Stupidity of other road users

[the_killjoy]

Sorry Footie, but I think that cycling with an MP3 on is the height of stupidity, you need ALL your senses when cycling.

[Jeremy]

I agree about the use of the MP3 player, I'm pretty sure that this was at least part of the reason for the pedestrian who ran across the road in front of me to not realise I was there. I find that I use hearing as much as sight, particularly with regard to traffic that's behind me.

However tempting it is, I would caution against committing any unlawful act by way of retaliation. It's an odds-on favourite that it will be you that will be charged, rather than the original miscreant, and you may well get a heftier penalty, as the bench/court will take into account the degree of premeditation (presuming that, like the lady with the ball pein hammer, one had already thought about retaliation).

The best answer is to ride defensively, assuming that everyone else you see is a plonker, and to just ignore provocation, either by pedestrians or other road users. One thing that would be legal, and might possibly help a lttle, is an extremely loud horn, one of the air powered variety.

Jeremy

[Beeping-Sleauty]

Originally Posted by Mandy

........ and if I see a group of yobs I would rather go out of my way to avoid them!!
Mandy

Wise words, don't even enter the arena, if you can help it,

but trouble with yobs & oiks in cars & vans usually approaches from the rear and there is little or no defence possible,

one problem i constantly suffer on the A12 is idiot truckers who think it funny to give me a 100+ decibel horn blast, just as they draw level, they're usually travelling at 60+ mph, even a wobble would be fatal if i was in the road with them, instead of the service path 2 metres away, seems to be a particularly 'Brit Trucker' problem, don't get it from European lorries.

as Mr Flecc says, Just try & stay safe.

[Mandy]

Originally Posted by the_killjoy

Sorry Footie, but I think that cycling with an MP3 on is the height of stupidity, you need ALL your senses when cycling.

I agree I'm afraid, the amount of times I attempt to pass other cyclists on a wide cycle path and ring my not so loud bell and they have wires hanging from there ears is all too common and really does annoy me a little
I don't like to pass unless they are fully aware I am doing so and this makes it all the more difficult. Cyclists will often not keep to one line on a path and try to avoid lumps and dips as I do.

Don't get me wrong, I love my I pod and use it a lot at home so I am not anti music in the ears, just not on a bike

I want a loud horn and I know that this was mentioned some time ago in another thread but can't find it now. Has anyone got a link to one?

Cheers

[Footie]

Originally Posted by Mandy

I agree I'm afraid, the amount of times I attempt to pass other cyclists on a wide cycle path and ring my not so loud bell and they have wires hanging from there ears is all too common and really does annoy me a little

So I'm not the only one who is 'the height of stupidity'

For my own part I am 50% deaf anyway, so I use my excellent vision to compensate for my poor hearing. Ever tried riding a bike with hearing aids in, waste of time.

The MP3 is not loud just enough to take away the boredom. The strange thing about my poor hearing is I seem to 'feel' low frequencies (lorries drive me mad) so I can still hear/feel engines (cars, etc) when close and dangerous. In fact I wouldn't use my MP3 while walking, I find slow moving cars more dangerous - I can't hear the slow / silent engines at all

As for other cyclists ringing their bell to over take me - it just won't happen
.

[john]

Originally Posted by Footie

So I'm not the only one who is 'the height of stupidity'

I ride listening to the radio so you can count me in too

I agree that it is safer not to, but when quizzed I ask "don't you listen to the radio in your car?"

It doesn't completely drown out background noise and I use a mirror to see what is coming up behind me.

[Erik]

I agree I'm afraid, the amount of times I attempt to pass other cyclists on a wide cycle path and ring my not so loud bell and they have wires hanging from there ears is all too common and really does annoy me a little

I'm an audiobook addict, but I don't have the volume turned up so much that all other sounds are blocked out.

I'm considering an air horn, because other cyclist, mostly middle aged people without earphones, don't move to the side when I want to pass them on the narrow cycle paths.

BTW, if you overtake another cyclist and your handlebars hit each other, I assume that the two bikes will tilt towards each other?

[Blew it]

Theoretically, The machine being overtaken will swerve violently to the left and most likely fall to the right. The overtaking machine, anticipating the contact, may firm up his grip on the bars and survive after a bit of tank slapping.

What ever happens to the bikes, I suspect the riders might well "tilt" towards each other!

Cheers

Bob

[WALKERMAN]

Originally Posted by Footie

OK, having had a second stupid incident, I am forced to express my dismay at the stupidity of others, who seem to think it’s a joke to try to cause me to have an accident on my electric bike.

The first (few weeks ago) three kids walking along the pavement, who waited until I was almost beside them, screamed, shouted and made as if to run out in front of me. Resulted in me having to violently swerve out into the road, luckily nothing there to run me down.

The second incident (today) cycling along the road with heavy traffic. Some ass-wipe passenger in a Land Rover screamed and shouted "WAHAY, BIKER BOY" just as they passed. The sudden screaming/shouting (almost in my ear) made me jump and caused me to swerve and nearly end up in the ditch.

I am seriously thinking about getting one of those action cameras, then should something happen again and I crash, I would have recorded evidence of what happened and who caused it. However, at £100 each they are not cheap, so it needs some more serious thought.

Apart from the obvious hand signs and signal in response to dickhead drivers, anyone have any tips to deal with these very dangerous ass-wipes?
.

I'm glad I stumbled across this thread today because I am fed up with the morons I pass on my route who make stupid comments, etc.
It was beginning to get me down and recently I spoke to a policeman friend who is also a cyclist and he said you just have to ignore it all, which is what he does when not in uniform.
I feel a bit better now having read all of your comments and now know I am not alone.

[Mandy]

Originally Posted by Footie

So I'm not the only one who is 'the height of stupidity'

For my own part I am 50% deaf anyway, so I use my excellent vision to compensate for my poor hearing. Ever tried riding a bike with hearing aids in, waste of time.

The MP3 is not loud just enough to take away the boredom. The strange thing about my poor hearing is I seem to 'feel' low frequencies (lorries drive me mad) so I can still hear/feel engines (cars, etc) when close and dangerous. In fact I wouldn't use my MP3 while walking, I find slow moving cars more dangerous - I can't hear the slow / silent engines at all.

As for other cyclists ringing their bell to over take me - it just won't happen
.

Sorry to hear about your not so good hearing footie but I would have thought with poor hearing wearing ear plugs to listen to music would probably not help?
I have very poor eye sight and wouldn't dream of riding my bike without my glasses, I would probably have an accident, lol

Eeeeerm, so why is my "quote" the height of stupidity?
My following remark was I quote was "I don't like to pass unless they are fully aware I am doing so and this makes it all the more difficult. Cyclists will often not keep to one line on a path and try to avoid lumps and dips as I do". Certainly not the height of stupidity eh?
So if I was trying to pass you Footie, I would wait
Maybe I didn't make my point clear but I will not pass cyclists if they are not aware I am there, I simply shout "excuse me" very politely if they don't hear my bell and unfortunately I wait if they don't Of course I don't have this problem myself as nothing passes me on the cycle paths