Why are cyclists so hated by motorists in the UK?

[Dalakhani]

Also... quite funny when people are in a hurry... to get to the back of the long congestion-line. Which enables you to just... go right past them!

That happened to me last week.

Guy squeezed past me, then 20m later, he's in a queue at a roundabout, and I'm going past him on the inside thinking,

"Why? Why'd you even bother? You wanted to be a big man and pass me, but now you've got to live with the fact that your precious fast car has just been overtaken by a fat, slow guy on a cheap bike..."

Steve

 

[Roland Rat]

It's a combination of things, the main one being that our class structure has developed so that people equate your mode of transport with your class, and therefore your worth as a person. The more valuable your transport, the more important you are on the road. And a bike is cheap and so is bottom of the food-chain.

Couple this with everyone in the UK being utterly miserable and fed up at the moment and up for a fight with anyone at any time and it's a perfect storm for cyclists to be abused.

 

[42x16ss]

That happened to me last week.

Guy squeezed past me, then 20m later, he's in a queue at a roundabout, and I'm going past him on the inside thinking,

"Why? Why'd you even bother? You wanted to be a big man and pass me, but now you've got to live with the fact that your precious fast car has just been overtaken by a fat, slow guy on a cheap bike..."

Steve

Don't get angry at drivers like that, just give them a big wave or maybe even the thumbs up or a clap. Draw attention to the fact that they just drove like a maniac to get in front of you and it did them no good what so ever.

Impatient drivers love that

 

[Dalakhani]

Don't get angry at drivers like that, just give them a big wave or maybe even the thumbs up or a clap. Draw attention to the fact that they just drove like a maniac to get in front of you and it did them no good what so ever.

Impatient drivers love that

I did pass him with a big smirk on my face.

On another note, I caught a bit of the BBC's breakfast programme this morning. They had run something earlier about cyclists being forced to carry ID (that I missed) and were reading out an email from a viewer.

It was the usual "they should have insurance, MOT, pay road tax" rant.

But, what was telling was that, after reading it out, the presenter said, "If you've been annoyed by cyclists, email us...".

That sense that, somehow, we're an irritation - an intrusion that's trespassing
on their roads - is so ingrained that that seemed to him a normal question to ask.

From a cyclists perspective, it's pretty worrying. It paints a picture of "cyclist = bad person who doesn't care about drivers".

(Rather than "cyclist = vulnerable person surrounded by fast-moving steel that's trying to avoid injury/death".)

Steve

 

[austy37]

ive actually tried to start being a bit nicer to cars/pedestrians etc. If people give way to me I nod and try to say or mouth 'thanks' (even though they are just obeying basic road rules). I am getting old now and have a son so I want to try to spread cheer and goodwill. Perhaps it may change a few peoples ideas of cyclists?

 

[B_Ugli]

But, what was telling was that, after reading it out, the presenter said, "If you've been annoyed by cyclists, email us...".
That sense that, somehow, we're an irritation - an intrusion that's trespassing on their roads - is so ingrained that that seemed to him a normal question to ask.

This is exactly what I was getting at in my initial post. If you were to substitute the word cyclists in that sentence for any other group (particularly ethnic), there would be calls for the presenter to be sacked, the broadcasting regulators involved etc etc.

There was actually another programme (BBC again) called Thats Britain the other evening where people basically moan about whats wrong with the country. At the end they have a list on the wall of everything people have telephoned in to complain about and you guessed it on that wall is Cyclists. Again if you put any other group up like that all hell would break loose!

I know that they probably dont want to get involved in the politics of it but perhaps Brailsford, Cav and Wiggins should maybe start to speak out about this what with the popularity of cycling in the UK at the moment.

 

[Tank Engine]

It's a combination of things, the main one being that our class structure has developed so that people equate your mode of transport with your class, and therefore your worth as a person. The more valuable your transport, the more important you are on the road. And a bike is cheap and so is bottom of the food-chain.

Couple this with everyone in the UK being utterly miserable and fed up at the moment and up for a fight with anyone at any time and it's a perfect storm for cyclists to be abused.

I think there is some truth in that. During the week I am an impoverished pleb because why else should I cycle to work, while at the weekend it's obvious that I'm cycling in the country as a hobby and people are obviously more positive towards me

But also, people are generally more laid back when they're not stuck in a traffic jam on the way to work. So if somebody shows consideration, I do show my apprecation.

 

[Captain_Obvious]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2-oXSd2Id0&feature=player_embedded

I think people like that are a major part of the reason why cyclist are more and more hated.

 

[RedheadDane]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2-oXSd2Id0&feature=player_embedded

I think people like that are a major part of the reason why cyclist are more and more hated.

Yeah. I'm afraid you're right. After all; just because you ride a bike doesn't mean you're an angel. both parts have equal responsibility of maintaining/creating a good relationship.



And I accidentally (by old habit) looked at the side-bar!

 

[fat and frantic]

Some of the guys i work with and teach live in the New Forest and are pretty intolerant of the (increasing) amount of cycle traffic on the roads there most weekends.
It seems to be the riding 2 abreast on pretty narrow roads that causes the most consternation.
On the whole though, you only have to drive in Britain for an hour or two to see just how aggresive and angry the average British motorist is.

 

[timturpinfleck]

This hatred of cyclists isn't exclusive to the UK, it's an International epidemic. Basically if you ride a bike past the age of 14 you're considered an annoyance, and most of the general population gets offended by lycra and shaved legs, especially when walking into a cafe. QUOTE]

They may not like it when we walk into cafes dressed in lycra but they'd like it even less if they're favourite cafes closed down, as many cafes would not survive without hungry cyclists (and muddy boot wearing walkers). I think I must be public enemy number 1 in the UK, as I'm a public sector worker who enjoys cycling and walking but then my conscience is clear as I'm less of a polluter and much healthier than the average car driver.

When we go walking we use walking poles which, as well as helping the knees, are also extremely good way of making cars more courteous as it is amazing how much room they give you when their precious cars risk coming into contact with a metal pole.

I noticed this morning when searching the internet that there used to be car stickers in the UK for a campaign to give cyclists more room. I would love to have a sticker on my car that tells motorists that I cycle to work some days to reduce the congestion for them while still paying my road tax and all the other taxes. Or something like 'pick my bike up with one hand and now try to pick up your car with one hand and tell me why I should pay road tax for my bike as well as my car' - okay not very catchy but we need to make dumb motorists aware that most cyclists do pay road tax but chose to leave the car at home.

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

Aye, the cost of the vehicle fund license rises based on the size of the vehicles engine. I'd happily pay a pro-rata amount for my bike but I suspect it would cost more to collect the tax than it would raise.

 

[Arnout]

This hatred of cyclists isn't exclusive to the UK, it's an International epidemic. Basically if you ride a bike past the age of 14 you're considered an annoyance, and most of the general population gets offended by lycra and shaved legs, especially when walking into a cafe. QUOTE]

They may not like it when we walk into cafes dressed in lycra but they'd like it even less if they're favourite cafes closed down, as many cafes would not survive without hungry cyclists (and muddy boot wearing walkers). I think I must be public enemy number 1 in the UK, as I'm a public sector worker who enjoys cycling and walking but then my conscience is clear as I'm less of a polluter and much healthier than the average car driver.

When we go walking we use walking poles which, as well as helping the knees, are also extremely good way of making cars more courteous as it is amazing how much room they give you when their precious cars risk coming into contact with a metal pole.

I noticed this morning when searching the internet that there used to be car stickers in the UK for a campaign to give cyclists more room. I would love to have a sticker on my car that tells motorists that I cycle to work some days to reduce the congestion for them while still paying my road tax and all the other taxes. Or something like 'pick my bike up with one hand and now try to pick up your car with one hand and tell me why I should pay road tax for my bike as well as my car' - okay not very catchy but we need to make dumb motorists aware that most cyclists do pay road tax but chose to leave the car at home.

You must hate Jeremy Clarkson

Actually its very intriguing to read this topic and some others on this forums. In the Netherlands there is some irritation as well, especially to race bikers who tend to speed a lot on the cycle paths, annoying retirees and crossing red lights etc etc. But we don't have the society debate in which left is cyclist and right is motorist.

But I think the problem is two sided. They aren't annoyed with cyclists if there is no reason (a few empty headed baboons aside). The reason may be insufficient road space as well as improper behavior. I read this and some other threads and saw for example that one cyclist considers it normal to use cars waiting at traffic lights for balancing (I replied to that, as that kind of behavior gets me up the wall). I see here cyclists declaring war on motorists or being proud because they use every ****ty little gap in traffic to cross roads etc. IMO that is not behavior helping your case.

I ride my bike sufficiently to know what I'm talking about, I drive cars as well. In both, I try to accept and anticipate. If I'm riding my bike and a car overtakes me with 20m to go to a roundabout I accept as it might be the only chance for him in a while, and after all he's quicker than me. If I'm in a car I tend to give cyclists quite some room, but I get annoyed by them quite a lot, especially the kind that treats traffic lights as advisory only or leans on cars (doesn't happen in the Netherlands, at least I never experienced it).

I would say they annoy me more than cars. They should accept too that we are in a metal box and can't see them anywhere anytime.

Note: this isn't a personal attack, just general remarks

 

[Le breton]

........
On another note, I caught a bit of the BBC's breakfast programme this morning. They had run something earlier about cyclists being forced to carry ID (that I missed) and were reading out an email from a viewer.

It was the usual "they should have insurance, MOT, pay road tax" rant.

But, what was telling was that, after reading it out, the presenter said, "If you've been annoyed by cyclists, email us...".

.........

Before reaching the US, the only countries in which I had ridden my bike were France, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

It's not a big sample, but the US I certainly found a major difference on attitude towards cyclists.

I was shocked when I discovered while just talking to supposedly normal people that for many of them bicyclists had no right to use THEIR roads, at best could hope to be tolerated. Of course, if half the US motorists consider that cyclists have no right to use the roads, ie consider them as trespassers, it's no surprise if a few of them take the law of the jungle in their own hands and run them over every now and then.
It goes without saying that all those car drivers consider it their divine right to guzzle up my oxygen and pollute me with their CO2 and other exhaust fumes.

One of the most frightening experiences I ever had on a bicycle was in 1978. Some local club had organized a race from around Wilmington (DL) to maybe Ocean City (MD), can't remember exactly, on a sunday morning, using long stretches of US13.

Since we had a favorable wind we were flying at or above 50 km/h, but obviously that was too slow for all those god-fearing parishioners who were in a hurry to get to church - or to the liquor store, same difference -and it soon became pandemonium on US13.

In despair the organizers decided to stop the race, luckily before a casualty had occured. (At that point I was about to quit the race anyway since I was so scared)

 

[daveinzambia]

ive actually tried to start being a bit nicer to cars/pedestrians etc. If people give way to me I nod and try to say or mouth 'thanks' (even though they are just obeying basic road rules). I am getting old now and have a son so I want to try to spread cheer and goodwill. Perhaps it may change a few peoples ideas of cyclists?

I find i do the same, saying thanks to a driver when all they did was not pull out in front of me at a junction.

and if a car squeezes past me to get to roundabout then i have the chance to pass him again, i usually do not. as then he will try and squeeze past me again and will be going faster next time

i do not commute on a bike, so all of my riding is basically fitness training and as such i never really have anywhere particular to be. as a result i tend to avoid aggravating drivers as much as possible. i do not move up queues of cars at lights unless the queue is really long and i think i will miss the lights if i do not. if there are 3 cars there i will sit behind and wait my turn. Why risk upsetting someone.

no matter how hard you try, there will always be someone who wants to overtake before turning left, there will always be local bogans who think it is funny to throw bottles of coke at cyclists and there will always be drivers that have an issue with cyclists and are just plain angry and driving in traffic. these are factors i cannot control but i can avoid ****ing off everyone else on the road that was happy to give me room until i passed them for the 4th time at some lights

 

[42x16ss]

I do not move up queues of cars at lights unless the queue is really long and i think i will miss the lights if i do not. if there are 3 cars there i will sit behind and wait my turn. Why risk upsetting someone.

This is a good habit that I have gotten myself into as well. When you fly up the left hand side (right in the USA) and go to the front at the lights everyone loses really. You hold up traffic and drivers often do stupid things to get back in front.

A very simple way to build up good will with most motorists.

 

[Soloist]

Three weeks ago, I'm finishing up a ride, less than a mile from home. I make a right onto the last downhill before an upcoming left that will take me home. I'm traveling as fast as a car. I merge into the left hand land to prepare to make a left. No cars around, except suddenly an angry honk from behind. I glance back to see a Prius with its bumper nearly on my back tire. I give an angry three-fingered salute. The driver races the engine, comes around me on the right, horn blaring, and swerves toward me when she gets alongside me. Scares the hell out of me. She proceeds down the hill. I decide to bypass my planned left hand turn and continue down the hill. At the bottom of the hill she goes into the left hand turn lane and has to wait there for a moment, as there is a nearby school just adjourning for the day, with kids crossing in the intersection - just as I roll up. I get in front of her, unclip, and a yelling match ensues. She stays inside, with the windows rolled up. I order her out of the car (why? I don't know). I continue to scream at her to get out of the car. She yells at me from inside the car. Somewhat shocked school kids and a crossing guard are stopping to notice. I point to her license plate a couple of times to let her know I've memorized it. She shrugs to indicate that she doesn't care. Finally I roll off to head back up the hill. She roars by me once more. I decide not to call the police when I get home. I don't know why. I guess I figured that nothing would come of it. Perhaps this was a mistake. For the next few weeks, I scan the license plates of Prius's in the neighborhood. No matches. Then, just the other day, I'm driving my car down the same hill where the crime occurred. Coming up the hill - yep, it's that Prius, the plate as clear as day. I hang a U as quickly as possible. By the time I get turned around and catch up to her. She's already parked and just heading into her house. I kept driving, but, yes, she lives there. I want to put a note on her window, but not sure what to write....suggestions are welcome.

 

[RedheadDane]

I do not move up queues of cars at lights unless the queue is really long and i think i will miss the lights if i do not. if there are 3 cars there i will sit behind and wait my turn. Why risk upsetting someone.

Yeah. But the problem is situations as seen on my rather bad drawing beneath. Here, on a road without cycling-lanes, only one car needs to go right while all the cars in front are going ahead. Also because of all the pedestrians the right-turning car will just make this "half-turn" and completely block the way for any oncoming cyclists... On the other hand; if the right turning car just let the cyclists get they'd be away from the intersection before the car even reached it...

 

[Arnout]

Yeah. But the problem is situations as seen on my rather bad drawing beneath. Here, on a road without cycling-lanes, only one car needs to go right while all the cars in front are going ahead. Also because of all the pedestrians the right-turning car will just make this "half-turn" and completely block the way for any oncoming cyclists... On the other hand; if the right turning car just let the cyclists get they'd be away from the intersection before the car even reached it...

That's why it's more convenient to stay behind the car, if it goes right and has to wait for pedestrians you can easily pass it on the left side, if it is only one car there should be enough space.

If there are more cars turning right, why not just wait a bit, just like the other cars have to do. I know cycling in cities is supposed to be quicker than by car but if you share roads IMO it is nearly impossible to be quicker without being or at least looking like antisocial.

 

[MarkvW]

This is a good habit that I have gotten myself into as well. When you fly up the left hand side (right in the USA) and go to the front at the lights everyone loses really. You hold up traffic and drivers often do stupid things to get back in front.

A very simple way to build up good will with most motorists.

I'm more oriented toward not blocking the driver's view to the side if I'm not the first at the intersection.

 

[RedheadDane]

That's why it's more convenient to stay behind the car, if it goes right and has to wait for pedestrians you can easily pass it on the left side, if it is only one car there should be enough space.

If there are more cars turning right, why not just wait a bit, just like the other cars have to do. I know cycling in cities is supposed to be quicker than by car but if you share roads IMO it is nearly impossible to be quicker without being or at least looking like antisocial.

Yeah. I know you can in some situations go between the right-turning cars and the ahead/left-turning guys. But if, as on my little artwork, it's clearly only one car being in the way why not just going ahead and get out of the way? Besides; riding between two rows of cars is a liiiitle daring.

Also the place where I've mostly experienced this stuff is on a road where on the majority of the road there is a cycling lane which then just... stops. Seeing as the cars often hold in lines way past the place where the cycling lane ends how am I even supposed to get on the left side of the cars? I'd say going between two cars to get onto the middle would be even more rude (and weird as no one else does it...)

Of course there's the times when a car will make this half-turning and block the way for people coming down the cycling lane.

I know this doesn't come from hate as much as... I dunno...

 

[daveinzambia]

I'm more oriented toward not blocking the driver's view to the side if I'm not the first at the intersection.

i also found early on that as you move up the line, if the lights change you can easily find yourself squeezed up against the side of the road, in a drivers blind spot, as they approach a junction. just about the most dangerous place you can be.

I take my place in the line, move into the road so i am right in the rear view mirror of the car ahead and int he view of the car behind. means everyone knows i am there and not trying to take their place.

also means when we pull off i am in the traffic flow until i reach the junction instead of alongside it. does mean you need to pull away quickly but great for the intervals.

 

[AngusW]

At the end of last week a large truck started to come past me on my right near a left hand turn, leaving very little room then started to indicate left. I accelerated as the truck slowed to make his left turn and as I came past his cab, the driver yelled at me "Get off the ****ing road!"

I didn't get his licence plate but did get his company's name and rang them to describe his behaviour and also reported him to the police.

Why are cyclist so hated by motorists in some countries?

Major reason: we slow them down by sharing the same road with them.
Other reasons:
We might look as if we're having more fun than them (particularly when they're stuck in traffic and we ride past them).
Some of us don't obey the road rules all the time and they assume that all cyclists are breaking the road rules.
We don't pay road tax and they do and they think we should.
Some of them just hate anything that's visible and in their way - on the road that is sometimes cyclists.

 

[daveinzambia]

At the end of last week a large truck started to come past me on my right near a left hand turn, leaving very little room then started to indicate left. I accelerated as the truck slowed to make his left turn and as I came past his cab, the driver yelled at me "Get off the ****ing road!"

I didn't get his licence plate but did get his company's name and rang them to describe his behaviour and also reported him to the police.

Why are cyclist so hated by motorists in some countries?

Major reason: we slow them down by sharing the same road with them.
Other reasons:
We might look as if we're having more fun than them (particularly when they're stuck in traffic and we ride past them).
Some of us don't obey the road rules all the time and they assume that all cyclists are breaking the road rules.
We don't pay road tax and they do and they think we should.
Some of them just hate anything that's visible and in their way - on the road that is sometimes cyclists.

i think this is the big thing. There is just so much rage driving round in peak hour traffic. so many miserable people stuck in traffic to get to the job they hate. they just want to take that anger out on someone and cyclists are an easy target. we are visible and can be irritating.

the other big thing is just plain stupidity. people not paying attention then leading to crap driving and rather than face up to their own mistakes it is easier to blame the innocent cyclist.

Have to say i deal with a lot of trucks around botany bay in sydney and they are always pretty good and leaving room and being aware of bikes. May well be because it is a really popular area for sydney riders and group rides so they are just used to it

 

[ultimobici]

Well I know from experience that half of it has to do with the rider. I've heard stories about the worst cities/roads/etc. then ridden them and not one issue! So the rider is also responsible for provoking such bad relationships with drivers. Sure there's still the hot head drivers I agree, but not doing dumb things helps a lot! I know from riding with ex-riding friends that they can escalate the most minor issue into Road War Nth, stay away from those cyclists. I've ridden roads most fellow cyclist have sworn off due to rabid and irresponsible drivers and way too many incidents, yet when I ride those roads I never get harassed as some tell me occurs way too often. So just ride safely and intelligently and you'll be fine. Heck I've ridden on the great interstates (on the sections where its legal) and not one incident. Just wave hello to those yelling out obscenities as if they're your long lost friend, most end up puzzled and then drive off thinking they might even know you.

Oh how that rings true.

I live in London & commute 14km each way to work each day. If I had a pound for every red light running & unlit cyclist I encounter I'd be able to retire.

Each time they do that in front of motorists they tar us all with the same brush. Drivers perceive cyclists as above the law, and as such not protected by the law.
11 years ago I was rammed by a Mercedes driver at almost 50kmh. I was lucky to survive and keep my foot. 2 plates & 10 pins & zero cartilage were my present that day. I cannot ride as I used to & running is an absolute no no. What did I do? Nothing. The driver, when dragged out of his car, said "it's only a cyclist, they all run red lights & go the wrong way down one-way streets".