6 Common Misconceptions About Cyclists

1. All cyclists are non-petrolheads

A lot of people assume that cyclists hate cars, and that they turn their back on all things four-wheeled for the sake of the environment. So for those reasons, a cyclist can’t possibly be a petrolhead, right? Wrong. Cycling presents an easy and fun way to keep fit - particularly if you’re a mountain biker like me - and can often be far more convenient than taking a car. So of course there’s room for both in your life.

To get to my local train station in the morning en route to CT HQ, for instance, I cycle. Because I can take a short cut on a cycle path, it’s twice as fast. And it’s free. In fact, taking a bike saves hundreds of pounds a year on fuel and parking fees, money which I can instead use to burn petrol in a more satisfying setting, like a Sunday morning hoon.

Then you just have to look at all the petrolheads that are into bikes. The world of motoring journalism - a job in which you’re essentially a professional petrolhead - seems to be full of keen mountain bikers, including a certain Mr Harris. There are even big car communities out there that have separate sections for cycling.

2. All cyclists flout the law on a regular basis

In big cities it’s annoyingly common to see cyclists blasting through red lights, either because they believe it’s safer than hanging around for the moment when all the other traffic sets off at the green, or just to save time. Or maybe a bit of both. But, while it’s a common thing to see, that doesn’t suddenly mean that all cyclists deserve to be tarred with the same law-flouting brush. Plenty of people who ride bikes - me included - are quite happy to abide by the law.

Have a quick search on YouTube, and you’ll find all sorts of driver vs cyclist videos (and a few parodies, like the one above). And yes, you will find a fair few where you could argue the rider is being unreasonably angry. But that doesn’t mean we’re all a bunch of moody hot heads. And anyway, if you’ve ever been almost - or successfully - knocked off a bike, you’ll understand the anger.

If another driver has almost hit you when you’re in a car, chances are the only risk would have been damage to your bodywork, unless there’s high speed involved. Potentially heart breaking if it’s your pride and joy, but there’ll have been no danger to your well-being. On a bicycle (and on a motorbike) however, that person who pulled out of a side turning without looking or the guy that almost knocked you off when overtaking may well have come close to seriously injuring or even killing you. And that tends to make you a little madder than you might have been if you were protected in a comfy metal box.

4. All cyclists love lycra

Props to this guy, but I never wear lycra. I just couldn’t pull that look off.

5. Cyclists don't pay road tax

A common thing you’ll hear in an anti-cycling rant is something about riders "not paying road tax", which makes them inferior road users. Putting to one side how much of a callous viewpoint this is, it’s important to remember that in the UK there’s no such thing as ‘road tax’ - it was abolished in the 1930s. What we have is an emission-based vehicle tax, which bikes are exempt from paying. Many cars are also exempt, but I don’t recall ever seeing anyone getting angry at a BMW i3 driver for not paying the same tax as them.

This vehicle tax doesn’t go to some special pot specifically for road building and maintenance - that’s something generally paid for by either council or income tax. So unless a rider’s unemployed, they will technically be paying ‘road tax’.

6. It's all about us vs them

There’s no point in drivers assuming that all cyclists are an unlawful menace to themselves and others, just as much as there’s no point in cyclists perceiving all drivers to be maniacal morons out to kill anyone on two wheels. There are bad and inattentive road users piloting every kind of vehicle.

The most dangerous thing about this us vs them attitude is that it dehumanises people. Whether we’re in a car, on a bike or using another mode of transport entirely, we’re all just human beings trying to get to our destination safely. That’s why we should be looking out for one another, and showing more consideration on all sides.