I'm only an occasional cyclist (Brompton owner) who is usually
infuriated with cyclist who get the rest of us a bad name and motorists
who don't regard (properly behanved0 cyclists as "traffic".

Well, I developed an interesting angle on this yesterday when - as a
pedestrian in Piccadilly - I managed to get knocked down by a cyclist.
With a number of other people I was crossing a side street at a green
pelican crossing on (pedestrian) green. Motor traffic had been stopped
for some time.

A cyclist apparently came past all the queuing traffic and simply
ploughed through the red light while the crowd were crossing and
happened to hit me. I'm not hurt (I managed to get straight up and I
was surprised at just how many passers by stopped to help) but after
yelling "tosser", presumably at me, she just cycled off. This wasn't
some speeding child or youth but an older woman with helmet and yellow
jacket

Oh well, at least it wasn't a car or lorry.......
--
Ian Jelf, MITG
Birmingham, UK

Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide for London and the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk

In message , Ian Jelf
writes

A cyclist apparently came past all the queuing traffic and simply
ploughed through the red light while the crowd were crossing and
happened to hit me. I'm not hurt (I managed to get straight up and I
was surprised at just how many passers by stopped to help) but after
yelling "tosser", presumably at me, she just cycled off. This wasn't
some speeding child or youth but an older woman with helmet and yellow
jacket

From my experience as a cyclist in London I know that very few cyclists
stop for pedestrian crossings or red lights (apart from when the passing
traffic is too heavy to weave through, or they've spotted a policeman).
Often they barrel through at high speed and any collision with me would
have serious consequences. For this reason I try to make sure there is
absolutely nothing coming when as a pedestrian I need to cross the road.

I've also noticed that age or lack of lycra is no indication as to
whether these cyclists will ignore signals.

--
congokid
Good restaurants in London? Read my tips...
http://congokid.com

congokid wrote:

From my experience as a cyclist in London I know that very few
cyclists stop for pedestrian crossings or red lights (apart from when
the passing traffic is too heavy to weave through, or they've spotted
a policeman). Often they barrel through at high speed and any
collision with me would have serious consequences. For this reason I
try to make sure there is absolutely nothing coming when as a
pedestrian I need to cross the road.

As a fellow cyclist, who is disgusted by the arrogant behaviour of this
minority who are bringing us all into disrepute and risking regulatory
consequences for us all, when I'm in a similar position I generally
anticipate the worst and time my crossing carefully. Once the approaching
cyclist has committed to their path I change my step and try and make sure
that I barrel into the side of them as they pass - keeping clear of
handlebars and pedals - and knocking them flying instead. It's very
satisfying, especially knowing that legally they haven't got a leg to stand
on (so to speak). On a couple of occasions they've ended up sprawled on the
road with everyone laughing at them, their dignity destroyed. With a bit of
luck they'll think twice next time before trying to intimidate pedestrians.
I always pay heed to the road signals, don't cycle on footpaths or against
the flow of one way traffic (I get off and walk) and so forth - they can
bloody well do the same. Being 6' 5" and 15 stone none of my "victims" have
had the temerity to challenge me yet and having jumped red lights and
accidentally collided with a legally crossing pedestrian they would be hard
pressed to do very much. It's all in the observation and the timing. ;-)

Jack Taylor wrote:

Once the approaching
cyclist has committed to their path I change my step and try and make sure
that I barrel into the side of them as they pass - keeping clear of
handlebars and pedals - and knocking them flying instead. It's very
satisfying, especially knowing that legally they haven't got a leg to stand
on (so to speak). On a couple of occasions they've ended up sprawled on the
road with everyone laughing at them, their dignity destroyed.

While they're on the floor ask for their name and address and tell them
they'll be hearing from your solicitor - nothing like kicking someone
while they're down (not literally though because I guess that would be
assault).

If only your style would also work on car drivers who do the same...

peter

naked_draughtsman ) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying :

If only your style would also work on car drivers who do the same...

Oh, it does.

I find a good hard open-palm slap onto a window or door of a car sailing
across the ped x-ing usually gets an entertainingly abrupt emergency stop
and panicked expression...

I have to admit, I didn't try it on the Police Volvo that did it to me a
while back, though...

Adrian wrote:

naked_draughtsman ) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying :

If only your style would also work on car drivers who do the same...

Oh, it does.

I find a good hard open-palm slap onto a window or door of a car sailing
across the ped x-ing usually gets an entertainingly abrupt emergency stop
and panicked expression...


Or the emergence of a foul-mouthed yob waving a baseball bat :-(

John B

Adrian wrote:
I find a good hard open-palm slap onto a window or door of a car sailing
across the ped x-ing usually gets an entertainingly abrupt emergency stop
and panicked expression...

Possibly followed by the driver getting out and assaulting you.

Still, at least I got compensation and the driver got points on his
licence. And I'd do the same thing again.

--
Danny Colyer URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/danny/
Subscribe to PlusNet URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/referral/
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

"Jack Taylor" wrote in message
...
congokid wrote:

From my experience as a cyclist in London I know that very few
cyclists stop for pedestrian crossings or red lights (apart from when
the passing traffic is too heavy to weave through, or they've spotted
a policeman). Often they barrel through at high speed and any
collision with me would have serious consequences. For this reason I
try to make sure there is absolutely nothing coming when as a
pedestrian I need to cross the road.

As a fellow cyclist, who is disgusted by the arrogant behaviour of this
minority who are bringing us all into disrepute and risking regulatory
consequences for us all, when I'm in a similar position I generally
anticipate the worst and time my crossing carefully. Once the approaching
cyclist has committed to their path I change my step and try and make sure
that I barrel into the side of them as they pass - keeping clear of
handlebars and pedals - and knocking them flying instead. It's very
satisfying, especially knowing that legally they haven't got a leg to
stand
on (so to speak). On a couple of occasions they've ended up sprawled on
the
road with everyone laughing at them, their dignity destroyed. With a bit
of
luck they'll think twice next time before trying to intimidate
pedestrians.
I always pay heed to the road signals, don't cycle on footpaths or against
the flow of one way traffic (I get off and walk) and so forth - they can
bloody well do the same. Being 6' 5" and 15 stone none of my "victims"
have
had the temerity to challenge me yet and having jumped red lights and
accidentally collided with a legally crossing pedestrian they would be
hard
pressed to do very much. It's all in the observation and the timing. ;-)

I like your style! :-P

From what I've seen, it's not a minority of cyclists who do this, but a
majority. At least where I see them, that is, which is from Islington to
the centre. Occasionally you do see a sensible cyclist waiting out a red
light, but it really doesn't happen that often. Usually they'll bump up
onto the pavement, ride to the pedestrian crossing, cross, then bump back
down.

I've also noticed an increase in cyclists riding past busses with people
getting on/off, between the bus and the curb. Having a bemused cyclist
staring at you with a look of complete confusion mixed with rage, simply
because you got off a bus at a bus stop, is quite entertaining.



dave

I've also noticed an increase in cyclists riding past busses with
people getting on/off, between the bus and the curb. Having a bemused
cyclist staring at you with a look of complete confusion mixed with
rage, simply because you got off a bus at a bus stop, is quite
entertaining.

IME it usually it happens when the bus cuts the cyclist up on the way to
the bus stop. Quite why some cyclists continue to whizz along when they
know people are going to hop off beggars belief.

Mark Thompson wrote:

IME it usually it happens when the bus cuts the cyclist up on the way to
the bus stop. Quite why some cyclists continue to whizz along when they
know people are going to hop off beggars belief.

The solution for this is for the bus to (be able to) pull in all the
way to the kerb. This would require a combination of better-designed
bus stops and proper traffic enforcement at those which already are
properly designed to allow a bus all the way in.

On a similar note, I recall on the recent documentary about a London
bus depot on TV (I forget the name) that bus drivers in this country
are actually trained to pull in 6-8 inches from the kerb, and not right
up to it. Does anyone know why? I always put this down to poor or
lazy driving before now, as in Germany the convention is to touch the
kerb with the wheels, thus taking best advantage of the low-floor
boarding step.

Neil