Pet hates: cyclists
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 What is it with cyclists? I've no problem with them going through a red light if the road is clear. But I object to them ignoring a red light if pedestrians are legitimately crossing the road (as I was this morning!).
Worse, when I popped in to one of my favourite coffee shops in London, what did I find, propped against my regular bar stool? An effing bicycle, that's what! And on the table, where I normally spread my morning papers, was the owner's crimson cycling helmet!
The perpetrator, needless to say, was sitting at another table several feet away, sipping on a skinny mocha latte, reading the Guardian and looking incredibly smug. (OK, I made that bit up. He was reading the Independent.)
Next time I'll drive my car into the shop and park it next to him. See how he likes it.
Reader Comments (8)
Now you're talking my language Simon. Lycra suited, skinny louts, with bald heads, covered up with silly pointy helmets, and their wives or mums, best shiny tights, what a bunch of creeps.
They inhabit a different world from us don't they, a world with no laws, where motorists and pedestrians are criminals who should not be allowed anywhere near the road or pavements, "Watch out you f***g b****ds, cyclist coming through, what p***k left that baby on the pavement, I could have been killed?"
Motorists pay taxes to drive and use our roads, these skinny rats don't pay a penny, and yet they are allotted cycling lanes, Why? And Boris, as much as I love him (not literally) is apparently planning to give them more.
And what about those strips of road that stretch across the road at traffic lights, with a cycling sign on them? They stretch right across in front of all the cars and lorries, can you imagine what would happen if a bunch of soppy cyclists did decide to invade this pitch? No sensible, paying road users would be able to pull away from the lights until the morons had all pedalled off. What the hell are these cycling strips supposed to be for, I've never worked it out?
In the City of London, where my wife works, the Lycra lunatics regularly pedal through the lights, and cross busy pavements, shouting and swearing at everyone and anyone in their sight. Wouldn't you just love to have a large wooden pole which you could "accidentally" poke through their wheel spokes as they flew past you?
A few years ago, my wife and I used to take our kids to the River Lee in East London, where we would walk along the canal tow path and watch the fisherman, but it became impossible when the Lycra lunatics decided to take that over as well. As you probably know, most tow paths are very narrow, and are not meant to be used by vehicles, but these idiots just come belting up to you and nearly force you into the canal, especially when from behind and they do not announce themselves coming in any way, long gone are the days of cycles having bells.
In the end we had to give up that pursuit for fear that the kids would be injured or even drowned if they were knocked in by these morons.
I did start a campaign in the Evening Standard at the time, entitled "Claim back our tow paths and walkways", but as usual with most things like this, the cyclists won the day, and the kids and families lost, after all, who are we? Just mere mortal I'm afraid.
Er...um....don't quite agree with general tone here, perhaps because I am a very tolerant person. I have worked in central London for 20 odd years and I have not seen this aggressive behaviour. Yes, I used to cycle to work and went through red lights, provided there was no traffic or pedestrians crossing. I also have been on that cycle way at the Lee Valley, albeit at the Hackney end where the Youngs pub and skating ring are. I tended to keep to one side of the path so as not to get in their way.
I believe you Dave. What colour tights do you wear by the way?
It was a very slinky off the shoulder number, but in Tory Blue though. I walk not cycle there.
I hate the ones that pose as 'professionals' with all the lycra, etc yet insist on cycling in gangs usually at least 3 abreast and have no respect for any other traffic on the road.
Apart from the fact that they hold up the traffic, they are also setting an extremely bad example to youngsters who believe, having seen these idiots in lycra, etc, that it is the correct thing to do and that they do not have to consider the cars at all! Whether they are 'professional' or not, it is an utter disgrace the way many of them treat other road users with such disdain, especially, as already mentioned, they pay nothing to use the roads!
Sorry Dave, I misunderstood you, when you said about being a cyclist, I assumed that you cylcled down by the Lee.
The Youngs pub, that you spoke about, is that the one on the bridge on Lee Road, roughly opposite the skating ring? There is also a lock there and lots of outside seating?
If it is that one, I used to go there quite a lot in the summer months, when there was also a shellfish stall outside.
The kids used to love watching the Herons, which used to perch on the lock.
I have no beef with a 'real' cyclist, they are usually unhelmeted and need their bikes to get to work, its the ones that look like telly tubbies with skin tight lycra knee length shorts and mad coloured vests and helmets that look like they came straight out of star wars, with special gloves and mad looking trainers complete with flasks attached to special holders on their bikes. They're usually middle aged with enormous bellys and skinny legs and I'm sure they get off on showing themselves off, they usually travel in packs of 5 or 6 and arrive at outside venues in front of cafe's or hotels like conquering heros as if they're doing something worthwhile and make life hell for any poor smoker thats just trying to have a quiet puff in peace. Apart from being a blot on the landscape with their enormous or skinny butts stuck in a persons face when one is trying to overtake them on the road they think they have a given right on country roads to take it over. Banning these stupid eejits from peoples vision is one ban I would agree with the banning nazis and have them all consigned to a cycle track behind high walls.
Cyclists should pay road tax and pay for insurance, if they are at fault in an accident their insurance should cover the accident, not the car drivers insurance then those peddle freaks would ride with more care.