclists are only too happy to ignore basic rules of the road that inconvenience them and fail to see the double standards in their own arguments.

Generalisations on these things are not a good idea. There are good motorists, and there are bad motorists. Some in the main obey traffic laws, and some choose to ignore many of them. Equally there are good cyclists and bad cyclists, some of whom look to obey the relevant traffic laws, and some who choose to ignore many of them

karl_m

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

It's a close call between them and the chuggers that's for sure

Chuggers? :?

Beasty

OK, for those of you unfamiliar with it, this is the cycling forum. Anyone coming on here just to have general swipes at cyclists can expect appropriate disciplinary action

Thanks

Beasty

Firewalkwithme

Beasty wrote: »

So you're actually aiming this little pearl of wisdom at yourself:


Generalisations on these things are not a good idea. There are good motorists, and there are bad motorists. Some in the main obey traffic laws, and some choose to ignore many of them. Equally there are good cyclists and bad cyclists, some of whom look to obey the relevant traffic laws, and some who choose to ignore many of them

Very selective use of quoting me there. Perhaps if you had read and / or quoted the rest of what I have said in this thread you would have a better understanding of the points I was making.

gerarda

I was a member of a cycling club for a few years and one of the hot topics of conversation was motorists. Our usual spin would involve about 20 cyclists and the usual route had 5-6 sets of lights, as we approached the lights - the same usual suspects went straight through them regardless if they were red or not. The same people would then complain when they were driving there cars and stop at a set of lights and witness someone else doing the same thing. These people thought they were 'tour de france' standard and looked down on people with cheaper bikes/gear. All they managed to do was piss people off when they raced off by themselves complaining the group was too slow and wouldn't give newcomers the time of day.