Growing hostility towards Mountainbikers and Cyclists

[highlandsflyer]

Re: Re:

I just don't get where all this bile/hostility comes from. Some of it's not even based on their own personal experiences – it's just repeated rhetoric.

You nailed it there in relation to the girl I mentioned! I am hoping coming with us on a few trips will change her attitude, I am guessing she did not consider trying cycling herself. A lot of disabled people see their car as a vital tool, and perhaps some are blind to the fact many cyclists view their bikes just the same. It is not all just for fun.

I reckon the problems she has walking would be insignificant once on a bike.

 

[M-Power]

Re:

The media is helping to promulgate intolerance of what they feel are subversive groups. Cyclists being just one of many. More polarisation of society leads to a viscious cycle of retaliation and counter action, reinforcing negative stereotypes and so it goes on. Pointless and sad really but it sells ad space.

 

[legrandefromage]

That's a lot of syllables!

 

[M-Power]

That's a lot of syllables!

Syllables are delicious. I eat them with my porridge every morning.

 

[Silvergoat]

Re:

Imagine this little scenario when you're biking it home at night...

Yesterday evening – about 6.30, just gone dark, not much traffic. I'm heading into 'town' approaching Vauxhall along the one way four lane route towards the gyratory.

I'm coming up to vehicles stopped at lights at the main junction. As I'm slowing in the correct lane to go straight on with traffic, I suddenly become aware of an 8 wheeler construction tipper truck swinging at me at speed, having come from somewhere behind my right shoulder, fully intent on turning into the left turn feeder to Nine Elms Lane. I'm the green dot, the tipper is the red dot.

The tipper was nowhere insight a minute or so earlier so must have used the quiet road to lay some speed down. Approaching from behind me, the guy must have seen me from some way back – I was the brightest object in the known universe with all my gear on. Reckon he spotted his turning and decided that he could get past in front of me quick.

I can see the front sets of wheels pointing at me and the sound of them scrabbling on the tarmac. I'm up on my flats braced for impact, ready to be scraped off the tarmac and looking into the tipper's cab, only to see the driver actually looking straight at me whilst turning at me with full intent. He's a car width away along side me, coming towards me.

As this is happening, I'm up on my flats staring back at the guy with him staring back at me. I firmly hold my course without flinching whilst incredulous at whole the dangerous stupidity of the truck's manoeuvre. There's only a few feet left to go before impact. Finally, the guy decides to brake and let me move ahead before completing his turn.

Over the years of commuting by bike through all sorts of motorised traffic, experience has taught me never to flinch even a whisker, never to show fear and to hold my line without budging. The driver is then forced to decide whether they want to be responsible for wiping you out or not. The number of times I've looked to see a front bumper of a car two feet from my right knee. If you blink first, you've lost it. Of course, you also need to know when it's really time to give way.

 

[The History Man]

There's a very thin lane between bravery and stupidity. Not sure which you were in.

 

[Silvergoat]

Re:

As the truck came up from behind me and swerved, I had little option...

 

[Muddy paw]

Well i do drive most of the time myself but being a cyclist has taut me over the years that some wagon drivers , bus drivers ,taxi drivers and big van drivers are the main ones to watch out for and i use to have a work mate many moons ago who only ever cycled and back in the early 90's he was a victim of wagon driver who was more concerend about getting closer to the gutter than looking for other road users and sadly my old work mate payed the ultimate price so you were very lucky that that idiot of a truck driver didn't decide not to give way ..

 

[Silvergoat]

Re:

Indeed. Still a few cat lives left. I had no idea or warning that trucking was coming up from behind and swinging at me so fast. I looked to my right when I heard it's gears changing down and then saw it looming at me. There was really nowhere else for me to go. Reckon I got some insight into how some of these headline fatalities in London may have happened.

 

[M-Power]

Re: Re:

As the truck came up from behind me and swerved, I had little option...

100% agree with you. Been in the same situation on enough occasions. Assertive eye contact with the driver is the only way to preempt your own demise. Instinctively you suddenly become human to them when they can see the fear/anger in your expression.