Cycling UK Forum

CathM wrote: ↑26 Feb 2022, 9:22pm On her first day at work my new head of department was being shown around and introduced to her new staff. Someone mentioned that I cycled to work, and her comment was "Oooh, I hate cyclists - they get in the way!". She didn't say it aggressively, just as a statement of fact, but her remark tainted her for good as far as I was concerned.

Maybe she was trying to be funny but hope the rest of the staff could see she was just making a Pratt of herself.

What puzzles me is that default level of hatred (I quote!) is out of all proportion to the target. As I've written here before, it's quite clear that cycles & cyclists are as a matter of fact, benign and moderate by nature. They're quiet, compact and take up very little room on road or track, require very little energy or resources to run or maintain, other than the owner's own food and in summary, appear on the face of it, would appear to threaten or disadvantage other travellors in no way whatsoever - indeed the logical reaction to a whole peleton of cyclists should be, "Thank goodness they're not all driving cars instead of riding bikes, as otherwise we'd be in the middle of a huge traffic queue!" But no - they all "hate" us - such a serious awful word - and not used in jest, as far as I can tell...!! No coincedence then that I took to using traffic-free routes and byways, early on in my cycling career, even cycling extra miles to go out of way to avoid main roads. I despair.

simonineaston wrote: ↑27 Feb 2022, 9:00am What puzzles me is that default level of hatred (I quote!) is out of all proportion to the target.

Outgroup hatred is typically disproportionate to the precipitating event.

Jonathan

simonineaston wrote: ↑27 Feb 2022, 9:00amBut no - they all "hate" us -

I don't think that's the case. Many people both drive cars and ride bikes. And very few people driving cars exhibit any hate.

Jonathan

jb wrote: ↑26 Feb 2022, 8:57pmWe have become a society of selfish people.

What's the evidence that we have become more selfish? I see much less intolerance and plenty of people volunteering to help others.

Thanks

Jonathan

And very few people driving cars exhibit any hate.

Tricky one, that - it's perhaps just as well we can't see into their heads. A great many people will say that they hate cyclists - how should we cyclists interpret that as "they don't actually hate us - they just say that they do..." And what's more, a growing number of drivers behave exactly as if they do hate us...
I'm now scared to cycle on some roads, whereas I never used to be... I have a sense of threat, of danger, of malice aforthought, that is new to me.

simonineaston wrote: ↑27 Feb 2022, 10:47amAnd what's more, a growing number of drivers behave exactly as if they do hate us...

As above... is that number really growing?

Jonathan

I live 500/660 yds from a large Tesco store and the rat run traffic route to it, I am just dumbfounded by the poor quality of driving to over take cycles and then have Q and drive to the car park. The odd driver must know they are ***** with their poor skills and as I pass the ones with a window down, I do mention 'didn't get far then' and laugh or often if family or others are in the car I say' not very bright are you'.
'

hemo wrote: ↑27 Feb 2022, 12:54pm I live 500/660 yds from a large Tesco store and the rat run traffic route to it, I am just dumbfounded by the poor quality of driving to over take cycles and then have Q and drive to the car park. The odd driver must know they are ***** with their poor skills and as I pass the ones with a window down, I do mention 'didn't get far then' and laugh or often if family or others are in the car I say' not very bright are you'.
'

There's a few problems with that post.

Jdsk wrote: ↑27 Feb 2022, 10:25am

simonineaston wrote: ↑27 Feb 2022, 9:00amBut no - they all "hate" us -

I don't think that's the case. Many people both drive cars and ride bikes. And very few people driving cars exhibit any hate.

Jonathan

Most drivers in my experience are very courteous. Cyclists on the other hand sometimes let the side down -- check hemo's post out.

Like German tourists the stupid are everywhere don't let one spoil your day.

'Sfunny, I can't remember the last time I had any kind of negative interaction, either with pedestrians or drivers. Is this a regional thing, or what?

nirakaro wrote: ↑27 Feb 2022, 2:27pm 'Sfunny, I can't remember the last time I had any kind of negative interaction, either with pedestrians or drivers. Is this a regional thing, or what?

It seems likely that individual thresholds for identifying negativity and hostility could vary.

Jonathan

hemo wrote: ↑27 Feb 2022, 12:54pm I live 500/660 yds from a large Tesco store and the rat run traffic route to it, I am just dumbfounded by the poor quality of driving to over take cycles and then have Q and drive to the car park. The odd driver must know they are ***** with their poor skills and as I pass the ones with a window down, I do mention 'didn't get far then' and laugh or often if family or others are in the car I say' not very bright are you'.
'

Do you mean you queue jumped? How dare you!!!!!!!! And in front of motorists who had just gained a place from you!!!!!! That's the problem with cyclists - they don't obey the rules of the road as we motorists do!

Jdsk wrote: ↑27 Feb 2022, 2:30pm

nirakaro wrote: ↑27 Feb 2022, 2:27pm 'Sfunny, I can't remember the last time I had any kind of negative interaction, either with pedestrians or drivers. Is this a regional thing, or what?

It seems likely that individual thresholds for identifying negativity and hostility could vary.

Jonathan

Ever the analyst -- what you're saying is the world looks different from whatever hill you stand on.

Cowsham wrote: ↑27 Feb 2022, 5:56pm

Jdsk wrote: ↑27 Feb 2022, 2:30pm

nirakaro wrote: ↑27 Feb 2022, 2:27pm 'Sfunny, I can't remember the last time I had any kind of negative interaction, either with pedestrians or drivers. Is this a regional thing, or what?

It seems likely that individual thresholds for identifying negativity and hostility could vary.

Ever the analyst -- what you're saying is the world looks different from whatever hill you stand on.

Some posters report a lot of adverse incidents, some many fewer or none. There'll be an explanation (or probably more than one).

Jonathan