Cyclists are hypocrits

DonDaddyD

Why are most cyclists hypocrits.

Drafters

I had a conversation with a cyclist (in a car, he was driving) telling me not to filter up the left at any time or go through red lights. Fine I thought, he then proceeded to draft/tailgate a car, through traffic, claiming that it increases his MPG. He then told me he does the same on a bike.

Helmet wearers.

Many Helmet wearers preach about the safety of wearing a helmet and then promptly mount a curb or sail straight through a red light whether its a crossing or junction.

Non helmet wearers.

Will preach about stopping at lights but equally not wear a helmet.

Everyone on this site jumped on my back when I claimed that bicycles aren't traffic. But nearly all on this site break traffic rules one way or another. And to reinforce my point, my theory wasn't that bikes aren't traffic so they shouldn't be on the road. It was that if motorists thought they weren't common forms of traffic (i.e. a car, lorry, bus etc) but were aware that they had to use the road they therefore shouldn't expect them (a bicycle) to react in the same way as 'traffic' does. - With this type of thinking motorists would think differently about a bike (i.e. it isn't a car) and would interact with it differently, giving more room, slowing down, not moving off from the lights with it etc.

The point I'm making is this. For every rule each one of us preaches to up hold and feels that other cyclist should also adhere to, there are about two - four rules we are happy to break.

My conclusion, cyclists are humans, humans are by and large hypocrits. And yes I am one to.

Now that was cathartic

Agent57

DonDaddyD wrote:

Non helmet wearers.

Will preach about stopping at lights but equally not wear a helmet.

What's wrong with this? Cyclists should obey traffic signals and observe applicable parts of the Highway Code. Wearing a helmet isn't compulsory or even recommended in the Highway Code (at least, not in my copy), and their usefulness is debatable. Observing red lights is a matter of being a good, conscientious road user and following rules for everyone's benefit, the safety of oneself and of others. Wearing a helmet is a personal call regarding one's own safety. I don't see anything hypocritical about stopping at red lights, telling others they should do so, and not wearing a helmet.

DonDaddyD wrote:

The point I'm making is this. For every rule each one of us preaches to up hold and feels that other cyclist should also adhere to, there are about two - four rules we are happy to break.

I only vaguely agree. I think the closest I come would be speeding, but since road speed limits only apply to motorised vehicles, that's really a non-starter. I suppose you could count the 10m of pavement I ride at the end of my commute. Besides, as I already noted, wearing a helmet isn't a rule, let alone a Law.

always_tyred

You are determined, I'll give you that.

Nearly all traffic, of all kinds, breaks the law on a regular basis DDD. By your argument, there is no traffic.

Roastie

DonDaddyD wrote:

But nearly all on this site break traffic rules one way or another.

Based on what evidence exactly?

Which rules do nearly all forum members routinely break? List them please.

Rich158

Welcome to the human race - none of us are perfect :shock:

I preach to my kids about wearing a helmet, but rarely wear one on my Sunday morning training runs. I hate RLJ'ers but have on occasion jumped a red light :shock: Does all this make me a hypocrit? Personally I don't think so, I'm just a normal, flawed human being. Yes I have standards and morals, but if you castigate someone for every minor transgression then you'll have a life full of dispointment and frustration. It's far better to go with the flow and accept that no one's perfect

shoulder_of_orion

everybody is a hypocrite it is part of the human condition.

DonDaddyD

Shoulder of Lamb wrote:

everybody is a hypocrite it is part of the human condition.

+1

My thread isn't to say that cyclists should start following the rules religously. Its simply to acknoledge that we are all human and at some point will do something that could be deemed hypocritical.

Porgy

I ask myself every day - how would Jesus cycle?

bigmat

How about we just don't preach? Good advice for all walks of life (unless you're a preacher).

For non-helmet wearers, cycling whilst beered up would be a good example of hypocrisy, plenty of evidence of that on these threads! :roll:

Rich158

Porgy wrote:

I ask myself every day - how would Jesus cycle?

According to OPM Heaven is a Half Pipe - so Jesus would ride a BMX

Wallace1492

One thing I would never do is preach as to how you should cycle, or what rules you should obey - therefore I am no hypocrite.

Sometimes I jump Red, sometimes not, depends what is safe on the road and traffic conditions and junctions, it is a judgement call.

Helmet - sometimes, sometimes not.
Each to there own.

If you want to be hypocritical, fair enough. I am not, but I like a good debate about the merits of certain actions.

gabriel959

Agent57 wrote:

[
What's wrong with this? Cyclists should obey traffic signals and observe applicable parts of the Highway Code. Wearing a helmet isn't compulsory or even recommended in the Highway Code (at least, not in my copy), and their usefulness is debatable.
.

Bolded bit is WRONG!

From the Highway Code:

59
Clothing. You should wear

a cycle helmet which conforms to current regulations, is the correct size and securely fastened

DonDaddyD

I don't think people should preach - even though I do.

I do think people should offer advice on best practice and what the safest option is in a given situation - even though I sometimes don't.

prawny

Porgy wrote:

I ask myself every day - how would Jesus cycle?

In these,

DonDaddyD

prawny wrote:

Porgy wrote:

I ask myself every day - how would Jesus cycle?

In these,

You are aware that LiT owns a pair of those and rides in them regularly....

always_tyred

They are an abomination.

Porgy

Look at that - no helmet! :evil:

Agent57

gabriel959 wrote:

Agent57 wrote:

[
What's wrong with this? Cyclists should obey traffic signals and observe applicable parts of the Highway Code. Wearing a helmet isn't compulsory or even recommended in the Highway Code (at least, not in my copy), and their usefulness is debatable.
.

Bolded bit is WRONG!

Fair enough!!!11 As I also noted, "(at least, not in my copy)". My copy is quite old though. Even so, it is a recommendation ("should wear") not a compulsion ("must wear").

However, I have also noticed (on the Web page) that at night my bike "MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). "

My bike was manufactured after that date, but has no reflectors at all, so I certainly breaking that law regularly.

prawny

DonDaddyD wrote:

prawny wrote:

Porgy wrote:

I ask myself every day - how would Jesus cycle?

You are aware that LiT owns a pair of those and rides in them regularly....

Are you suggesting DDD that LiT is the Holy Grail?

lost_in_thought

MatHammond wrote:

For non-helmet wearers, cycling whilst beered up would be a good example of hypocrisy, plenty of evidence of that on these threads! :roll:

Just as bad if you do wear a helmet, I reckon.

Oh and leave my sandals alone! I like them, I do...

Porgy

lost_in_thought wrote:

MatHammond wrote:

For non-helmet wearers, cycling whilst beered up would be a good example of hypocrisy, plenty of evidence of that on these threads! :roll:

Just as bad if you do wear a helmet, I reckon.

Too true


I broke a rib cycling under the influence many years ago - hard to see how wearing a helmet would have helped.

il_principe

lost_in_thought wrote:

MatHammond wrote:

For non-helmet wearers, cycling whilst beered up would be a good example of hypocrisy, plenty of evidence of that on these threads! :roll:

Just as bad if you do wear a helmet, I reckon.

Oh and leave my sandals alone! I like them, I do...

Cycling and beer? I can't see those two things ever going together.

gabriel959

Agent57 wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

Agent57 wrote:

[
What's wrong with this? Cyclists should obey traffic signals and observe applicable parts of the Highway Code. Wearing a helmet isn't compulsory or even recommended in the Highway Code (at least, not in my copy), and their usefulness is debatable.
.

Bolded bit is WRONG!

Fair enough!!!11 As I also noted, "(at least, not in my copy)". My copy is quite old though. Even so, it is a recommendation ("should wear") not a compulsion ("must wear").

However, I have also noticed (on the Web page) that at night my bike "MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). "

My bike was manufactured after that date, but has no reflectors at all, so I certainly breaking that law regularly.

I can explain you that one as well.

If a bike has no pedals it is actually not a bike (according to the law) so shops don’t need to put any reflectors, bells and other shenanigans.

lost_in_thought

prawny wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Porgy wrote:

I ask myself every day - how would Jesus cycle?

You are aware that LiT owns a pair of those and rides in them regularly....

Are you suggesting DDD that LiT is the Holy Grail?

Erm, I think you'll find I'm actually the Messiah.

il_principe

lost_in_thought wrote:

prawny wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Porgy wrote:

I ask myself every day - how would Jesus cycle?

You are aware that LiT owns a pair of those and rides in them regularly....

Are you suggesting DDD that LiT is the Holy Grail?

Erm, I think you'll find I'm actually the Messiah.

You're not the Messiah, you're a very naughty girl.

jonginge

Il Principe wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

prawny wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Porgy wrote:

I ask myself every day - how would Jesus cycle?

You are aware that LiT owns a pair of those and rides in them regularly....

Are you suggesting DDD that LiT is the Holy Grail?

Erm, I think you'll find I'm actually the Messiah.

You're not the Messiah, you're a very naughty girl.

Dammit, beat me to it

lost_in_thought

JonGinge wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

prawny wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Porgy wrote:

I ask myself every day - how would Jesus cycle?

You are aware that LiT owns a pair of those and rides in them regularly....

Are you suggesting DDD that LiT is the Holy Grail?

Erm, I think you'll find I'm actually the Messiah.

You're not the Messiah, you're a very naughty girl.

Dammit, beat me to it

DonDaddyD

I don't get it.

Anyway:

@Roastie, from a number of threads I think its been established that there are a number of laws and/or rules that we break that we just don't realise.

Reflectors on wheels and pedals
Helmets
Speed limits (whether 20mph or 30mph)
RLJing
Riding on the curb
Riding under the influence
Riding up a oneway street
Undertaking
Waiting in the yellow junction
Not signalling
Tailgating

prawny

lost_in_thought wrote:

prawny wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Porgy wrote:

I ask myself every day - how would Jesus cycle?

You are aware that LiT owns a pair of those and rides in them regularly....

Are you suggesting DDD that LiT is the Holy Grail?

Erm, I think you'll find I'm actually the Messiah.

I was thinking Holy Grail in a decendant of Chris dan brown style and also a burd what likes bikes too.

Double meaning innit 8)

_Brun_

DonDaddyD wrote:

I don't get it.

Anyway:

@Roastie, from a number of threads I think its been established that there are a number of laws and/or rules that we break that we just don't realise.

Reflectors on wheels and pedals
Helmets
Speed limits (whether 20mph or 30mph)
RLJing
Riding on the curb
Riding under the influence
Riding up a oneway street
Undertaking
Waiting in the yellow junction
Not signalling
Tailgating

Helmets and speed limits? Please explain...

DonDaddyD

_Brun_ wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

I don't get it.

Anyway:

@Roastie, from a number of threads I think its been established that there are a number of laws and/or rules that we break that we just don't realise.

Reflectors on wheels and pedals
Helmets
Speed limits (whether 20mph or 30mph)
RLJing
Riding on the curb
Riding under the influence
Riding up a oneway street
Undertaking
Waiting in the yellow junction
Not signalling
Tailgating

Helmets and speed limits? Please explain...

In the other thread or it might be this one someone pointed out that wearing a helmet is in fact law. - Though I could be wrong.

If I'm riding more than 20mph in Richmond park the police can pull you over.