Study: Ignorance of the Law Leads to Road Rage Toward Cyclists

A new study out of the U.K. will vindicate the suspicion of many cyclists: drivers often misdirect their anger at cyclists who are only following the rules of the road.

1 minute read

May 28, 2017, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Norway Biker

Bård Aase / Flickr

Kieran Howells reports on a new study from the U.K. that finds the source of anger for many drivers regarding bike riders: ignorance of the rules of the road.

"The survey of 1,000 drivers from across the UK found that they regularly lose their temper with cyclists under the belief that they’re breaking the law or cycling without due care and attention," explains Howells. "As a result, 39 per cent of drivers surveyed confess to having got angry with a cyclist."

The article goes on to list the many errors in understanding that surveyed drivers has about the rights of bike riders to the road.

Thursday, May 25, 2017 in BikeBiz

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing

The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

7 hours ago - Strong Towns

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14 - Smart Cities Dive

Green Skid Row mural satirizing city limit sign in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents

The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.

July 14 - Los Angeles Public Press