Assault on cycle home route 23

[Robert Poste's Child]

I've had a bike as daily transport nearly 20 years, here and abroad. Never had anyone throw anything at me, bodily fluids or otherwise (only time that happened I was walking along a pavement beside a rural road and someone threw something at the back of my head from a speeding car).

Almost all my scary incidents have involved people (mainly men though not exclusively) driving or cycling aggressively, not using their mirrors or signalling, and/or refusing to allow for a slower road user. A few times people, usually pedestrians, have shouted at me, eg about lights not being bright enough (fair point, got some better ones now) or not wearing a helmet (again, fair point but my Dutch landlady indoctrinated in me that if you have lights, brakes or a helmet people will despise you).

I don't shout abuse at drivers or pedestrians much these days as it's likely to make things worse. I might shout 'look out'. Also try to do a lot of positive reinforcement when drivers are considerate to encourage them to keep it up.

The big irony is that the aggressive drivers and cyclists don't realise that I PREFER them in front where I can see them and I'm delighted for them to overtake - just don't want them to run me over or off the road in the process.

[malumbu]

Oh dear, we are getting a bit uppity. I gave up scanning through the thread. Simply trying to inject a little perspective/proportionality. With all the bad feeling and reactionary stuff you may understand why I suggested that it was time for a group hug.

Now I could happily spend an evening in the pub telling you about the numerous incidents over the last 30 years including being left dead by a hit and run driver, and road rage. And at times where I wasn't too clever in antagonising drivers.

I know shed loads about transport policy and roads, and I am surprised by some of the new cycle routes that funnel some cyclists into directions that they don't want to go in or pinch points that weren't there before. The new signalling and routes can cause congestion that wasn't there before, delaying buses, and pissing off drivers who occasionally then take it out on cyclists. The routing around the old Elephant roundabout, going contraflow and then doubling back to to down towards the War Museum is just bizarre. Perhaps it improves the traffic flow from Camberwell?

So don't any of you lecture me about not using cycle lanes. Nor whether I wear a helmet, which is my choice (and in recent years decided to to). If the cabby who thought it appropriate to give me a scare yesterday had not been in the advanced stop lane, then I would have been well clear as I am every evening, by the time he had got on the NKR.

So rant over. I understand that segregated cycle lanes are appreciated by many and will improve cycle safety. I take up my gripes on routing and design with people like the head of LCC and with Sothwark Cyclists. Give me a quiet route rather than a segregated cycle lane on a main road any day. My two faves are the A4 going out to Heathrow and the A13 when it is essentially an urban motorway. Such fun!

Love and peace SE22

[Earl Aelfheah]

malumbu Wrote:

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> Give me a quiet route rather than a segregated cycle lane

> on a main road any day.

^this

[rendelharris]

malumbu Wrote:

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> Now I could happily spend an evening in the pub

> telling you about the numerous incidents over the

> last 30 years including being left dead by a hit

> and run driver, and road rage.

Blimey malumbu, you're undead, going to have to get the old flaming torch out!

Otherwise totally agree: case in point - last Friday, unable to cope with the fact that Trump had been elected and Leonard Cohen had died, I thought I'd better ride it out, so did a fifty miler over Epsom Downs, Box Hill and back. There's a cycle lane along the A road from Leatherhead to Box Hill, which I fully intended to use until I found it was ankle deep in leaves - after half a mile of slipping about like Bambi on ice I went on the road...and got massive abuse from (sorry that it's a clich? but it's true) a white van driver who was screaming at me in red-faced apoplexy "We've paid for your farking cycle path and you won't farking use it!" As mentioned above, car drivers - there isn't an obligation to use cycle paths and sometimes there are good reasons not to, and we do have an equal right to use the roads. We're not being "arrogant," we're just choosing the best route for ourselves, quite legally, just as you do in your cars.

[Robert Poste's Child]

God, leaves! The cycle lane past Dulwich College is ankle deep in places. Yesterday I saw someone with a leaf blower clearing the grass bit up College Road, and today someone diligently raking leaves inside the college's fence, while the cycle path is ignored. I know it's not the college's responsibility to clear the but plenty of boys cycle there every day and must be at risk. Seemed a bit mad.

[ianr]

I had some kids throw stones at me when I was cycling past Bullace Row (just north of Camberwell Green) on my way home. But that was over twenty years ago, and the only hooliganism I remember directed at me locally while cycling. I think I stopped off at Camberwell nick to let them know but found it closed, so just left it at that. My main concern was that it's the sort of thing that could just lead to serious harm, and the sooner they gave it up the better. As it was, I never saw them again anyway.

[Henry_17]

Abused cyclists,

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2PFRdEUN240

Ms BB,

You mean a kind of Enid Blytonesque gang?

[rendelharris]

Henry_17 Wrote:

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> Abused cyclists,

>

> https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2PFRdEUN240

>

> Ms BB,

>

> You mean a kind of Enid Blytonesque gang?

That is an absolute joy.

[malumbu]

So firstly an apology - I have seemed a bit insensitive and probably should have softened my posts. I do get a bit knee-jerky myself to what I see as pompous views("they should hang them all" "I am perfect") but of course my posts could be read in a similar way. So apologies that my posts came over as crass and unsympathetic to some rather than proking discussion. I'll make a mental note to review and reflect before posting on sensitive matters.

I'm actually putting down thoughts on paper on how to improve driver behaviour to make some proposals. Nothing specifically to do with drivers and cyclists, but safety does come into it.

Anyway to return to my conciliatory thoughts, I've done many thing I am not proud of in my life and put down to childish naughtiness, teenage hormones, alcohol, bloody mindedness etc. Maybe some of this is a product of my age. I've never thrown bottles of urine at anyone, but some of the immature stuff we did as students (you can see where this is going) now makes me shudder. A sort of "he who casts the first stone" sort of comment.

Maybe this rings a bell, or maybe not. I'd better get on with my paper.

PS if any one wants to advise me on speell checking my posts, and also how to0 embed a nice pictur of the link (ie for youtube videos) pleaese PM me.

PS the guy shooting fireworks over cylists in Rye Lane a couple of years ago was one of my strangest encounters on a bike. The police said they'd be over in a couple of hours. He was sensible enough not to aim it at us.

Anyone for a mass group hug?

[Robert Poste's Child]

That reminds me of when some kids threw firecrackers at me while I cycled as it snowed. Bit slippy. That was before I'd given up shouting abuse, fortunately. Little sihts.

[titch juicy]

rendelharris Wrote:

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> titch juicy Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

> > What on earth are you doing on your bike to

> elicit

> > these responses? I've been commute cycling for

> 8

> > years now and never had a single incident or

> > threat.

>

> Well, I've been riding in London for more than

> thirty years and had plenty...interesting that you

> assume I must be doing something wrong. As you

> ask, let's see...the passenger who tried to pull

> me off the bike at E&C was in a white van that got

> annoyed as my slowing down and stopping when a

> traffic light turned amber prevented the driver

> running it on red...the machete waver was a

> passenger in a car which I shouted at as it jumped

> through a red light and nearly hit me...the last

> person who threw liquid at me was a van driver who

> shouted I should "ride in the f@cking gutter!"

> when he was held up for a few yards when I moved

> out from the kerb (after checking and signalling)

> to avoid broken glass...the person who spat at me

> - this was a really weird one - was someone to

> whom I politely said at the traffic lights, "Just

> so you know mate, your rear right brake light's

> out, better get it fixed or you could get a

> ticket," a hundred yards further on he spat at me

> as he passed...

>

> I'm not perfect by any means but I am very

> experienced and very careful: I do a lot of miles

> (150+ most weeks) so maybe I just encounter more

> nutters.

>

> As for cycle lanes, personally I use them myself

> at every opportunity but there's no legal

> requirement to do so and certainly drivers don't

> have a right to start castigating cyclists using

> the road, they have just as much right to be there

> as on a road without cycle lanes.

>

> ETA Why don't you ask RPC and the OP above "what

> on earth have you been doing on your bike to

> elicit such responses"? Just because something's

> outside your experience doesn't mean it doesn't

> happen, and I would imagine you're in a lucky

> minority of people who haven't experienced similar

> incidents.

You're absolutely right of course. I apologise.

[rendelharris]

titch juicy Wrote:

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> You're absolutely right of course. I apologise.

No worries!

[binkylilyput]

Yep, rendelharris, I completely take your point that occasionally the cycle lane CANNOT be used- I experienced exactly the same problem last night due to mounds of leaves in the cycle lane. Either I couldn't plough through due to the depth, or was finding it very slippy indeed.

All these stories of aggression on the road are so disappointing and a bit scary. I'm such a happy little me on my bike and consider myself to be doing my bit for the environment, congestion and my health.

Going back to the OP, I hope this hasn't put you off cycling. I'm not sure how I'd handle it if such a disgusting thing happened to me.

[Earl Aelfheah]

I don't like being 'trapped' in some of the segregated lanes. If there is glass, or if someone steps out, often there is little room to avoid the hazzard.

[taper]

It's getting worse. I was hit by a car on Monday, on Consort Road Peckham, heading to Nunhead. And last night I had a white van overtake me as I was signalling to turn right (top of Peckham Rye) before, five minutes later, someone pulled out across me as I headed up Scutari Road. Feckwittery rather than malign behaviour I suppose.

[Robert Poste's Child]

Poor you, Taper. Are you OK?

[taper]

I saw it coming and it was a very gentle hit. I stayed on my bike as he hit me at about 5mph! Knackered my front wheel, to the tune of a ?25 re-true. It shakes you up a bit though. Only the second time I've been hit in fifteen years of London cycling.

[JohnL]

malumbu Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Anyway to return to my conciliatory thoughts, I've

> done many thing I am not proud of in my life and

> put down to childish naughtiness, teenage

> hormones, alcohol, bloody mindedness etc. Maybe

> some of this is a product of my age. I've never

> thrown bottles of urine at anyone, but some of the

> immature stuff we did as students (you can see

> where this is going) now makes me shudder. A sort

> of "he who casts the first stone" sort of

> comment.

>

Reminds me of how my friend twisted the windscreen

sprayer on his car around so it faced the pavement

and drove through our village spraying everybody.

He wasn't popular but was only water though.