People expect cyclists to bend over backwards

Some drivers are so impatient and dangerous I wonder if their desire to get away from this sad world is what they are so impatient about as some of them drive like suicide drivers.

As a cyclist many times I have been overpowered or overruled by the driving habits of such drivers.

Today (7th March 2010) was no exception.

I was cycling along a stretch of road with traffic both ways and the only way I could be passed was when nothing was coming the other way as the lanes were not that wide. I an quite a fast cyclist and kept up with the flow of traffic so I wasn't holding traffic up.

I came to a zebra crossing where someone was about to cross and stopped to let them when a driver in a black sports Audi moved out and overtook me not honouring the pedestrians' right to cross which I granted them by waiting.

One question:
Is it illegal for a motorist to overtake someone who has stopped to let pedestrians cross at a zebra crossing?

It might be debatable if there are two or more lanes and those in the other lanes were not so keen to stop but when it is one lane and passing requires an attempt to move over and not continue in the same lane then this is a deliberate attempt to deny pedestrians their right to cross which they were granted.

I hope this motorist takes his own life and not the life of someone who is innocent.

I also see arrogant twits cycling along the pavement talking or texting on their mobiles

It's slightly ironic that the people who actually have no right to be on a road, are drivers. They are the ones who have to pay to hold a licence, for road tax/ insurance etc.. to be able to drive on a road - legally. Cyclists, Horses and pedestrians have every right to use the road, as drivers do. Obviously they are more at risk, but just because you're safely strapped in an aluminium box with wheels, hurtling along 3 x faster than a cyclist, doesn't make you the only person that should be on the road. I think people need to be aware that in todays world, there are bound to be some complete arrogant twats driving around (sometimes on their mobiles) with no consideration for other road users - watch out for these killers

All you need to know about the arrogance of pavement cyclists is here." I don't value anyone's opinion ......unless they are a cyclist"

Apparently it's the Tour de France tomorrow and I have just found out, to my amazement, that people have flown in from all over the world watch these sweaty, panting, oafs dressed in lurid plastic clothes on their little toys pedalling aorund Monaco and then up into the hills.

I am so sick of cyclists like you who think they only have to obey the law when it suits their convenience. You don't belong on the pavement - is that so hard for you to understand? You say that you respect other path users "where it matters". In other words when it suits you, that is not respect. I am assuming from your lack of understanding of the over used word "respect" that you are male and young?
For your information it is very frightening to have some selfish idiot on a bike come up behind you at 15/20 mph; everyone, but especially the elderly, disabled and young children, should be able to feel safe on the pavement and you have no right to take that from them just because it's "less faff than the alternatives". Less faff for you, not the people you are making feel insecure and miserable. And I do love the bit about cycling up behind someone at a "safe, stoppable speed". Yup, hitting some old person with osteoporosis will stop your bike very nicely.
When you talk about "shared" paths don't you realise that all this means is that previously illegal behavioiur ( ie cycling on a pavement) has just been legitimised and that you have taken something away from pedestrians?
And, by the way, you are snotty about pedestrians not concentrating so wouldn't you be better paying attention instead of indulging in childish ( and worryingly psychotic) fantasies about attacking dogs with missiles? I am assuming that it is only in your day dreams that you enjoy hurting animals.

John RJ

That is nothing compared with what I saw a Jaguar driver do in the West Country last week.

I was cycling on a single carriageway with one lane in both directions when a motorist overtook me giving me reasonable space and while this happened a Jaguar driver was overtaking him. So I saw two vehicles pass me simultaneously.

The Jaguar driver had to move fully into the other lane and there was oncoming traffic which the driver in front flashed him for his dangerous overtaking.

It was something like an American police chase on TV the way it was driven.

Mercs and Jaguars have the worst drivers around here and BMW drivers seem more courteous.

Could the recession be forcing the bad drivers over to Mercs and Jaguars now?

Jaguar drivers on The Fylde are the worst for cyclists.

This morning a lane had farm muck across it for about 100 yards with a gap near the centre clear so I cycled in the clear area until I passed it and a Jaguar couldn't pass until I moved over and he was hooting me to move over and cycle through the muck to let him pass.

Later when I came up a diversion I stopped to read it and delayed another Jaguar driver only for about ten seconds and he hooted at me also.

As cyclists we are not second-class road users and as Jaguar drivers they don't have priority over us at our expense.

I stuck two fingers up at each of them as they passed me as I do to any motorist who doesn't respect my rights as a road user.

I am an advanced motorist and always give cyclists plenty of room and space to move over and avoid pot holes, puddles, farm muck, etc. and wait patiently until I can pass safely.

I drive a motorcycle, and I obey the rules of the road. If you're on it, follow the rules. Pedestrians aren't meant to cross where it's unsafe, so why should you be allowed to run a red?

"What about motorists who drive dangerously close to cyclists? "

They probably do so because the cyclists are occupying more than their fair share of the roadway. Mostly it's that simple.

Unless there is a cycle path, vehicular traffic and bicycles are mutually incompatible on a public highway. Cyclists should remember that and act accordingly. If you play with fire you get burnt, if you play with the traffic you get hurt. Simple really.

What about motorists who drive dangerously close to cyclists?

I am a cyclist and occasionally a passenger in a car and regularly witness reckless driving putting other motorists, their passengers and cyclists at extra risk.

As I was cycling around the Fylde in Lancashire some motorists gave me plenty of room, some cut it down a bit but the driver of a silver Citroen Saxo VTR registration V89HDP passed me so close I could have touched his wing mirror if I had reached out.

Normally after a vehicle passes me I get an idea of how much space they gave me and in this instance if I had swayed out which cyclists do as they are on two wheels I would have known as it passed me by other means.

This happened about 6:30 pm on 7th June '09.

I will give credit to bigger car drivers as they normally give more room than smaller car drivers so that is one good thing about bigger cars.

I've had morons overtake me going through junctions and traffic lights - many times. they get a big shock when I smack the window and tell em off lol. been offered many fights funny they changed mind and drove off when I accepted ha ha