Why do some cyclists, always, have to get to the front???

[Defy78]

So, cycling home today and I was passed a couple of times by a guy on a road bike filtering to the front of a couple of lines of cars (I tend to sit back a bit, especially if the line is quite short or I'm not sure how much time I have). The first filtering effort he had to abort as the cars started moving off. The second was the one that got me though, I have to admit I was a bit miffed at being passed a couple of times so followed him to the front of a fairly long line of cars (even though I knew there was no ASL) just to see how fast he was. The guy was positioned in the middle of the lane and had earphones in, which is fine - not my rant. However, lights change to green and he just sits there fiddling with his MP3 (or possibly a text etc.), as I set off and pass him, he seemed completely oblivious to the fact that he had just filtered to the front of a line of cars that was now waiting for him to stop peeing about and move off!?

Is it me or does it sometime seem a bit unnecessary to always get to the front no matter what, a bit like the must get in front mentality of alot of motorists. I mean if I filter to the front I like to know that I am not just positioning myself in the way for no real advantage / gain in ground. I also tend to try and get away as quickly as possible, otherwise I don't see the point. Filtering to the front and not paying attention to what is happening just seems a bit off to me, but maybe that's just me?

 

[gaz]

It's human nature, you can see it in pedestrians walking down the street, getting on the bus and getting off the train. You also see it in all other road users

 

[apollo179]

I sometimes hang back behing cars at lights if theyve been previously very considerate about overtaking me on the approach to the lights but otherwise i cant see any logical reason why you would not proceed to the forwardmost possible possition. Unless you want to form part of the queue of cars but generally bikes dont , they filter through and in due course the cars filter past them.

 

[RoyPSB]

It's the same as all the dickheads that unbuckle their seatbelt on the plane before it has stopped and then stand up for 5-10 minutes before they can move anywhere. Human nature to try and get somewhere 1st.

 

[gavroche]

I always try to filter to the front if it is possible and safe.

 

[waggoner]

It's the same as all the dickheads that unbuckle their seatbelt on the plane before it has stopped and then stand up for 5-10 minutes before they can move anywhere. Human nature to try and get somewhere 1st.

These people always make me laugh too,,but they still end up waiting at the baggage conveyer belt..

 

[Jezston]

It's the same as all the dickheads that unbuckle their seatbelt on the plane before it has stopped and then stand up for 5-10 minutes before they can move anywhere. Human nature to try and get somewhere 1st.

Same with trains. Up, bags ready and standing in a queue taking up the entire aisle 10 minutes before the train reaches it's destination. What's the point?

 

[gaz]

Same with trains. Up, bags ready and standing in a queue taking up the entire aisle 10 minutes before the train reaches it's destination. What's the point?

I do that when going home, but then the train i am on carries several hundred people and a vast quantity of them are getting off at my stop. Don't get off near the front then you are waiting for ages to walk up the ramp and to get out of the turnstiles. Which can = missing your connection tram or bus which equates to an extra 10mins on your journey time. That matters when you are trying to get home to your family after a long day at work.

 

[Jezston]

Killjoy

 

[totallyfixed]

It's a bit more laid back out in our neck of the woods, to see more than half a dozen cars together is a rare sight, so for the most part we don't have that "must get to the front of the queue" syndrome. On the few occasions a year I travel down to London I am always amused to see the rush everyone seems to be in.

 

[wiggydiggy]

...................(I tend to sit back a bit, especially if the line is quite short or I'm not sure how much time I have)..........
Is it me or does it sometime seem a bit unnecessary to always get to the front no matter what, ...............

Same as I know most of the lights on my route, and whats after them, so I know when to filter and when it is actually quicker to sit and wait.

A stretch of cones on my route which narrows the lanes so for me better to sit in primary in slow moving traffic I feel yet I keep seeing people either cycling down the outside so riding into the oncoming traffic or they nip in and out of the coned off section. Its barely 1/2 mile cant they wait lol!

Must say lately its happening a bit more but I think with the recent start of term time theres a lot of new student cyclists about who havent learnt the roads yet.

Trains/Planes > This is funny, where are you going to go lol

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Same with trains. Up, bags ready and standing in a queue taking up the entire aisle 10 minutes before the train reaches it's destination. What's the point?

Or people who stand in the aircraft's aisle the minute the engines are turned off after landing. They then stand there, for about 5 minutes, necks popping. I just sit in my seat and wait until the doors open.

 

[abo]

I can't easily filter, my MTB's bars are too wide...

 

[abo]

Or people who stand in the aircraft's aisle the minute the engines are turned off after landing. They then stand there, for about 5 minutes, necks popping. I just sit in my seat and wait until the doors open.

Or the cinema, people are in a massive rush to start queuing to get out when the credits start to roll. I just sit for a while and wait for it to clear; I'm not a fan of doing that slow shuffle...

 

[gbb]

Or people who stand in the aircraft's aisle the minute the engines are turned off after landing. They then stand there, for about 5 minutes, necks popping. I just sit in my seat and wait until the doors open.

It is pointless, but there are a couple of (pointless) reasons for doing so (in some peoples mind)
It doesn't stop with just getting off the aircraft, they think they're going to get to the baggage belt first...but luggage never arrives for 10 minutes anyway, so by the time the luggage arrives, everyone else is there anyway.

And moving on from that, first off the luggage belt is first to the passport control queues, which can be quite long.

But it's all so pointless because everythings dictated by when your luggage comes onto the belt. You can be the first there, last to leave if your luggage comes last.

Travelling always makes me laugh, you'd think the extra 15 minutes that relaxing and taking your time is going to kill some people.