Sick of all the push bikers jumping lights on Borough High St

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Sandgrown Dave wrote:

When I'm cycling, I yield to other road users of all kinds when they have right of way. I deplore cyclists who don't, but I don't see why I should apologise on behalf of those idiots just because we use the same mode of transport.

Well said. I hope I am a responsible cyclist I try not to break the rules too often, but i do sometimes and I also make mistakes. But I always try to cycle with consideration of others, in shared space with pedestrians I always say thanks when they give way to me.

I think most cyclists are reasonably considerate most of the time and I dont think it is as big a problem as some make out at least that is not my impression as mainly a pedestrian and sometimes a cyclist. Cue accusations of my being in denial. But sorry guys it not my experience (after all cyclist get hurt if they hit pedestrians so I am sure they do not set out to do it on purpose) and I can not apologies for those who do not follow the rules of the road what ever mode of transport they use

Sandgrown Dave wrote:

eDWaRD WooDWaRD wrote:

I find being dismissed as a cyclist basher very offensive.

Sorry eDWaRD, but you invite that dismissal by frequently making sweeping generalisations about "cyclists", as though they (a) are a different species, and (b) all behave in the same way.

When I'm cycling, I yield to other road users of all kinds when they have right of way. I deplore cyclists who don't, but I don't see why I should apologise on behalf of those idiots just because we use the same mode of transport.

Yes, some cyclists exhibit a "sod you" attitude; the same can be said of car drivers, pedestrians, public transport users, dog owners... pick whatever group you want to rant about. It's depressingly common, and more so in this city than elsewhere in my experience.

The only sweeping generalisations I notice is everyone who dares to criticise cyclists being classified as cyclist bashers. That is quite frustrating and actually fuels antipathy. I am not interested in apologies. I want cyclists to acknowledge that there is a problem that goes beyond some idiots and I want them to sort it out. As I've said before, start by cleaning up your own backyard.

I fit the stereotype exactly: I am Dutch and the bicycle is my main means of transportation. I find this thread rather amusing and this is not the first one on cyclist behaviour. When I joined the forum 10 years ago, it was a regular topic and more often than not aimed against the cyclists. What is remarkable is that nobody really seems to be asking the question as to how car drivers could be more accommodating towards cyclists and where they could take responsibility.
Needless to say, I am a very experienced, confident cyclist and I am very aware and courteous towards other road users. This can certainly not always be said about car or bus drivers and even pedestrians can be ignorant of our presence. And this is the thing: cyclists are a relatively new and growing group and we have to 'earn' our place in London traffic. The bicycle bashing that I notice is akin to xenophobia. This means that we have to work on getting 'to know' each other, to learn to share the road and to share 'traffic values'.
Soon London will be as liberal,tolerant and comfortable towards the greenest means of transportation as Amsterdam has been for centuries.

maurits wrote:

I fit the stereotype exactly: I am Dutch and the bicycle is my main means of transportation. I find this thread rather amusing and this is not the first one on cyclist behaviour. When I joined the forum 10 years ago, it was a regular topic and more often than not aimed against the cyclists. What is remarkable is that nobody really seems to be asking the question as to how car drivers could be more accommodating towards cyclists and where they could take responsibility.
Needless to say, I am a very experienced, confident cyclist and I am very aware and courteous towards other road users. This can certainly not always be said about car or bus drivers and even pedestrians can be ignorant of our presence. And this is the thing: cyclists are a relatively new and growing group and we have to 'earn' our place in London traffic. The bicycle bashing that I notice is akin to xenophobia. This means that we have to work on getting 'to know' each other, to learn to share the road and to share 'traffic values'.
Soon London will be as liberal,tolerant and comfortable towards the greenest means of transportation as Amsterdam has been for centuries.

You're not saying anything new. On the contrary, again it's everybody else that has to adjust their behaviour to cyclists, no matter how many posters here highlight concerns regarding their behaviour. As the title suggests, this topic is about cyclists. It's not about traffic in general, it was raised specifically to discuss cyclists' behaviour. If you can't stand the criticism and don't have anything to contribute apart from bashing the alleged cyclist bashers, maybe you shouldn't get involved. Maybe some just want to vent their frustration and the next day they go about their business without carrying ant pent up resentment against other road users. To be told by those same road users that I am wrong, that I am a Daily Mail reader and that I bring this upon myself is adding insult to injury, and frankly it I wasn't so aware of it, tomorrow morning I'd leave the house with much more indiscriminate prejudice towards cyclists in general.

[If you can't stand the criticism and don't have anything to contribute apart from bashing the alleged cyclist bashers, maybe you shouldn't get involved.[/quote]

May I remind you that a forum is a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged. So anyone with an opinion relevant to the topic should get involved. Thus, it may well be that there are ideas with which you don't agree.

I have not meant to bash anyone, not even the 'alleged bicycle bashers'. I have only suggested to take a more tolerant position towards each other.

Funny enough, however, there seems to be a correlation between how you see cyclists in traffic and how you treat your fellow forum members- it is all about sharing...

If Southwold had/has a forum like this I wonder what their thread might be:)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-18063488

Would the older generation be referred to as silent assassins as cyclists have been on this thread. Seems intolerance is not the preserve of the the inner city!

I want cyclists to acknowledge that there is a problem that goes beyond some idiots and I want them to sort it out. As I've said before, start by cleaning up your own backyard.

(apologies, can't do quotes with left hand)

You are misguided. We don't have to acknowledge, sort and clean up our backyard. I am not responsible for other people's behaviour. I don't expect you as a pedestrian to answer for the woman who walked into me today, you can't help it, I doubt you were even there (though I saw a man and his child from the corner of my eye, so perhaps you were!). I also don't blame other drivers for the four cars that jumped the red lights turning from Snowsfield onto BHS today (car driver one was a bit touch and go on the orange, the other three were just taking the micky).

I clean up after my dog, don't drop litter, recycle, donate to charity and do a lot of voluntary work, am I to blame for those who don't? Am I responsible for the worlds ills because I chose to cycle rather than walk today? It doesn't make logical sense. It's particularly illogical when stats clearly show it's pedestrians and cyclists being killed by cars and lorries, not the other way around. How can bikes be your biggest concern, when we have some of the most dangerous junctions in London and some of the most polluted roads? Surely the state of our schools locally and the poor public open spaces is rather a concern for you?

However, we'll clearly never agree and should probably stop talking about this!