Hi all
Let me preface this by saying I've been happily doing 20-30 miles/week on my Juicy Sport for seven months, and been car-free for five. I'm a road user, not an off-roader, and I try to improve my cycling regularly, so as to reflect positively on the cycling community if possible. Though, like most cyclists, I get things wrong occasionally!
This morning, whilst cycling on a busy Birmingham B-road, I noticed a male cyclist in his fifties cycle through a red light and cross over the green-lighted carriageway, where no cars were waiting. To be fair, he was careful whilst crossing, but I can't imagine it being acceptable for a car to run a red light just because there is no traffic coming the other way! He saved himself five seconds by not waiting for the lights to change.
I've seen a few cyclists do this, and I think it can incrementally damage the fragile reputation of cyclists, who tend to get the pointy end of the Clarkson-type stick at every opportunity in mainstream media. So, this time I decided I'd tell the cyclist off - and it went badly. I think I might have made my criticisms more gently - my initial criticism was a drive-by complaint, but I cycled back to him, since he started raging instantly. Nevertheless, I wasn't abusive at any stage, and yet I was met with rudeness and vehement anger. He started foaming a bit - so I road off to more shouting. Thankfully I could double his speed
I'd be interested in the input of the community here. If you see poor cycling, do you tackle it? I didn't put myself in any danger - and that is of course a primary consideration. What is the best way to make reasonable criticism that stands a good chance of being heeded? Are people these days - in the UK or elsewhere - resistant even to the most diplomatic of rebukes? Can bad cycling behaviour be modified, or can you not teach an old dog new tricks?