The Media War on Cycling

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

It would be nice to seem some analysis to see what overall message about cycling newspaper readers and social media users receive.

It seems every time I use faceache, I'm presented with something like this:

Obviously, I'm out riding and talking to pedestrians on shared infrastructure and trails whenever I can be, in order to give them positive interactions with cyclists.
I also note there are almost daily headlines targetting car drivers, largely from the likes of Reach PLC newspapers and digital outlets - most of them are insubstantive - but it is clear they are trying to manipulate the general public into thinking the war on drivers has intensified.

 

[Drago]

Feldhberk and Xter are full of cycling hate, one of the manifold reasons I steer clear.

Hopefully you reported that as a breach of their hate policy, and enough people do so they might remove it. Although I doubt it.

 

[T4tomo]

Obviously, I'm out riding and talking to pedestrians on shared infrastructure and trails whenever I can be, in order to give them positive interactions with cyclists.

That may be doing more harm than good...


Also your initial meme picture is homophobic.

 

[newts]

This is another arrogant pri#k one that does the rounds every year. Shame you don't see tractor drivers being considerate to other road users very often🤡👹

From a pissed off farmer:

A polite-ish notice to all cyclists on country roads during harvest.
Please understand I have zero issues with you using the roads to ride your bicycle, I’m all for exercising and if slipping in to a lycra suit and impaling your self on a dick shaped bike seat for hours keeps you satisfied then each to their own.
If I’m driving a car I always give plenty of ‘safe space’ when passing cyclists which is only fair, we know how sensitive you are to your requested road space, you have just as much right to the roads as anyone....

HOWEVER,
if I’m coming at you in a fecking great tractor with 20 tons behind me on a single track road, do me and yourself a favour and STOP for one second, either move as far over to your side of the road or just step on to the verge if there is one, so I can pass safely, do not just continue at full speed and then piss and moan as you go past because if it goes wrong you’ll end up being pressure washed off a tractor wheel.

Unfortunately for you we take all your space and we can’t help it, so unless you want to lend a hand either changing a tyre that’s blown out or shovelling up a spillage, then we’re not dropping our wheels into drainage grips so that you can continue your bicycle ride. Cars, horse riders and runners are capable of it, I seem to be missing something with cyclists, I presume either you don’t want to get your special bike dirty, you’re trying to beat your PB or more than likely you’re just a complete cock in general.
Regards your Road Safety Advocate for North Down 😂

 

[Dogtrousers]

they are trying to manipulate the general public into thinking the war on drivers has intensified.

Intensified?

I need convincing that it even exists in the first place.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

I wish I had the option of steering clear of faceache completely but sadly that seems to be the only way to keep tabs on female parental unit on account she will post to faceache rather than pick up the phone when she has a problem.

Meta generally don't remove them when I do report them - I guess riding a bike isn't a protected characteristic?

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

Intensified?

I need convincing that it even exists in the first place.

Well I was assuming that the general populous has already been convinced there is a war on drivers - which is absolute BS

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

That may be doing more harm than good...

You might have to expand on that for me.
I don't see how being courteous and polite is harming anyone. It's not like I'm forcing anyone into a conversation either - cursory node, smile, wave, or 'thanks' followed by 'have a good day' is enough. Lone women often excepted because a lone male cyclist can be seen as a threat, such is our culture.

Also your initial meme picture is homophobic.

It's not 'my' ('your') meme picture. I can't even tell what gender the two pictured cyclists are - that'd be assuming too much.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

This is another arrogant pri#k one that does the rounds every year. Shame you don't see tractor drivers being considerate to other road users very often🤡👹

Yeah that cropped up almost every day last week, via several different profiles. I do wonder whether a lot of these profiles are even real people.


I haven't really started this thread just to collate this stuff - although that might be a useful thing to do.
I was thinking about what can be done to positively re-inforce cycling and counter the effects of this stuff. Is it even possible?

 

[classic33]

This is another arrogant pri#k one that does the rounds every year. Shame you don't see tractor drivers being considerate to other road users very often🤡👹

View attachment 732225
From a pissed off farmer:

A polite-ish notice to all cyclists on country roads during harvest.
Please understand I have zero issues with you using the roads to ride your bicycle, I’m all for exercising and if slipping in to a lycra suit and impaling your self on a dick shaped bike seat for hours keeps you satisfied then each to their own.
If I’m driving a car I always give plenty of ‘safe space’ when passing cyclists which is only fair, we know how sensitive you are to your requested road space, you have just as much right to the roads as anyone....

HOWEVER,
if I’m coming at you in a fecking great tractor with 20 tons behind me on a single track road, do me and yourself a favour and STOP for one second, either move as far over to your side of the road or just step on to the verge if there is one, so I can pass safely, do not just continue at full speed and then piss and moan as you go past because if it goes wrong you’ll end up being pressure washed off a tractor wheel.

Unfortunately for you we take all your space and we can’t help it, so unless you want to lend a hand either changing a tyre that’s blown out or shovelling up a spillage, then we’re not dropping our wheels into drainage grips so that you can continue your bicycle ride. Cars, horse riders and runners are capable of it, I seem to be missing something with cyclists, I presume either you don’t want to get your special bike dirty, you’re trying to beat your PB or more than likely you’re just a complete cock in general.
Regards your Road Safety Advocate for North Down 😂

The person behind that I don't think drives a tractor.

On a single track road, often the worst thing you can do is pull over to my(the) side of the road. This due to the size of the tractors in use nowadays. But stop and think for a second about any machinery fitted to the rear. Most of the time it will be out towards the right of the tractor, meaning the driver will already be over as far left as they feel is safe to do so just to protect what is on the rear. Getting a replacement baler can be impossible at times, when they're all in use or being fixed.

It's safer, for all, to carry on and let them pass at the first safe spot. The same as a horse rider would do, and they'd not be as close to the rear of a horse and rider as he is to the rear of the cyclist in that picture. Much less on a single track road.
Once past you the safest place, on a single track road can be a short distance behind him. Anything coming towards them and you has to contend with the tractor first, not you.

I'd like the address of the place you got that from, have a word with them about the legalities of close following and no front number plate on the highway, amongst other things.

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

We are our own worst enemies at times. I know on those occasions when I have to take the car I get pretty angry at cyclists who insist on riding two or three abreast, blocking automobile traffic in the process. We as cyclist complain about automobile drivers not sharing the road but are often the worst offenders. When out on a group ride we seem to forget we are not racers on a closed road with all the pavement available for the use of our group, we need to share as well.

I guess I’m saying that we could be a bit less selfish and put a bit more of an effort into sharing the road with the poor clods stuck in their cars. Keeping in mind that most are asleep at the wheel and need a lot of space.

 

[matticus]

I was thinking about what can be done to positively re-inforce cycling and counter the effects of this stuff. Is it even possible?

With respect my friend - and I do genuinely think your intentions are good - this is just the beginning of a very long steep victim-blaming slope.

Next you will be blaming red-light jumpers for every child that has been mown down on the pavement, or my colleages who make jokes about "giving me a nudge" on the way home ...

"Sometimes I think we bring some of this on ourselves" get in the sea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[matticus]

We are our own worst enemies at times. I know on those occasions when I have to take the car I get pretty angry at cyclists who

And there we go!!! Just while I was typing

Just do one, ok?

 

[T4tomo]

You might have to expand on that for me.

it was a light hearted comment / joke hence the
as was the play on words of bicyclist / bi-cyclist, I'm sorry you weren't able to appreciate that.

I'm not sure that bleating on social media about rubbish you see on other social media is really helping or a worthwhile pastime. Just ignore it and ride your bike. Its not something that is worthy of analysis.

 

[Brandane]

HOWEVER,
if I’m coming at you in a fecking great tractor with 20 tons behind me on a single track road, do me and yourself a favour and STOP

Eff them tractor drivers; they don't pay road tax! 😅😅
(Agricultural vehicles are included in the long list of VED exempt vehicles, most of which entitled meat-heads in cars are unaware of. Apparently).