Do the cyclists in Mallorca have a death wish?

[Tonsyl]

I have never seen such utterly stupid behaviour by road users as I have this last fortnight in and around the north of the island. What gives these idiots the mental attitude to pull out in front of cars and lorries on main roads and expect to survive, and think they own the place? O.K., they bring well needed revenue to the hotels and restaurants but I'd love to find out the numbers of injuries they sustain. If anyone doubts their stupidity, bob over to the Alcudia - Arta highway and see, absolutely incredible! Brings shame to those well behaved and sensible riders who are in a minority.

 

[Belladonna]

I have to agree Tony. It terrifies me seeing some of the riders, particularly as we once passed an accident involving a cyclist. Most of them as you say are sensible and thoughtful, but the ones who are not .....

 

[Brisbane]

I agree entirely Tonsyl, I'm glad you have brought this issue up.

I have encountered large groups of cyclists around the same area in Alcudia who simply refuse to give way at roundabouts and show their palms to drivers, seemingly in order to show supremacy.

It doesn't just happen around the north of the island, I've experienced this arrogant behaviour of cyclists all around Mallorca. The sensible ones seem to be in the minority.

Riding in parallel is apparently their right too, regardless of the problems this causes other road users.

Thankfully the majority of car users take care and put up with cyclists taking up more space on the roads than they require, but it's an accident waiting to happen...

 

[Mimsy]

Brisbane do you think that when they are showing you their palms it might be a gesture of thanks - it's just a thought. Also on a lot of the roads around the island cyclist are allowed to ride 2 a breast. I'm not sure what problem it causes except you have to slow down and overtake with caution, which sounds like sensible driving to me.

I love seeing people out on their bikes (casual users, professionals or keen amateurs)- it's far better than seeing the traffic congestion in England where people can't seem to go 2 foot out of the door without getting in their cars.

As a cyclist and car user on the island, it's the other car users that scare me most. They very rarely use their indicators, hang on to your bumper if you dare to drive to the speed limit, overtake at any opportunity safe or otherwise and seem to have no concept of the rules of the roundabout (or any junction for that matter). Oh yeah and then there are the tourists in the height of summer who seem to think they are also invincible and just saunter across the roads with not a thought of looking for any on-coming traffic.

Everyone on the road needs to be aware and considerate of each other but as car users we need to be especially aware of those users more vulnerable than us. Let's not keep picking on the cyclists!

 

[Brisbane]

Hi Mimsy, thanks for your input.

No, the showing of palms were not gestures of appreciation, it was clearly a case of forcing drivers to avoid colliding with the group while they disregarded the rules of the road, be it what you call the "highway code" in the UK.

I'm not picking on cyclists, I'm merely pointing out what is most likely to be illegal behaviour on the roads in Spain, and extremely dangerous behaviour.

I have cycled around the north of the island myself, but I appreciate the need to accommodate other road users whilst doing so.

As Tonsyl has pointed out, there seems to be many cyclists that are taking chances that are putting themselves and other road users at risk of an accident, and I agree.

 

[roig cat]

The large groups of cyclists monopolize the cycle paths as well. Whilst cycling as a family from PP to Alcudia a large group of cyclists, say 30 at least were heading towards us on both sides of the cycle path, 3-4 abreast, at least 30 miles an hour I guess. My children then age 11 and 13 were in front, they panicked and pulled onto the left hand track as automatic reaction, even though we had been cycling in the right lane. Well, you should have heard the insults! "You are in Europe now you English, you English need to learn the European way" (Read with Germanic accent and add a few expletives).

We never use that cycle path now, choosing the country lanes instead, and always in single file should a car come up behind us.

 

[rioja]

Agree, every year many of them are seriously injured or die in accidents but it doesn't seem to deter them. Riding 2 3 and 4 abreast along country roads is stupid and just winds other road users up

 

[El Gordo]

.................................We never use that cycle path now, choosing the country lanes instead, and always in single file should a car come up behind us.

I don't think these "two way" cycle lanes are safe.

Much safer to go "with the traffic" so that faster traffic, including cyclists have to overtake you and not force you out into oncoming cars.

I think a speed limit in cycle lanes would force the professionals onto the road.

 

[Tonsyl]

Just to balance my comments, since the incidents that provoked my post, we have come across an impeccable piece of riding. Coming out of Alcudia old town we came up to a very elderly local, riding a bike, almost as old as he looked and wobbling. I turned to Mrs T and said words to the effect that this guy is a liability. No sooner said than he looked over his shoulder, saw me, indicated that he wanted to pull out and turn and then looked again to make sure I'd seen him. Seeing I had he pulled out turned across the roundabout and peddled away happily, still wobbling...............top man indeed!

 

[lovemallorca]

Sadly there are certainly two sides to this story, but a constant is that there is plenty of dreadful driving by both cyclists and drivers.

I do find that the cyclists are very loathed to lose any momentum, and openly ignore situations where they should give-way. A particular hate of mine is the insistence of some of riding down the Pinewalk - Not only annoying but dangerous, especially to young children who don't expect to see bikes on a pedestrianised section.

For fear of spoiling my relaxed afternoon, I won't get started on drivers not using their indicators..especially approaching and on roundabouts...

 

[Jonsey]

Really interesting thread, this one! I’m a keen cyclist, who each year looks forward to hiring a high spec road bike from good ol' Bruce at Pro Bike Hire in PP. I’ve been doing this for the last eight years now and see it as my “summer treat”. However, after reading the various comments I feel I do have to make a few of my own. Thirty odd years ago I lived in London and cycled to work, in the centre, on most days. This was certainly an experience, and taught me a lot of things about fellow road users. You had to be so careful that a). people could see you, b). that you didn’t make any sudden movements, c) you constantly had to anticipate what drivers around you were going to do next, etc.. So, this cycling experience in my earlier years has definitely, I believe, made me a better driver. Therefore, when out in the car I’m always looking out for cyclists, aware that they may, for example, hit a pothole at any moment and I may need to take evasive action. Likewise, when I’m out riding I’d like to think that I’m considerate to car drivers. There’s nothing worse than driving behind a group riding 2 or 3 abreast who are determined not to fall back to single file to allow the car through. This is when tempers fray and accidents may follow. One of my pet hates when out in the car are seeing the number of drivers (and they are in the majority) who don’t indicate when pulling out to overtake a bike (or a pedestrian, for that matter). This is so dangerous, and so unnecessary. It’s only a quick touch of the indicator lever, for God’s sake!
I guess what I’m trying to say is that the roads, be they the A40 in Bucks. or the PM222 between PP and Alcudia, are there for us all, cyclists and drivers alike. All we need is to respect each other on the road, be considerate to other road users, and always to keep thinking what may be around the next corner.

 

[joelise80]

We were in Lanzarote last week and remarked that the cyclists there were actually worse than those in Mallorca. We were on small roads coming up behind many large groups riding in pack form with no regard for other road users.

 

[klad1]

Car drivers do pay a road tax though which cyclists don't. Maybe this is an area that needs addressing.

 

[pollensafan]

Along the cycling theme, how about the idiot council in can picafort. A few years back they told the bar owners that they were banned from puting their tables and chairs along the prom by the beach wall. They then made the area a cycle lane. Result....People and kids coming up from the beach were getting knocked down by the cyclist.You really coudn't make it up.

 

[rioja]

Car drivers do pay a road tax though which cyclists don't. Maybe this is an area that needs addressing.

Some car drivers do, but plenty don't, certainly here in Mallorca and particularly those with foreign plated cars who actually live here

 

[Smiddy]

I see from todays DB they are now going to let cycles use the pavements in Palma, thought they already did!

 

[Tiggy]

Translated from Mallorca Magazin (German)

A German cyclist was killed on Wednesday afternoon on the road from Sa Rápita to Colonia Sant Jordi in an accident. A gust of wind had pushed the 64-year-olds into the opposite lane. There he hit an SUV. The man suffered fatal injuries.

The 64-year-old was with a group of about 30 mostly German cyclists on the MA-6014 road to Colonia Sant Jordi. According to the police suddenly began a strong wind, and two riders were pressed into the opposite lane.
The driver who also comes from Germany, could not avoid hitting the cyclist. The riders were slightly injured. The shocked riders left their bicycles on the advice of the police because of the weather change


RIP

 

[jazzajac]

Interesting, not sure if I'm right but I think in both PP and Lanzrote cyclist pay to join a training camp, so the companies that are running these training camps might be a good place to put compliants too, I've seen the ones you are talking about and basically they are bloody ignorant! My husband is a triathlete and rides a lot but is very aware of other road users and pedestrian, he fully agrees most riders are only out there thinking of their training session and not about safety. Seem to think if they've joined a bunch of other riders who all do the same it must be ok.

 

[Deanscroft]

Before I start I must make it clear that this post is in no way defending the idiot cyclists that plague this island in spring and autumn. Most of them have no concept of safe riding or consideration for other road users and deserve all they get, however there are a couple of laws here that protect cyclists that all road users should be aware of.
1. When overtaking a cyclist in any situation you are required to allow a minimum of 1.5M clearance.
2. If a group of cyclists are dressed alike they must be regarded as being one vehicle. That means that once the first one has entered the island then the rest can lawfully follow. Conversely I suppose it means that if they are not dressed alike you can legally mow them down! Good look if you try it.