Search icon

Life

28th Aug 2013

Eleven Ways Cyclists Can Really Annoy Other Road Users

Footpaths are not for cyclists... That is all.

Sue Murphy

If you tend to walk or drive around your hometown or city a lot, you may have become aware of the increased amount of cyclists around the place.

However, cyclists haven’t been exactly obeying the rules of the road. Here are eleven ways they can annoy some folks…

1. Footpaths.

The clue is in the title really. Footpaths are for feet, ie walking. However, if you are a pedestrian you will have noticed you are constantly playing a game of dodgeball with bikes. Paths are not for bikes!

2. The Red Light Issue

Red light means stop. It means stop literally everywhere. So if somebody walks across the road and a cyclist is coming from the opposite direction through a red light, you can sort of understand why some pedestrians get a bit annoyed.

3. The Blind Side

If you don’t wear your luminous bike gear, drivers will not be able to see you at night or dusk. Wear it. Less injuries for you, less heart attacks for drivers.

4. Scaring the living daylights out of children.

And animals… Basically everyone.

5. You need to be an all-round ninja getting out of a car.

Yes, drivers you do have a responsibility to check if there is anything coming up behind you before you open your car door. The same goes for passengers. But they just come out of NOWHERE sometimes!

6. The Wrong Side of the Road.

You cannot cycle the wrong way down a one way street. Just… no.

7. The Pedestrian Road.

Ever apologise to a cyclist you nearly walked into on a pedestrian street? Ever scream after them “this is a pedestrian street”? No? Us neither.

8. Cycling in the Middle of the Road.

We don’t think we really have to explain this one. If you’re turning, then it’s fine.

9. Talking on their handsfree.

Concentrate on the road! This is not the time for chats really…

10. Cycling two abreast.

Dear Cyclists, you are on a main road, you are not in a park or up a mountain. Keep in to the side of the footpath!

11. Be careful!

On a serious note, it can’t hurt being a little safer. If you don’t drive everyone a little crazy, that’s just a bonus.

Topics: