Maybe I’m Over reacting but…

[stuckinthemud]

Paul, thank you, I clearly overreacted but if I can identify the club I will contact them (politely). Please bare in mind the number of incidents that have occurred in my home region including a number of crashes causing life changing injuries, and fatalities on a hill very similar to the one in my OP. As for my stress levels, They are stressing me out! Walking the dog isn’t cutting it any more, will have to try something else, maybe should go and ride one of my bikes?

 

[markemark]

Paul, thank you, I clearly overreacted but if I can identify the club I will contact them (politely). Please bare in mind the number of incidents that have occurred in my home region including a number of crashes causing life changing injuries, and fatalities on a hill very similar to the one in my OP. As for my stress levels, They are stressing me out! Walking the dog isn’t cutting it any more, will have to try something else, maybe should go and ride one of my bikes?

I sympathise with the stress. Rather than discourage cyclists the aim should be to encourage cycling wherever for whatever reason and discourage driving whilst enforcing those that bring the danger to the situation to take the most care. Convenience shouldn’t come into it.

 

[winjim]

Where do you draw the line though? I'm all for good route planning for everybody's safety and enjoyment but the fact is that traffic is increasing and cars are everywhere. Saying that cycling clubs shouldn't use specific roads at particular times may have some merit but could also come close to bullying them off the road.

As another example, not club related, I recently went back to the street where I grew up and where I learned to ride a bike. I was about five or six and we used to ride our bikes unsupervised up and down the road and round the block of houses as the top. I would not be comfortable letting my kids do the same. There are cars parked all the way along the road and at the block of houses at the top, where there used to be neat little lawns are paved driveways with cars on. The tucked away rows of garages which had a bit of space in front are now inaccessible with a security gate at the front. As we drove in there were some kids on bikes but they were very difficult to see darting in and out of cars and from a parent's point of view I would find that worrying.

So quite apart from club cycling, where do our kids go to learn to ride? Cars have taken over.

 

[Chislenko]

Yes, it appears not even the horrendous price of fuel is cutting car journeys.

Every time I go out on my bike I am amazed by the amount of people still driving at circa £2.00 a litre whilst the media tell us "people are choosing to heat or eat"

 

[stuckinthemud]

Convenience was never part of opening this debate, we were out for a drive and in no rush. I also did not mean to imply the cycle club shouldn’t visit the resort. Coffee and ice cream. Yes please. What got me was the timing and route out of the place. Spinning up a hill at sub 10mph speeds surrounded by annoyed frustrated cagers was not wise. And yes you can filter but only when safe to do so. My brother in law nearly died when filtering along the inside of a queue of cars. He shouldn’t have and got side swiped when a driver let a car out of a driveway . Sorry mate, never saw you was no comfort after he alerted the car to his presence by hitting the windscreen with his head and shoulder. Lost a week’s work (self employed) and needed new wheel and fork. Unfortunately we all share busy roads full of fools and we need to manage the risk to our safety. Just because you’re allowed to do something doesn’t mean you should.

 

[All uphill]

Where do you draw the line though? I'm all for good route planning for everybody's safety and enjoyment but the fact is that traffic is increasing and cars are everywhere. Saying that cycling clubs shouldn't use specific roads at particular times may have some merit but could also come close to bullying them off the road.

As another example, not club related, I recently went back to the street where I grew up and where I learned to ride a bike. I was about five or six and we used to ride our bikes unsupervised up and down the road and round the block of houses as the top. I would not be comfortable letting my kids do the same. There are cars parked all the way along the road and at the block of houses at the top, where there used to be neat little lawns are paved driveways with cars on. The tucked away rows of garages which had a bit of space in front are now inaccessible with a security gate at the front. As we drove in there were some kids on bikes but they were very difficult to see darting in and out of cars and from a parent's point of view I would find that worrying.

So quite apart from club cycling, where do our kids go to learn to ride? Cars have taken over.

Absolutely!

We have sacrificed so many good things to our cars.

They have given us freedom to travel around and a means of expressing ourselves and satisfying our egos.

For me car ownership has long ceased to be a net pleasure and become a misery.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Still does kinda come back to my opening post, which is, when faced with roads full of stressed and impatient idiots like me, why put yourself in a position of danger unnecessarily? Why ride a dangerous route at the most inappropriate time when a safe cycle route is available?

Your attitude comes across as victim-blaming twaddle.

What makes any road dangerous is improperly driven motor vehicles piloted by stressed and impatient idiots, not people cycling.

If you feel stressed to the degree that your driving is idiotic, don’t bloody drive!

 

[winjim]

Convenience was never part of opening this debate, we were out for a drive and in no rush. I also did not mean to imply the cycle club shouldn’t visit the resort. Coffee and ice cream. Yes please. What got me was the timing and route out of the place. Spinning up a hill at sub 10mph speeds surrounded by annoyed frustrated cagers was not wise. And yes you can filter but only when safe to do so. My brother in law nearly died when filtering along the inside of a queue of cars. He shouldn’t have and got side swiped when a driver let a car out of a driveway . Sorry mate, never saw you was no comfort after he alerted the car to his presence by hitting the windscreen with his head and shoulder. Lost a week’s work (self employed) and needed new wheel and fork. Unfortunately we all share busy roads full of fools and we need to manage the risk to our safety. Just because you’re allowed to do something doesn’t mean you should.

It is about convenience though. You're saying that the club should not have chosen that specific route and time. I expect that would be a bit inconvenient for them. You may be right, perhaps they could have arranged things differently but convenience is absolutely a factor.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

But why would a cycle club decide to ride out of a very busy beach resort up a really steep and winding A road at lunchtime on a Saturday in August, and on what planet would any cyclist think it OK to undertake the cars trying to weave safely through the gaps in the traffic ? Come on guys, you genuinely are putting lives at risk . Where’s the risk assessment on that cool idea? Train on the hill midweek when it’s quiet by all means but mid August Saturday lunchtime?? Why put everyone at needless risk? You should not be there but I bet you’d blame the car driver if it all went wrong. And yes, I am a runner, long distance cyclist, motorcycle rider, and car driver . Rant over? Nearly. If a teacher put a KS4 group in that situation they would be instantly dismissed but apparently it’s ok to choose that route cos you’re all adults? I know, I am a KS4 teacher. You better be certain you have no teens riding out with you

Can I ask you a question, if you thought what they were doing was so dangerous, why didn't you just stay behind them & give them a clear run up the hill free from traffic trying to overtake them?

 

[stuckinthemud]

Phaeton, I should have done exactly that but I didn’t know there was a club run, first straight section I safely overtook the tail cyclist, then there were a couple more and suddenly I’m in the middle of a cycle club riding for themselves not the other road users, we all want cars to give cycles 2m gaps but it’s not so easy when the cyclist decides to use the safety margin to filter through but the responsibility still lies with me? No pressure there then. Glasgow cyclist what makes roads dangerous is badly piloted vehicles. The pedestrian that stepped in front of my boss as he cycled up the high steeet put my boss in hospital and undergoing facial reconstruction surgery. No cars just two cyclists having a race and a pedestrian who only saw one of them

 

[winjim]

Phaeton, I should have done exactly that but I didn’t know there was a club run, first straight section I safely overtook the tail cyclist, then there were a couple more and suddenly I’m in the middle of a cycle club riding for themselves not the other road users, we all want cars to give cycles 2m gaps but it’s not so easy when the cyclist decides to use the safety margin to filter through but the responsibility still lies with me? No pressure there then. Glasgow cyclist what makes roads dangerous is badly piloted vehicles. The pedestrian that stepped in front of my boss as he cycled up the high steeet put my boss in hospital and undergoing facial reconstruction surgery. No cars just two cyclists having a race and a pedestrian who only saw one of them

Two cyclists having a race up the high street. You do know how that sounds?

 

[stuckinthemud]

Yup but it’s also true

 

[winjim]

Yup but it’s also true

Obviously I wasn't there but it sounds to me like it might not have been the pedestrian who was entirely at fault.

Or you're trolling.

 

[Oldhippy]

Bring on car free days in all towns and cities I say. Better still confine drivers to those zip cars where you hire them as you need. Not so many pointless three mile trips then I bet.

 

[Sharky]

car free days in all towns

I believe there was a city somewhere that announced that a certain day would be a leave your car at home day and take the bike/walk/public transport.

Alas a lot of commuters thought it would be a good day to commute by car as the roads would be free.

Result - grid lock - more than normal!