This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Just been sent this by my cycle club for anyone cycling around SE19/SE20

Incident on College Road/Fountain Drive last night.
I've been contacted from a cyclist who was a witness and a victim after a group of 8 kids tried to mug him of his bike and possessions and another 4 cyclists while they were ascending up Fountain Drive on their way home last night. Another witness said they saw a knife being pulled.
This route is used by a lot of cyclists and is very dark at night so just be aware and maybe try a different route for a while. The police have been informed. If I have any more news I'll let you know.

Well I'm leaving @5 so hoping it stays respectful until then

Saw a guy on an e-bike more akin to a scooter riding on the shared path. Quizzed him about where the pedals where and he told me they were folded away under the seat. Felt the righteous indignation of a driver who think bikes shouldn't be on the road. But seriously... get a proper bike, or a proper scooter ya div.

i see them all the time whizzing by me. as a proper bike rider I feel like shouting 'get a proper bike' but at the same time they must feel like shouting get an e-bike and make your life easy.

I feel like shouting 'get a proper bike'

And that is different to driver shouting "get a car" how?

as a cyclist I am entitled to thinking of telling other types of bike riders what to do. When car drivers tell cyclists what to do that is crossing the boundaries. drivers do not have the right.

I lol'd.

The normal e-bike riders don't bother me as they appear to be, and are normally ridden as they are named - electrically assisted bicycle. But this fella had the pedals folded away, although he assured me they do work when in place. Just seemed immediately like a cynical (and successful) attempt by the manufacturer to get around the law, although to be fair he was only going at about 10mph and I doubt it would manage a lot more, so I guess there is little harm beyond the ideological presence of something that looks like a scooter on the shared path. Looked a bit like this:

That's not getting round the law, that is the law, if you have something with a motor and it's limited to 10mph it's basically classed as a bike (no tax, licence etc)...

This.

Although in Holland they have issues with moped on the cycle path, mainly those that have been re-chipped to go faster than 25km/h.

Fortunately, it gonna changed and forced the moped rider onto the road instead, but thinking about this e-bike, it's possible to disable the speed limit to go faster than 10mph.

srsly?

Quite pleasant ride in, roads quiter and no rain. Quite warm too.

Working from home. sits back, sips breakfast whisky

Ah, sweet, sweet breakfast whisky. Considers hip flask

Whisky for breakfast? You heathen, surely cognac? Or even brandy in your coffee.

I often start my working day with a coffee from the Sacred stall down in the ground floor of the shopping centre. They mixed up orders one morning and gave me a coffee with an added alcohol zing. I thought it would be rude to complain.

cafe corretto – mmmm

a CUP of coffee.

carry on.

breaksky.

brisky?

Left the office a bit later last night and noticed that there are quite a few cars driving around either without lights on, or one working light or very dim lights. Up there with the lack of indicating.

First time commuting to work by means other than bike in about 6 months. Managed to get on a the train going back to where I'd just come from when I changed at Highbury and Islington and then had to wait 10 minutes for the next train to get back again, just missed a connecting train and had to wait another 10 minutes for the next. I'm in need of some public transport awareness training me thinks!

Partly yes, partly no.

Anyway. I sat on the upper deck of 38 bus this morning for my commute to city centre and 80% of passengers are doing this:

This worries me. The internet is the Skynet talked about in the terminator movie. It will soon take control of our lives completely.

As opposed to sitting there ignoring everyone else? At least they are talking to someone.

Not me anyway. Trying to read whilst on a bus makes me feel sick. I'm at the front top deck pretending I'm driving.

Just been sent this by my cycle club for anyone cycling around SE19/SE20

Incident on College Road/Fountain Drive last night.
I've been contacted from a cyclist who was a witness and a victim after a group of 8 kids tried to mug him of his bike and possessions and another 4 cyclists while they were ascending up Fountain Drive on their way home last night. Another witness said they saw a knife being pulled.
This route is used by a lot of cyclists and is very dark at night so just be aware and maybe try a different route for a while. The police have been informed. If I have any more news I'll let you know.

Wow. Sounds pretty scary.

Fark - that's on my hilly night time training loop. Nasty.

I'm at the front top deck pretending I'm driving.

You are driving, though.