This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Makes me want to shoot a documentary and collect cyclist stories like these and try to raise consciousness about road safety for cyclists.
Is there any association that would relay that?

^ LCC?

Echelons over Westminster Bridge. Spring Classics! Also, pretty certain that what felt like a full on headwind on the way in, will feel exactly like a headwind all the way home.

I trainwankered into London Bridge. I swear ped echelons started forming on the pavement as my fellow worker drones and I trudged across the bridge.

London Bridge has that 'worker drone' feel like no other, doesn't it?

So it never happened?

Dude, you gotta report it, she commit a crime.

Every day camera crews line up there filming stock footage for news reports.

There's a micro-economy built up around it. Camera repair kiosks, little mobile caffs doing tea and bacon butties, freelance directors just standing there, barking out orders to nobody. They were once high-flying peeps at the Beeb but went slowly insane having to film endless streams of besuited commuters trudging.

I decided against reporting it because I felt like I was partially (half?) responsible. Also, the adrenaline convinced me that I was fine.

The driver was a young mother and she was very shaken up and apologetic. It just didn't feel right to get the authorities involved. I'm willing to accept responsibility for my injuries and saw it as part of the inherent danger of cycling (especially cycling like a bit of dick).

At this point, I don't remember which road I was on (one of the numerous roads between Kingsland and Essex Rds) and I wouldn't reliably remember the car.

I decided against reporting it because I felt like I was partially (half?) responsible.

The driver turn on you without looking.

It wasn't your fault.

It wasn't your fault.

Are you Good Will Hunting-ing him?

He's already said he was going too fast and was too close and cycling like a dick. No good would come of reporting this.

Bleak.

Yeah, you're probably right. If the driver had been an asshole, things would've turned out differently. I feel quite certain it was a good learning experience for her, and for me as well.

I should clarify the 'cycling like a dick' remark. I obey laws and don't jump red lights. In this situation, I closed a hundred metre gap between myself and the car very quickly and I was still accelerating up to the point where she decided to slow down and turn. It just wasn't very smart on my part, as I'm normally able to cope with the unpredictability of other drivers and cylists by leaving sufficient space. This time I did not.

Ha, thanks for the well wishes and excellent reference.

Similar thing happened to me last year, car was moving along in the right turn lane (left lane is for straight on, phased junction so no oncoming traffic) indicating right. I was also going right so was in primary in the same lane, not that there was anything behind mind you.

It's gently downhill to the junction so you're going 20-25ish say, I do it every day and she's behaving like every other car so this all seems very familiar. Then she pulls a sharp u-turn. I'm looking at the lights/road ahead of her, ended up way too close to the car, locked up & slammed sideways into/under the rear 3/4 of the car.

Damage to bike = minimal. Torn grip on one side.
Damage to me = initially moderate. Blood, torn clothes. Later = wonky knee, not good at all.
Damage to car = considerable. Dents all over the shop from different parts of me hitting her.

She was middle aged and nice, shaken up, scared, offered help/lift etc, but we just kind of left it there. No details exchanged. Not sure whether I did the right thing, it just seemed like one of those things. I guess she was already indicating right, maybe checked her mirror and then maneuvered. I felt I misjudged it through momentary complacency and having been involved in motorbike vs. car accidents in the past (as the rider) the police only ever seem to give you 50/50 at best in these matters.

Similar thing for me. Was trying to keep 30kph avg, looking at Garmin and not concentrating when car left hooked me. Totally their fault, all witnesses agreed, they agreed. I left it here. We all learnt from it.

Nothing at all to do with the fact that the car has four massive blokes in it.

Terrible driving/neglect of mirrors to left hook you.

And terrible cycling from you. Trying to keep 30kph average. So has an accident. WAC. Get a life dork.

I saw this chap! Few minutes later a new Jag came past with flat tyres and number plate/exhaust scraping the floor. Two coppers watched, stoop gawping for about 30 seconds, then decided to chase on foot. I'd stopped to have dinner with a friend. Few hours later I rode home and the Jag was just up the road being put on a lorry. Camberwell...

On the way in yesterday, just as we were going from one path to another (it's a wide shared-use cycleway "Southern Flyer" etc) practically on the road, having shoulder checked a moment earlier, there was a "bi-beep!" from a car that was enjoying a fast pace down the road and didn't want to stop before turning into the side road. I appreciate that it's contentious, give way to the right, but it was so awkward, he could see three cyclists from way back and chose not to slow down.

Of course seconds later it didn't matter any more.

A couple days ago a lorry was overturned under the railway, this happens probably every year or so. Blocked the entire path, but meant an enjoyable cycle around it and under the bridge on the wrong side of the road, while all motor vehicles had a one-hour delay.

Not really a commute as such, but locked up to railings on the Thames outside design museum this afternoon. Checked out that exhibition about bikes.

Came out, found a large pool on the floor and a smaller splurge nearby of vomit. Thanks, ill person, for puking all over my Sputnik.

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Gross.

Oof! But you are right, advice taken on board.

Chatting to someone on my way home up Kingsland Rd on Friday

Me:

Nice having a tailwind for a change!

Him:

Tailwind?

Me:

Yeah, it's great! Headwind this morning nearly blew me to a standstill on the A10

Him:

Where's the A10?

#bloodycyclists

Next time, for maximum confusion, refer to the Ermine Street. :)

That's the one which goes past the House of Lords, right?