This morning's commute and other commuting stories

maybe he hat a bike fit?

ha!

Uber driver in a prius tried to kill me by Millbank, got alongside me, didn't even finish overtaking before he started pulling in to park up.

Called him some names, then calmed down and asked him how he failed to see me and what he was thinking. He apologised profusely and looked so sheepish that I apologised for being rude and shouting. Wtf?

Cut up by a van man in a rush shouting some obscenity at me before cutting up the following car driver. Rang the number for said van emblazoned with cambrianway , a nice man answered "oh yeh thats our van he has just left here" i will report it to the MD now . Ha!

Minor incident to report: I'm on the home straight down Boundary Rd E17, which I use to avoid part of Lea Bridge Rd but I'm now thinking it's possibly no better due to lots of shit driving and shit traffic calming measures.

Anyway, I'm slightly behind a vehicle, we are both heading east and I see there is a guy wanting to turn right and he is planning to make his turn as soon as the vehicle in front of me goes past him. So I make eye contact and carry on, he brakes and shouts something at me out of his window.

I see red at this point; he wants to turn across me and it's now my problem?!

So I u turn, sprint after him and follow round the block until he pulls over to park and then I ask him what it was he wanted to say to me when he was shouting out of his window.

He says "you should be wearing a yellow vest, can't see you"

Wtf? You can't see a 6'3" lump with a bright blue top in broad daylight?

I explain that there is no obligation to wear hi viz, but thanks for the advice. Should have added "get your ****in eyes tested".

Epic fail on useful retort to shit driver.

Used the cycle lanes at E&C today, could anyone explain to me why the cycle lanes are so bumpy compared to the road? Is it something to do with not being able to drive a big enough roller over when they tarmac it? Feeling a bit seasick/10

Feeling a bit seasick/10

Riding in secondary position between Ham Gate and Kingston Gate in Richmond Park does that to me. It's not a problem in primary luckily.

slow TT guy(s) is Hotpants ninja
The Banshee
Full kit wanker
Full face helmet MTB guy
Ski gear guy
RLJ all day in Club kit
Fixielord with massive backpack but empty porteur
Shouty guy with the red cards and air horn
American Football Helmet guy
Accoutrements Guy
Very Upright Scoblestack Reverse Stem Courier Guy
Denim cutoffs whistling superspeed man (aka JAMIE)
What about "shouty woman with the nokia phone who takes pictures of you"?
Fuck taxis guy
Chainring face
Damo
@HatBeard on Tooley St

Ahh, those were the days

Top Trumps now needs its own thread right? Like a spotted but for faymous London riders?

& @6pt Nope that's not the guy. He rides at a good clip and has Loads of risers and his stem is reversed- it points backwards. @6pt's Rabbity description is bang on. Probably the same person @greenbank is referring to. When I see him I think all's right with the world.

Tubemute. Ugh. Don't know how people do this every day.

2/10

Formal complaints against bus drivers, so they ever get anywhere? (he didn't do anything dangerous, was blocking lane deliberately so nobody would be ahead of him at red lights, and insulted me when I pointed out that it wasn't right... I'm sure others have notice that typical bus behavior especially on bridges)
Should I bother trying to spot him tomorrow to get number plates/reg, which I failed to do earlier, only occurred to me later I should report... His perfectly satisfied and complacent attitude as he was waiving his finger was quite infuriating, but of course I'll get over it)

Big Audi plonked so far in ASL I had to go sideways as not to infringe on the Ped crossing. Then they move forward an inch. Dirty looks given.

Friendly motorist further down stopping to let me past even though they'd indicate left, so I had to stop. I think. You aren't supposed to go inside when somebody indicated already even though you're on the main road on the cycle lane I believe?

I always make an assumption of no right of way, even if I have it.
Forecast of vertical rain lateron.

Had a guy in a taxi pull across me into the bus lane whilst looking directly at me, unwavering, I think he wanted me to lose my temper and film me doing it on his dash cam. I didn't, just casually flipped him the bird as I breezed past him in traffic. #entrapment

why the cycle lanes are so bumpy compared to the road? Is it something to do with not being able to drive a big enough roller over when they tarmac it?

So much this.

That might well be their excuse were these contractors held accountable. Like all shoddy planning for cycling, nothing will be done.

the cycle path on southwark bridge either way is a barclays blue pissing roubaix.

different bloke, I'm sure I've seen the rabbit man about recently.

Must be bad contractors? The new Belfast ones are smoooooooooooooooth.

Unless it's either for grip or for drainage?

I estimated >200 commuters at the traffic lights at north end of blackfriars bridge this am. Didn't make first traffic lights cycle, nearly didn't make second. toomanycommuters/10.

Camden re laid the newish tracks south of Royal college St when complaints were made of the surface quality.

Those lights are rubbish. They keep you on a red signal whilst the cars have green and you end up waiting for more than a minute.
I don't bother waiting at them unless it's green for peds.
I'll just start using the road again if it gets worse.

Drainage is something I've been meaning to moan about! Usually massive dank puddles all over the cycle lanes, worse than the condition of the road.

@Backstop good to hear. Maybe we should all complain more.

It would be great if 'facilities' were really good to start with. For instance: wtf is up with those 'speed bumps' on the Embankment? Who thought such over-steep speed bumps were appropriate for a CSH!? Bonkers.

Is that because the cars have green for a left turn that cuts across both cycle lanes? I've nearly been hit twice there by taxis who decided "F this I'm turning left to go down to embankment" without realising that it was a red light for them on that left turn, even though it as green for straight on.

I understand that that whole cycle lane is likely to increase the number of cyclists, but personally I preferred it before. I think I'll start using southwark or waterloo bridge.