Thread: Cyclists

Originally Posted by Dmmos

The other time was when I was alongside (slightly behind) a cyclist and about to pass, when we went around a large bend. It was a huge lane, so I passed on the far inside (with ample room), however at the last minute the guy swung across to the right of the lane like the road was his personal bloody velodrome - I had to accelerate and swerve onto the other side of the road or he would have gone under me.

So, you were overtaking on the inside of a single lane road on a curve........I think you got off lightly with just a bang on the window.

I think, from reading the second encounter, that like many, he has the inside/outside mixed up.

I had many a bad fright from damn inconsiderate and dangerous cyclists when I was bus driving.
Probably the worst was on a busy highway in peak period going into Perth driving a bendy bus, approaching a set of lights, cyclist in front left hand side of lane so I check my mirror to see if there was room to move to the other lane when he suddenly goes onto the path leaving the lane clear for me as we crossed the lights, he's still a bit in front of me as he got past the lights and then swerves back into the road right in front of me!!!!!
How I missed him and the cars in the other lane I don't know but to add insult to injury he shouts and swears at me for just missing him!
The other and most recent heart stopper was going to work next door to the WA Police Academy, 2 lane divided road and approaching the roundabout where I intend turning left into the car park.
Cyclist coming towards me on the path so I indicate as normal that I'm going to turn left, start to turn just as he reaches the road which I'm turning into and straight across he comes with not a care in the World, ear phones on and definitely no idea I was there until I stopped about 4 inches from the turkey blowing the horn at the same time.
Idiot nearly swerved and nearly fell off his bike then continued on but looked round and glared at me..... and turned into the Police Academy.
I nearly T boned the same idiot a few days later as he drives through the same roundabout not seeing me coming round from his right and this time he's driving a nice pretty police car
Would you believe that this ignorant loony is a police instructor?
I don't know if he's a driving instructor or not but it would certainly explain why some of them aren't any better than the average driver.
Alan.

Well, I won't get on my soap box about these fools (I am trying hard) but there is absolutely NO WAY I would ride a push bike on a public road now-a-days. You don't know if the driver alongside you is drunk, on drugs, or just a plain fool. You have nothing to protect you should an accident happen.
In Australia bikes are even allowed on freeways( I can't believe it) not so in Europe. A public road is not the place for push bikes and when they dress in lycra it seems to give them some sort of God given right to do what they want. Red traffic lights are just a suggestion, speed limits are only for cars, footpaths can be used when I want, I can go on.
By the way, I am a professional driver and I see a lot of the lycra mob in action.
As Magda Subanski said (and got pilloried for) "who wants to look at a sweaty lycra cladded bum up in the air", I agree with her!!!!!
Over to you guys/gals after my rant.

Originally Posted by Scouse

So, you were overtaking on the inside of a single lane road on a curve........I think you got off lightly with just a bang on the window.

I think he was saying that he was to the right of the cyclist, and the cyclist cut in front of him by veering to the right. In which case the cyclist was in the wrong.

As in all these things all road users need to respect the rights of other road users. Miranda Devine in the original article raises some valid points ... tho saying that roads are for cars only is not a valid one. But cyclists have to have regard for other road users just the same as the other way around.

Willem

I HATE the ones who decide its fine to ride 5 wide in the middle of a rural highway, scaring the crap out of you when you come over the top of a hill only to find a bunch of ******* riding at 60km/hr and almost running up the arse of them.
Then you get stuck behind them at 60km/hr for the next 5 mins until you get to overtake them.

I used to ride ALOT. Most motorists don't have a clue when it comes to trying to pass someone on a pushy. I think the sudden slowing down and feeling of being held up has something to do with peoples general rash behaviour around bike riders. "Get out of my way you stupid cyclist" kind of thing, then try and pass when there is on coming traffic or something stupid. Next thing you know you've nearly run someone off their bike and you're getting the "tap" on the window at the next set of lights with no clue as to why.....it always makes me laugh.

I've had it out with people at the lights before and they generally are clueless as to what they have done. Also seems to me that most motorists don't know what it's like to have someones rear vision mirror nearly take your arm off at 60 or 80km's an hour all because they cant judge the width of their vehicle.

How's that for a generalization!

I would have to say that I agree and also disagree with the situation, I am a road cyclist and have been for a number of years, riding for fitness and also when I was competing. Having said that I am also a motorist and drive a lot of kilometres every year.

Unfortunately there are good and bad cyclists, just like there are good and bad drivers.

A good example was when I was stopped at a set of traffic lights on my bike (yes I actually stop and obey road rules while cycling) and another cyclists (idiot riding to work on an old bike) rides straight through the intersection and is almost cleaned up by a number of vehicles.

Another experience that I have had was when I was cycling along the Bruce Highway in Townsville on my commute home, I was sitting on around 35km/hr when a motorist decides that they will not wait for the traffic and cuts in front of me, without looking to drive down the shoulder. Needless to say I was very fortunate to not end up as part of the vehicle.

The worst I have had was when a tradesman in his van decided to turn left at an intersection, driving across the painted bicycle lane that I was cycling in, not giving way and side swiping me.

It should not be a war on the roads between cyclists and motorists, but unfortunately there are too many inconsiderate people from both sides on the roads.

I will continue to cycle and try not to be detered by motorists, however I give vehicles as much room as practicle, slot into traffic at intersections and roundabouts to prevent vehicles trying to squeeze past me and create an accident etc.

BUT, the whole time I do keep in mind that if a vehicle is not going to stop, give way etc. like some inconsiderate drivers, I will be the one worse off.

All road users, drivers and cyclists alike need to be aware of their surroundings and have more consideration.