This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Went through Parliament Sq yesterday from Vic St towards Westminster Br. Saw some cycle lanes, couldn't fathom quite what they were trying to achieve, didn't use them.

I getcha Scrabble. Wearing full on body hugging Cinelli top and shorts with a Bell Helmet strapped to my head and mounted with a flashing Exporsure Diablo I stopped in a box alongside a cycling girl this morning; she in a really colourful summer dress and a cardigan to match (unbuttoned). Her bejewelled sandals and bracelet set off the entire ensemble. Pink helmet in her handlebar mounted basket. I thought...'What dooo yooooo look like?' Actually she looked great. Feck.

The cost of air pollution (of which diesel engines are a notable contributor) rather significantly dwarfs the cost of building cycle lanes.

But no one likes a smart arse!

Ahh, yep, nothing against a floaty dress on a ladies step through frame. Different kettle of fish entirely.

The helmet in the basket/looped over the handlebars always screams of "mummy made me wear it while I left the house, jokes on her as I took it off after the first corner"

The dinner lady at my primary school dobbed me in to my mum for doing that when i was about 9. Never forgiven the dirty grass.

(Hai guyz, long time listener, first time caller)

What the flip is up with Thursday evening's rush hour being busy as?
London Bridge to Monument to Liverpool Street was worse than usual last night, with many tipsy tuxedo'd fatcats stumbling and guffawing all over the shop.

The cycle lanes are not compulsory, you don't have to be corralled into waiting an age to head in the same direction as other road vehicles just because you don't have an engine.

I went all the way around Parliament Sq today instead doing my usual hang right. I flew past about 50 cyclists jammed into that narrow segregated path waiting at their own set of lights for the privilege to use the same piece of tarmac that I just cycled past them on.

The mind boggles.

I saw 3 other cyclists on this mornings ride to work, the 'joys' of living in the UK's most car dependent town.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/10986871/Fareham-named-as-Britains-most-car-dependent-town.html

(I know it's old news, but I've only just been shown it by a colleague)

It was ridiculous down there last night.
Bit of sunshine and it all goes wrong. Also to do with Tooley street being one way during the construction works so all traffic has to go straight across London Bridge.
I noticed last night Southwark and Tower bridges looked a lot quieter so might try one of those next Thursday... variety is the spice of life n all

It was mental going the other way last night as well. Traffic jammed up all the way over London Bridge.

I was probably among them! Yeah aware using the lanes isn't compulsory, just wanted to try it out. Safe to say I won't bother until they change it.

The segregated stretch along Embankment I do enjoy, however. Nice to chill out a bit.

Apologies to the cyclist I met at St George's Circus last night. You were heading north on the new cycle lane, taking a right turn across me as I headed south. I was probably entitled to be a bit fed up with you riding straight at me and forcing me to stop, particularly having done battle with the new lanes down from Farringdon, but I needn't have called you a rude name, and you did apologise. Must chill out a bit more.

I'm having similar at E+C, first time I went the wrong way and ended up on a dodgy shared use part, next time I went the right way but got stuck behind some people walking who knew I was behind them they just didn't give a damn and I know if I went to cycle around leaving the narrow cycle path they would have turned and shouted or stepped out to be more annoying. If it wasn't for being able to miss the lights I'd have ignored it, it's nicely tempting to use it rather than sit at the lights.

Sat at a red light stop line, railing to my right, taxi to my left. About 20cm either side. Waiting.

I hear a voice "Excuse me can you move so I can get past?"

I gesture to the red light.

"Yes but can you move."

I reply "It's a red light."

"How do you know I don't want to go left?" (indicating to the crossing, meaning she can go on the pavement.

"I don't, But wait ten seconds for the light to change and you can."

"Really???!? Do you work for the government?"

This is a new one. I ignore and ride off, as sure enough, it's gone green.

Next lights she passes the stop line, and waits in front for the traffic to pass. And can't see the lights change. Then misses the green as I and the over cyclist overtake. I couldn't resist a "that got you far then".

She then responded "You have a very large ego". Again. Eh? A) I know, and B) She clearly doesn't see the irony in that statement.

LOLZ at the boris biker/10

My evening commute on most week days consists of getting off the train in the backwater where i live and upon the opening of the manually operated rail crossing winding my way across a thin bridge through the stationary traffic so i have a chance to sprint up most of the hill before the cars catch up and attempt to knock me off. The bridge yesterday was an interesting moment as the man without looking up from the phone in his lap that he was texting on drove forward nearly sending me hurtling into the river had it not been for a swift body position change and a gentle wing mirror clonk to hip. I suppose twitter couldn't wait.

I think that's the worst bit of London at the evening rush hour. Thankfully i rarely need to deal with it

Typical bloody apparatchik.

Think it might be time for me to do some more cycle training soon. Have been seriously doubting my own hazard perception.

Yesterday a.m:

1. Overtaking a lorry, as soon as I do he stops, as does car coming down the road, to let out lorry 2 from a junction to the left which I knew was there, but couldn't see. I'm forced to stop inside his turning circle on a pretty narrow road. Was OK, but felt precarious being between 2 lorries. Really hate that road always so much traffic backed up.

2. Later on the same commute, overtaking some stationary traffic waiting at light, see lights change and prepare to drop back in behind white car signaling right (I thought for the lights) she promptly stops again and i realise she is signaling for an underground car park, just beyond where she was. Luckily she's seen me, I felt silly.

oh how glorious it is cycling the roads from Peckham to South Ken early on a Saturday morning. I didn't improve on my rush hour time at all; with so much more room on the roads, it was almost relaxing!

Is this satire?

New northbound lane open at Stockwell. Not sure what I was meant to do to continue on the CS7, so took the regular traffic lane.

Should probably work out at some point what I was meant to do. Anyone know?

Glorious morning - I love this time of year.

The cycle lane is to the left of the redesigned road layout. It was a little disconcerting to come across it and I'm sure lots of drivers were a little thrown too. I did wonder if the lanes were big enough for lorries and buses to navigate safely, but I guess they will be.

Rode in on my road bike this morning after riding fixed for the last week - little bit of knee pain, probably due to a bike fit issue. Freewheeling feels like the bike is broken! Amazed how quickly my brain has gotten used to it. Not amazed how much my body hasn't quite got used to it yet.

Also just the right temperature today :-). Nom/10

I suppose it's a somewhat derogatory comment directed at someone I saw on my commute, presented in what I attempted to be humor. Could be satire, if it needs classification.

Embarrassed myself by leaving my flat in a hurry and promptly falling over at the crossing getting stuck in my pedals. Cheers to the fellow cyclist who asked if I was ok and didn't laugh :)

Ah I see - I'll look out for it tomorrow. Taking the lane did seem pretty direct though.