Do we not deserve our bad rep?

[pinkkaz]

Here’s some footage from this morning’s journey into London. Pretty much mirrors this comment…


View: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=icM-s3RbTTs


I know this doesn’t prove that all cyclists act in this way at all junctions but is a good indicator of what typically occurs…

Oooo you're fast!

 

[rog]

Rog, is that pink Colnago as pink as it looks in your avatar?

not sure...thankfully its not my Colnago!

however after my recent post, http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=23205 i thought the pink theme was somewhat app!

 

[rog]

Oooo you're fast!

Bit sluggish this morning. Head wind + head cold + heavy weekend = tired legs...

 

[Bollo]

Well it isnt surprising to most people with good sense to see the reasons why this is the case.Just my opinion of course
We have the youngsters that dont give a toss how and where they cycle,we have the primary brigade who stay in that position even if a safer and more amicable position is available bacause its their right to do it,we have the riteous brigade who think every other vehicle is wrong even when mistakes are made,we have the goaders who try to get a reaction from other vehicles because they think its funny,we have the secretive cycling internal affairs brigade who try to catch people out so they can can write a letter to employers,we have the i have the right to be here so every other vehicle has to make allowances for me because i am more important brigade,we have the i dont have to stop or slow down brigade because my journey is more important,We have the even though im a slow vehicle everyone else has to wait for me and give way to me and not pass too close,even though i can do it when it suits brigade,blimey i could think of more but you get the picture.Oh and dont forget the assumption brigade,who assume every mistake is done on purpose so have a go at a shocked female or lone driver,but funnily enough not large or more than one.Basically we dont half have some real plonkers out there on bikes making things worse for everyone else So yes i think in the general eye of motorists we do deserve this rep.

Now if everyone cycling did so with good manners,and no attitude problems, it might not be as bad a rep,but thats unlikely to happen,there are too many with these sorts of attitudes ,so its going to get worse,it will never get better.All we can do is cycle to how we think is the right way,and treat faster vehicles with respect and act accordingly.

Your language gives you away here col. Apart from one mention of 'the motorist' and the rest is about the vehicle being wrong and the vehicle making allowances? Unless its a top end Merc, Bimmer or somesuch, the vehicle does nothing by itself. Its an object. You've dehumanised the human being responsible for the tonne and a half of metal. Instead, you've made the vehicle some sort of irresistable force of nature, a mechanised beast outside of human intervention.

As a nation, we've got used to the idea that the car is the default mode of transport. I could get political, but I'm not going there. Its largely our own fault. This is a convention, not a law of nature or even the law of the land. The cyclist, whether a model road-user or a pavement-hopping RLJer presents a challenge to that convention, and we're increasingly used as the lightening rod for motorists' frustrations in the media and, more importantly, on the roads. In the same way you've dehumanised the driver, we're dehumanised as cyclists. And, as anyone who's read anything about prison camps, the first step in normal people behaving attrociously to their fellow human beings is to learn to view them as non-human. A large minority of our fellow humans who drive a car regard cyclists as another species, which makes it easier to place our lives at risk by their behaviour.

And that's the point - many cyclist behave badly, placing their lives at risk. Many motorists behave badly, placing cyclists' lives at risk. Its a rigged game, and its not rigged in our favour.

(FFS Bollo finish it up!) I consider myself a courteous, careful, law-abiding cyclist who respects other road users and who tries, and sometimes fails, to integrate with the traffic. Where we really fall out Col is that I expect the same back from other road users, irrespective of the means of transport that I've chosen.

 

[Bollo]

Bit sluggish this morning. Head wind + head cold + heavy weekend = tired legs...

Nope, you've signed up for cyclechat. You'll be lucky if you can ride a bike in a month or so's time.

 

[col]

Your language gives you away here col. Apart from one mention of 'the motorist' and the rest is about the vehicle being wrong and the vehicle making allowances? Unless its a top end Merc, Bimmer or somesuch, the vehicle does nothing by itself. Its an object. You've dehumanised the human being responsible for the tonne and a half of metal. Instead, you've made the vehicle some sort of irresistable force of nature, a mechanised beast outside of human intervention.

As a nation, we've got used to the idea that the car is the default mode of transport. I could get political, but I'm not going there. Its largely our own fault. This is a convention, not a law of nature or even the law of the land. The cyclist, whether a model road-user or a pavement-hopping RLJer presents a challenge to that convention, and we're increasingly used as the lightening rod for motorists' frustrations in the media and, more importantly, on the roads. In the same way you've dehumanised the driver, we're dehumanised as cyclists. And, as anyone who's read anything about prison camps, the first step in normal people behaving attrociously to their fellow human beings is to learn to view them as non-human. A large minority of our fellow humans who drive a car regard cyclists as another species, which makes it easier to place our lives at risk by their behaviour.

And that's the point - many cyclist behave badly, placing their lives at risk. Many motorists behave badly, placing cyclists' lives at risk. Its a rigged game, and its not rigged in our favour.

(FFS Bollo finish it up!) I consider myself a courteous, careful, law-abiding cyclist who respects other road users and who tries, and sometimes fails, to integrate with the traffic. Where we really fall out Col is that I expect the same back from other road users, irrespective of the means of transport that I've chosen.

Same here,its a pity we all cant be like this.

 

[Zorg]

It would help if our cycling provision in the UK even approached that in other European cities. We are expected to get out of the way of hugh vehicles whose drivers consider us a nuisance, dodge cars parked on cycle lanes and generally dice with death to get where we're going. We just don't have a cycling mentality in this country, unlike in others where cycling is considered a perfectly acceptable method of transport and lanes are provided fenced off from the road.

 

[hackbike 666]

Ah but isnt it cyclists mentality too

Aye got to agree.

 

[Zorg]

Are we really bothered about having a bad rep?? Why is it so bad to have a bad rep among ''cyclists'' and do we really care?

I saw someone riding on the pavement the other day and thought of all the motorists that he would annoy and hold against other cyclists.

I did not sleep well that night.

You know when you stop at a red light, get off your bike, walk round and cross the other road, before getting back on and continuing your journey? The reason motorists hate that is: pure jealousy

 

[bryce]

It would help if our cycling provision in the UK even approached that in other European cities. We are expected to get out of the way of hugh vehicles whose drivers consider us a nuisance, dodge cars parked on cycle lanes and generally dice with death to get where we're going. We just don't have a cycling mentality in this country, unlike in others where cycling is considered a perfectly acceptable method of transport and lanes are provided fenced off from the road.

Agreed - although it is changing slowly as the amount of cyclists on the road increases, and thus awareness of cyclists increases.

I thought of this thread this morning, as at least 75% of cyclists on my commute went through red lights. And I absolutely 100% get more room and respect from drivers if I obey the law. Safer and well worth the critical-30-seconds-later-into-work compromise and also doing my bit to support the perception of cyclist commuters in general.

 

[Zorg]

Agreed - although it is changing slowly as the amount of cyclists on the road increases, and thus awareness of cyclists increases.

I thought of this thread this morning, as at least 75% of cyclists on my commute went through red lights. And I absolutely 100% get more room and respect from drivers if I obey the law. Safer and well worth the critical-30-seconds-later-into-work compromise and also doing my bit to support the perception of cyclist commuters in general.

Absolutely agree.

I may be alone in this, but I stop at red lights to have a rest if nothing else!

 

[col]

Because it comes out in aggression. Not increasing aggression in people, but allowing an excuse for those who are prone to outbursts and dangerous behaviour to justify it to themselves.

Mmm i find myself in unfamiliar territory here

 

[malkie]

I may be alone in this, but I stop at red lights to have a rest if nothing else!

+1

 

[HLaB]

I may be alone in this, but I stop at red lights to have a rest if nothing else!

+1

+ another 1, you're not alone

 

[BentMikey]

It would help if our cycling provision in the UK even approached that in other European cities. We are expected to get out of the way of hugh vehicles whose drivers consider us a nuisance, dodge cars parked on cycle lanes and generally dice with death to get where we're going. We just don't have a cycling mentality in this country, unlike in others where cycling is considered a perfectly acceptable method of transport and lanes are provided fenced off from the road.

Not to pick on you specifically, but why do you think cycle lanes would make life any better here in the UK? Cycling in the Netherlands is really good and safe in spite of the cycle lanes, not because of them.