should cyclists be treated as road-users, or pedestrians?

A question about : should cyclists be treated as road-users, or pedestrians?

As a recent recruit to the world of 'non-drivers', I am impressed by the willingness of drivers generally to give way to pedestrians, especially on zebra crossings.

But, as an ex-professional-driver, I know that drivers are under no obligation to give way to cyclists, even when they are about to push or wheel their bike across a zebra crossing.

I also know that, although it is extremely stupid for a cyclist to creep up the inside of an articulated lorry and then cry foul when the driver 'unexpectedly' turns left, it is also true that if the driver has correctly set his/her mirrors, and is using them effectively, then there is no such thing as a 'blind spot'

Best answers:

• A cyclist pushing a bicycle is a pedestrian. This has been determined in law. Hence why it's not an offence for instance to push your bicycle on the pavement.
  A lot of cyclists assume that the gutter is where they should cycle. This impression can be reinforced by motorists who insist cyclists don't belong on the road at all.
  This is why they end up up the inside of lorries. Personally speaking I usually pass on the right, and try to avoid passing lorries and buses altogether. But as I said the advice you will get from professional cycling trainers is very different from the 'advice' that cyclist-hating motorists would give (get off the effing road, why aren't you in the cycle lane, etc.). So it tends to be the assertive and confident that are safest, and I think this is why so many women get crushed by lorries, because they are less assertive.
• I agree that it's pretty stupid for a cyclist to pass anything on the left, although there's always temptation to do it. However, it opens up several potential scenarios, such as:
• The obvious one - that the driver you are passing/have just passed wants to turn left
• A passenger opening the door to leave the vehicle
• A vehicle in the line of traffic being passed by the cyclist signals to another vehicle in the oncoming traffic wanting to turn right that they intend to give way to them

In fact, if there was any single most important piece of advice to give to cyclists, I think it would be not to pass on the left.

• If they are wearing a helmet, have lights and wear clothing that is visable in low light conditions I would say that they are a road user...and I generally treat this type of cyclist with respect that they deserve (being a part time one myself).
  However, the rest ...well they should be treated with the same disatin that they are treating the laws of the road imho.
  on your point of a dismounted cyclist crossing a zebra crossing, then they are definetly a pedestrian, in the same way some one pushing a pram is.
• should cyclists be treated as road-users, or pedestrians?
  Well the police seem to consider cyclists as pedestrians - just ask Andrew Mitchell. Couldn't be arsed to open gate for one
• Well if you're going to get into a conversation about 'should's, then you should read the Highway Code.
  All road users should be treated as detailed in the Highway Code. I can't see anything confusing about that.
  Oh, and if you see a road user behaving dangerously that does NOT give you the right to behave dangerously in response. You should continue to navigate safely along the road.
  Do as you would be done to people, or do as you would have others do to your mother/child/sister/husband. Stay safe out there
• The problem is, nobody reads the highway code after they passed their driving test, and cyclists never read it at all