Just why is it...?

[Amy]

that I get complete @r$eholes and their passengers who drive up next to me and tell me things, like today, that I should indicate left - umm where were you when I last turned left? - don't I know the Highway Code - probably a d@mn sight better than you, matey - and then when I didn't respond, they resorted to telling me I had fat ar$e? By this time, I'd recovered from the sheer wtf , the traffice was slowing down for a red light, so I just moved over to the right lane, up past all the cars in the left lane (as I was going straight over) and indicated that they should kiss my 'fat arse'. Is it because I'm small and female and therefore seen as an 'easy' target for these big (read 'fat') tough men in their macho cars?

So much for cyclists, particularly the women, doing well in the Olympics and the Brad effect Yes, I know, there will always be idiots out there like today's...

[Bo-Gilly]

[quote]Just why is it...?

that I get complete @r$eholes and their passengers who drive up next to me and tell me things

[Amy]

I suppose they could be doing a male gorilla impression... still @r$eholes

[Amy]

Got another one* today - obviously a missing link between humans and apes... they haven't evolved very far yet

*only I couldn't hear a word he said whether to me or to a passenger - I didn't bother listening or looking too hard, just making sure he was really going left as I had a faint suspicion that he might try and beat to the right turn

[Paulos Fandangos]

I do despair when people express such a neanderthal approach to cyclists.
Unfortunately there seems to be too many small minded opinions floating about, I stumbled across this excuse for an article recently:

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/357 ... e=outbrain


The part comparing spinning and cycling was laughable.

[Amy]

[quote="Paulos Fandangos"]I do despair when people express such a neanderthal approach to cyclists.
Unfortunately there seems to be too many small minded opinions floating about, I stumbled across this excuse for an article recently:

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/357 ... e=outbrain


The part comparing spinning and cycling was laughable.

[quote]Perhaps it is because my late mother had an affair with a cyclist that I have never had much time for them.

[Amy]

Seen page 107 of this week's Radio Times? Near the top there's a little box entitled "Danger on Two Wheels" with a few interesting facts.

Apparently 19,215 people were killed* or injured in cycling accidents in 2011 according to the Dept for Transport; 88% of drivers polled by the Institute of Advanced Motorists believe cyclists should improve their behaviour by sticking to the Highway Code at junctions... however, a 2009 DfT report revealed just 2% of accidents were caused by a cyclist disobeying stop signs.

The War on Britain's Roads is on BBC1 at 9pm Wednesday 5 December - better set the recorder as it's the same night as the AGM.

*If I remember the Times article, deaths are only recorded as relating to cycling if it was within a certain timeframe.

[Andrew G]

Statistics are wonderful things, that sounds like a lot of injuries but I suspect there are a similar amount of people sustaining injuries in the bathroom.
I'll be in the list of injuries for 2012 from when I was hit by a car as I reported it to the police and claimed repair costs off the driver's insurance. I have however sustained a more serious injury when drunk and walked in to the door jam on my way to the loo.
I would be surprised if cycling was remotely dangerous compared to say walking to work and crossing roads on a pure stats basis, depending of course on how you choose to show your results.

Glad to see they haven't fallen in to the trap of over blowing things and giving the programme an emotive title.

[Marcus]

I have noticed that the winter months seem to bring out the impatience in drivers.

Usually I just ignore the attempts to knock me off. However today whilst riding near Dorking, having indicated to make a right turn and having crossed the white line to make said manoeuvre, a car which was some 25 meters behind accelerated hard and overtook whilst it seems attempting to t-bone me. If I hadn't seen him / her at the last moment and quickly aborted said manoeuvre, Id have been toast. W****r

[Phil H]

[quote="Marcus"]I have noticed that the winter months seem to bring out the impatience in drivers.

Usually I just ignore the attempts to knock me off. However today whilst riding near Dorking, having indicated to make a right turn and having crossed the white line to make said manoeuvre, a car which was some 25 meters behind accelerated hard and overtook whilst it seems attempting to t-bone me. If I hadn't seen him / her at the last moment and quickly aborted said manoeuvre, Id have been toast. W****r