Cyclists VS Motorists

I've just returned home from a short bike ride along the same route that I've been going down daily for the past few months. It's only a ten minute ride but it gets me some fresh air and stretches my legs a bit. I'm beginning to feel that my stamina is increasing too. When you're cycling a bike along the road, you can't afford to stop just because you're tired. You've got to keep going, and I always feel more determined to become faster day by day.

Anyway, whilst I was cycling along, I felt a familiar feeling. It's not an emotion I like to feel, but sometimes I do. It's the feeling that there's them (i.e the motorists) and then there's you (i.e the cyclist). When you make the comparison, it's easy to become intimidated by oncoming cars whizzing past you on the road. Cyclists often speak of a stigma that is held against them by motorists. I kind've feel that too occasionally, especially with me being a younger rider. Sometimes, not all, but sometimes, I feel conscious when a motorist goes by. I wonder do they think I'm some sort of wannabe kid that's going to get herself killed. Mostly I just say to myself, "They can think what they want, I'm here and I'm not budging."

It reminded me of many times that motorists have annoyed me in the past. Often cars won't give you adequate room as they overtake. They'll be inches from you as they pass and nearly squeeze you into the curb. By law, cyclists are allowed around one metre from the curb as to not buckle their tyres on gutters/drains or potholes. It frustrates me when cars don't take that into account and nearly hit you.

Here in Northern Ireland (and probably the rest of the world, I'm not sure) you get boy racers. Boy racers are these young lad drivers that rip down the roads like mad men, thus, they get the reptutation of being a boy racer. Anyway, I've had a few encounters with them too. What annoys me as a cyclist about them is when they fly past you and the sound of their exhaust takes you by surprise.

Apart from those minor instances, nothing huge has ever happened to me personally. I don't cycle in town or busy areas, simply because I feel it's too dangerous. I'm in want of a new helmet too as my current one (which I'm not wearing currently on bike rides) is too small for my head.

It's kind've sad in the end that this stigma exists between cyclists and motorists. Why can't we all just share the road? A bike is just as much as a vehicle as a car, and a car is just as much a vehicle as a bike. Deal with it people!