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Today's rubbish being a human

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Started 4 years ago by bill
Latest reply from MediumDave

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angry driver road rage BMW Audi Merc

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bill
Member

I didn't put it in "Toady's rubbish driving" as I am not judging the driving skills and couldn't find an appropriate thread.

Took A71 (westbound) this morning in the fear of ice on my regular route.

A driver of a silver BMW rolled down the passenger window and shouted at me <rule 2> (sounded like 'fork off') as he was overtaking. I think it's the same driver that shouted 'cycle path' at me a couple of weeks on another icy morning (he was also in a silver BMW).

There is also a driver coming in the opposite (eastbound) direction that always gives me a long honk (which I assume is an angry one).

I know it's normal for a lot of you, but I am still getting used to it.

Posted 4 years ago #
neddie
Member

bill

This is not normal. And not acceptable.

Take their reg plates and report to the Police (even if they don't do anything, at least they become aware the problem exists).

Posted 4 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

@bill

This is not normal and, like @neddie, I think you should get the vehicle's registration and tell the police about this if you can summon the necessary life force.

Be well.

Posted 4 years ago #
CycleCommute.CC
Member

This is not normal
Depends what you mean by normal.

Normal behaviour for a decent human being - definitely not.

Normal behaviour on a commute - definitely so.

There is not a week that goes by without someone shouting out the window, or at least beeping at me, for daring to use the roads on my bike. Sometimes it's a daily occurrence and it's always worse through the winter time.

Posted 4 years ago #
CocoShepherd
Member

Normal - no.

Routine - yes.

Posted 4 years ago #
gembo
Member

Nasty. Also a pattern so I would report. Think was icy too.

Posted 4 years ago #
bill
Member

I will try to spot and remember the registration plates next time I go that way.

What would you say if you reported this? Such-and-such shouts at me when I cycle along?

Posted 4 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

Say that obscenities were used (quote the words) and that you felt distress, alarm and fear (if you did, I would have in your place).

Note any of the protected characteristics in the 2010 Equality Act that might make it a hate incident;

Age
Disability
Gender reassignment
Marriage and civil partnership
Pregnancy and maternity
Race
Religion or belief
Sex
Sexual orientation

I now get called a 'poof' by motorists instead of a c*** because my bike is pink and my hair's now a bit longer than fashion dictates. This is actually a hate crime.

Posted 4 years ago #
redmist
Member

A71 going west ? Is that Calder Rd ? How can someone get so angry about a cyclist on a nice wide road that isn't even usually all that busy (leaving town) - beggars belief. Hope you get his number next time - actually hope there isn't a next time.

Posted 4 years ago #
bill
Member

A71 going west ? Is that Calder Rd ?

@redmist That was on west of the bypass towards Dalmahoy and Wielkieston, where the road is not so nice and wide anymore, also knows as The Valley of Death. If the verges, bays are icy/frosty I tend to pull over in a couple of places to let the traffic pass.

Posted 4 years ago #
redmist
Member

Thanks for clarifying bill - it can't be pleasant cycling on that bit when its busy. As you say, narrow and not many people stick to the speed limit either.

Posted 4 years ago #
CycleCommute.CC
Member

Speed limits? Are they not just for drivers who aren't as skilled?

Posted 4 years ago #
bill
Member

Speed limits? Are they not just for drivers who aren't as skilled?

@CC.CC To quote one of my colleagues (who also hates cyclists): "Speed limits are just a suggestion"

Posted 4 years ago #
bill
Member

There is not a week that goes by without someone shouting out the window, or at least beeping at me

Sounds horrible @cc.cc. I imagine male cyclists might be getting more abuse from car drivers than female cyclists... sigh

Posted 4 years ago #
CycleCommute.CC
Member

@CC.CC To quote one of my colleagues (who also hates cyclists): "Speed limits are just a suggestion"
Scary thing is he probably believes it is true!

Sounds horrible @cc.cc. I imagine male cyclists might be getting more abuse from car drivers than female cyclists... sigh
It's par for the course sadly, but doesn't bother me now. I just give them a wave or blow a kiss. Only ones that do upset me are if they are dangerous.

Posted 4 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

I imagine male cyclists might be getting more abuse from car drivers than female cyclists... sigh

I have wondered about this.

Posted 4 years ago #
Morningsider
Member

IWRATS - I wouldn't spend too long wondering about it. The near miss project found that women experience about 50% more close passes than men. Mainly due to women, on average, cycling more slowly than men.

I am willing to stick my neck out, without any references, and say that women are more likely to be harassed or abused by drivers than male cyclists - because this appears to happen in pretty much every other situation you can imagine. I can't see how cycling would be different.

Posted 4 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

That would be my instinct too. Was just wondering how the Shouting At Cyclists Community's practices might be impacted by the tension between the remnants of chivalry and simple physical cowardice.

Not sure I've ever had a woman shout at or offer to fight me.

Posted 4 years ago #
Roibeard
Member

@IwratS Not sure I've ever had a woman shout at or offer to fight me.

Yep, I've been surprised by physical and verbal violence from drivers who were female. It may well be that such incidents are memorable because rarer, but whilst they've never left their vehicle, they have driven at me and shouted at me (and the family).

Robert

Posted 4 years ago #
Rosie
Member

I shout at bad drivers, regardless of sex. I note how quickly gendered language springs to my angry lips eg You stupid cow/You stupid p&&&k, depending on how I identify them.

I agree with Morningsider that the kind of garbage women have to put up with for being outside in public will extend to the cycling world. Have any of the blokes here been told to cheer up by some random stranger? (I'm sorry I never riposted with, "my mother just died").

Anyway I would guess that older women get far less grief than younger ones. And to be fair, I get a reasonable amount of consideration from drivers.

Posted 4 years ago #
fimm
Member

There is not a week that goes by without someone shouting out the window, or at least beeping at me, for daring to use the roads on my bike.
I'm trying to think when this last happened to me. I did get a driver making pushing "move over" signals at me the other day, but that wasn't threatening.

Is this something to do with where i'm cycling? Or am I just so used to stuff that I forget?

I'm also not sure if I get different treatment when I'm dressed in clothes that signal clearly that I'm female compared to if I'm not so obviously female (especially on the road bike in winter you're not going to spot that I'm a woman at first glance, I think. I've been called "young man" at least once and I didn't think that was unreasonable (before they heard my voice)).

Posted 4 years ago #
acsimpson
Member

@Rosie, yes I have. Without going into too much detail, I left work ill and was too sick to face getting a bus back out of town. The fresh air made me feel a little better so I set of walking. Heading along Ravelston Dykes a workie shouted at me to cheer up.

It's pretty memorable as the only occasion I can every think of it happening.

Posted 4 years ago #
Frenchy
Member

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/crime/edinburgh-doctors-have-poles-and-sticks-thrown-at-them-as-they-cycle-to-work-3154440

"The most recent incident was reported to the police on Wednesday evening after a junior doctor narrowly missed being hit with a tree branch while cycling to The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at 6pm.

Inspector Norman Towler said: "We were aware of a number of items thrown at passing vehicles and cyclists on Old Dalkeith Road in Edinburgh during the evening of Wednesday, March 3.""

Posted 3 years ago #
algo
Member

This makes me deeply upset. I understand and empathise with disaffection and can see why this time, in particular, leads to smashing up of the bike racks and physical objects... but this? Why? I don't understand - is this just the same as malicious activity on the NEPN or is there something more here about health workers in general and their roles in the pandemic?

Posted 3 years ago #
gembo
Member

@algo, is just Neds.

Posted 3 years ago #
ejstubbs
Member

Not on the same level of rubbishness as physical assaults, though very much rubbish-related: our state-sanctioned exercise yesterday revealed a serious litter problem at the South Queensferry end of the Dalmeny Estate. Plastic bags full of picnic detritus as well as beer cans and juice bottles chucked off the main track in to the trees or dumped at the top of the sea shore (along with all the flotsam). Not to mention the inevitable dog poo bags left hanging from trees*, and the intensely annoying face masks. There is only so much rubbish that you can (or indeed would want to, in the case of the latter two items) pick up in one visit.

"But there are no bins provided!" That's because it's a private estate, not a public park. The public have the right of responsible access, 'coz we're in Scotland innit, but far too many don't seem to know what "responsible" means.

It's not exactly surprising that the land owning lobby is agitating for parts of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 to be unpicked...

* They actually have signs up saying: "Take the bag for a walk as well as the dog." In contrast to the signs at Swanston Farm which say: "If you're not going to take it away with you, don't bag it."

Posted 3 years ago #
crowriver
Member

@gembo, Neds who are supposed to be doing "remote learning" perhaps. Calculating trajectory of a projectile probably counts towards N5 Maths, yeah?

Posted 3 years ago #
crowriver
Member

@fimm, Rosie, Morningsider et al, I haven't been to the barbers since before the first lockdown, so nearly a year. As a result I now have flowing locks that cover the collar, not quite shoulder length yet. I find that when cycling on the main road, motorists approaching from the rear overtake with a more generous allowance of space than they used to when my head was neatly clipped. Perhaps they stereotypically assume I am a (middle aged, greying) female? Haven't worn a plastic lid for some considerable time, so unable to use as a control in this ongoing social experiment.

P.S.:- I ride slowly, and not in the gutter, always at least a metre/yard from the kerb.

Posted 3 years ago #
gembo
Member

@crowriver, Ian Walker’s early research when he wore the long blonde wig backs up your Samson Story. But his later work suggests nothing works and separate infra is needed.

Posted 3 years ago #
crowriver
Member

"But his later work suggests nothing works and separate infra is needed."

Certainly. Being adorned with tousled locks doesn't prevent drivers of white Merc sports coupés from beeping at me (Perhaps encourages them? Ed.) neither does it discourage the pilots of tipper lorries, buses and Beamer "drivers"* from close passing, cutting up, aggressively pointless overtakes to join a queue, turn left or park up 50 yards ahead, etc. However I have noticed that many/most drivers seem to be giving me more space. I admit this could be confirmation bias on my part.

* - I put this in inverted commas because I have anecdotal evidence which suggests those behind the wheel of such German executive cars have in fact not sat a test. Ever.

Posted 3 years ago #

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