Cyclists enjoy fresh air and drive-by abuse

Alot of people really don’t like cyclists. I know this because they tell me to my face, without formally introducing themselves. Sometimes it’s random verbal abuse aimed at me and my friends from the irate occupants of a passing car; other times it’s random verbal abuse delivered from a stationary car. The variety is endless. Occasionally the abuse is delivered by a passenger, someone more able to concentrate on screaming and gesturing without the unwanted distraction of driving. But more often than not, the needless theatrics come from a driver with impressive multi-tasking skills and slightly less impressive anger management skills. It’s truly humbling to be lectured on the etiquette of road use by a man with one hand off the steering wheel and a complete disregard for the road. Like most cyclists, I’m also a motorist and see some idiotic stuff from both cyclists and drivers. Being stupid on the road is not the sole preserve of either. If I wished to collar someone for poor driving, I’d be unlikely to call them a ‘bloody motorist’. Cyclists are often characterised as smug types who make a virtue of rejecting nasty, polluting motor vehicles. A handful of sanctimonious riders can certainly add to this impression and these people are just as unhelpful to our public image as cyclists who jump traffic lights, wear headphones or perform wheelies on dual carriageways. The fact is most of us go cycling for fitness and enjoyment, not instead of driving a car. It’s not like we’re making a choice between going out for a ride and doing a 50-mile loop in our cars through country lanes at speeds irritating to other motorists.

Few of us are feeling self-satisfied and superior. Plus, nothing brings you down to earth like a drive-by insult from a bloke who’s late for his lunch. And yes, we’re fully aware that we’re wearing Lycra.

‘It’s humbling to be lectured on the etiquette of road use by a man with one hand off the steering wheel and a complete disregard for the road...’