The *****wit cyclist thread

[Bikemad]

For someone who doesn't pay any levies for the road they sure do have a heightened sense of ownership.

This morning I was commuting to work, coming up to a red light wanting to turn left, 3 cars ahead of me all going straight and a cyclist in the cycle lane waiting at the front. I rode down the Cycle lane and waited behind the cyclist (Who also turned left). While waiting the lady on the bike turned around and yelled at me "This is a cycle lane you shouldn't be in it!".

Ignored the bitch went around the corner, into my lane and carried on past her.

Why would someone get angry at me for that when I didn't hold her up at all? There were no cyclists behind me that I held up, didn't impede any car or cycles lines.

ya should have yelled back.........."lycra makes ya arse look fat........you shouldn't be in it"

[Padmei]

Meh... nothing really constructive to add. Been a competitive cyclist, tri & multisporter - all the colours of the lycra- as well as event organiser & race director.

In short Cyclists are fuckwads. They pretty much do as they want to & blame others. Some you could bang their heads together & their arrogant attitudes still wouldn't change, others are pretty paranoid about their survival on two wheels that they get really territorial with 'their' space.


All i've learnt in my time on bikes (& try to pass on to the kids) is that you can get pretty fucked up by traffic so I play it pretty defensively.

[5150]

We love them really like Honda riders but dont tell them that .

Lay off the Honda riders, It's the cyclists we are bitching about

[Berries]

Lay off the Honda riders, It's the cyclists we are bitching about

Lycra is lycra.

[orangeback]

loving it , the spandex worriers have been giving me the shits in the port hills for years . its not the mtn bikers but it the mid life crises road cyclist that are a real pain, every weekend on one of the tightest roads in canterbury .

[Swoop]

Another epic thread full of win.


A workmate cycles in the mornings around Tamaki waterfront with the wannabe Tour de frog groups. His comments are totally backing up the proposition that cyclists' are cranially deficient in groups of more than ONE rider.

[avgas]

Whether we are driving or riding we get in a zone. Speed is constant and whilst we remain alert to any potential hazards, there is a good feeling to travelling along at a regular pace. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone found that there is endorphin release when riding or driving is going smoothly. And suddenly there is slow traffic in front. Doesn’t matter if it is a car, truck or cyclist, the calm is disturbed, the endorphin rush ebbs. The more we have to decelerate the greater the decrease in positive feeling. And generally with cyclists we have to slow way more than with other vehicles, so there goes any positive feeling. Withdrawal and the pissed off feeling that comes with it.

So yep, cyclists are welcome to ride but don’t slow other fucking traffic down

I just rubbed one out imagining you reading this.
It was beautiful and I cried a little.





bwahahahahahahahahahahaha

[iYRe]

Please explain this. I dont really cycle so you may have to keep it simple for me

Bicycles are not wide, and they are a little slower than traffic (I travel at 30-50kmh depending on where I am), and other road users will attempt to fit their vehicles in the same portion of the lane that we are in, often forcing us completely off the road. At least once a day I am forced to stop or take evasive action because even though I am almost in the gutter, and on my own, some idiot in a car, truck or a motorcycle decides they have to pass me despite there being no room because of traffic coming the other way. If they wait 20 secs, they can then pass safely, just as they would if they were passing anything else.

Riding 2 abreast on a wider road means we are more visible, and it is less likely for someone to force us off the road.

As per the rode code:

What cyclists would like drivers to know

• Cycles are small and can be difficult to see, especially at night. Don't just look for car-sized vehicles.
• Cyclists can feel threatened by inconsiderate driving. Cyclists have a right to space on the road and need extra room at intersections and roundabouts.
• Cyclists may ride away from the kerb or occupy a lane – not because they want to annoy drivers, but to:
  
  • avoid drains, potholes or roadside rubbish
  • be seen as they come up to intersections with side roads
  • discourage drivers from squeezing past where it's too narrow.
  
  
• Cyclists turning right are exposed. They need extra consideration from drivers, especially on multi-laned roads with fast-moving traffic.
• Cyclists can be forced into faster traffic by vehicles that are parked where they shouldn't be:
  
  • in cycle lanes
  • on broken yellow lines
  • near intersections.
  
  
• Cyclists are dazzled by headlights on full beam, just like other road users – remember to dip your lights for cyclists as well as other motor vehicles.
• Cyclists can travel quickly, capable of speeds of 40km/h or more.
• Cyclists have a right to use the roads and to travel safely and enjoyably. Please understand and respect their needs.

and:

• Hazards like parked cars, potholes, glass, litter and opening car doors may cause cyclists to veer off-line and move into your path. Because of this, give cyclists plenty of room when passing them. Ideally, allow at least 1.5 metres between you and the cyclist.
• Wait for a clear space before passing a cyclist on a narrow road.
• At intersections, apply the same rules to cyclists that you would to any other vehicle on the road. Take care to indicate turns.
• Only drive across cycle lanes when entering or leaving side roads, driveways or parking spaces.
• If you are crossing a cycle lane, give way to cyclists before you cross.
• Take extra care around young cyclists.
• You must not drive in a cycle lane except for a maximum of 50 metres when entering or leaving side roads, driveways or parking spaces.

Just as there are dickhead motorcyclists, there are dickhead cyclists. It is unfair to classify all cyclists or motorcyclists as dickheads (in face, it is insane).

Just so we are clear, here are the rules from the road code:

Equipment rules

Cycle helmets must: be worn; meet an approved standard and be securely fastened.
Cycles must have brakes and reflectors.
Cycle lights must be on when it's dim or dark.
Doubling is not allowed unless there is a special seat called a pillion fitted and there are footrests for the passenger. The legs of small children must be protected from the wheels. Passengers must wear cycle helmets.
Cycles can tow a specially designed cycle trailer but must not be fitted with a sidecar.

Behaviour rules

• Always ride as near as you can to the left side of the road. If you are holding back traffic you must move as far as possible to the left side of the road to allow traffic to pass, as soon as you can. However, you do need to cycle in a sensible position on the road to keep safe. See Cyclist responsibilities for more information.
• Two cyclists can ride next to each other but should take into account the keep left rule and not hold back traffic. Three or more people cycling next to each other is illegal, except in the case of a road race that has been given traffic management approval from a road controlling authority.
• Ride in single file when passing vehicles.
• Use hand signals to show other road users what you are doing.
• When cycling behind other cyclists and vehicles you must be able to stop, keeping clear of the vehicle in front, if it stops suddenly. It is recommended you keep at least two seconds behind.
• You are only allowed to cycle on the footpath if you are:
  
  • delivering newspapers or mail, or
  • you are riding a small wheeled recreational device that has a wheel diameter of less than 355 millimetres (typically tricycles or small children's bicycles).
  
  
• Don't park your cycle so that it blocks paths or driveways.
• It is illegal for a cyclist to be towed on their cycle.
• Loads need to be secure, must not touch the ground and mustn't extend more than one metre out in front of or behind the wheels, or more than half metre on either side.
• You must obey all signs and signals.
• You must obey the give way rules and give way at pedestrian crossings.
• You must obey local bylaws (these often cover cycles and parks).
• Give way to emergency vehicles when their sirens are on or when lights are flashing. It is a good idea to pull over to the kerb and stop.

As long as there is room to pass, we are entitled to ride side by side. If you dont like it, take a frickin train.

[nodrog:Me]

[oneofsix]

......

yep that about sums them up, by one of their own too.

[Fast Eddie]

We love them really like Honda riders but dont tell them that .

gotcha!

[Fast Eddie]

As long as there is room to pass, we are entitled to ride side by side. If you dont like it, take a frickin train.

id focus on the bit where it says taking into account to not hold up traffic myself..

so if there is a car or bike behind you.. move over and don't ride 2 abreast. the problem is that when 2 abreast on some roads there is no room to pass at all and the cyclists often seem to stay 2 abreast but sometimes they move. depends on the individual eh. plenty of caravans on the open rd piss me off more. plus I'v seen 3 abreast plenty which seems to be illegal according to above text. They will get a spanking

they don't bother me that much, gotta feel sorry for them in that lycra and sperm shaped helmet

[oneofsix]

As long as there is room to pass, we are entitled to ride side by side. If you dont like it, take a frickin train.

But the whole bitch is about them riding two abreast when it makes it hard to pass whereas if they were single file you could safely pass and those try to dictate to the motorist when they will allow them to pass. Your own posted say it is up to the vehicle wanting to pass to chose a safe place, it is not up to the cyclist. Ride single file when a vehicle is approaching from behind so they can better judge when it is safe to pass and to maximise the safe passing opportunities, or to put it your way, only ride two abreast when it is safe, and that means for all road users, for you to do so.

[Paul in NZ]

Look - I cycled 20km each way to work for frigging years in ChCh, I have family who are competitive cyclists and I'm not the sort of person who would go out of my way to hurt anyone deliberately with a vehicle - cyclist or not.

The problem I have with cyclists are two fold.

1. They demand their 'rights' but happily ignore the rights of others. a little example - I'm in the city and pull up to a red light. Mr Angry cycles up on my inside to the front of the queue and does not want to put his feet down (stupid pedal shoe thingies) so wobbles about all over the show right at my front wheel and potentially in front of my bumper. Light turns green, hes still in a too high gear and he lurches off in front of me at 0.4kph. I have to fuckin wait for him to get his shit together and wait for him yet I was at the front of the queue?? Hey - its not a biggie BUT if I held him up or made him wait its all angry fingr man and slapping bonnets - if you want to filter do it safely and don't hold up people - we ALL have places to be.

2. Stop putting me at risk. Yeah - right might be on your side in your head but I'm trying to control several tonnes of hurtling steel here and the laws of physics apply. It does not stop instantly because you think you are 'right' to jerk me around. You could kill someone with that shit.

As for mr angry in the video on the port hills. Pretty well sums it up - cyclists get so wound up they hate each other as well. I bet the 'victim' edited all the needling and petty ranting he did before the incident. Guess what junior you pissed off the wrong dude that day!

[willytheekid]

The Canterbury Road Policing Manager (Big Boss POPO) has an interesting office.
It's a small office, by managerial standards.
One wall is wallpapered with letters from cyclists complaining about motorists, especially motorcyclists. Bloody motorcyclists, what are the Police doing about keeping them out of cycle lanes? Blah blah fecking blah.
The opposing wall is papered in letters from motorists, including motorcyclists, complaining about cyclists. Bloody cyclists, when are the Police going to do something about making them stop at red lights, stop signs, keep left, blah blah fecking blah.
It's not the mode of transport that's the problem, it's the attitude and behaviour of the driver, rider, cyclist.
I'm going to suggest a new wallpaper for Da Boss. It'll be one covered in letters from people complaining about knob-end road users, no matter what form of transport they choose.

REALLY!
And yet none of us have EVER seen a popo "check point" or "Safety campaign" targeting...sorry..."focused" on scooters or cyclists??
...why is this?
I mean...your boss has thousands of letters clearly stating a problem exists?...I thought good management acted on such things