Why cyclists are hated

SimonAH
SimonAH Posts: 3,730
edited September 2012 in Commuting chat
Had Jeremy Old on in the car at lunchtime as I ran some errands. Spin-off discussion from the rude Chief Whip story. I was seething at some of the cr*p being spouted, but the main bullet points seem to be (in no particular order);

Smug
Do not pay to be on the road
Do not have insurance
Do not pass a test
Jump red lights
Ride many abreast
....and astonishingly...
Lycra is not a good look

But Boris Johnson is liked as he's a 'happy cyclist' who doesn't wear lycra.

Boy, do we need a makeover.
FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
«1

Comments

  • bails87
    bails87 Posts: 12,998
    That's very similar to the Telegraph's opinin piece, about ho all the olympic cycling goodwill has been undone by Mitchell. Same old trolls.
    MTB/CX

    "As I said last time, it won't happen again."
  • Apologies if this has been mentioned else where, but this is top of the BBC News Video chart at the moment:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-19710937

    No one likes crap drivers but i had my head in my hands when i watched this. I thought it would be a story similar to the ones we get on here every now and then with people getting pushed off bikes and the like, but no, its just a report with footage of people driving within about 2 foot of him. I cant blame non-cyclists for thinking we're all pernickety little tossers finger wagging at people who create less of a breeze than a wasp farting as they go past us. The fact that they show him there with his editing software behind him...and then showing it on the TV to the whole family. Of course this may have been set up by the news team filming it, but god its embarrassing. If they're going to make a story on this at least make it something shocking or terrible.

    I'm sure I can hear all non-cyclists sneering as they watch that report. ugh.
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,891
    Smug - occasionally
    Do not pay to be on the road - I do, I just don't drive the thing.
    Do not have insurance - I do
    Do not pass a test - I did
    Jump red lights - I don't
    Ride many abreast - just like other vehicles on wider roads
    ....and astonishingly...
    Lycra is not a good look - I think you'll find it is. Speaking personally of course 8)

    But Boris Johnson is liked as he's a 'happy cyclist' who doesn't wear lycra.

    Boy, do we need a makeover. - No, you need to stop listening to rubbish ;)
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • We need a good PR guru... I'm thinking we get Siobhan Sharpe from Perfect Curve on board.
    Why? Because I'm guaranteed a seat all the way in.

    Brompton SL2
    Ridley Icarus SLS
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    RJSTerry wrote;
    Boy, do we need a makeover. - No, you need to stop listening to rubbish

    I know! I know! Of course the bulk of the statements are indeed rubbish - but perception is everything - and it really seems that this is the way we are perceived by the majority of drivers.

    You see a new three series Beemer on the road, what immediate mental image of the driver do you get? Yeah, exactly.

    Like I said, we need a PR makeover
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,894
    Are we any more smug than the people who say "lovely and warm in my car this morning"? They seem to think I'm insane when I tell them I'd rather cycle.
  • TheStone
    TheStone Posts: 2,291
    We get places much quicker for a lot less money. That's why we're hated.
    The rest is just a smokescreen to justify the hatred.

    It's best not to care.
    exercise.png
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    Cyclists riding several abreast can be annoying. It even annoys me. It even annoys me when I'm on my bike. Its the arrogant "we're entitled to be here and we have no interest in being considerate to other people who are also entitled to be here" thing. As a driver its far more likely to annoy me (that and somebody being ridiculously primary for no good reason and causing tailbacks) than the occasional bit of RLJ.
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,891
    We need a good PR guru... I'm thinking we get Siobhan Sharpe from Perfect Curve on board.

    Ok, so here's the thing....

    Who cares what people who have the time to phone in to a radio station think about anything?
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • estampida
    estampida Posts: 1,008
    the main problem is that the cycle party seems exclusive, not inclusive

    as many people have grown up think when they hit 18 and get a car they will be accepted.......

    but now..... oh no you should have been getting good on bike all this time........ they are welcome to the party but they choose not too...

    and the warm car bit, tell them they "smell of sh1t and thats why you wont take a lift...." works every time
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    As opposed to people who have the time to dick around on a cycling forum o'course, who are a far superior breed - because we can type :-)
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,891
    SimonAH wrote:
    As opposed to people who have the time to dick around on a cycling forum o'course, who are a far superior breed - because we can type :-)


    I'll have you know I am multi-tasking, while I eat my lunch.
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • rjsterry wrote:
    We need a good PR guru... I'm thinking we get Siobhan Sharpe from Perfect Curve on board.

    Ok, so here's the thing....

    Who cares what people who have the time to phone in to a radio station think about anything?

    It depends who's calling in :D . I have the time to write on an Internet forum, chatting about my daily commute and I consider my opinion to be VERY important. :lol:

    In all seriousness, the quiet, play-it-by-the-rules cyclists will always go unnoticed, and the loud RLJs risk taking cyclists will get noticed, and the public form their opinion through one person shouting about it using some other form of medium.

    The most important things for us is to ride safely, and get others to ride / drive safely around us.
    Why? Because I'm guaranteed a seat all the way in.

    Brompton SL2
    Ridley Icarus SLS
  • BigMat wrote:
    Cyclists riding several abreast can be annoying. It even annoys me. It even annoys me when I'm on my bike. Its the arrogant "we're entitled to be here and we have no interest in being considerate to other people who are also entitled to be here" thing. As a driver its far more likely to annoy me (that and somebody being ridiculously primary for no good reason and causing tailbacks) than the occasional bit of RLJ.

    Amen to that!
  • adr82
    adr82 Posts: 4,002
    That's quite the list of cycling stereotypes! Would be easy enough to write a similar list about motorists I'm sure...

    Something that's always puzzled me is why the lyrca thing gets picked up on by non-cyclists... nobody would expect even amateur footballers or tennis players or distance runners to wear jeans and a t-shirt (or whatever), so why expect cyclists to wear casual clothing? All pro cyclists wear lycra and nobody thinks that's worthy of comment. Do people just not realise what a difference it makes compared to a pair of baggy cargo shorts?
  • mudcow007
    mudcow007 Posts: 3,861
    its obvious isnt it?

    its because we are all cnuts!!
    Keeping it classy since '83
  • daviesee
    daviesee Posts: 6,386
    adr82 wrote:
    . Do people just not realise what a difference it makes compared to a pair of baggy cargo shorts?
    No.
    And that includes some cyclists. How many threads has there been on whether someone should/shouldn't get lycra shorts? Or even worse, what do you wear under them? :evil:
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,816
    SimonAH wrote:
    You see a new three series Beemer on the road, what immediate mental image of the driver do you get? Yeah, exactly.
    Mid 40's, educated, cyclist, doesn't wear Lycra - oh that'll be me then.....

    Audi is the new BMW get with it (and by the way Audi drivers only ride Specialized, proven fact (I just made up)....
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • WEBBERhyde wrote:
    Apologies if this has been mentioned else where, but this is top of the BBC News Video chart at the moment:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-19710937

    No one likes crap drivers <snipped>

    .... but god its embarrassing. If they're going to make a story on this at least make it something shocking or terrible.

    I'm sure I can hear all non-cyclists sneering as they watch that report. ugh.

    The worst part was that the police couldn't find any evidence of laws being broken, which may be true but it just highlights that this story wasn't good for the cycling community. Drivers have watched his videos and now they know they haven't done anything wrong in the eyes of the law, so it's unlikely to change anyone's driving habits and may actually make things worse. Great. :?
  • CubeMark wrote:
    WEBBERhyde wrote:
    Apologies if this has been mentioned else where, but this is top of the BBC News Video chart at the moment:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-19710937

    No one likes crap drivers <snipped>

    .... but god its embarrassing. If they're going to make a story on this at least make it something shocking or terrible.

    I'm sure I can hear all non-cyclists sneering as they watch that report. ugh.

    The worst part was that the police couldn't find any evidence of laws being broken, which may be true but it just highlights that this story wasn't good for the cycling community. Drivers have watched his videos and now they know they haven't done anything wrong in the eyes of the law, so it's unlikely to change anyone's driving habits and may actually make things worse. Great. :?

    I think you're reading a little too much into it. It's a crappy local news piece about a crappy, little loser. No one's going to change their driving habits, no one's going to change their opinion of cyclists in general.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    People hate motorists; people hate ramblers; people hate horse riders: everyone is bloody hated! By someone...
  • TheStone
    TheStone Posts: 2,291
    CubeMark wrote:
    WEBBERhyde wrote:
    Apologies if this has been mentioned else http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-19710937

    I think you're reading a little too much into it. It's a crappy local news piece about a crappy, little loser. No one's going to change their driving habits, no one's going to change their opinion of cyclists in general.

    He needs help.
    As does the news editor who decided that was worth broadcasting.
    exercise.png
  • woodnut
    woodnut Posts: 562
    supersonic wrote:
    People hate motorists; people hate ramblers; people hate horse riders: everyone is bloody hated! By someone...
    Surely no-one hates horse riders!...The majority are gorgeous
  • bails87
    bails87 Posts: 12,998
    woodnut wrote:
    supersonic wrote:
    People hate motorists; people hate ramblers; people hate horse riders: everyone is bloody hated! By someone...
    Surely no-one hates horse riders!...The majority are gorgeous
    Ever been on a 'motoring' forum? :wink:
    MTB/CX

    "As I said last time, it won't happen again."
  • SimonAH wrote:
    I know! I know! Of course the bulk of the statements are indeed rubbish - but perception is everything - and it really seems that this is the way we are perceived by the majority of drivers.

    You see a new three series Beemer on the road, what immediate mental image of the driver do you get? Yeah, exactly.
    Sales rep.
  • Smug - You bet, I'm home before you get out of the city centre.
    Do not pay to be on the road - Hmm, wee P60 I get every year would tend to disagree.
    Do not have insurance - I don't HAVE to, but I do.
    Do not pass a test - Car, Motorcycle, Class C HGV and Class C+E, so that's 4 so far........
    Jump red lights - Not me guvnor, unlike the muppet who was nearly underneath the back of a stopped Artic this morning.
    Ride many abreast - tend to ride by myself, I like my "me" time.
    ....and astonishingly...
    Lycra is not a good look - What I look like is none of your business, look elsewhere.
    Disc Trucker
    Kona Ute
    Rockrider 8.1
    Evil Resident
    Day 01 Disc
    Viking Derwent Tandem
    Planet X London Road
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    Smug - not related to cycling, but I can be.
    Do not pay to be on the road - I pay a lot of tax, more than most motorists.
    Do not have insurance - fair kop, I need to sort this.
    Do not pass a test - I did.
    Jump red lights - the reserve of complete cockwombles. Slow ones.
    Ride many abreast - two max and it's a moot point for the reason it's cited.
    ....and astonishingly...
    Lycra is not a good look - erm, I think they'll find it is! :D
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • cookdn
    cookdn Posts: 410
    woodnut wrote:
    supersonic wrote:
    People hate motorists; people hate ramblers; people hate horse riders: everyone is bloody hated! By someone...
    Surely no-one hates horse riders!...The majority are gorgeous

    Careful....you'll get Kieran_Burns all hot and bothered again. :wink:
    Boardman CX Team
  • sketchley
    sketchley Posts: 4,238
    I don't care, la la la I'm not listening.... Let them hate me.....
    --
    Chris

    Genesis Equilibrium - FCN 3/4/5