Why the hate for Cyclists?

[foszoe]

Let's remember the thread title. Why the hate? Road cyclists recreationally block traffic. That's why people hate you. Simple enough.

The "but it's leEEeeegal... <.< whine has no affect on why people hate you. Go fart in a crowded elevator, look around and say "but it's lEEeeegal!" and see if that changes anyone's reaction. Lots of legal actions are inconsiderate dick moves. People may have to tolerate it, but they can still hate it, and you. And they do.

As far as farm equipment, etc. Of course farm equipment can use the roads. It's a legitimate necessity for them to do so, just like road work may slow traffic. You don't *have* to inconvenience everyone else with your pedal toy, you choose to.

Again: Road cyclists recreationally block traffic. That's why people hate you. Simple enough.

Good stuff.

We "hate" it when farm equipment does it to. I "hate" it when a car goes 30 in a 55, or can't figure out where to turn.

We "hate" it when people inconvenience us in general.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Glad you don’t make the laws for bicycles…

I'm sure. Yesterday I saw a dumbass on a bicycle, in the dark, in the far left lane of a 6 lane 40mph road. He had his little blinky light, so legal as far as I know. Stupid AF, but legal. I'm sure the car that noticed him and slowed rather abruptly to not kill him, and the following 2 right behind him, were thinking "gosh, this guy is so cool and considerate and not in any way causing a safety issue since it's legal."

 

[two70]

Let's remember the thread title. Why the hate? Road cyclists recreationally block traffic. That's why people hate you. Simple enough.

The "but it's leEEeeegal... <.< whine has no affect on why people hate you. Go fart in a crowded elevator, look around and say "but it's lEEeeegal!" and see if that changes anyone's reaction. Lots of legal actions are inconsiderate dick moves. People may have to tolerate it, but they can still hate it, and you. And they do.

As far as farm equipment, etc. Of course farm equipment can use the roads. It's a legitimate necessity for them to do so, just like road work may slow traffic. You don't *have* to inconvenience everyone else with your pedal toy, you choose to.

Again: Road cyclists recreationally block traffic. That's why people hate you. Simple enough.

Expanding on this, I don't hate anyone because of their mode of transportation. If I did it would be semi driver's I hate the most because they've tried to kill me more than any other. In those encounters with trucks behaving badly, I opted to avoid being squished instead of contesting the issue. Even though I was "in the right" in those encounters, I knew I couldn't win those battles and upholding my rights while becoming a highway stain held little appeal for me.

IMO, that would be a safer and saner way for cyclists to approach interactions with motor vehicles, and most probably do. However, some cyclists are apparently so desperate for recognition and affirmation of their lifestyle choice that they will gladly put themselves and potentially others in danger to assert their authoritah. Those cyclists not only willingly abdicate their well being to others, they make doing so a point of pride. Then they throw a tantrum when someone call's their bluff... or simply fails to recognize their superiority. That is the attitude and entitlement that I, and I suspect others, disdain.

Its not really about the bike for them, its about the control over others.

 

[jamil]

I've known several avid cyclists who were great guys. I've also encountered many courteous, safe cyclists on the road. So I hadn't really understood the hate either.

However, it's stuff like this that makes me start to understand the frustration. For some cyclists (and those tend to be the ones who make themselves noticed the most) it really feels like there's just no winning with them; they'll always find a way to slow down traffic, make things more dangerous for themselves, and then complain about how dangerous it is for them.

Perfect example right here. You would think that coming to a full stop, which is much safer than just blowing through and assuming cars will stop for you, would be a plus. But no, that's not good enough for them, because it requires a "major energy expenditure." So, expending energy is now a minus, while engaged in an activity that is supposedly for exercise?

Just saw this thread. Bear with me catching up. I think I'm gonna give some INGO folks yet another reason to hate me.

I cycled to school when I was young. I've cycled to work when I was younger. I just got back into cycling many years and pounds later when covid hit. Plus, now I ride an e-bike. So there.

Here's the thing. A road where motor-vehicles and bicycles have equal rights, remember that most motor-vehicles are orders of magnitude bigger in size and mass. For such disparate users of roads to coexist, both need to be alert, aware of each other, and courteous. And I'll say it. Cyclists need to be more courteous even when you're in the right. There's a fine line between being right and and dead right.

Rolling stops for bikes? I don't really care. Cyclists need to work out how they get through intersections without getting hit. I don't go into an intersection on a bike without making sure the others see me and are allowing the proper right of way. And when it's clear for me, I am not stopping at the stop sign. I'm getting my ass through that intersection when the gittin' is good. As the bike rider, I am not expecting people to see me.

So about why people hate cyclists? I don't automatically hate them. I like cycling too. But given you're sharing the road with motor-vehicles, you should act like it. Act like you give a **** about not getting your ass ran over and then complaining when you get your ass ran over. You have a legal right to be there. You don't have a moral right to be an asshat.

And for **** sake, if you're cycling on a narrow country road like mine, glance behind you every so often. If you look behind you and there's 7 cars stacked up while you huff and puff your fat ass up that hill, you've encouraged the wrath of that whole stack of cars. Maybe it's a good time to pull off and take a break. Let that line of cars go by. And then maybe you won't have 7 cars lined up to throw **** at you when they finally get to pass.

Some of that hate is unearned. But some of it is deserved. Either side can earn it.

 

[jamil]

The "but it's leEEeeegal... <.< whine has no affect on why people hate you. Go fart in a crowded elevator, look around and say "but it's lEEeeegal!" and see if that changes anyone's reaction. Lots of legal actions are inconsiderate dick moves. People may have to tolerate it, but they can still hate it, and you. And they do.

Quoted for this paragraph.

 

[jamil]

Expanding on this, I don't hate anyone because of their mode of transportation. If I did it would be semi driver's I hate the most because they've tried to kill me more than any other. In those encounters with trucks behaving badly, I opted to avoid being squished instead of contesting the issue. Even though I was "in the right" in those encounters, I knew I couldn't win those battles and upholding my rights while becoming a highway stain held little appeal for me.

IMO, that would be a safer and saner way for cyclists to approach interactions with motor vehicles, and most probably do. However, some cyclists are apparently so desperate for recognition and affirmation of their lifestyle choice that they will gladly put themselves and potentially others in danger to assert their authoritah. Those cyclists not only willingly abdicate their well being to others, they make doing so a point of pride. Then they throw a tantrum when someone call's their bluff... or simply fails to recognize their superiority. That is the attitude and entitlement that I, and I suspect others, disdain.

Its not really about the bike for them, its about the control over others.

Speaking of semi-drivers, It's almost like there's a hierarchy.

Semi's > trucks > cars > motorcycles > bicycles > pedestrians.

At least if you're a cyclist, you can run the pedestrians off the road. But you're the pissant to everyone else up the chain. Might makes right?

 

[jamil]

What is clear is INGO has just as many entitled whiners as the rest of the population. “Stay out of my way.” The INGO motto…

Which means it's nothing special about being INGO. It's just general nature.

When I was young I had a tee shirt of an eagle swooping down on a mouse who held up his middle finger at the eagle. The caption said, "the last great act of defiance". Reminds me of cyclists complaining about people getting mad at them for blocking traffic.

If you need to be someplace soon, and you're driving on a narrow, curvy, hilly road and you have a pack of 20 cyclists in front of you, I mean that's a legit reason to be upset. Yeah, they have a right to be there. They're also in the ****ing way.

I like to cycle too. I also like not to **** off motorists.

 

[AndreusMaximus]

Just saw this thread. Bear with me catching up. I think I'm gonna give some INGO folks yet another reason to hate me.

I cycled to school when I was young. I've cycled to work when I was younger. I just got back into cycling many years and pounds later when covid hit. Plus, now I ride an e-bike. So there.

Here's the thing. A road where motor-vehicles and bicycles have equal rights, remember that most motor-vehicles are orders of magnitude bigger in size and mass. For such disparate users of roads to coexist, both need to be alert, aware of each other, and courteous. And I'll say it. Cyclists need to be more courteous even when you're in the right. There's a fine line between being right and and dead right.

Rolling stops for bikes? I don't really care. Cyclists need to work out how they get through intersections without getting hit. I don't go into an intersection on a bike without making sure the others see me and are allowing the proper right of way. And when it's clear for me, I am not stopping at the stop sign. I'm getting my ass through that intersection when the gittin' is good. As the bike rider, I am not expecting people to see me.

So about why people hate cyclists? I don't automatically hate them. I like cycling too. But given you're sharing the road with motor-vehicles, you should act like it. Act like you give a **** about not getting your ass ran over and then complaining when you get your ass ran over. You have a legal right to be there. You don't have a moral right to be an asshat.

And for **** sake, if you're cycling on a narrow country road like mine, glance behind you every so often. If you look behind you and there's 7 cars stacked up while you huff and puff your fat ass up that hill, you've encouraged the wrath of that whole stack of cars. Maybe it's a good time to pull off and take a break. Let that line of cars go by. And then maybe you won't have 7 cars lined up to throw **** at you when they finally get to pass.

Some of that hate is unearned. But some of it is deserved. Either side can earn it.

I actually agree with everything you said.

When I talk about bikes stopping for stop signs, I'm honestly not too hung up on whether it's a full stop, a rolling stop, or a slow-down-and-see-if-anyone's-coming-and-if-not-go-for-it. I just generally think it's a bad idea to have setups where motor vehicles are presumed to come to a stop and yield to cyclists, unless the cyclist is going through a green light or something, of course.

 

[jamil]

That also ride bikes.

And often get in people's way and then wonder why all the motorists are so mad at them. If you look behind you and you see someone behind you driving your speed, get the **** over and let them pass. Maybe they'll hate you less.

 

[foszoe]

I actually agree with everything you said.

Even when I do, I don't dare tell him!

 

[Twangbanger]

And often get in people's way and then wonder why all the motorists are so mad at them. If you look behind you and you see someone behind you driving your speed, get the **** over and let them pass. Maybe they'll hate you less.

I think the group rides are the worst. "Simulating the Tour de France" in Mayberry RFD is pretty much going to earn you prick of the year. That's why I quit and switched to MTB. I was the only person left in my group who had never cracked a helmet. When my best cycling bud got decked by an old dude in an SUV running a red light, and couldn't remember entire sections of his life, that was my wake-up call. Motorists with cellphones got crossed off my **** list and replaced by piles of horse turds, walnuts covered by leaves, and my own lack of competence. The Future of Cycling now weighs 31 pounds, and I'm good with it

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

In Jackson, TN they have a “why all the hate on motorized wheelchair/scooters” Threads.

 

[actaeon277]

Even when I do, I don't dare tell him!

That goes without saying.

I mean, he won't be able to fit his head thru doorways

 

[actaeon277]

Plus, now I ride an e-bike.

Come on now.
That's a bridge too far

 

[Tanfodude]

 

[tmschuller]

Should they also not allow farm equipment, horses and buggies, livestock, and other permissible uses of roads?

That logic escapes me..
they are not recreational. Farm equipment.. taxed and Horses with buggies now have to have plates Yes some folks ride to work but very small portion. At my plant.. 2 guys ride bicycles versus 600 + people that drive vehicles
Most cyclists are doing for recreation.. indiana doesn’t require plates on bicycles somehow this doesn’t make sense But somehow this thought process keeps getting further out

 

[actaeon277]

 

[actaeon277]

 

[actaeon277]

 

[actaeon277]