This morning's commute and other commuting stories

I saw someone on a scooter use the pavement to try and avoid being slightly delayed by two buses passing on Sunray Avenue this morning.

It's bad enough when dickheads on bikes do it, but doing it on a motorised vehicle. That's weapons grade cuntery.

I saw someone do that, dropped back off the kerb, slipped on a wet manhole cover and fell over.

Thanks, I've asked for that.

My touring bike was written off by the shop. It has a tiny dent in the top tube. Technically the shop can't say if it's safe or not. I'd probably trust it. But I have a new bike now so it's academic...

Fair enough. When you say you'd trust it, do you mean the shop or the written off frame? Was the new bike from the insurance or were you getting it anyway?

The whole situation is complicated, and I won't bore you with it, but suffice to say that in a pinch I'd have carried on using the frame. But the shop said it wasn't safe and now it's not used. And I have a new bike. I'm happy to defer to the judgement of a bike shop...

Just toppled over after failing to clip out. Don't know what I was thinking. Dithered.

Thanks to nice cycling man for stopping to check I was OK, not laughing and promising not to tell anyone.

Fair enough, I think I remember seeing the saga somewhere. I'll see what the shop says and go with that - the guys insurance won't have much as response. Maybe it will end up as a fancy pub bike!

Don't think it'll happen anytime soon btw. Last time I got hit, with full camera evidence AND the Police taking action over it, it still took two years for the insurance payout.

Sorry...

Still pursue it though. You'll need a new bike and/or wheels in two years.

Oh, definitely pursue it! Just be ready to wait for a while.

The guy seems to be happy to just pay what I ask, he's been very reasonable so far (apart from hitting me in the first place...). I'm getting an assessment done and will give him that. I'm most annoyed about the wait I'll have for my new wheel...

The guy seems to be happy to just pay what I ask

A lot of them are, right up until the moment that they get a bill and realise bikes and bike parts are more expensive than they thought

Maybe, we'll see. I gave him a rough idea for the wheel there and then and said it will cost more as I'll get the whole bike checked.
My trust in humanity/this guy wanting to avoid and police is still there just about...

Good luck. We're just all being super-negative and cynical because this is London, my friend :-)

Decided to take advantage of the quiet roads around Aldgate this morning and see how fast I could get into work.

It was going so well until I road into the back of a bus and fell into the path of a taxi who managed to stop 6 inches away from me. I jumped up and apologised, poor guy nearly had a heart attack.

Monday morning, so got hit on the thumb by an allen key tightening brake nut (ouch!), clip-in failure on Mr Balk and got whacked by pedal (also ouch) and some bellend forced me to brake as for some reason he didn't want to get out of the way coming towards me on a ped/cycling kerb path with no indicated lanes...there was a ton of time too to see I was staying where I was.

No idea. Maybe he didn't have his coffee yet. Happy monday!

A pedestrian stepped out into stopped traffic at Earl's Court as I was passing alongside a bus. She didn't even give the gap I was emerging from a cursory glance, so I skidded right into her and bounced my arse and rear wheel off the bus to my left. No damage done, we both stayed upright, but I'm afraid I gave her a bit of an earful as there was a pedestrian crossing less than 2o feet away that she should have used.

The rest of the ride was of average quality. Failed to improvise a new route through Chelsea and ended up snaking through a few backstreets unnecessarily.

5/10

I swear I saw the same woman crossing the four-lane road in Catford/Lewisham today in stop-start traffic with a tiny child as I did last week. Always lovely to have to brake hard to avoid hitting a small person emerging from between two parked buses whose adult can't look after them properly. There are crossings on that road for a reason...

Why use a crossing when you have a baby as a human shield from big red buses and 40 tonne pantechnicons?

I was going to order a baby shield but 9 months delivery and then barely 2 years of the warranty is up and they say the product has "outgrown it's use" and you are just stuck with whatever it grows into pfft

Before you all start a witch hunt against errant parents, just remember how irate you get about a lack of cycling provision on London roads. Then think about how that environment caters for pedestrians.

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Good point on pedestrian facilities, except that they are there - albeit a short walk away. If I had the choice between dashing across four lanes of traffic with my child or taking a two minute detour to a safe crossing point, I know which I'd choose.