Get on the pavement!

Just zis Guy said:

On the way to work there is a nice wide smooth road, and alongside it
a fairly narrow pavement replete with overhanging trees and Magic
White Paint. Quite frequently, members of the motoring fraternity see
fit to inform me of its presence (a fact of which I am well aware,
thanks).

Today one of them took it a little further, pulling alongside, leaning
on his horn and moving towards the kerb. Which was unpleasant.
Especially since he was driving a 38T articulated truck...

It could have been a lot more than unpleasant. Not all cyclists are
experienced enough or confident enough to deal with that kind of
aggression and it doesn't take much of a panicky wobble near to an artic
to cause a very serious incident indeed. If he does it to you he could
one day do it to a less savvy rider.

--
Brian G

Had one of those a few years ago. Pretty scary as he came up fast
behind me on the approach to a narrow gap (pedestrian island) and
managed to get some of his back wheels to lock while going mad with the
horn and gesticulating wildly.

I had absolutely no idea what he was pointing at, so thought something
had fallen off my bike and pullled over - he passed with more blowing
of the horns and waving of arms.

It then dawned on me he was pointing at the pavement psycho-path: it
had never occurred to me to use it, because about ten metres further on
it cuts left through a housing estate, wheras my route was to go 200
metres straight to the T then turn right. So according to him, I should
use a path because it has a picture of a bike on it, even though it
doesn't go where I'm going.

Just zis Guy said:

Today one of them took it a little further, pulling alongside, leaning
on his horn and moving towards the kerb. Which was unpleasant.
Especially since he was driving a 38T articulated truck...

He didn't have one of those "How's my driving?" stickers on the back,
did he? The increase in motorist aggression is one of the nastier side
effects of on-road and on-pavement cycle facilities. I'm becoming
increasingly convinced that they are necessarily dangerous, even the
very few that meet decent standards.

--
Dave...

"dkahn400" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

He didn't have one of those "How's my driving?" stickers on the back,
did he? The increase in motorist aggression is one of the nastier side
effects of on-road and on-pavement cycle facilities. I'm becoming
increasingly convinced that they are necessarily dangerous, even the
very few that meet decent standards.

--
Dave...

Some time ago I attended a LA meeting about a "quiet lanes" scheme. The
cyclists in attendence were all in agreement, we *didn't* want warning signs
being put up to say "expect to see cyclists here" - or words to that effect,
as it had the effect of telling motorists *not* to expect to see cyclists in
other places.. places where cyclists had a perfect right to be - such as on
the road which was not a "quiet lane". There was mucho scratching of LA
heads at the objections raised and then apparent dismissal of our concerns
:-(

Cheers, helen s

dkahn400 said:

Quoted message said:

Today one of them took it a little further, pulling alongside, leaning
on his horn and moving towards the kerb. Which was unpleasant.
Especially since he was driving a 38T articulated truck...

He didn't have one of those "How's my driving?" stickers on the back,
did he? The increase in motorist aggression is one of the nastier side
effects of on-road and on-pavement cycle facilities. I'm becoming
increasingly convinced that they are necessarily dangerous, even the
very few that meet decent standards.

I've heard of a bus driver doing this too. It needs to be reported to
management and/or police. It's dangerous driving, by any measure. Even
if the only result is a 'quiet word', that still may make the idiot
think (what with, I hear you ask) next time.

It's hassle to complain, but it does help.

Colin McKenzie

dkahn400 said:

Just zis Guy said:

Today one of them took it a little further, pulling alongside, leaning
on his horn and moving towards the kerb. Which was unpleasant.
Especially since he was driving a 38T articulated truck...

Most unpleasant, pleased to hear no damage was done.

Quoted message said:

He didn't have one of those "How's my driving?" stickers on the back,
did he? The increase in motorist aggression is one of the nastier side
effects of on-road and on-pavement cycle facilities. I'm becoming
increasingly convinced that they are necessarily dangerous, even the
very few that meet decent standards.

The worst thing about pavement psychlepaths is the growing belief that
ALL pavements are psychlepaths by default. A letter in our local paper
last week appeared to support this view. The writer was calling for
'audible approach warning devices' to be fitted to all bicycles to
prevent the 'silent menace' from sneaking up on unsuspecting members of
public and scaring the [censored] out of them.

Having both feet firmly planted in the 'Bicycles are Traffic' camp, I
dislike on-road bike lanes and positively hate pavement psychlepaths.
The thing that most bothers me now is that The General (largely
non-cycling) Public are sending the message to Powers That Be that what
we really want are more pavement psychlepaths. We could end up being
forced off the road completely.

Terry Duckmanton

Just zis Guy said:

On the way to work there is a nice wide smooth road, and alongside it
a fairly narrow pavement replete with overhanging trees and Magic
White Paint. Quite frequently, members of the motoring fraternity see
fit to inform me of its presence (a fact of which I am well aware,
thanks).

Today one of them took it a little further, pulling alongside, leaning
on his horn and moving towards the kerb. Which was unpleasant.
Especially since he was driving a 38T articulated truck...

All of which, naturally, reinforces my determination not to be driven
off the road and onto the pavement by the clueless [censored].

Guy

Did you get the registration and company name? I've had two of these
and each time wrote a letter. The first one I got a letter back from
the Chairman of P&O apologising and saying they had now terminated that
contractor because of numerous complaints. The second (ironically a
safety wear company) said they had left the driver in no doubt his
behavious was not acceptable and offered me some free safety wear.

--
Tony

"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't"
Anon

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On the way to work there is a nice wide smooth road, and alongside it
a fairly narrow pavement replete with overhanging trees and Magic
White Paint. Quite frequently, members of the motoring fraternity see
fit to inform me of its presence (a fact of which I am well aware,
thanks).

Today one of them took it a little further, pulling alongside, leaning
on his horn and moving towards the kerb. Which was unpleasant.
Especially since he was driving a 38T articulated truck...

All of which, naturally, reinforces my determination not to be driven
off the road and onto the pavement by the clueless [censored].

I am sure you will -- but complain vociferously to his employer. He is
clearly not fit to be in charge of a baby's buggy -- let alone 38 tonne of
instant death.

T

Terry D said:

The worst thing about pavement psychlepaths is the growing belief that
ALL pavements are psychlepaths by default. A letter in our local paper
last week appeared to support this view. The writer was calling for
'audible approach warning devices' to be fitted to all bicycles to
prevent the 'silent menace' from sneaking up on unsuspecting members
of public and scaring the [censored] out of them.

I'm sure the shared use facilities are partly responsible for the huge
recent growth in pavement cycling. It's the number of respectable
looking middle aged cyclists with helmets and Sam Browne belts riding
along on the pavement with a saintly air that persuades me of this. The
sort of people you couldn't imagine knowingly breaking any law.

Quoted message said:

Having both feet firmly planted in the 'Bicycles are Traffic' camp, I
dislike on-road bike lanes and positively hate pavement psychlepaths.
The thing that most bothers me now is that The General (largely
non-cycling) Public are sending the message to Powers That Be that
what we really want are more pavement psychlepaths. We could end up
being forced off the road completely.

This is the great danger. I used to think that shared use paths were
part of a deliberate agenda to pedestrianise cyclists and force us off
the roads. Now, however, I tend to look towards Hanlon's Razor as
providing the true explanation.

--
Dave...

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Today one of them took it a little further, pulling alongside, leaning
on his horn and moving towards the kerb. Which was unpleasant.
Especially since he was driving a 38T articulated truck...

I refer the Right Honourable Gentleman to a reply I gave on the 18th of
April this year:

HOLD YOUR HORN ON INTIMIDATION

09:30 - 18 April 2005

I Was cycling to work along Hedon Road the other day when the driver of a
Land Rover pulled close and sounded his horn at me angrily pointing to the
parallel bike path.

He did this despite having an empty dual carriageway to drive on.

Luckily, this sort of abuse is rare, but it is no wonder cyclists use the
pavements if drivers feel the need to intimidate cyclists in this fashion.

Hedon Road did not have "no cycling" signs on it, so I was entitled to ride
there.

The reason I was not using the cycle path was because I ride at speeds of up
to 25 mph.

When riding in the cycle path you have to give way at each works entrance
and roundabout. At that speed this is inconvenient and unsafe.

I hope this driver is consistent and sounds his horn to all drivers in the
bus lane in Anlaby Road.

After all, they are breaking the law. I am not.

Simon Mason,
Tranby Lane,
Anlaby.

you know? said:

On the way to work there is a nice wide smooth road, and alongside it a
fairly narrow pavement replete with overhanging trees and Magic White
Paint. Quite frequently, members of the motoring fraternity see fit to
inform me of its presence (a fact of which I am well aware, thanks).

Quoted message said:

Today one of them took it a little further, pulling alongside, leaning on
his horn and moving towards the kerb. Which was unpleasant. Especially
since he was driving a 38T articulated truck...

Quoted message said:

All of which, naturally, reinforces my determination not to be driven off
the road and onto the pavement by the clueless [censored].

Did you get his reg?

--

Buck

I would rather be out on my Catrike

http://www.catrike.co.uk

On 21 Jun 2005 03:36:35 -0700, "dkahn400" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I'm sure the shared use facilities are partly responsible for the huge
recent growth in pavement cycling. It's the number of respectable
looking middle aged cyclists with helmets and Sam Browne belts riding
along on the pavement with a saintly air that persuades me of this. The
sort of people you couldn't imagine knowingly breaking any law.

When I'm out and about with 5 yr old in tow and we pass/are passed by
pavement cyclists, I suspect they see me as utterly irresponsible for
taking a child on the big bad roads. Sometimes I feel like remarking
loudly (in a phrase borrowed from somone on this NG, forget who sorry)
"What a shame their mummy and daddy won't let them ride their bikes on
the road".

"audrey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sometimes I feel like remarking
loudly (in a phrase borrowed from somone on this NG, forget who sorry)
"What a shame their mummy and daddy won't let them ride their bikes on
the road".

Nathan, aged 16 coined it ;-)

Cheers, helen s

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:21:35 +0100, Tony Raven <[email hidden]>
wrote:

[snip truckwit]

Quoted message said:

Did you get the registration and company name?

No. I considered it, but there was another truck behind (behaving in
exemplary fashion) and I didn't want to hold him up. This was
apparently a contractor going into a Hanson yard, the majority of
trucks going in there are Hanson signwritten and behave well. The one
which cut me up was not signwritten.

And yes, this is an excuse: the truth is I was not really up for a
confrontation after that experience. So the [censored] got away with it.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On the way to work there is a nice wide smooth road, and alongside it
a fairly narrow pavement replete with overhanging trees and Magic
White Paint. Quite frequently, members of the motoring fraternity see
fit to inform me of its presence (a fact of which I am well aware,
thanks).

Today one of them took it a little further, pulling alongside, leaning
on his horn and moving towards the kerb. Which was unpleasant.
Especially since he was driving a 38T articulated truck...

All of which, naturally, reinforces my determination not to be driven
off the road and onto the pavement by the clueless [censored].

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

Dreaded swine. Sorry to hear you have to keep getting exposed to this Guy.
At least this is good mental toughness training.

Sometimes I'd really like some kind of video recording black box that
records audio and video where I'm looking, stops with a high G reading, and
otherwise continuously loops 10 minutes or so.

Tony Raven said:

Just zis Guy said:

On the way to work there is a nice wide smooth road, and alongside it
a fairly narrow pavement replete with overhanging trees and Magic
White Paint. Quite frequently, members of the motoring fraternity see
fit to inform me of its presence (a fact of which I am well aware,
thanks).

Today one of them took it a little further, pulling alongside, leaning
on his horn and moving towards the kerb. Which was unpleasant.
Especially since he was driving a 38T articulated truck...

All of which, naturally, reinforces my determination not to be driven
off the road and onto the pavement by the clueless [censored].

I drove through a town in France yesterday with a fairly pathetic cycle
path around the by-pass that took in the usual parked cars,pavements,
ending at the most dangerous point and putting riders back onto the
road etc, but no broken glass; at one stage there was a no-cycling sign
on the road although the psycho-path was nowhere to be seen. It got
even worse as they decided to get cyclists to cross over the road half
way along and use a bidirectional path. There must be some sort of EU
directive on how (not) to design one it was so familiar.

I cycled on one south of Paris recently which amazed me. It was easily
wide enough for two cars to have passed in opposite directions, it had
clear priority at junctions, it was smooth, swept and clearly marked. I
nearly took a photograph, but then it suddenly became a rough gravel
track next to the normal road!

you know? said:

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:21:35 +0100, Tony Raven <[email hidden]>
wrote:

Quoted message said:

[snip truckwit]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Did you get the registration and company name?

Quoted message said:

No. I considered it, but there was another truck behind (behaving in
exemplary fashion) and I didn't want to hold him up. This was apparently
a contractor going into a Hanson yard, the majority of trucks going in
there are Hanson signwritten and behave well. The one which cut me up was
not signwritten.

Quoted message said:

And yes, this is an excuse: the truth is I was not really up for a
confrontation after that experience. So the [censored] got away with it.

That's one way I am certainly more militant than you, must be my ex service
past, I would have followed him and taught him the error of his ways for that
one.

--

Buck

I would rather be out on my Catrike

http://www.catrike.co.uk

On 06/21/2005 14:15:07 'iakobski said:

I cycled on one south of Paris recently which amazed me. It was easily
wide enough for two cars to have passed in opposite directions, it had
clear priority at junctions, it was smooth, swept and clearly marked. I
nearly took a photograph, but then it suddenly became a rough gravel track
next to the normal road!

That's another problem, when they occassionaly get it right, they ruin it with
inconsistancy.

--

Buck

I would rather be out on my Catrike

http://www.catrike.co.uk