This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Southern end of the bridge or northern? Rode past something similar-looking at the southern end at about half-nine this morning. Police had turned up by that point.

I'm trying to hit it a bit earlier now. Did 8:15ish this morning.
Was OK, not as gridlocked as it has been later on, Tooley street I've taken to flying up the cycle lane whilst the lights red so no oncoming cyclists. Naughty but otherwise you sit there for weeks

Had a nice ride out yesterday in the rain until I had an altercation with the pavement on Southbank, one of those pedestrian underpasses under a bridge, the concrete was smooth and wet... be careful out there kids!
Thing that annoyed me more was losing my Ass Saver and getting a wet ass!

I keep getting near that fox and feeling sick.

Flip! I rode it this morning.

Make sure you report that to tfl, yeah? They have a 'fill-that-hole' type thing where this could be reported.

Northern end about 0835.

Got overtaken whilst waiting in traffic by some nodder who'd hopped up onto the pavement, which for some reason injured my pride far more than it should have. Once the traffic had cleared I 'put the hammer down' (for want of a more accurate phrase), to make sure he knew I was the commuting boss, but just as I'd caught up, he hopped back onto the road in front of me and turned into a side road just as I was passing him. Gutted.

Had a bit of a laugh at how pathetic it was. Nice weather, though.

Kind of hoping last night's rain has washed most of it away, but it's probably just turned it into a pulpy mess.

So what was that protest all the taxis were taking part in on Blackfriars Road, south of the Blackfriars bridge this evening? Loads of them out of their cabs giving the up yours to cyclists that were using the cycle lane...

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/black-cab-drivers-hold-protest-outside-tfl-headquarters-a3371341.html

Awesome, thanks. I guess it had nothing to do with the cyclists then, just a few bone heads being idiots.

Safest option was cycling facing oncoming traffic and maybe run the occasional red light. Really scary morning.

Is there anything stopping you walking your bike if it's scary?

I was rather looking forward to the 28 miles home tonight then it pissed it down as soon as I left work. Still, not a problem and was feeling quite good until I got a sodding puncture just at the top of the hill from Camden to Holloway Road. Fixed that on a pisswet bench in the rain and dark, then got out of London as quick as I could.

Ended up hitting the A1055 a bit late so it was pretty clear, was nice holding north of 20mph for pretty much the whole 7 miles of that stretch, what with the lovely tailwind.

Got back to herts knackered, just before 8pm :)

Nearly squished by a RLJ lorry turning left from Blackfriars Bridge to Upper Ground. What's wrong with that light? Seen this happen a few times.

Roads much clearer than usual north of the river thanks to the Taxi demo. Fresh air, maybe. They are really doing themselves no favours.

Is there anything stopping you walking your bike if it's scary?

Maybe being late for work is scarier

just a few bone heads being idiots

Well, they're protesting in (seemingly) the only way they know how. Maybe they don't do themselves many favours, but are they boneheads just for that? I've been on plenty of protests in which there was a bit of a break from the usual city routine, with a lot of people probably wishing every curse they could think of on us, but I still don't think we were boneheads.

True, there is that...

Is there anything stopping you walking your bike if it's scary?

Being called 'Mr No Brakes' by Stockwell Toilet Watch?

I assumed the boneheads was in reference to

Loads of them out of their cabs giving the up yours to cyclists that were using the cycle lane...

Not all of them for protesting.

Um. You'll have to run that past me again...

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/157372/

Of course, the original 'slaining thread!
I can't remember if I've ever looked at that before..

For the first time, I ignored all cycle paths around Parliament Square as the lights were green for traffic. Then I tried to join the cycle path along embankment but stopped as the lights for peds were green. Noticed two people in hi-vz next to the lights - one of them seemed to take a photo of me, then waved me on?! Am I going to be on a TFL wanted posted or something?

Carnage on Borough High street due to some nob parking outside Sainsbury's in a suspicious manner.

Is that all it was?! ffs