This morning's commute and other commuting stories

This again

New page boner

Is that the film where Gene Hackman is hunting robots?

And the robots think they are people? That's the one, I think it's called "Fast Times at Ridgemont High".

Nah, it's where Robot Redford is hacking men.

Changed my route in this morning to not go through Hyde Park as since they've redesigned the speakers corner bit to be gravel instead of tarmac I've had a few punctures. They have also changed the exit from the bike path slightly so now it's actually really hard to exit without crashing into oncoming cyclists or having cyclists in your lane crash into you. New route is less gravelly and less crashy, so thumbs up.

Ahhhhhhh

Is that the film where Gene Hackman is hunting robots?

No, it's Leon. If you haven't seen it, do.

Nice one, I'm going to overhaul my route completely after this mornings horrendous and genuinely quite scary commute in; featuring two minor rider down incidents and solid angry traffic all the way.

It's been getting worse and worse but today was mental. I'm going to turn this:

New Cross Rd > Queens Road Peckham/Peckham Rd > Camberwell New Rd > Kennington Rd > Black Prince Rd > Lambeth Bridge > Westminster Sq > Whitehall/Trafalgar Sq > Pall Mall

Into this:

New Cross Rd > Old Kent Rd/New Kent Rd > Elephant & Castle > Waterloo Rd/Bridge > The Strand/Trafalgar Sq> Pall Mall

I did it on the way home just now, so much better! The roads just seem to be more open and faster during rush hour compared to my usual route, I could push a nice pace without feeling like I'm going to get killed.

New Kent Rd flyover is always fun to.

Thumbs up!

/CSB

Is that the film where Gene Hackman is hunting robots?

Total Recall? They made some other Arthur C Clarke books into films too.

Some real prick drivers in Stevenage tonight...can safely say I saw my life flash right past my eyes.

Most people don't divert via E&C to feel safer though!

That's why I avoided it on the commute to start with but... I did E&C and the new route this morning...

Best.Commute.Eveuurrrrr.

Straight well maintained roads (well, compared to Peckham/Camberwell Rd), easily manageable traffic and amazing weather, shaved 15 mins off the commute. Such speeds.

Bit of early morning bid sniping to top it off as well.

Good times.

Had fun and games with the No 3 bus on Whitehall (always the No 3!). He swerved out of the bus lane to go around another bus, then swerved back in again and then swerved back out as there was a stationary bus in the lane (as it was at a red light) and then as soon as the lights went green he swerved back in again.

Can we moan at buses to stay in their fucking lane??

Can we moan at buses to stay in their fucking lane??

Can we moan at cycles to stay in their fucking lane??

No.

I would. Much prefer speeding round there than the crappy, tiny side roads around it.

I was being sarcastic

Whitehall is deceptively death, I hopefully won't be using it again now.

Total Recall? They made some other Arthur C Clarke books into films
too.

Yes. Mars Attacks! is probably my favourite.

It went "Whoosh!" over my head.

Pro-muting down Kennington Road this morning at the back of an impromptu paceline I failed to see the traffic cone some joker had put in the cycle lane and slammed straight into it. I nearly saved it but the cone jammed under my bike and I got chucked off onto the pavement.

Thanks to the two guys who stopped to check I was ok and gather my scattered lights. I'm now off the bike for a few days with a sprained wrist but otherwise fine.

That'll teach me not to be such a boy-racer wheelsucker.

At the lights outside Holborn stn, lined up with all the other cycling commuters this AM. The Big Issue seller comes up to the kerb and raises a magazine, and as he drops it says "Ready, Set, Go". Unfortunately this wasn't in time with the actual timings of the light and one idiot nearly got taken out by a car.

This morning was crisp and foggy. An absolute stunner of 15miles, had the A60 nearly to myself.

Anyone see what happened by Sadler's well this morning, collision between vespa and a cyclist. the vespa ended up in the road.

The Vespa rider shouting ' I have priority.' then 'i'm calling the police.'

I didn't see what happened so I didn't stick around.

Hope everyone is okay

.

Me approaching a parked car, move to go around it, as I do a lorry overtakes us both before, still alongside swings slightly towards me and stops. Assuming he's turning right I go ahead and throw my arm at him in disgust. He's not turning right, he was giving way to a bus coming the other way, so shortly he overtakes me again so I give him the full dirty over-the-shoulder. Then there's a red light. Deciding discretion is the greater part of valour I elect to stay behind him (given that he has already erratically overtaken me) rather that the filter-and-plonk-yourself-infront approach.

Anyway he gets out of the cab to remonstrate with me, calling me a moron and saying he was waiting for a bus I couldn't see. I pointed out the very simple fact that if he had to give way to a bus, why is he overtaking a cyclist going around a parked car. Apparently expressing a logical, measured suggestion that would enure mine and other vulnerable road user's safety is actually insulting, it quickly devolved into a swearing match, during which the lights changed. In a comedy moment I shall treasure, he mistook my pulling away and out to go around the stationary lorry as a move to hit him, at which point he literally cowered and leaned back, shielding his face with his arms. I simply rode away, as did the cars behind him. The lights changed again before he was even able to get into his cab.

The piss-drinking cock-monkey