Stupidity of other road users

[Mandy]

I ride listening to the radio so you can count me in too

I agree that it is safer not to, but when quizzed I ask "don't you listen to the radio in your car?"

It doesn't completely drown out background noise and I use a mirror to see what is coming up behind me.

You have a point but when driving a car you have the noise coming from speakers and not directly into your ears so hearing will not be impared unless of course it is blaring out like some motorists (yobs) have

I think we should have an option of a built in radio/music player on the handle bars, I would be up for that Everyone would hear you coming then

 

[Mandy]

I'm glad I stumbled across this thread today because I am fed up with the morons I pass on my route who make stupid comments, etc.
It was beginning to get me down and recently I spoke to a policeman friend who is also a cyclist and he said you just have to ignore it all, which is what he does when not in uniform.
I feel a bit better now having read all of your comments and now know I am not alone.

You are right but I have been enlightened by this thread also as apart from the one incident which makes me avoid a group of possible "yobs" on my journey's I have never experienced such an attitude from car/van drivers and have found most to be very helpful, give me room, allow me to cross a road etc, apart from the odd lorry that get's too close on a narrow road which I don't like!
Maybe it's because I am simply female? I dunno? lol

 

[MazB]

Mandy I'm glad that you can use your bell, every time I used to use mine It ended in an argument! so much so that I ended up removing the bell.

Just to add to the thread though, I have to cycle on a shared cylce/pedestrian path just after temple meads on Bath Road in Bristol. Now the lovely council decided to to take the markings off the path half way down the path and they reappear later on down the path.

This has led to some lovely things going on, for instance when it was raining the walkers would swing their umbrella's I've lost count how many times I was nearly stabbed with them, and they now walk 2 by 2.

Today I was cycling behind another cyclist (didnt overtake him) and there was 2 old ladies walking 2by2 so no one could get past, the gentleman cyclist polietly asked them if he could pass, they gave him daggers and muttered something as he passed. They then saw me and sucked their teeth! and cursed, how annoying is that!
I told them it was a shared path and that they shouldn't get so annoyed, at least the guy asked to pass insted of just running you over (god that was so tempting!)

Its for these sort of reasons I hate using shared paths and will always take the road over them, and at least cars don't talk back!

Soz for the rant !

Maz

 

[Mandy]

Mandy I'm glad that you can use your bell, every time I used to use mine It ended in an argument! so much so that I ended up removing the bell.

Just to add to the thread though, I have to cycle on a shared cylce/pedestrian path just after temple meads on Bath Road in Bristol. Now the lovely council decided to to take the markings off the path half way down the path and they reappear later on down the path.

This has led to some lovely things going on, for instance when it was raining the walkers would swing their umbrella's I've lost count how many times I was nearly stabbed with them, and they now walk 2 by 2.

Today I was cycling behind another cyclist (didnt overtake him) and there was 2 old ladies walking 2by2 so no one could get past, the gentleman cyclist polietly asked them if he could pass, they gave him daggers and muttered something as he passed. They then saw me and sucked their teeth! and cursed, how annoying is that!
I told them it was a shared path and that they shouldn't get so annoyed, at least the guy asked to pass insted of just running you over (god that was so tempting!)

Its for these sort of reasons I hate using shared paths and will always take the road over them, and at least cars don't talk back!

Soz for the rant !

Maz

Hi Maz
Not a rant at all and a very good point I think I have had one though lol!!
I totally agree with the shared paths problem as some of mine are too. Some pedestrians I come across stretch right across in front! I ring my bell and shout excuse me please and I am sure they scoff and nash their teeth also but I leave them for dust when I pass and go on my merry way lol!. I think some pedestrians can't actually see those big white painted bikes on the lanes
I want to get one of those horns and then they will be startled into taking notice and there teeth may fall out
Only kidding, I really wouldn't want to alarm anyone too much and always try and smile when I want to get past throw them a thank you and this can work wonders a lot of the time apart from some that may be oblivous to you regardless or ignorant of course

 

[flecc]

I don't know if this will help, copied from my Torq website, since I don't have shared path problems and use them all the time:

"So how do I avoid the bell giving annoyance on dual use pavements? Quite simply, I slow to near walking pace as I ring the bell, then as the person looks round and steps away, I smile and say "Thank you, sorry to disturb you". The response is always friendly, often with favourable comment, such as on one occasion when a lady said "Thank you for using your bell".
.

 

[Mandy]

I don't know if this will help, copied from my Torq website, since I don't have shared path problems and use them all the time:

"So how do I avoid the bell giving annoyance on dual use pavements? Quite simply, I slow to near walking pace as I ring the bell, then as the person looks round and steps away, I smile and say "Thank you, sorry to disturb you". The response is always friendly, often with favourable comment, such as on one occasion when a lady said "Thank you for using your bell".
.

Absolutely Flecc, a smile is worth it's weight in gold with pedestrians, cyclists and cars alike and works There are too many people frowning out there, so smile it is infectious

 

[Footie]

Sorry to hear about your not so good hearing footie but I would have thought with poor hearing wearing ear plugs to listen to music would probably not help?
I have very poor eye sight and wouldn't dream of riding my bike without my glasses, I would probably have an accident, lol

So if I was trying to pass you Footie, I would wait

Oh Mandy, you do have an amusing sense of humour

I've had bad hearing from about 19 yrs old (discovered when I tried to join the RAF), so I tend to ignore it. I'm the only one who can understand people talking in a disco as I lip read reasonably well. Luckily my eyesight is very good and compensates for the loss.

Thankyou for your concerns but I am perfectly happy cycling with my MP3 player on - set on a low volume.

As for hearing your bell. Of course I wouldn’t hear it - but it wouldn't be because it’s quite and it wouldn't be because I'm wearing my MP3 player. It would simple be because you'd never be able to catch up with me on my North Cornwall hills to over take

Cougar Mountain Electric Bike fitted with LiFePO4 battery - awesome
.

 

[john]

On paths with pedestrians, I give a few rings of the bell when I am some way off so as to give them plenty of warning and not startle them. Not had any adverse comments to that (or perhaps I don't hear them with my radio on )

 

[WALKERMAN]

You are right but I have been enlightened by this thread also as apart from the one incident which makes me avoid a group of possible "yobs" on my journey's I have never experienced such an attitude from car/van drivers and have found most to be very helpful, give me room, allow me to cross a road etc, apart from the odd lorry that get's too close on a narrow road which I don't like!
Maybe it's because I am simply female? I dunno? lol

I give the motorists even more warning when I am on the roads - I use the latest Cateye rear light and even in daytime. It is brilliant and the batteries last for ages. I have it angled up slightly so they see it flashing straight at them. It seems to make them go past with even a greater clearance than without a light.

 

[flecc]

My best experience of warning a pedestrian of my approach was on a country shared use path when I rang my bell when coming up behind an elderly lady who obviously didn't hear it through deafness.

So I used a loud toot on my AirZound horn, at which she looked up into the tree above.
.

 

[Orraman]

Cyclist found injured but no bike.

This other road user was sufficiently aware to remove the evidence.

Berwick Advertiser July 17 08

Hit and run driver hunted.
A man in his twenties suffered broken pelvis and shoulder but stable.
He was wearing a yellow reflective bib and was last seen riding a silver mountain bike, which has not been found, despite several searches

There was no further information in this week's edition.

Dave

 

[Jim Taverner]

Hello,
Being a cyclist of 60 odd years, I always use a tyre pump (handily clipped to the cross tube) to ward off errant motorists (not so much of a problem in my youth), delinquents and the odd canine. This was a method advocated by the cartoon character 'Baz' in Cycling magazine. Lovely days! But, I do think that a few of the modern breed of cyclists don't do the rest of us any favours. The red light thing is guaranteed to antagonize motorists and why is it that so few cyclists use a bell to warn when overtaking (particularly on duel use pathways). I am amazed that more accidents to pedestrians aren't reported. Anyway, rant over. I do enjoy reading all your posts.

Jim

 

[flecc]

I agree on all those Jim. Unfortunately the majority of bikes don't even have bells on them, despite being sold with them by law.
.

 

[Erik]

I agree on all those Jim. Unfortunately the majority of bikes don't even have bells on them, despite being sold with them by law.
.

I find that other cyclists have forgotten what a bell signal means, and keep on blocking the path, so I have to balance on the curb when passing them.

When I'm out with my four year old son on his little bike, the Lycra fraction whoosh by without any bell warning.

What's wrong with people? The ring of a bell is a polite way of signalling "could you please move to the side, I wish to overtake you?", not like a car's horn.

 

[JohnInStockie]

I think thats long forgotten in the mists of time now, I know of no other cyclist I know that uses a bell, the vast majority scoff at their presense !!

 

[WALKERMAN]

Manners

I think thats long forgotten in the mists of time now, I know of no other cyclist I know that uses a bell, the vast majority scoff at their presense !!

A couple of years ago we were walking along the waterfront in San Diego, California and a cyclist came up from behind us and rang his bell. He said 'Excuse me sir, I'm passing on your right'. I was astonished with this approach and very impressed. If only respect and good manners could be found in the U.K.
Respect is much more obvious over there in the U.S.
I don't understand where we in the U.K. have gone wrong.

 

[flecc]

A couple of years ago we were walking along the waterfront in San Diego, California and a cyclist came up from behind us and rang his bell. He said 'Excuse me sir, I'm passing on your right'. I was astonished with this approach and very impressed. If only respect and good manners could be found in the U.K.

Not completely absent here Walkerman, here's a paragraph from my Torq website:

"So how do I avoid the bell giving annoyance on dual use pavements? Quite simply, I slow to near walking pace as I ring the bell, then as the person looks round and steps away, I smile and say "Thank you, sorry to disturb you". The response is always friendly, often with favourable comment, such as on one occasion when a lady said "Thank you for using your bell". It doesn't get better than that, pedestrians and bikes can exist in perfect harmony with a little effort."
.

 

[Saddlesore]

Yes I think flecc's advice is the best when it comes to warning pedestrians of your approach and its one I've always adopted and generally the response is friendly. The only time I won't use my bell is when passing horses and try to give them a wide a berth as possible so they have plenty of time to see me before I get alongside which generally avoids startling them and don't use the motor either in case the whine upsets them.

I personally would never wear headphones on a bike as I rely on hearing as well as sight to remain safe and to judge situations - mind you I don't wear a helmet which you could argue negates my safety concerns.

As for yobs and the dross of today's society - just ignore them - the failure to get a rise out of you generally upsets them more than anything and at anyrate at my age (60) they might think I was deaf anyway!!

 

[Jim Taverner]

Good manners

I think the problem is a general decline in basic manners. Unfortunately, if young cyclists don't receive a good example from parents etc., the future doesn't look bright. I received my early cycling education from members of my local cycling club. Not being involved with clubs for many years, I have no idea of the attitudes the present day clubs have to road manners (including warning of approach). Maybe some younger members of the forum might enlighten us. The example Waterman describes in San Diego need not be a dream if the young are shown that it is not 'sissy' to ring a bell or be pleasant to other road users or is it wishful thinking.

Cheers,
Jim

 

[Hooligooner]

As a child I still remember one very near miss after being overtaken by a car who wished to turn left at the next junction.

Well, 30 years later and only a week back into daily cycling I can confirm that this still happens.

I was on the fastest part of my commute to work, a short down-hill section on which I'm freewheeling up to 25 mph, when a very large estate car cruised past already indicating left as he did so (thanks for the warning!).

Unfortunately for him he was turning into a car-park, so had no escape after I had controlled my skid and turned in after him.

Fortunately for him the first words out of his mouth were "Very sorry about that..."