[Closed] Friends with anti-cyclist bigotry

It's always amusing when they say "I hate cyclists! Not you, I mean other cyclists"

Ask them how they would react if you were killed, while riding, by a fellow anti-cyclist bigot?

Point and laugh at their fat belly.

That's a good point! - made by the Captain, although the fat belly is apt too..

Put on my helmet, glasses and my most lurid lycra top and unexpectedly leap out of a bush in front of them , whilst screaming "GO! GO! POWER RANGERS!" in their face.

That'll learn 'em.

's not much admittedly but you need to work with what you have.

I always start by asking
'Do you know how much of a gap a motorist is meant to give a cyclist when overtaking?'

They never know......but it always starts the old cogs going for them.

Then, it's easy to explain riding in the primary and two or more abreast, as the Highway Code says you are allowed to do ' ...if you consider it unsafe not to'.

This normally confuses them enough to make them need a cake, or their head melts.

Then a swift kick in the whiskers, to use some positive reinforcement.

I just tell them how I ride and why and that it's great and keeps me from getting morbidly obese, or accuse them of being repressed homosexuals who can't resist men in lycra.

Of course all this would be a moot point if we had adequate cycling infrastructure (wide well surfaced well maintained segregated pedestrian free lanes). Maybe you could try that approach?

Of course it is difficult convincing someone that their prejudices are incorrect, as anything they perceive to be supporting it will have far more importance than actual facts. If it was a fr

I tend to make my excuses and leave. It's not even the issue of being bigoted about cycling, any bigot just demonstrates a total lack of depth of thought which is never good company and never makes for interesting conversation. Move on.

Friends who turn out to be insufferable bigots tend not to be friends for too long. It's the bigotry itself, not the target/s. If they are very close long-standing friends like family, then it's all part of the we all have 'foibles' that we tolerate in each other for greater good?

I join in. Bloody sweaty hippies...

At work years ago someone was anti-cyclist (always going on about them jumping red-lights and riding on pavements); so I just asked them how many cyclists had killed anyone this year, while pointing out how many pedestrians/cyclists had died in RTA's.

Not sure if they became pro-cycling, but they stopped saying it to me.

I join in. Bloody sweaty hippies...

Best response! Along with 'can't stand 'em meself!' (Dons helmet rides off to fetch the haterzzzz some beer and pizza)

My soon to be brother in law has slowly been getting worse. Especially posting rubbish on facebook. I've tried challenging him but have given up, life's to short to waste time with idiots !!
https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154465558154486&id=602994485&set=a.75625679485.72309.602994485&source=57&refid=52&__tn__=E

I usually go with the 'you know, cyclists aren't all one group. I'm just a bloke out for a bike ride/trying to get to work just like you'.

If that doens't work, then they're arseholes and I'd rather have no friends than arseholes for frieds.

Or what Jef said.

my friends tend to know better.

@taxi25, your bil, I assume, is the owner of the motorbike, no? EDIT: this might not be correct as it is dangerously parked (rule 239) and he hates that sort of thing.
He posted this in reply to a comment:

I am against events like Velothon Wales where we are confined to our street for up to 12 hours without any consideration to the residents. Our rights are infringed by a minority.

My soon to be brother in law has slowly been getting worse.

"I'm aware that some of my friends are cyclists, my comments aren't aimed at them." Sums the mentality up right there. I hate cyclists, but you're all right, you're like a person what I know and everything, it's that other lot, you know, [i]cyclists.[/i]

None of my friends are anti cycling or anti cyclist. Kind of a self selecting Venn diagram between bigots and friends.

where we are confined to our street for up to 12 hours

Bloody Velo organisers, coming up our street and breaking everyone's legs.

I hate cyclists! Not you, I mean other cyclists

Can you use this to challenge (if you can be bothered)? We get something similar on immigration from the "I'm not racist but.." types who will happily rant about immigration on facebook, forgetting that my partner, included in the conversations, is an immigrant herself. It can be fun challenging the "oh no, we don't mean you" brigade when they try and wriggle out of admitting the reality, which is generally that they mean darker skinned immigrants..

In a cycling context, a resonse that they don't mean all cyclists, just the red-light-jumping pavement-riding ones, gives the opportunity to respond with "me too, they give the majority of law-abiding cyclists a bad name" which might plant a seed in their thick skulls that cyclists are individuals?

If you don't let some "friends" out of your life, you may not have enough room for new friends.

I'd tell them that a real friend wouldn't go on like that, and see what happens.

"I hate cyclists"
"What, even me?"
"No not you, you're ok"
"There are other decent cyclists who obey the rules"
"Well clearly not them either.."
"So you hate cyclists who behave like dicks and flout the rules?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah me too. Arseholes."

@ captain. Yup thats his bike, loves going on mass rides T/T and all that. Thing is I think it's great he's out enjoying the roads in his way and it's a real shame he doesn't feel the same about a different group 🙁

@ captain. Yup thats his bike, loves going on mass rides T/T and all that. Thing is I think it's great he's out enjoying the roads in his way and it's a real shame he doesn't feel the same about a different group

Yup thats his bike, loves going on mass rides T/T and all that.

That's your answer then, isn't it.

"Bloody motorcyclists, dressed up like power rangers and riding around at a million RPM on one wheel!" - *gets defensive, not all bikers etc* - "there you go, then."

The Velothon came past my kid's school, so a lot of the parents had to deal with the organisers. Much as I am in favour of closed road cycling events, the Velothon organiesrs were apparently a right bunch of arseholes even amongst those who are reasonable people and would generally be in favour of such sporting events.

Biggest anti cycling bigot i know had an epiphany about 3 years ago, now rides a 10 thousand euro super record equipped bianchi everywhere. Has lost about 4 stone and posts endless inane cycling shit all over his facebook page.

So i've stopped following him and rarely speak to him anymore.

"I hate cyclists"
"What, even me?"
"No not you, you're ok"
"There are other decent cyclists who obey the rules"
"Well clearly not them either.."
"So you hate cyclists who behave like dicks and flout the rules?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah me too. Arseholes."

exactly this ^^^^ some cyclists drive cars too and when your driving your car you see some cyclists just being complete tossers, it is literally amazing the way some of them don't have an accident without the involvement of others.

Just ask them what we should do about motorists killing 5 people every day and causing 98% of pedestrian death and injury in the UK. You can also throw in the fact that motorists are responsible for the overwhelming majority of red light jumping.

Then ask why they are choosing to complain about cyclists instead of dangerous motorists. Only the genuinely prejudiced and unthinking can get past that question, and unfortunately there's nothing you can do with them

I think I drunkenly squared up to a large fireman who was spouting off around a lot of cyclists at a party and asked how late he would have to be for it to be worth murdering me with his car... His missus told him he was a knob

Get a grip man!

Just because you're friends they don't have to like everything you do and vice versa!

Relax.

Very true, but I'd refrain from saying surfers shouldn't be allowed on public beaches, or motorcyclists banned from public roads for example yet those are the comments I'm expected to roll with .

There was a bloke I used to chat to at the gym. Once he saw me arriving on my bike.

Him: I hate cyclists.
Me: Right. Well **** off then.

And that was the end of that.

OP...

Just tell them to Chuff Off.

Then don't get in contact ever again.

Life, life is too short to be surrounded by narrow minded morons.

Take control.

My soon to be brother in law

Seems to be a racist according to his comment regarding his drive home last Sunday as well!! Nice bloke......

As for how to deal with cycling bigot mates, get them really worked up and just as they start a rant, just get up and walk away leaving them to seethe on their own.

Or just constantly refer to him as motorist ****er.

I was in the back of a car driven by my girlfriends friends when they overtook a cyclist at roughly 50mph into a blind bend. Another car came around the corner, and they slammed the brakes on but still had to drive between cyclist and oncoming car, missing him by inches. They both swore at the cyclist as if it's somehow his fault.... "what a stupid place to cycle!!" "yeah, road is far too dangerous" etc..

Neither of them could drive properly. The entire journey was a pretty stressful experience.

I'm slightly ashamed to say i said nothing for fear of losing my temper at these idiots and ruining our weekend away with her friends.

How do you all deal with it?

Sometimes have to explain why two abreast and the like and most folk go ah as they understand why it is done- unlike STW 😉

Some folk just dont care - like overtaking on a blind bend as if anyone made you do it

cycle past and punch off their wing mirror.

Sometimes have to explain why two abreast

I cannot think of a single reason why 2 abreast is acceptable, unless its in a cycle lane.

see i told you my friends were not as intransigent or dumb as the folk on here who are of course experienced cyclists with years of roadcraft to draw on

I cannot think of a single reason why 2 abreast is acceptable, unless its in a cycle lane.

steady on teach, let him answer why he thinks that before you insult him!

steady on teach, let him answer why he thinks that before you insult him!

Why?
I was demonstrating to the op how to deal with the idiots in his life.

You wouldn't have to deal with anyone if you treated all road users with common courtesy. Not riding two abreast like a cock for instance. 🙂

Evidence suggest I get drunk at their parties and punch out the bigots.

I think there might still be bigots and idiots in the world even if I didnt ride two abreast. I doubt you would dissappear in a puff of smoke if I didnt.

It's often easier to overtake two-abreast cyclists than if they're strung out in front of each other. Takes less time to pass.

Challenge and inform.
Don't be a dick about it.
If that doesn't work, move on.
There's a lot of decent people out there.

Most in our mountaineering/outdoor club ride some sort of bike offroad.
I work with loads of people who bike to work because of transport costs and lack of early/late buses.

Family is different.
😐
My cousin and her husband are terrified by the idea of road cycling.
Because of this overprotective attitude, her eldest daughter is now a fanatical cyclist.
🙂

In laws are hardcore fell runners and climbers with 'that' old school attitude toward MTB'ers.

We've given up, tbh.

Just back from a week in Brittany.
Everyone rides a bike, it's the accepted way to travel.
Speed limits and local driving are geared to everyone's safety.
Remarkable.

On local social media a town councillor was recently telling all how she had her husband pull up especially close to some cyclist riding two abreast and shouted at them to get over.

The same councillor and her husband overtook me ( across solid lines and then chevrons) as I pulled to the middle on an actual filter to turn right and gestured at me.

In the face of that kind of embeded ignorance writing words on the internet is never going to achieve much, worth doing still but it'll be a slow process without public information films targeting the stupid.

As I get older I sometimes think humanities biggist problem will be it can only move at the speed of its slowest ships.

I cannot think of a single reason why 2 abreast is acceptable, unless its in a cycle lane.

Me neither TBH I never get any aggro when two abreast on the old MTB , roadies on the other hand just seem to be trouble magnets.

It's because we like to have a chat and one or two abreast doesnt make any difference to good drivers.

I can only think that two abreast on a cycles path is the choice of muppets, especially when passing oncoming traffic by mere centimetres. 🙄

oldtalent - Member
I cannot think of a single reason why 2 abreast is acceptable, unless its in a cycle lane.

Should there have been a smilie with that? Is it trolling?

I cannot think of a single reason why 2 abreast is acceptable

Umm, when there are no cars coming?

I ride two abreast when I ride with a friend, for the social. We will always go single file when a car comes past though (unless there's loads of room and no other cars) even though legally we don't have to. Cos we are nice like that.

I dont suppose this is one your "ex friends"
[img] [/img]

Lovely lady that blames you for her running you over and killing you and making her a murderer!

Doesn't like people taking pictures of her personal belongings and has a slight tendency for aggravated harassment.

[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-37223235 ]Likes to annoy people with cameras[/url]

I wear this t-shirt when I know a certain "friend" will be out with the "mates in the pub" group.

[IMG] [/IMG]

I generally let him build himself up into good froth, then let him spoil his own evening. Because I listened to some sound advice from my Grandad. "Don't argue with idiots, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience"

I cannot think of a single reason why 2 abreast is acceptable

You must be very very hard of thinking.

Already have that t-shirt 😀

I have an Uncle who likes to bait me on "idiot"cyclists. It used to wind me up.
Now I just ignore it. If it was a friend - they wouldn't be a friend very long.
Same as if they spouted some kind of racist/homophobic/sexist claptrap....

[i]I cannot think of a single reason why 2 abreast is acceptable, unless its in a cycle lane. [/i]

Do you also think it's unacceptable for any vehicle on the road to go slower than you?

Two abreast in a cycle lane? Is that a new style game of 'chicken'?

Back to the OP - tbh bigots usually lack certain empathic skills yet somehow specialise in both ignorance and projection bias. It's an often lethal cocktail of entitlement/wilful ignorance/intransigence/ anger issues. They assume everyone thinks like them (ie 'cyclists' are 'selfish, aggressive and entitled') - hence such a person feels quite legitimately entitled even to the extent where they directly imperil/threaten someone's life (ie 'punishment pass') and even encourage others to do likewise via social media ('nudge them into the ditch LMAO!!')

"causing 98% of pedestrian death and injury in the UK"
Really?
Serious question and most definitely not getting at you. I am with you. Where is this figure from?
Was discussing the car/ped kill rate recently and I came to the conclusion that most pedestrians killed by cars must have been as a result of their actions ie stepping out or crossing incorrectly rather than the vehicles driving onto pavements etc. I had no figures to back myself up and I genuinely wonder if this aspect has been proven one way or the other.
Nowt to do with cyclists and stupid drivers of course.

The other good one, is if they have a dog, blame them personally for all the dog eggs left on the floor, or hanging in little bags from the trees......

Hardly bigotry - maybe some people are just easier to wind up than others ...

Amazed at the number on here who don't understand why it's sometimes safer to cycle 2 abreast.

I can only hope they are being very deliberately ducking stupid & are trolling....

Amazed at the number on here who don't understand

Not here long have you been. Much to learn have you.

Since I've started dropping friends who read the reactionary right wing and/or intellectually bereft newspapers, I've found that I don't enter into these discussions very often anymore.

Case in point. Banging my head against the brick wall of a Facebook friend just this morning.

Don't argue with idiots, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience"

Very wise words

To paraphrase one of those monumentally ignorant FB comments: '6 abreast won't save them being skitlted by an articulated lorry...'

Holy crap! Having once been 'skittled' (dragged) in the gutter by a flat bed on a roundabout I do actually think my chances would have been improved by even one fellow cyclist 'abreast'

This attitude that cyclists are 'in the way' is surely peaking now?

With the OP here - my mother and father in law hate cyclists, have the 'they hold us up' mentality and will not listen to my arguments about sharing roads with all users nor understand how vulnerable a cyclist is on a road when being subjected to inconsiderate their driving.

And a friend is a business owner (of a bus company) and often posts on Facebook about his hate of cyclists and reposts some pretty nasty stuff about it. Not surprisingly, around our way it is his company's buses that show no respect for cyclists whereas others generally do.

colournoise - Member

Case in point. Banging my head against the brick wall of a Facebook friend just this morning.

Small world - I'm 95% sure that Tony Elton bloke has popped up on other Facebook groups in the area (I think I recognise him from a Deepings Free Discussion page on Facebook) ranting about cyclists I the past....

I like the ironic mention of having done an advanced driver course a if this in some way makes him more qualified to moan about cyclists.

stumpy01 - Member
Small world - I'm 95% sure that Tony Elton bloke has popped up on other Facebook groups in the area (I think I recognise him from a Deepings Free Discussion page on Facebook) ranting about cyclists I the past....

The benefits of more people using bikes and understanding their needs is confined to the cycling fraternity bubble. We neen to reach into average Jo and Joanna's media bubble.
Public information films in the coronation street ad break would improve knowledge immediately.

I'm pretty certain it doesnt happen because the transport industry and car manufacturers, financiers and insurers etc all pay our politicians to keep the status quo.

Pic an arbatory characteristic or pastime of theirs. Reciprocate.

"You know who I hate, ****ing hate? Anglers, bastards, they don't pay road tax, jump red light you know, I've seen them"

Is it even possible to fit bikes 4 abreast on the vaaaast majority of roads?

The majority of sportivistas ride so far apart there's probably enough space to get 4 abreast in the gap between what they consider 2 abreast.......

Until they randomly swerve across the road of course.

ghostlymachine - Member
Biggest anti cycling bigot i know had an epiphany about 3 years ago, now rides a 10 thousand euro super record equipped bianchi everywhere. Has lost about 4 stone and posts endless inane cycling shit all over his facebook page.

So i've stopped following him and rarely speak to him anymore.

This made me LOL