The_DK

There's a couple guys I see on a near daily basis. they have little regard for their own safety, or for traffic.
A good example - is they will (on the rightmost part of the right turn lane) just go straight through the intersection, right in front of a car turning right.

The last time they did it, one of them nearly killed himself on a truck. But they haven't learned.
they never signal they are going straight, they don't even pretend to use the crosswalk (Some cyclists will stop at this intersection, hit the button and hike it.) And they don't do the smart thing - which is to move to the left of the right turn lane.

Would you stop them and say something to them?

JohnDThompson 

Yes. Their behavior makes all cyclists look bad.

StephenH

I find first off, that people's ideas of what constitutes "safe" bicycling varies considerably.
I find secondly, that talking to your own friends about this doesn't change how they ride, so the hopes of changing some strangers' ideas are even more hopeless.
Why not talk to bad drivers and clue them in how to drive better? And ditto for pedestrians.

knobster

I think Karma is going to take care of that little problem. I wouldn't say anything to them myself unless they put me in danger.

howeeee

a person on a bike is never wrong in my book.

Rowan

Speaking to people like that usually results in a return volley of abusive comment. It's not worth the aggravation for you, unless they directly impact your safety.

So long as you behave appropriately, other road users will see that and know not all cyclists are candidates for Darwin's theory of evolution.

intransit1217

I feel the same frustration. But these people have a mental block to constructive criticism. I tried it with my group once when something blatantly dangerous happened. "We can't control what others do." Was the reply. Unfortunately, if they do it again and someone gets hurt or there's property damage, it could be the end of the group. I dunno.

Gerryattrick

Only when what they do directly affects me or my safety.

I'm not perfect and don't like setting myself up as the arbiter of good behaviour, whether in cycling or any other activity.

WarrenR

If you run into them on a regular basis and you're in front you could show how it's done and they could clue in on their own or maybe they will have to learn the hard way. Better to teach by example.

BlazingPedals

They're unlikely to take advice from a stranger, who, after all, may know less than they do about proper lane positioning. Assuming they care at all.

wphamilton

If they almost run into me - I mean I have to make some emergency maneuver or yell to get their attention - I will object, sometimes vociferously. Otherwise no. I don't see much point in dressing someone down for what I see as misbehavior in traffic, cycling or driving in general.

snow_echo_NY

you can try but your end goal is to get them to stop and it seems they're unlikely to do so. they may take offense to it and you.

i would visit the local police by the intersection and explain what's happening. they might agree to come out to ticket them. if it's a predictable time of day that would work.

SouthFLpix

No.

gecho

Unless you can try to correct them in a friendly manner your actions will almost certainly not be well received. Most people immediately become defensive if they feel they are in a confrontational situation. Once in that state of mind, at best nothing you say will sink in. There is also a good chance they will be belligerent.

I'm also not comfortable with the notion of "stopping" cyclists to lecture them. If one motorist sped up to another, started waving at them to stop or forced them to stop by blocking their path, there is a good chance that person would be hauled away in handcuffs. That people feel entitled to confront cyclist seems to be an abuse of the fact that they are vulnerable road users.

Dave Cutter

If I am wearing a police uniform and badge.... and have a sworn duty to do so.... of course I would do my duty. However.... NOT being a policeman... I would resist any urge to pretend to be one or to "play policeman".

If the urge didn't pass.... I would share the feeling with friends, spouse, and/or spiritual leader.

Cyclosaurus

No, their behavior makes them look bad. Any reflection upon cyclists in general is the work of prejudice and distorted perception.

plumberroy

Yes it does reflect bad on all cyclist right or wrong people see more than one person do something wrong they assume most are doing it
So you are fine with people knocking over kids or elderly as long as they are on a bike**********
My size and appearance usually detours people from getting to abusive in return
With a car you can get a license number to pursue problem people. I had a guy in a car with state tags push my wife's car door close. then he hauled ass out of the lot. I followed just close enough to get his tag number. This was in a Lowe's at 8:00 p.m. 4:30 the next afternoon I walked into his office and called him on it.

delcrossv

I don't have a problem pointing out things that are dangerous/dumb etc. I do it nicely though. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they don't. Saved a couple of salmoning kids last year- did my good deed for the day.

FBinNY 

When I ride, I like to be left alone and spared from unsolicited advice. I pay it forward, by not offering any. If someone asks for or obviously needs help, I offer it, but otherwise respect the rights of others to be captains of their own ship --- even if that ship is very poorly run.

Stucky

Yes! If they're doing something that affects the safety of others and/or interferes with or endangers traffic or pedestrians. Stupid, foolish, unsafe behavior is why so many motorists hate cyclists. I get a lot of respect on the road, because I am very considerate of traffic (Both out of courtesy, and for own self-preservation!)- but I see why so many drivers have little patience with cyclists.

In my nearly four years of riding thus far, I did one stupid thing, and I felt so stupid, and regret it so much, that I don't know how some cyclists constantly do such things! [I was approaching an all-way stop out in the country, -an intersection where there's rarely ever a car. I'm used to just riding right through the intersection, as long as no one's there. This one day, as I approach the intersection, there's a truck stopped at the stop sign on the cross street. For some reason, it didn't "register" on me....I come up to my stop sign...look right at the truck, and I just kept going! It was like an unconscious thing. I immediately felt so stupid... To make matters worse, the truck turned, and ended going the same way I was going. He was behind me now- and just as we entered an area where they were doing some road work, and he wasn't able to pass me on the narrow road. So first, I had essentially cut him off at the stop...and now I'm holding him up... So as soon as we got to a spot that was appropriate, I pulled over into a nook and let him pass, and waved. But man, I still feel stupid about blowing that stop right in front of him...and that was last summer!)

Other than that...it's always safety and courtesy. "Share the road" applies to EVERYONE- even cyclists!

GP

No. I don't say anything to car drivers when I'm in my car either.

Cyclosaurus

Fixed it for you

LGHT

Like gramps always told me you can't fix stupid.

Daniel4

Your problem is just like this one:

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...ed-lights.html

bmthom.gis

Nope. As @FBinNY said, I don't go lookign for unsolicited advice and I sure am not going to waste my breathe giving it.