Idiot Drivers

Soni

Was out yesterday 25 miles into my run, and doing 33mph on a decent on a dual carriageway, when i hear an engine from a car behind me that isn't passing, next thing, a massive BMW X5 4x4 is level pegging with me, matching my speed along side me, i couldn't look at it because it had me trapped, i was riding in a 2 ft channel, i couldn't move right as i would have hit the car, and i couldn't move left as i would have hit the curb, and at that speed 33mph i didn't fancy coming off.

Next thing, the windows come down, and this woman shouts out in her 'posh' voice 'excuse me' i said 'What' not looking at her as i was concentrating so much on trying to stay on my bike and not hitting her car or the curb, she said 'is this the road for Eynsford.......?'

I had the right hump and shouted 'yes', then she says 'oh thank you.......' and then she stays there for a short period as if i'm going to have a conversion with her or something and i think she must have realised i had the hump with her, and then she drives off!

What is the matter with some people???? Do they not realise how much danger they are placing on cyclists? :evil:

sicknote

Some are just too thick to relies and if pointed out, they take it like you has said they are morons :?
That would be wrong NOT.

zedders

Not wanting to stereotype people but it sounds as though she's never, ever been on the road with a push bike? Not once in her life! There lies the problem. She probbaly thought she was being nice, and completely unaware in her own little world? I would also guess she don't even need a X5, its just a status symbol for her?
Someone in a X5 reversed into me a while ago and then lied on his claim saying I drove into him, when I was completely stationary? My neighbours a X5 driver as well, he's always racing into our close, with kids playing nearby - c0ck. X5 drivers - I hate them :x

geoff_ss

I can't believe how clueless many people are when it comes to finding their way about. I've been marshalling at time trials on the A50 and several times cars have stopped asking for directions to Alton Towers. One was using a Happy Eater map.

However ignorant drivers coming too close is all the more frightening when you realise they're just unaware of how dangerously they're behaving.

Geoff

Chip \'oyler

zedders wrote:

Not wanting to stereotype people but it sounds as though she's never, ever been on the road with a push bike? Not once in her life! There lies the problem. She probbaly thought she was being nice, and completely unaware in her own little world? I would also guess she don't even need a X5, its just a status symbol for her?
Someone in a X5 reversed into me a while ago and then lied on his claim saying I drove into him, when I was completely stationary? My neighbours a X5 driver as well, he's always racing into our close, with kids playing nearby - c0ck. X5 drivers - I hate them :x

My thoughts exactly - 99% of the time they're driven by shrew like women.

pottssteve

Continuing the theme of Oblivious Idiots in Their Own Little World, I was out of the saddle climbing a nasty little hill last week, sweat streaming off me, trying to keep going in a straight line and keep my legs moving when a taxi pulls alongside and the driver asks for directions! :shock:

I'm still amazed that I had the breath to answer!

fast as fupp

Soni wrote:

Was out yesterday 25 miles into my run, and doing 33mph on a decent on a dual carriageway, when i hear an engine from a car behind me that isn't passing, next thing, a massive BMW X5 4x4 is level pegging with me, matching my speed along side me, i couldn't look at it because it had me trapped, i was riding in a 2 ft channel, i couldn't move right as i would have hit the car, and i couldn't move left as i would have hit the curb, and at that speed 33mph i didn't fancy coming off.

Next thing, the windows come down, and this woman shouts out in her 'posh' voice 'excuse me' i said 'What' not looking at her as i was concentrating so much on trying to stay on my bike and not hitting her car or the curb, she said 'is this the road for Eynsford.......?'

I had the right hump and shouted 'yes', then she says 'oh thank you.......' and then she stays there for a short period as if i'm going to have a conversion with her or something and i think she must have realised i had the hump with her, and then she drives off!



What is the matter with some people???? Do they not realise how much danger they are placing on cyclists? :evil:

was she fit?

markos1963

Here's a good one on the subject of asking for directions. I was working for a while as a shunter on the railways. One day I was in Norwich station attaching a locomotive to a coach, I'm in between, on the track wrestling with brake hoses when a face pops over the edge of the platform and asks me 'Which train for Peterborough mate?' I was almost flabergasted, but not enough to think of a standard BR answer ' I'm not your mate and I ain't got a fugging clue where your train is' aand with that I walked off down the blind side of the train. I wouldn't have minded but the platform had loads of station staff on it!

guilliano

I've been knocked off my bike twice on the A road between Leighton Buzzard and Aylesbury.... both times by a X5 clipping my arm and knocking me onto the grass verge. Thankfully I wasn't badly hurt as the drivers didn't stop. Gits the lot of them

marcthehammer

I was out riding yesterday(saturday), when a white van came past me and the passenger lent out the window and tried to slap me!! He missed but it gave me a real fright as nothing has happened like this before.

term1te

Yesterday a Ferrari crept up behind me sat there for a few seconds before dropping a gear and overtaking with full throttle and disappearing down the road. Epic noise, but I nearly fell off with surprise. I was in a cycle lane, so there was no need for them to even slow down. I'll take it as a compliment though that they felt the need to "burn me up", but then they did have about 500 hp more than me.

daviesee

Idiots? Oh yes!

The other week I was going along a road where I know there are deep potholes on the inside. Luckilly the traffic was going slow, around 25 mph, so I could move out and keep up with the flow.
This was just too much for white van man. Imagine, a bicycle being in front of him!
He overtook me and when a car came the other way he had to cut me off to get back in lane. Ten seconds later the potholes finished and I pulled over while still keeping up with the flow. No-one lost any time or whatever so what was his problem?
There is a percieved pecking order on the roads and bikes are the lowest of the low.

The only way to change this is to get more people on their bikes and more awareness.

I won't hold my breath but I won't give in either.

Edit:- I wonder if Boris will make cycling even more of a priority after this -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8066461.stm

mrushton

Today a Landrover Freeranger driver told me I had 'ruined' two of his tyres because I had swerved outward as he overtook me, causing him to clip a traffic island. I politely informed him that I wasn't aware I had swerved but if I had been a car then the Highway Code says to leave room just in case..... He then told me that he would not have overtaken had I been a car. Well there you are then I now say to be informed I was a 'smart-arse' and the next time he will 'take me out'

Soni

fast as fupp wrote:

Soni wrote:

Was out yesterday 25 miles into my run, and doing 33mph on a decent on a dual carriageway, when i hear an engine from a car behind me that isn't passing, next thing, a massive BMW X5 4x4 is level pegging with me, matching my speed along side me, i couldn't look at it because it had me trapped, i was riding in a 2 ft channel, i couldn't move right as i would have hit the car, and i couldn't move left as i would have hit the curb, and at that speed 33mph i didn't fancy coming off.

Next thing, the windows come down, and this woman shouts out in her 'posh' voice 'excuse me' i said 'What' not looking at her as i was concentrating so much on trying to stay on my bike and not hitting her car or the curb, she said 'is this the road for Eynsford.......?'

I had the right hump and shouted 'yes', then she says 'oh thank you.......' and then she stays there for a short period as if i'm going to have a conversion with her or something and i think she must have realised i had the hump with her, and then she drives off!



What is the matter with some people???? Do they not realise how much danger they are placing on cyclists? :evil:

was she fit?

I couldn't even look, as i say i was holding on for my life!

Soni

pottssteve wrote:

Continuing the theme of Oblivious Idiots in Their Own Little World, I was out of the saddle climbing a nasty little hill last week, sweat streaming off me, trying to keep going in a straight line and keep my legs moving when a taxi pulls alongside and the driver asks for directions! :shock:

I'm still amazed that I had the breath to answer!

Some people obviously just don't have an ounce of common sense......

Soni

guilliano wrote:

I've been knocked off my bike twice on the A road between Leighton Buzzard and Aylesbury.... both times by a X5 clipping my arm and knocking me onto the grass verge. Thankfully I wasn't badly hurt as the drivers didn't stop. Gits the lot of them

You are very lucky, unlucky for being knocked off, but very lucky to still be alive....

There should be much stricter penalties for these types of drivers.

Soni

marcthehammer wrote:

I was out riding yesterday(saturday), when a white van came past me and the passenger lent out the window and tried to slap me!! He missed but it gave me a real fright as nothing has happened like this before.

That is enough to cause a nasty accident, its a shame you didn't get time to take down the number plate, this type of thing should be followed up thoroughly by the police, its almost like a type of attempted murder surely?

jos2thehua

Happen to me also. Some guys drove right up beside me and started asking all these questions about various roads around my county. Sort of annoying and pretty dangerous because they were riding so close to my side.

freehub

I notice if I am doing 30 in a 30, 20 in a 20 or even catching up with cars in front, cars ALWAYS overtake, even if it means breaking the speed limit, and I know when it says 30mph on my GPS is probably is showing around 33-35mph on a cars speedo.

antfly

I was coming down a hill the other day at 30 -35 mph whan some kids walking up in the road on mobiles starting shouting "excuse me " and tried to flag me down almost forcing me off the road.As if I was going to slam the brakes on and stop for them.On another hill nearby there I came around a bend doing 30-35 mph and there were 2 cars stopped alongside each other for a chat.I didn`t fancy braking and the only gap was between them so I tucked everything in and hoped for the best,turning the air blue as I squeezed through.

BigJimmyB

zedders wrote:

I would also guess she don't even need a X5

Who does have a NEED for one?

Farmers wouldn't touch em, neither would any one who need a serious off-road vehicle for work/pleasure.

Pointless 'look at me' $hite.

I've seen people braking for speedhumps in them, so the suspension/4x4 capabilities must be apalling :roll:

antfly

My brother-in-law has got one, it`s not even very roomy.

eh

Yesterday a Ferrari crept up behind me sat there for a few seconds before dropping a gear and overtaking with full throttle and disappearing down the road. Epic noise, but I nearly fell off with surprise.

An idiot in a Lambo did that to me a while ago, made more scary by the fact that he stepped the back end out as he pulled back in! Like yourself I did have to laugh at someone flooring it in a super car to pass a bike doing around 20mph, pathetic small willy waving it really is.

Porgy

markos1963 wrote:

Here's a good one on the subject of asking for directions. I was working for a while as a shunter on the railways. One day I was in Norwich station attaching a locomotive to a coach, I'm in between, on the track wrestling with brake hoses when a face pops over the edge of the platform and asks me 'Which train for Peterborough mate?' I was almost flabergasted, but not enough to think of a standard BR answer ' I'm not your mate and I ain't got a fugging clue where your train is' aand with that I walked off down the blind side of the train. I wouldn't have minded but the platform had loads of station staff on it!

I've been working on the Underground as an engineer since 1980s and I've learned not to put on my Hi-Vi vest anywhere near a passenger area, or during operational hours - unless I need to to, of course.

Once that Hi-Vi goes on I suddenyl turn into a public information post - it doesn't matter how busy I appear to be or how many times I tell them that I do not know the London Undergound timetable off by heart, or the best way to bleeding Ealrs Court, BECAUSE I AM A FLIPPING ENGINEER AND I DON@T EVEN USE THE TUBE SINCE I RIDE A BIKE - why not ask the station staff?

Of course I was never so impolite as all that - especially tot he ones that looked like they might be about to punch me.

GeorgeShaw

freehub wrote:

I notice if I am doing 30 in a 30, 20 in a 20 or even catching up with cars in front, cars ALWAYS overtake, even if it means breaking the speed limit, and I know when it says 30mph on my GPS is probably is showing around 33-35mph on a cars speedo.

And they won't let you overtake either ... I was coming down the north side of Black Mountain the other weekend - way faster than the family car that pulled out in front of me at the top. I sat about 30 metres behind them on the brakes all the way down - their descent was hair-raising on the twists and bumps, much faster than they would normally do it, and definitely unsafe. Would they pull over or slow down and let me past? ... No way.

eh

I'm sure an X5 is brillant at providing the necessary protection for the little 'uns. :roll:

Pity they are more dangerous for others in head on collisions and are more likely to roll over so endagering the occupants in a swerve. They are also so damn big that people seem to struggle to park them :shock: All in all a wonderful car :twisted: Still not a sh*te as the X3 mind

Harry B

zedders wrote:

Not wanting to stereotype people but......... c0ck. X5 drivers - I hate them :x

Sounds to me that you are stereotyping people purely by what they drive.

I've been cut up by all sorts of vehicles from youngsters in their vauxhalls to blokes/women in their porches to idiot bus drivers. But then again I've also come across some very good drivers of all these vehicles, even white van men. So may be you should judge people by how they drive rather than what they drive.

And yes I do drive an X5!

Porgy

Back to the point of the thread. In North Kent I regularly get some arsehole stick their head out of the window, wait until they're just behind me, and then shout - and usually succeed in shocking the shit out of me.

I have drivers trying to talk to me while I'm cycling although I'm not sure what about as my headphones drowns out unwanted comments while allowing in engine noise. Therefore if I see their mouth moving - or hear their voice without discerning the content - I am able to completely ignore them.

Of course if asomeone is trying to be helpful I can usually tell by the expression on their face - like the guy last week who shouted that my pannier was falling off.

GeorgeShaw

Porgy wrote:

Back to the point of the thread. In North Kent I regularly get some arsehole stick their head out of the window, wait until they're just behind me, and then shout - and usually succeed in shocking the shoot out of me.

Hmmm, I come from North Kent, I'm not surprised. The last time I was back there I was riding up into Leeds village when a (BMW?) 4x4 tried to overtake me on a narrow pavement-less uphill right-angle right hand bend - and failed due to oncoming traffic. A local on the pavement just beyond was shaking his head saying "t0sser" as I cycled past. Sounds like they see it all the time.

I left.

Porgy

GeorgeShaw wrote:

I left.

Well, I'm not from here originally - and the place does have some positive sides - the tolerance and ability of the local drivers are not among them.

However, I think I may be leaving in a couple of years too.

zedders

Harry B wrote:

zedders wrote:

Not wanting to stereotype people but......... c0ck. X5 drivers - I hate them :x

Sounds to me that you are stereotyping people purely by what they drive.

So may be you should judge people by how they drive rather than what they drive.

And yes I do drive an X5!

I don't generally stereotype all people, but we all do it from time to time. Vauxhall with big exhaust & blacked out windows? Is it granny in there? I don't think so. Its 95% of the time a young lad in a rush to get somewhere yesturday. I don't wish to upset anyone, most of all not a fellow cyclist like you Mr HarryB, but in general I still find most X5 drivers c0cks. I have nothing against peoples with money, or owning a beammer etc, in fact my misses has a rather nice 1 series. I just have never come across a nice courteous X5 driver. And if X5 drivers are always racking me off I'm hardy going to like them am I.