I hate cyclists
Discussion
Right, big rant coming up.
I hate cyclists, why the hell are they allowed to occupy the same piece of road for free when we have to pay the government masses of cash each year for work on road repairs that never even get done, but cycleways and cycle lanes are put in at the slightest mention from the local green feminist lesbian.
Point
1) Cyclists do not pay road tax yet they use the roads.
2) They never signal their intentions.
3) They disobey road signs, "no entry" or "one way" road signs are just pretty colours to them.
4) Lights are for other people to use, cyclists don't seem to need them as we will light their way or spot then on dark unlit roads using our own full beams.
5) They ride 2 or more abreast on winding country lanes.
6) They ignore traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.
I've seen all the above happen and I'm sick of having to clean the remains of the last idiotic cyclist of the front of my car.
I propose a highway code and cycling proficiency test to be set for anyone who wishes to ride on the roads. Then make them pay a road tax. Additionally taking out insurance against causing a road accident.
Comments welcomed, particularly from cyclists.
I hate cyclists, why the hell are they allowed to occupy the same piece of road for free when we have to pay the government masses of cash each year for work on road repairs that never even get done, but cycleways and cycle lanes are put in at the slightest mention from the local green feminist lesbian.
Point
1) Cyclists do not pay road tax yet they use the roads.
2) They never signal their intentions.
3) They disobey road signs, "no entry" or "one way" road signs are just pretty colours to them.
4) Lights are for other people to use, cyclists don't seem to need them as we will light their way or spot then on dark unlit roads using our own full beams.
5) They ride 2 or more abreast on winding country lanes.
6) They ignore traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.
I've seen all the above happen and I'm sick of having to clean the remains of the last idiotic cyclist of the front of my car.
I propose a highway code and cycling proficiency test to be set for anyone who wishes to ride on the roads. Then make them pay a road tax. Additionally taking out insurance against causing a road accident.
Comments welcomed, particularly from cyclists.
I ride a bike and obey the highway code. However I see a lot of what annoys you and it gets my goat as well. I'll stop at a red only to be passed by other cyclists. Dissagree on the tax mind. But insurance in this day and age is growing to be needed. On the tax side of things, it will need more red tape and number plates.
One of my pet hates is the Sunday lycra brigades, out in gangs, 5 or 6 abreast.
One of my pet hates is the Sunday lycra brigades, out in gangs, 5 or 6 abreast.
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I've seen all the above happen and I'm sick of having to clean the remains of the last idiotic cyclist of the front of my car.
How many have you taken out then ???
I kind of know what you are saying but in my experience all that you say applies to a minority of cyclists. I sometimes ride the 30 mile round trip to work on a bike and obey the highway code as if I was on the motorbike or in the car. There are however many w*****s in cars/lorries/buses etc who drive way to close.
I think people should try different modes of transport to see how the other half live.
I kind of agree with Insurance but not the tax.
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I kind of agree with Insurance but not the tax.
Before we start on this, can we add Horses to the mix. I am fed up with the FWs around my way riding two abreast and generally ignoring rules of the road. I know we are risking another Horse n Hounds visit, but FFS, there is one stupid rider who rides, leading another horse, and then tries to stop traffic when she wants to cross the road. She is not in control of her own horse, let alone the other one.
[Rant mode: OFF]
Bikes don't bugger up the roads and pollute the air, our road tax money is "supposed" to go on new roads, upkeep, pollutant effects etc (not quite what our government use it for now)
I do agree that they can be swine’s when they ride 2 or 3 abreast and will not drop back when they know u can’t pass
>> Edited by CleG on Thursday 22 August 08:17
I do agree that they can be swine’s when they ride 2 or 3 abreast and will not drop back when they know u can’t pass
>> Edited by CleG on Thursday 22 August 08:17
quote:
quote:
I kind of agree with Insurance but not the tax.
Before we start on this, can we add Horses to the mix.
1: Horse riders are almost always insured. How do they compare with cyclists?
quote:
I am fed up with the FWs around my way riding two abreast and generally ignoring rules of the road. I know we are risking another Horse n Hounds visit, but FFS, there is one stupid rider who rides, leading another horse, and then tries to stop traffic when she wants to cross the road. She is not in control of her own horse, let alone the other one.
[Rant mode: OFF]
2. There is a reason why riders ride two abreast. Horses aren't machines, they can take fright when some moron drives up at speed and passes waaay too close (ever had your stirrup iron - and nearly your leg - ripped off by a car? It's not fun). Riding two abreast is a way of keeping a less experienced horse or rider safe. Live with it.
3. Riding and leading is done only by experienced riders. And if a horserider asks you to stop, there's always a reason for it. It's not done because they like to hold up traffic, it's for the safety of everyone. They know their horses, you don't. Which would you prefer, stopping for a moment while the horse crosses the road safely and gets out of your way, or getting almost a tonne of horse bum landing on the windscreen of your car? Oh, and almost certainly killing or disabling the rider - and possibly you and any passengers you might have?
4. Anyone riding and leading would never do so on the public roads if they thought there was a chance they couldn't control their horses. It'd be suicide.
For what it's worth, riders really, really hate taking their horses on the roads. People don't slow down for them (which can cause horsey panic), they pass far too close (you can't just edge round a horse like you would another car) and they do stupid things like sound their horns to tell a rider to get the horse out of their way - all good ways of getting someone killed.
But they have to use the roads because the bridleways are few and far between, and not all of them are maintained properly by councils.
All in all, I think a little more driver education wouldn't go amiss when it comes to how to deal with horses on the roads. Quod erat demonstrandum.
>> Edited by SGirl on Thursday 22 August 08:44
Sorry SGirl, but around my way they are mostly FWs who think they own the road. I was with my son cycling up over the motorway, to be faced with two riders, riding two abreast over a blind bridge. This means that on coming traffic was coming over the hill on my side of the road, putting my son at risk. There was a path over the bridge, but these insisted on using the road. (Monkey Island Lane over the M4, for any locals)
As for leading a horse, is that really safe? If that horse bolts, for what ever reason (and I have known horses who do that because they dont like red cars) then there is little control you can have from the top of a second one. If I was to tell you I could ride a bike and bring a second one along side then I would be told not to be so stupid, but it is OK for horses?
I guess this is one we will have to agree to differ on this one.
As for leading a horse, is that really safe? If that horse bolts, for what ever reason (and I have known horses who do that because they dont like red cars) then there is little control you can have from the top of a second one. If I was to tell you I could ride a bike and bring a second one along side then I would be told not to be so stupid, but it is OK for horses?
I guess this is one we will have to agree to differ on this one.
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All in all, I think a little more driver education wouldn't go amiss when it comes to how to deal with horses on the roads.
Totally agree with SGirl here. IMHO most horse-car incidents are caused (in part at least) by impatience and lack of consideration by the car driver.
On a general note, is how to correctly deal with horses/cyclists/obstructions dealt with in urban driving lessons? I learnt to drive in an area with lots of horse riding clubs etc, so it was a de facto part of the lessons (also lived near a city so I know how to deal with cars and people on the road too
) But back on topic, what really pi$$es me off is cyclists who think it is ok to turn left onto a main road without stopping or even looking
Dave
In general the horses and riders where I live are actually pretty well behaved and do obey the rules of the road (they also tend to have people in front walking to stop traffic at junctions). However, I will defend them for once - having seen this with my own eyes I just couldnt believe it....
The road that I live on is used by the local stables to get to and from the gallops for exercising their horses. They do go at set times, and if you are unlucky enough to get caught behind them - well tough luck. They do ride two abreast down / up the road, but will give you plenty of warning if you can pass safely on the other side of the road (which does happen most of the time). However, some dizzy bint in an Espace decides that the riders dont know what they are talking about and starts overtaking them anyway! Of course a car starts coming down the road so she pushes in the line of 10-12 horses!!!!! FFS what the hell does she think that she is doing>??? Mind you seeing this is one thing, hearing the jockeys lay into her is another - havent heard swear words like that for some time!
The the road is clear again, she pulls out from between them and pulls away.... but talk about dangerous. Ok, so they are race horses and pretty well behaved. But, they are also VERY strong and powerful and could quite easily freak out and put some serious holes in her plastic car....
So, to the horse brigade - I am currently in support of you due to the fact that there are some serious numpties around that dont have a clue....
Dont like bikes though - had to jump out of the way of some "lycra nazi" yesterday while I was cross under a green man - just steams through.... moron...
Cheers,
Paul
The road that I live on is used by the local stables to get to and from the gallops for exercising their horses. They do go at set times, and if you are unlucky enough to get caught behind them - well tough luck. They do ride two abreast down / up the road, but will give you plenty of warning if you can pass safely on the other side of the road (which does happen most of the time). However, some dizzy bint in an Espace decides that the riders dont know what they are talking about and starts overtaking them anyway! Of course a car starts coming down the road so she pushes in the line of 10-12 horses!!!!! FFS what the hell does she think that she is doing>??? Mind you seeing this is one thing, hearing the jockeys lay into her is another - havent heard swear words like that for some time!
The the road is clear again, she pulls out from between them and pulls away.... but talk about dangerous. Ok, so they are race horses and pretty well behaved. But, they are also VERY strong and powerful and could quite easily freak out and put some serious holes in her plastic car....
So, to the horse brigade - I am currently in support of you due to the fact that there are some serious numpties around that dont have a clue....
Dont like bikes though - had to jump out of the way of some "lycra nazi" yesterday while I was cross under a green man - just steams through.... moron...
Cheers,
Paul
cpn, I get your point about the blind bridge. That is stupid. Two abreast is fair enough up to a point, but to ride like that where drivers (and cyclists) can't see you is asking for trouble. And to put other road users (particularly children) in danger as a result of just not thinking is unacceptable. Especially if there's a path that can be used instead. (Although not all paths can be used, for various reasons...)
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As for leading a horse, is that really safe? If that horse bolts, for what ever reason (and I have known horses who do that because they dont like red cars) then there is little control you can have from the top of a second one. If I was to tell you I could ride a bike and bring a second one along side then I would be told not to be so stupid, but it is OK for horses?
Yes, it is, according to the British Horse Society, and sometimes it's unavoidable. I personally never ride and lead on the roads - not because I can't, but because I just don't like the additional risk to my own safety. Sometimes just controlling the one you're on on the road is difficult enough. Mind you, it's the responsibility of the rider to look after his or her own safety, so if there's any doubt whatsoever about whether a horse will lead safely, that rider simply shouldn't do it, or take someone else along on foot to lead the second horse (not all horses can be ridden). There are times, though, when riding and leading is the most sensible or even only option - can't tell you when that is though because I avoid doing it!!I can look it up if you're really interested...
Riding and leading is actually included in higher-level BHS exams (can't remember which one) - it's considered an essential part of horsemanship and if you can't do it safely you fail the exam.
But you're right about what spooks horses. Red cars, bikes, pedestrians who suddenly appear round a corner, dogs in gardens, bin bags at the side of the road... But the bottom line is, no-one with half a brain would take an unsafe horse on the roads. Young horses are slightly different, they have to go on the roads to get the experience, but if they show any signs of dangerous behaviour on the roads they go back into the school for more training before being taken out again.
All horses can be unpredictable, and it's up to drivers to bear that in mind when passing them. Pass wide and slow, and take extra care if you're passing someone with "Caution: young horse" on their tabard. If a rider asks you to slow down or stop, do so - they may see something ahead that you can't (like a bin bag!).
I think consideration for each other is the key here - something which your ladies on the bridge seem to have been lacking. Some horseriders do seem to have this "I'm on a horse so I'm the most important person on this road" attitude. Why not try and find out which stables they were from, and send a letter to the stables telling the owner what happened and asking for consideration for other road users on the bridge (emphasising the danger to your son)? You'd be surprised, but this could make all the difference. Stable owners take a dim view of their clients bringing the yard into disrepute with local people. It may be that the girls on horseback could see over the bridge and forgot no-one else could. Or maybe I'm being a bit over-generous here - some riders are just prats who are just totally convinced of their own superiority. I dislike them as much as you do!
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I guess this is one we will have to agree to differ on this one.
Well, not entirely - I agree with you up to a point. But I think both parties need to be more aware of each other and the problems they face. Riders need to be more considerate of drivers (and cyclists!), and drivers need to bear in mind why riders do certain things. Drivers need to remember that they can always control their cars to within millimetres unless something breaks or goes wrong - riders normally don't have that level of control, and they always have to live with the uncertainty aspect.
Ultimately, they all have every right to use the public roads, but I for one would be more than happy if I never had to take a horse on the road. With or without insurance.
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IMHO most horse-car incidents are caused (in part at least) by impatience and lack of consideration by the car driver.
Yes!!! But it's a lack of education that's responsible for this... see my next point
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On a general note, is how to correctly deal with horses/cyclists/obstructions dealt with in urban driving lessons?
It doesn't seem to be a part of driving lessons at all?! I learned to drive in country areas and my instructor told me how to go about passing horses, but it was simply a comment he made as we passed one, I wasn't told in advance how to do it or anything. Cyclists? Nothing, not a word. Obstructions - if it's a car, expect its door to open and pass accordingly, otherwise just check your wing mirror and away you go.
Scary.
And while we're on the subject what about the bloody Pikies and their "trotters" the tossers managed to close a stretch of A road near me for most of the morning the other weekend while they had bloody trotter races up and down it, policed by there own form of menance and intimidation against any motorist who dared to try and use the road while the plod stood back and let it happen because they didn't want to have to call in the riot vans.
You get a lot of cyclists round our way having weekend rides in the country. Don't mind 'em at all. The vast majority are considerate - if they are travelling two abreast they will often rearrange themselves into a neat line on hearing a car behind them.
You get the odd one that's an idiot, mind but not many.
The ones I hate are the in town cyclists who are seemingly unaware of the traffic around them and have no consideration at all for others who neeed to queue to get past them. Again - this does not go for the majority of them I will say.
There are many more driver-numpties who cause aggravation frankly.
Horses: In general I've found that if you're considerate and patient with them they thank you nicely and try to get out of the way of they can.
Although I'm with Jeremy Clarkson on the subject of horse-poo. How come dog owners have to carry a plastic bag and a trowel to clean up the s*** but Horse owners can leave steaming piles anywhere they please!?
Cleaning horse-cack off the bottom of my car is no fun at all...
You get the odd one that's an idiot, mind but not many.
The ones I hate are the in town cyclists who are seemingly unaware of the traffic around them and have no consideration at all for others who neeed to queue to get past them. Again - this does not go for the majority of them I will say.
There are many more driver-numpties who cause aggravation frankly.
Horses: In general I've found that if you're considerate and patient with them they thank you nicely and try to get out of the way of they can.
Although I'm with Jeremy Clarkson on the subject of horse-poo. How come dog owners have to carry a plastic bag and a trowel to clean up the s*** but Horse owners can leave steaming piles anywhere they please!?
Cleaning horse-cack off the bottom of my car is no fun at all...
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They do ride two abreast down / up the road, but will give you plenty of warning if you can pass safely on the other side of the road (which does happen most of the time). However, some dizzy bint in an Espace decides that the riders dont know what they are talking about and starts overtaking them anyway! Of course a car starts coming down the road so she pushes in the line of 10-12 horses!!!!! FFS what the hell does she think that she is doing>???
I've had the pleasure of a driver doing this as well while riding in a group. He held his horn down for a couple of minutes and worried all the horses, shot round some of us and then pulled in behind me - not clever. I was on a horse that hated anything near his back legs.
It didn't worry me too much because I can stay on a bucking horse (within reason!), but he was white when he got round the rest of the ride! quote:
Mind you seeing this is one thing, hearing the jockeys lay into her is another - havent heard swear words like that for some time!
Oh yes, there's nowt like jockeys for colourful language...
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Ok, so they are race horses and pretty well behaved.
You could argue that they're racehorses and therefore more highly strung than your riding school plodders...
You're right, though. You don't muck around overtaking horses like that if you want to keep yourself and your car in one piece. A carefully aimed whip can cause a nasty dent in your roof if nothing else! quote:
Although I'm with Jeremy Clarkson on the subject of horse-poo. How come dog owners have to carry a plastic bag and a trowel to clean up the s*** but Horse owners can leave steaming piles anywhere they please!?
What are you meant to do with it then? Carry a crane to pick it all up?! You can't go mounting and dismounting a horse on the road every 5 minutes, it's just too dangerous.
And anyway, it's good for the roses.
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What are you meant to do with it then? Carry a crane to pick it all up?! You can't go mounting and dismounting a horse on the road every 5 minutes, it's just too dangerous.
And anyway, it's good for the roses.
ok ok I'm getting sucked in again but I'm, not sure if Sgirl was about last time.
Dangerous bloody dangerous I'll give you dangerous try hitting a bloody great pile of horse sh1t at 60mph on a motorbike, then sweep up the bits of plastic all over the road, pick the bits of bush and tree out of your body, consider the thousands of pounds of unissured loss you've just had because Dobbin is half a mile down the road. All of course assuming you can still walk and aren't spending the next six weeks in traction or laying in a mortury fridge because some inconsiderate bint let her dog food destiny dump all over the road and couldn't be arsed to get off and kick it into hedge because it was "too dangerous".
Ah thats better.
Keep the horses off this thread – it's all been done before on here, perhaps even the cycl;isys bit has been done to death too but there's gonna be trouble if I walk out of my back gate again and nearly have me legs taken off by some twat (normally the postman 
) doing 25mph on a bike.
Get on the road,not the pavement. If I went walking in the road, people would say I was daft, so why can something that is supposed to be used on the road, not be on there? If I was knocked over by Mr Environmentalist on his Dawes or whatever, I might get up (after a bit), my seven-year-old wouldn't I'd think.
STAY ON THE BLOODY ROADS!!
) doing 25mph on a bike. Get on the road,not the pavement. If I went walking in the road, people would say I was daft, so why can something that is supposed to be used on the road, not be on there? If I was knocked over by Mr Environmentalist on his Dawes or whatever, I might get up (after a bit), my seven-year-old wouldn't I'd think.
STAY ON THE BLOODY ROADS!!
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It doesn't seem to be a part of driving lessons at all?! I learned to drive in country areas and my instructor told me how to go about passing horses, but it was simply a comment he made as we passed one, I wasn't told in advance how to do it or anything. Cyclists? Nothing, not a word.
Scary.
I'm not being funny but thats because its bloody obvious how you do it. If you do need to be told then that is scary.
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What are you meant to do with it then? Carry a crane to pick it all up?! You can't go mounting and dismounting a horse on the road every 5 minutes, it's just too dangerous.
And anyway, it's good for the roses.
Didn't the old rag and bone men have a sort of nappy system for horses? Perhaps this is a marketable idea?
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