A bit of a rant

[Crankin]

OK, I am in the unusual position of being annoyed at some fellow cyclists. It makes me feel guilty, but I have to vent. I went to return some books at the library in the next town, in my car. This involves going up Strawberry Hill Rd., a curvy hill that is a very popular route for riders. Early Sunday morning, i expect to be on the outlook for riders and I was. Passed one respectful gentleman who sprinted up the steepest part of the hill, to let me pass. As I was over the top, slowing to a stop at the next cross street, there was a group (15 or so) riders ahead. They were spread out across the road. Since we all had to stop, this didn't bother me, since the road is also beat up here and pot holed, from recent rains. But, as I was stopping, they sort of spread out through and across the intersection. I was going straight and had to pull up, to check for cars on the cross street. The leader was riding around in circles, talking and they all looked clueless, many of them refusing to put a foot down. A couple went right, the majority went left. There were a few cars behind me. I didn't say anything, but what started out as a situation where I was ready to wait, give them time to cross the intersection or turn, turned into a situation where I really didn't know what they were doing. No one signaled or even looked back at me to say, "thanks for waiting, hold on a sec."
I returned my books and was headed to a different shopping area, when I saw the same group, going up the street I was on in the other direction. They were still riding 3-4 abreast on this road. There weren't any cars right behind, but they were approaching quickly.
This really annoys me. The new law here says you can ride 2 abreast if you are not impeding traffic. When I lead rides, I still keep everyone single file, except on the most rural of roads. These are busy suburban roads. Am I an antiquated old person?

[OakLeaf]

Am I an antiquated old person?

Not in my book, but you're not much older than I am. Rant away.

On the rare occasion when I find myself part of a group like that, I do my best to ask them to be considerate of the traffic behind us, not that it ever does any good.

[KnottedYet]

No, you're not an antiquated old person.

I get grumpy, too. There are several very popular bike routes near me. I always watch for bikes when driving. I watch them blow through 4-way stops, forcing cars to slam on their brakes, flipping off drivers who honk; and I think "Thanks, a**holes, for making the rest of us look bad."

These (rightfully) p.o.'ed drivers are the ones I will have to cope with when I ride my commute.

I do my best to be a Good Will Ambassador when I ride, because weekend-warrior BS like what you saw leaves the rest of us with a real uphill battle for recognition.

[Mr. Bloom]

Crankin, there's a strange dynamic that occurs the bigger the group gets. While individually polite, the 'herd' becomes internally focused and outside influences become less important.

I'm frustrated by the same thing and tend to be the one calling to the group to stop being so rude...

[Jolt]

Crankin, there's a strange dynamic that occurs the bigger the group gets. While individually polite, the 'herd' becomes internally focused and outside influences become less important.

I think it depends on where you are too. Around here, the biggest problem I see is individual cyclists who don't follow the rules of the road and are therefore completely unpredictable. They make me nervous whether I am in my car or on my bike. Usually these are "utility" cyclists (I am one as well, so I am by no means bashing this category of cyclists) riding around downtown. Some of the shenanigans I regularly see people pull: riding on the sidewalk, riding on the wrong side of the road, randomly getting on and off the sidewalk, running red lights, and weaving in and out of traffic on both sides of the road. Not only do they make me uncomfortable sharing the road with them, they also make us all look bad! I can't say I have ever encountered a rude group, but maybe that's because there aren't as many groups riding in places I usually go.

[Mr. Bloom]

True Jolt:

In LCI training, they teach us to be:

Courteous
Assertive
Visible
Predictable

The BikeLeague also suggests that group riders spread out in curvy, low visibility areas so motorists can pass one or two at a time without getting frustrated to a point of doing stupid stuff...

[Crankin]

Jolt, that is exactly what I experience when driving in Lowell for my internship. Very scary. I know these people are riding because they have no other form of transportation, but when people are coming into the city for work, they look at the "utility" cyclists and lump us all together.

[PamNY]

The BikeLeague also suggests that group riders spread out in curvy, low visibility areas so motorists can pass one or two at a time without getting frustrated to a point of doing stupid stuff...

Spreading out is a good idea on the bike path, too. I often deal with family groups or groups of tourists who are in a slow-moving clump.

I am sympathetic to and very considerate of families, because kids in NYC don't have many safe places to bike. But most if the time it simply isn't necessary for a family to take up such a huge chunk of real estate.

[Eden]

The BikeLeague also suggests that group riders spread out in curvy, low visibility areas so motorists can pass one or two at a time without getting frustrated to a point of doing stupid stuff...

I question the wisdom of this.... when I was a young teenager I was nearly run over by an 18 wheeler. I was riding with my parents. We were on a country road with a small shoulder. I was somewhat ahead of my parents. Said 18 wheeler pulls out and goes around my parents - does not look ahead to see me, pulls back in, also overcorrecting some to the right, putting him on a course to cream me. Something - don't know what, intuition? eyes in the back of my head? the sound of an 18 wheeler coming to destroy me? made me go off the road and into the grass. Saved my life.

I've noticed too many times where a driver does this - pulls around one cyclist, but then isn't looking for the one up the road a little. Unless you are very spread out - so there is a lot of room for the driver to pull in and drive some distance before he/she needs to pass again I think it may be better to stay together. Then at least the motorist has fewer choices about passing, even if it may be a little frustrating for him/her.

[PamNY]

Age has nothing to do with it. Think of how judgmental young people can be -- at least I was more judgmental when I was younger.

Quite a few cyclists are completely oblivious. The most striking thing about your post is that you find it unusual to be annoyed at fellow cyclists. If that's the case then you should count your blessings.

[ny biker]

Quite a few cyclists are completely oblivious. The most striking thing about your post is that you find it unusual to be annoyed at fellow cyclists. If that's the case then you should count your blessings.

Seriously. I have gotten into the habit of avoiding the most popular trails around here because I'm tired of being mad at the idiots around me.

[Skierchickie]

You are perfectly right. Those are the people that make motorists hate us all, and not want to share the road. Anyone who is so self-absorbed that they can't be bothered to try not to inconvenience others (on a bike, in the grocery store, .....) should try to put themselves in the other person's position.

That is an ideal way to promote a little road rage. No motorist is going to feel more kindly toward cyclists in general after an encounter like that. They make us all look bad.

[Crankin]

Thanks for letting me vent. Yes, all I could think of was "these people are making me look bad for future situations." And Mr. S., you are correct about the group mentality. Even the group I ride with, which is a bunch of mostly 40+ year old riders who are very upstanding people have horrible habits when the group gets big. I have been known to yell, "Get in line," which I am sure makes me sound like the former teacher that I am.
Cycling is hugely popular here and has been for quite awhile. But, as the years go on, the groups get larger (although this one was not) and we get more groups coming out from the city, who are not as familiar with the roads. We are way past the time when my DH started riding, maybe 12 years ago, when he got bottles thrown at him and my 14 year old son was called a "fag" when he was out training. But, still. OK, my rant is over. I went on a challenging 28 mile ride, with about 2,000 feet of climbing, further to the west, with less cars. Saw plenty of cyclists, but they were mostly solo or in pairs. Nobody behaved badly.