1d ago

Rude cyclist?

Just happened hours ago

I was with my girlfriend walking back from the beach and when we crossed the cycle pathway the cyclist riding a fast sports bike cursed at my girlfriend and then stopped to get off and park the bike IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BIKEPATH and then started shouting at us saying “look where you’re going!” and kept swearing. I told the man “don’t be so silly and rude you’re making a big deal out of nothing bro..” but he got mad and then called my girlfriend bad names. I’m a very calm person so I don’t want to hit people but I was getting angry. He ride the bike away after cursing and my girlfriend was sad. We ended up having a nice dinner though so the evening wasn’t ruined and she has forgotten already I hope so…

Why are bikers so rude!

31 comments

To be honest it sounds like you crossed in front of him and he could have hit you. Not how I’d have reacted if I’d been on the bike like.
- He should look both ways and pedestrian always has right of way..
  
  If you’re crossing a cycle path at some random point then you have a duty of care to yourself to not cross someone else’s path. It’s common sense.
  
  Pedestrian has right of way… cyclist shouldn’t be going so fast because they have the chance to hit someone… we could be injured right now and it would still be cyclist fault
  
  Pedestrians don't always have the right of way. A cycle path is like a road for cyclists. No matter what speed a vehicle or bike is traveling at, there will be a minimum stopping distance. If you as a pedestrian just throw yourself in front of a bike or vehicle without thinking, then you are responsible. There is no speed they can travel at that someone couldn't get hit if they just walk out directly in front of them. Hell, you as a pedestrian have a stopping distance. If you're walking at normal speed and someone just jumps right out in front of you, you're going to run into them.
  Was the cyclist traveling at a legal speed for that path? If so, then the liability is likely on the pedestrian. The cyclist needs to not be going so fast that they won't hit someone up ahead of them using the path, whether walking or biking. That is something they can and should be reasonably prepared for. If there is a blind turn, they need to not be going so fast that they can hit someone around the bend. But that is a reasonable hazard that can be prepared for. Or if there is a marked crossing, cyclists also need to not be going so fast that they can't stop in time for people crossing there. But on a straightaway, and someone just comes out of the brush at a random location, not looking, and throws themselves into your path? No, you have no liability there as a cyclist. That isn't a hazard you can reasonably prepare for.
  You are basically arguing that it should be illegal for people to ride bike at all, as there is no minimum speed that you can avoid a collision if someone is just going to throw themselves out in front of you.
  
  Perfectly put.
  
  You weren’t there. No investigation no right to speak
  
  What a reductive and thought-terminating argument that also simultaneously devalues the very phrase and idea you are invoking.
  I think some self-crit could come in handy here. People, comrades, are engaging with you in good faith and you are sending poop and middle finger emojis, and making ad hominem attacks because surely you must be right on everything all the time and we are all just jealous you have a girlfriend.
  Nobody is saying the cyclist wasn’t an asshole to escalate like that. However, you still haven’t stated if you crossed at a designated crossing. By your own admission it sounds like you didn’t look before crossing and forced the cyclist to make an emergency stop. Cycle paths are designed for cyclists to cycle fast. Courtesy goes both ways.
  I don’t want this to come off as harassment and therefore will disengage. I just hope this can be an opportunity for reflection rather than conflict.
  
  🖕💩🖕
  
  No, that’s why I have been so careful in my answers. Based on what you’ve commented, you were in the wrong.
  
  They were going very fast because when they stopped they were far away and then had to run over to us to scream
  
  They're allowed to go fast on a cycleway. It's a road for cycling. The entire point of the path is to have a place where they can ride at speed. It's a separated path for people to bike fast on. When you cross a cycleway, you as a pedestrian have the responsibility to check for cyclists.
  
  They were going fast and you weren’t there
  
  It doesn't matter how fast they were going, look both ways before you cross the road.
  
  You weren’t there
  
  Do you want other's opinions or not? You publically posted a story that paints you as rude and self absorbed asking what people think, and when they asked a simple question about your behaviour you started deflecting. Doesn't take a genius to work out what happened.
  Look both ways before crossing the road.
  
  I recommend not visiting Amsterdam.
  Not sure about other places, but a bike lane is for bikes. If you cross it, its your responsibility to check if you can cross, just like when crossing a road for cars outside of an official crossing (and I recommend being careful then as well).
  You were wrong, but the cyclist sounds like an asshole.
  Here's a guide on being a pedestrian in the Netherlands: #6 - How to survive Dutch people on bikes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLurEnjOeMo
  
  I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
  yewtu.be
  inv.nadeko.net
  yt.artemislena.eu
  piped.video
  
  The only sort of pedestrians I dislike are drivers, since they seem to imagine a forcefield around them when they just walk out of blindspots and the like.
  You're sounding like one of those types, tbh.
  
  You probably drive a car
  
  I mix it up, really. I bike and walk places whenever I can. Even bus.
  Just have some awareness of your surroundings. Like maybe don't walk directly into a bicyclist next time?

31 comments