This morning's commute and other commuting stories

skidlidsid
Politely asked a nodder on his Brrrrompton not to pass me on my left as there wasn't really room. Explained that we have enough to worry about on our right to be giving each other shit to worry about on our left, and that if I was going so slowly then pass me on the right. He wasn't happy - absolutely sure that we have our place on the left hand side of the road and should stay there. The bit a little bit further out is for buses and motorbike, he says.

Severe case of extreme-left syndrome.

Why do I bother?/10

Got into a similar argument in Stockwell yesterday. I'm nearing the edge.

The last two day felt like there's little bikeability can do against the tide of 2 wheeled ignorance. I leave a little space between me and the large vehicle in front of me at the red on Grange Rd leading to Tower Bridge Rd. The vehicle is also at an angle, so the front is closer to the kerb than the rear. Despite the reduced space idiot decides he must get in front of me and now reduce the space I have further because....? Well he couldn't answer. That's the problem none of these people actually think about why they do what they do. It's all auto pilot.

I found myself going out of my way to taking ultra back streets just to not deal with them. Seriously the next one to tell me I'm too far out or to move over in their attempt to undertake will get a fucking mouthful.

In fact the collective for all of these people will be Krugers short for Dunning-Kruger effect

Those with the least skills overestimate their skill set for a given task and those with tend to underestimate themselves. Though those that undertake a minimum coaching in the skills for said task quickly establish a realistic re-assessment of themselves.

Five mins into commute, Shoulder check and signal prior to passing some parked cars this morning is met with flailing revs as a women in a 4x4 decides she's going to punch past me as she's going over a speed hump.

I have to take an evasive and literally stop as she barrels through. Drives off in a similarly aggressive fashion prior to dropping someone at the station, on the way back she gives me the bird.

Unfortunately for them their car is pretty recognisable and i am reasonably sure they live on my street.

If that's the case, when I get home I'm going to pop round with my two year old and my new born and politely introduced them to the woman who nearly ran daddy over this morning.

I got public transport to work for the first time in nearly two years this morning.

It was awful, I got a bag strap stuck in the door on the Jubilee line, I've put on 10 stone, I'm depressed, I nearly cried because I was so bored, I've been stripped of my individuality, my cardio is now that of a coal miner, all the muscle mass in my legs has wasted away, the tube smelt like b.o and I think I've got train herps.

Some fella in full on winter gear on a pimped out Giant half wheeled me all the way from E&C to Oval last night would the fucker move would he fuck, my reported for fuck sake when on deaf ears as he had his headphones.

Drop back or over take, I'm not your mate so do one.

Sweated like a pig on the fucking northern line. Arrived at work moderately damp.

2/10 Would've cycled but I'm out tonight drinking away my memories of the week.

muggy ride in.. bare headed and bare armed and still sweaty.. why nodders still dressed like its mid winter... ..

wholeheartedly. it's ok though, Boris is extending the cycle lane for the residents of Tower Hamlets to a) stand in when they want to cross the road and b) deposit their rubbish in.

Wonderfully quiet this morning. Was completely drenched by the time I got to work (and forgot to bring spare socks - gross), but I'd take that over a nodder-ridden sunny ride any day.

Get both to leave a deposit on the bonnet. Way more effective.

^^^ this, exactly. I live by the hospital and I have come to the conclusion that tower hamlets is the the land based equivalent of the Great Pacific Rubbish Gyre. there is so much shit everywhere, and as much as I love the market, I think 9o% of it comes from there. you can barely see the blue paint on the new cycle route and its not even finished yet. I also feel, that now there is a cycle lane, if i choose not to cycle in it, i will get ranted at a la Brew...

I've only just stopped sweating. It's muggy as fuck; again - why are people wearing winter jackets/long sleeve tops etc?

I was thinking that. If I'm going that way I take the quiet route along abbyville road(?) then down cavendish road and then along the edge of tooting bec to come up telford avenue out by the bus garage.

Why not left at Clapham North and straight up Kings Ave? Pretty quiet and moar direct.
(I hate Abbeville Road - full of shit drivers).

Freddies, surely.

Please film the meeting.

Then all three of you shit on her bonnet.

Dunno I seem to pick a different way each time, makes it more fun.

Hit a huge patch of oil on the way to work, went down without any warning so ripped jersey+shorts(so glad it wasn't my forum jersey) and brake lever+handlebar mashed into the floor. I feel ok, fingers crossed croydon council will be picking up the tab.

If that's the case, when I get home I'm going to pop round with my two year old and my new born and politely introduced them to the woman who nearly ran daddy over this morning.

^This. I've been cycling into work with the child seat still attached to the bike, as I really CBA to take it off. Amazingly, it doesn't to prevent people left-hooking me.

Why should it?

It's like those massively shit "baby on board" signs. I would expect people to avoid killing me, irrespective of whether I have a proto human with me or not.

I may get a "human on board" sign for my car.

Twice this week i have almost crashed into the new segregated cycle path at Black heath Standard, while looking right for on coming traffic!
Its going to take a little getting used to.

I think Cazanove Road, N16, might have been a clusterfuck this morning. Awaiting official definition. So much going on I got my feet stuck in my pedal straps and almost went sideways over someone's bonnet and then, due to evasive action, through someone's open passenger door. Ah, the school run.

Still, 7/10

Why should it?
It's like those massively shit "baby on board" signs. I would expect people to avoid killing me, irrespective of whether I have a proto human with me or not.
I may get a "human on board" sign for my car.

I don't think that is how most people think though. All they see are car windscreens, faceless helmeted motorcyclists and a bicycles getting in the way; traffic in their way that they need to get past.
I'd hope a child seat humanises(?) me somewhat and they actually think before an overtake/manoeuvre.

Why are you concerned about what other riders are wearing? Unless as in my case you're following a chick in a summer dress, flip flops, sunnies, earphones and a helmet in the basket (literally - that's not a euphemism for anything at all you understand) then let folks get on with it - the more gear the better when you're kissing the tarmac.

I just wonder how they can be comfortable/enjoying their ride when they must be sopping wet underneath. My mind, it boggles.
What's your problem with summer dresses and sunnies, while we're at it?