I think I'm becomming too Militant

Flasheart

On my post work blast this evening I was approaching a bloke on a BSO.
As I was closing in on him he turned right and went down a one way road that stated No Entry at the end of it. I proceeded to the next junction and turned right as he should have done and rapidly caught up ..total 30 seconds. I pulled up along side of him and said " No Entry- one way...that apply to everyone except YOU mate?? The reply was "Huh what do you mean??" I told him same rulle on the road for a bike as a car..the reply was "Huh?" Obviously not the brightest crayon in the box. I just pulled away and got back up to speed.

This is happening more and more. I'm tolerating stupid cyclist less and less. Sooner or later I fear it will come to blows. I know it's not my place to say anything really but what if saying something to someone like that made someone change their cycling habits saved a life?
Should I bite my lip or should I try and educate people?
BTW I 'm also a cycle proficiency trainer for Hampshire CC, if the kids I teach can take it in, why can't adults?

teagar

I don't think telling people in the street they are wrong constitutes education, even if you are correct.

Probably too militant . Gives you something to write about in forums though, so maybe it's worth it. 8)

macondo01

it is best to take a deep breath and let them be daft. Could spoil your cycling and your health otherwise.

bobpzero

may have needed to draw a diagram for the person? anyways should have kept the sarcasm for the end of conversation? i told this girl on touring bike on charity ride to dont ride in the gutter as she was doing, but at the same time she says hi so i thought either i repeat myself or ride on, so i rode on. really its not worth letting them think its alright to do whatever they think is right but at the same time dont get worked up about it.

zedders

Flasheart.

I don't think your becoming too militant just yet! Once you start using extreme violence then your there! Keep working at it.

sicknote

Flasheart

I know how you feel as I tried to tell someone on a bike that it might be a good idea to get some lights as he was hard to see ( I was driving at the time ), but he started to have a go at me after that so left him to it.

Cant help myself as also do it in the car, so not too militant but try not to lose to much hair on it.

Escargot

I would probably laugh at you if you took that sarcastic tone with me on the road. Jeez man :roll:

Trainer for the Hampshire CC maybe but just because someone wants to break the highway code/law/whatever that does not make them stupid. Life is all about choices. I cannot imagine the guy didn't know what a no entry sign was so why tell him something he's already aware of. Call me reckless but I don't have a problem with riding the wrong way up a one way street. I find it funny that people that get all high and mighty about cycle discipline are probably the same people that don't think twice about doing 35 in a 30 or going through a light that's just changed red etc, etc.

Personally I think you need to chill as it's worrying that you think it may all come to blows. Have you seen the film Falling Down

Just concentrate to teaching the people you already do as that's plenty positive enough. You really don't need to educate/patronise other people otherwise it may be you that gets the blow first for your trouble (especially if you come across in the way you've described)

Bhima

I'm super-millitant with drivers.

There was a bus driver who was being an ar5e today - so I cycled beside him at about 25mph and banged on his window shouting abuse - man, he didn't expect that! :shock:

redddraggon

I'm quite militant.