Ignorant Motorists

Nairnster

Was out on my bike yesterday, and was shocked at how ignorant some motorists are.

After leaving town and getting into the national speed limit, there is a half mile section with a slight uphill gradient. I was spinning along happily at about 15-16mph, and there was a line of traffic coming the other way, all slowing down to enter the 40mph zone. Now of course, there was also a line of traffic behind me waiting to overtake.

What happened next made me laugh, but also realised how pig f*cking ignorant some motorists are.

Not one, but TWO motorists pulled up alongside me, windows down, and told me to use the cycle path.

I just waved back and said "Its a footpath actually"

The path in question is only a footpath, with no marking or signs to say otherwise, and even if it was, I have found most cyclepaths in this area to be unrideable, due to the fact that although the surface is smooth, it is also undulating, making it almost impossible to maintain any kind of smooth pedalling rythm.

Add to this, the fact the apparent cyclepath, was due to come to an end in approx 20 metres anyway, and that I am in no way obligated to use a cyclepath (had it indeed been one), I find this lack of intelligence on the motorists part, funny, but at the same time quite disturbing.

Does anyone else get this, and if so, what do you offer in return by way of a gesture or saying?

minardi

Similar.

Was riding along a road which had an actual cycle path beside it. You know the type - strewn with assorted debris incl. broken branches, glass and a rubbish surface. Like you say one is not obligated to use it so I didn't.

Roaster pulls along side and instructs me to "use the cycle path". Told 'em to "f**k off".

The end.

In general I agree. I think it's pretty clear that a certain proportion of motorists would rather that cyclists were quite simply not allowed on the road. Often this is due to their poor driving skills (being unable to safely overtake bikers) and rank pig ignorance.

nhoj

Yes. The A77 has a segregated cycle path. It's one of the better ones I've seen, but I always cycle on the road. I've been peeped at and overtaken unnecessarily close. No one has stopped yet, but if someone does I'll be happy to explain to them why I'm cycling on the road:

There is no obligation to use cycle lanes. The road surface is smoother. The road has less debris. There are fewer junctions to negotiate on the road. The road is never busy (the M77 runs parallel). And keeping off the road fosters the mistaken idea that cyclists shouldn't be on the road at all.

I don't think there's much I can do. I try not to get too frustrated.

nferrar

If there's a cycle path option I'll use it as I don't see the point in making a statement and winding up drivers (I'm sure most of us drive anyway), however the exception is when the cycle path isn't suitable due to all the glass on it which unfortunately rules out about 90% of them near me.

Ezy Rider

just tell the ignorant swines to mind their business and ride on.

king_jeffers

I use a cycle path at the moment however I won't be once I get my road bike/maybe hybrid early next year

sloppyschleckonds

Nothing worse than following an ignorant cyclist who wont use the cycle path adjacent to the busy road.

MrChuck

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Nothing worse than following an ignorant cyclist who wont use the cycle path adjacent to the busy road.

I can't tell if you're serious or not here. Care to expand on that?

Garryboy

nhoj wrote:

Yes. The A77 has a segregated cycle path. It's one of the better ones I've seen, but I always cycle on the road. I've been peeped at and overtaken unnecessarily close. No one has stopped yet, but if someone does I'll be happy to explain to them why I'm cycling on the road:

There is no obligation to use cycle lanes. The road surface is smoother. The road has less debris. There are fewer junctions to negotiate on the road. The road is never busy (the M77 runs parallel). And keeping off the road fosters the mistaken idea that cyclists shouldn't be on the road at all.

I don't think there's much I can do. I try not to get too frustrated.

Have the A77 cycle path on the local loop I do - up through Thorntonhall, Eaglesham Moor Road then north on A77, when surface is clear it's great as it's physically seggregrated from the road - but as you say, it can have a lot of debris - had a 3-4 punctures on it last winter.

bompington

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Nothing worse than following an ignorant cyclist who wont use the cycle path adjacent to the busy road.

Fortunately a lot of us are far from ignorant cyclists, we have good reasons (see above) for using the road.

nhoj

Garryboy wrote:

Have the A77 cycle path on the local loop I do - up through Thorntonhall, Eaglesham Moor Road then north on A77, when surface is clear it's great as it's physically seggregrated from the road - but as you say, it can have a lot of debris - had a 3-4 punctures on it last winter.

I've used the path the few times I've been up that way on the touring bike. I'm going slower then, of course, and with tyres less likely to puncture. But on the road bike I prefer the road.

Now, the old A77, I wouldn't have dared cycle on that...

MountainMonster

There really needs to be a sticky thread at the top for the newbies who are always surpsied and shocked at car drivers, It gets old seeing these threads pop up.

Nairnster

I didnt say i was surprised, i was asking what other people say to ignorant motorists such as the ones I encountered yesterday.

MountainMonster

There are about 2 million other threads on this forum about exactly that, could have read through one.

Nairnster

There was not a single thread on this forum about the motorists that I encountered yesterday. Thanks for the advice.

Headhuunter

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Nothing worse than following an ignorant cyclist who wont use the cycle path adjacent to the busy road.

Government guidelines actually advise that cyclist travelling at or around 18mph or above should NOT use cycle paths... I should think that would encompass most people on the road forum who do any kind of training ride...

griffsters

Pretty new to road cycling and was pretty damned apprehensive about it tbh. I have to say on the whole my experience has been a positive, not nearly as bad as i thought it would be. Having said that i dont brave rush hour city centre type of stuff.

As a regular motorist and a cyclist (like most of us i'd have thought?) i dont see it as a motorist problem as such but just a very visible and sometimes dangerous symptom of the selfish and thoughtless twats we as a society have allowed to flourish.

I try and be as considerate as a cyclist as I am as a motorist, on the odd occassion i've been shouted at I've just smiled and waved :P

MountainMonster

Nairnster wrote:

I didnt say i was surprised, i was asking what other people say to ignorant motorists such as the ones I encountered yesterday.

It's always the same sh!t, different circumstances in these threads. Nothing but hate for car drivers, OMG their so bad, they did this..... I didn't like that, he didn't stop and wait for me to go through the light.... blah blah blah. It's all the same mannnnnnnnnn

Nairnster

Lol, no offence mate, well perhaps a bit. But you seem a bit of a dick. I dont hate motorists, I am one as well.

Was just making a thread based on my experience, like so many others do. You didnt have to comment, so if you dont like it, dont bother.

Thanks again for your oh-so-wise-words

MountainMonster

Your very welcome, and I think you will find d1ck is not the word, troll is more like it.

sloppyschleckonds

Headhuunter wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Nothing worse than following an ignorant cyclist who wont use the cycle path adjacent to the busy road.

Government guidelines actually advise that cyclist travelling at or around 18mph or above should NOT use cycle paths... I should think that would encompass most people on the road forum who do any kind of training ride...

On a road beginners thread?

RonB

Absolutely on a ROAD beginners thread.

The cycle paths near me are dominated by kids, dog walkers family groups, litter Inc. glass everywhere and so on and so forth.

The other point worth a mention is that you end up, due to your now "off road" status stopping and giving way for every side street...and roundabouts - might take a couple of days for a right turn!

crescent

nhoj wrote:

Garryboy wrote:

Now, the old A77, I wouldn't have dared cycle on that...

It was bad enough walking on the pavement next to the old A77, you took your life in your hands trying to cross it.
I find the cycle path not too bad once you are beyond Mearns Cross heading south but from Mearns Cross to Eastwood toll it is, as others have pointed out, almost unrideable on a road bike.
Cheers

crescent

I have had various arguments with motorists regarding cyclists' access to the road. Many are in the "don't pay road tax so shouldn't be on the road" camp. There seems to be a misconception that as motorists they are automatically excluded from cycling and all the benefits that it brings, when in fact all they need to do is buy a bike. For the record, I am a motorist and own two cars but cycle every day give or take.
I have to say though that, whether on my bike or in my car, it p***es me off no end when I see cyclists blatantly disregarding the rules of the road. Another debate for another forum I know, but some people don't do us any favours.

Cheers