Most of you know I am slightly passionate about riding bikes. Gravel, road, trail, I ride almost all forms. Racing, commuting, chill strolls with the family around the hood. I love it. Riding a bike has made me a better person for so many reasons. On the flip-side, I am also a motorist and have noticed a few annoyances over the years. But not from cars while riding my bike. I’m talking about from cyclists while driving my car. I thought this might be a good place to air some grievances! Check out our 5 pet peeves. Don’t take this seriously. But do take this seriously.
#1 Cyclists cutting in line at the red light. I pass a cyclist and the stoplight turns red and the cyclist I just passed moves up all the way to the front of the line on the right side. I know you didn’t! This means I (and everyone else) am going to have to re-pass the cyclist. If there’s not a dedicated bike lane then get in line cyclists!
#2 Cyclists riding 2 or 3 abreast on a busy two lane road. Well now, I am a firm believer and thankful that we cyclists are protected by the laws of our cities and states and that we deserve our slice of pavement. But share the road works both ways! If you are going to ride busy roads at least keep your group tight and work with motorists. It never hurts to go single file to allow a car to safely pass. It is also a nice gesture.
#3 Cyclists running lights and stop signs. I admit I don’t stop (completely) at every stop sign in particular situations. You know what I am talking about. But good gracious. It just looks bad for all cyclists when you burn a light or stop sign in front of motorists.
#4 Riding down super busy roads like 71B. Riding down super busy roads like 71B at rush hour. Riding down super busy roads like 71B at rush hour on your crazy slow commuter bike. Arrrrgh! Come on folks. Not cool. I get it, the law says you may have a slice of the road. But dang, use common sense. The 45 cars behind you now have a bad taste in their mouths for all cyclists. Plus it can’t be pleasant riding down a super busy road among-st all those cars.
#5 When regrouping at an intersection or stop sign your cycling group spreads out all over the road. Have you ever seen the expression of the motorists face coming up behind. The one that is saying “What am I supposed to do here?” “Are these crazy people riding bikes in colorful stretchy pants going to go or just stand around all over the road?” “Why is that guy hunched over with his hands on his…” Look fellow cyclists, when you regroup, juuuuuusssst move over to the side of the road. Wave motorists through.
So those are a couple of my pet peeves. Perhaps you have a couple. Please leave a comment below. Keep in mind this isn’t a dig at cyclists but I hope this can serve as a reminder to be mindful that you are not the only one on the road and share the road works both ways.
On point #4, there is some guy who I see outside my window that always does laps in the street around the Fayetteville Square. Horribly dangerous to him, pedestrians and motorists and I cant figure out why anybody would even want to be there.
Hot laps around the square LOL!
All I can say is “Amen!” and we all need reminders sometime!
Thanks! Yeah I’m preaching to myself as well!
#5 is a classic problem on the group rides I’m on. There will be cyclists out in the intersection and on both sides of the road! No idea what they are thinking.
It’s like herding cats!