Time to come clean

[montyboy]

Although I am only recently back to cycling I do have the dubious honour of being a regular cyclist, a motorcyclist, a car driver and an occaisional truck driver.

There are many of us here who are quick to condem the bad habits of some of our fellow road users however I am sure that there are also many out there equally as miffed at the antics of some cyclists.

The problem being is that until you put yourself into another road users position you do not always appreciate their viewpoint. For example I was once berated by a car driver for travelling too slowly along a single carriageway and causing unecessary delays. He told me that 55 mph was ridiculous in this day and age and it was not until I explained that the vehicle was physically restricted by law to that speed that he saw my point.

From a cyclists perspective, what do you think is the biggest sin we can commit that is guranteed to upset other road users.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Not wearing a helmet, listening to music whilst RLJing in the dark with no lights having cycled for 10 miles in a primary position for no reason

Ps The bike is a BSO

Did I miss anything?

 

[BSRU]

Delaying them by a few vital seconds to reach that all important stationary traffic queue ahead or traffic light on red.

 

[Cubist]

I don't pay any road tax for my bike

 

[upsidedown]

RLJing has to be top. But leaning on the wing of an X5 so you don't have to unclip at the lights is probably a close second.

 

[sdr gb]

The biggest sin we commit?

To some people, just being on a bike.

 

[PedAntics]

RLJing has to be top. But leaning on the wing of an X5 so you don't have to unclip at the lights is probably a close second.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=TDBCLJM3a1w

Other sin is daring to use the road instead of the "perfectly good" cycle path.

 

[Red Light]

From a cyclists perspective, what do you think is the biggest sin we can commit that is guranteed to upset other road users.

Existing

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Breaking the law ie RLJ and getting away with it.

But I son't, just for the record !

 

[Bicycle]

With my motoring hat on, I think they are many but they are almost all minor.

A favourite of mine is:

'If I look behind me you ought to assume that I'm going to pull across the traffic to turn right. There is therefore no need to indicate or to look again.'

Although the next one can be levelled at all road users, it often shows up more with bicycles. This may be to do with the disparity in cruising speed between pedal power and motor power. The fault is:

Ignoring or failing to anticipate the needs, position, speed and direction of other road users.

This can be through ignorance and it can be through bloody-mindedness. Some cyclists (a tiny minority) seem sometimes to be treating rides like a 'trial by combat' proof positive that they are right and motorists are both naughty and wrong.

Whether through ignorance or bloody-mindedness, the above is sad to witness and rather wearing. One can sometimes spot a mile off the tiny minority who are looking for an opportunity to have an argument with a driver. I've seen it a few times in traffic, although I've never been the driver in the spotlight. Despite my love of cycling, whenever I see an angry cyclist berating a driver, my sympathies quickly switch to the latter.

I should add (in case I sound like a grumpy old sod) that I find the majority of cyclists and a huge majority of motorists very well behaved on the public highway.

Neither of the above cases is enough to ruin a ride or a drive.

 

[Fnaar]

Cycling along in front of a car waggling your bum provocatively. Tends to annoy some folk.

 

[apollo179]

The idea that drivers get upset by cyclists rljing is a myth put about by busy body cyclists as a vent for there own feelings of outrage at the actions of their fellow cyclists. No-one is disputing that rljing is wrong (its against the law - therefore its wrong ) but please this idea that motorists generally are upset by it is nonsense. Motorists dont generally care about cyclists rljing. - the minority who do are the anal busy body dogooder type that just has a critiscise based agenda towards everyone and everything.
Motorists main gripe is being held up in their progress from a to b . Whatever the circumstances and be it cyclist , milk float , tractor , road works or sheep motorists main gripe is being impeded on their journey - not rljing.

 

[Panter]

The idea that drivers get upset by cyclists rljing is a myth put about by busy body cyclists as a vent for there own feelings of outrage at the actions of their fellow cyclists. No-one is disputing that rljing is wrong (its against the law - therefore its wrong ) but please this idea that motorists generally are upset by it is nonsense. Motorists dont generally care about cyclists rljing. - the minority who do are the anal busy body dogooder type that just has a critiscise based agenda towards everyone and everything.
Motorists main gripe is being held up in their progress from a to b . Whatever the circumstances and be it cyclist , milk float , tractor , road works or sheep motorists main gripe is being impeded on their journey - not rljing.

It's the single biggest cause of complaints that I've personally heard when people are spouting off about cyclists

 

[Gingerbloke]

Speeding....!!!

 

[Gingerbloke]

Or more specifically, Overtaking whilst speeding...!!!