Don'tcha just hate cyclists? Poll

[Boob Johnson]

I would help anyone out. Still dislike some cyclists though, have seen them do some really crazy shit, but as others have eluded too, plenty of assholes in all walks of life so not going to tar them all with the same brush.

[Trouser]

I used to ride 50ks a day on a bicycle. Almost all of it was in the smooth concrete gutters in christchurch and only one pucture in 4 years. There is a lot less friction there.

Why can't cyclists today do the same thing instead of cycling right in the lane. Especially those arseholes who cycle on the car side of the white line painted 4-5 foot from the curb. Burn them.

Last weekend we almost scared to death this woman who was stugling to cycle up a hill. Just because it was a relativly quiet contry road doesn't mean you can slalom around the centre line. A toot from a 130db air horn had her on the staight and narrow.

Got a pitch fork, torch, catchy chant combo deal.

[roy.nz]

I do cycle a bit on road and off road,its good and i enjoy it.Just when im on my bike or in my car i could kill most road cyclist due to the stupid thinking of them,i mean when you come up behind them and they are riding like four abreast across the road and dont move out the way like the road is belongs to them that when i hate them.But the worst is those dumb ass's that drive like dicks out there and out of pure spite move into our way or as close to a cyclist as possible,those are the guys that i'l hang by the balls.

[Katman]

You've got to love the ones that place red rep saying "your a moron".

Exactly whose (sic) the moron?

[Donor]

I hate those "I'm a road user too QQ" bastard cyclists who ride through red lights etc, and have no sense of riding formation...

Agreed on this point - I have almost wiped out so many cyclists around town who think that because they are so damned eco friendly and clearly own too many shares in lycra, that they can ride through as many red lights, stop signs and carve up traffic on main roads worse than a north western motorway lane splitter, that I'd almost have difficulty giving a shit scraping them off my bonnet.

Having said that, there are a few clever ones.

Pity they never seem to be anywhere near me.

[sprag]

the ones that get me are the ones that ride 2 or 3 across at 20 or 30kms an hour talking to each other like they are the only ones on the road, happens alot over at mission bay, then they get all shitting when you sit on your horn and tell them not to take up all the road, I have no problem if they followed the road rules like everyone else i.e. single file on the left side of the road. its just the f**kers that take up the whole lane and holding up the flow of traffic.

[Trouser]

You are allowed to ride two abreast.

[madbikeboy]

I've read this post shaking my head. I'm a motorcyclist. And I'm a cyclist. I have competed for years, coached at high levels, and still ride occasionally with good friends who are/were world champs and Commonwealth and Olympic reps.

Now, a couple of things.

1. Cyclists are protected by lycra and polystyrene. I've ridden in a lot of countries from Asia, to the US. This is the worst place to ride because people use their cars like weapons. This is all to familiar to motorcyclists right? And yet, look at the comments.

2. We have the legal right to ride two abreast. Read the road code. We also have the right to not be abused for riding. I've had fireworks thrown at me (beat the fucker into the ground when I caught up), I've been shaved by buses deliberately, I've been hospitalised from being hit from the side, and from behind, each time I've been cleared of wrongdoing and the other party has been charged/convicted.

How is it possible that I've only had ugly incidents when riding in NZ - my behaviour doesn't change between countries. What on earth is annoying enough about my riding my bike that causes such aggression here? I've hosted world level international riders that won't ride here now because of the aggression. Riding in America is SAFER than riding here?! How is that possible??

There are new riders and arrogant riders who do dumb stuff. Of course, that never happens with motorcycles does it?? There are some riders that don't follow all the road rules. I'm one of them. I will not stop at an intersection as a motorcyclist behind a line of cars, where I stand a good chance of being rear ended (it's no fun, let me assure you), I've been rear ended on a pushie as well - much worse (and I was doing nothing wrong). So, I take cover beside cars (same on the Gixer).

I've run out of stuff to say, you either get what's wrong with the attitude towards bikes AND motorcycles, or you take shit from cagers and take it out on the pushies...

[awayatc]

You are allowed two abreast.

rather have abreast or two to myself to be honest...

One would think that size DOES matter when you try to enforce your "rights".... Always thought self preservation would kick in when "competing" with anything that so obviously and easily could wipe you out..?

[sprag]

You are allowed to ride two abreast.

OH i did not know that so i stand corrected, but it does drive me nuts when they are holding up traffic and they know they are doing it, and not stopping for red lights is another one that bugs me.

[madbikeboy]

OH i did not know that so i stand corrected, but it does drive me nuts when they are holding up traffic and they know they are doing it, and not stopping for red lights is another one that bugs me.

If you don't get rear ended, you will get run over as you clip back in and the cars take off...

[quickbuck]

OH i did not know that so i stand corrected, but it does drive me nuts when they are holding up traffic and they know they are doing it, and not stopping for red lights is another one that bugs me.

Back to writing lines from the road code for you...

Notice too, not all cars stop for red lights either. They are the ones that do the real damage.
Think of that before you dump the clutch as soon as the light turns green.

As for holding up traffic? What's the issue? You are a motorcyclist aren't you?

[90s]

the ones that get me are the ones that ride 2 or 3 across at 20 or 30kms an hour talking to each other like they are the only ones on the road, happens alot over at mission bay, then they get all shitting when you sit on your horn and tell them not to take up all the road, I have no problem if they followed the road rules like everyone else i.e. single file on the left side of the road. its just the f**kers that take up the whole lane and holding up the flow of traffic.

You are allowed to ride two abreast.

2. We have the legal right to ride two abreast. Read the road code.

In the UK it is illegal to ride 2 abreast - and basically it is in your interest to not do it. I was a teen in Belgium where they take their cycling very seriously but do not ride several abreast on open rds spread out the way your mission bay/scenic drive roadies do.
As a cyclist I will not ride 2 abreast or with those who do because its just asking for trouble.

I've read this post shaking my head. I'm a motorcyclist. And I'm a cyclist. ... I've been shaved by buses deliberately ... How is it possible that I've only had ugly incidents when riding in NZ - my behaviour doesn't change between countries. What on earth is annoying enough about my riding my bike that causes such aggression here?

Totally dude. I was shaved by a bus, and when I asked the twat driver for to give me more than an inch, the bastard said "you don't need more than an inch". Advert on his bus? For giving cyclists space. How I laughed.

Attitude here towards cyclists is odd. Riding 2 abreast can't help it much, but there is so much anger. Elsewhere a lot of drivers are dangerous, but here they do seem out to get you sometimes.
Its a shame that this attitude even has got into lots of bikers.
Having said that lots of cyclists annoy me by their attitude too ...

Poll results very interesting - some hard core of people who don't like cyclists but loads more who are more sympathetic. Thanks guys.

[_Shrek_]

we pass a group of cyclists every Sunday on the open road most of the time they are ok but there are some absolute ass holes that ride amongst them with the attitude that they have the right to use the whole left hand side of the road & even stopped us from overtaking by riding across to the right hand side because they are passing slower cyclists

thats when i would like to run the mongrels over in the 4x4

but the ironic thing is i would stop & help them if they needed it

[release_the_bees]

Done plenty of cycling myself over the years. The worst was 10 years ago when I used to cycle over the Tauranga Harbour bridge to and from work. Riding home on a Friday/Saturday night was occasionally damn right scary, with the odd beer bottle thrown in my direction.

I certainly have nothing against cyclists, however the ones that completly ignore the road rules do get my temper up. Red traffic light = STOP, but so many cyclists just carry on riding.