This morning's commute and other commuting stories

I don't normally jump reds but today it was pretty much indistinguishable where most of them were with the solid traffic. Admittedly the bloke (in waterproof trousers for some reason) who squeezed past me and jumped the red at Holloway Road/Camden Road straight across the junction wasn't the brightest.

I don't normally jump reds

Me neither. I'm just saying when it's fucking mental out there, do what you gotta do.

like that scene from Independence Day when they're escaping the alien mothership.

Amazing.

I was very embarrassed to be on a bike today. Going through Liverpool street and seeing 20 cyclists all trying to bully their way to the front of traffic lights.

Also, saw a man in a suit (softly) punch a women in the chest for running a red light near the bus stop on Bishops gate after she almost ran him down. I don't understand how he can go through the rest of his day now thinking "Yeah, I hit someone this morning, that was a reasonable response."

Behaviour out there today (including from myself) interesting contrast to the "shared society" May is currently talking about.
Takes worryingly little for respect to break down and turn into all-out hate.

I think it was easier doing that then having to deal with all the wobbly riders setting off from lights.

I don't RLJ normally but today used common sense to not get involved in the mass groups at the traffic lights of people that haven't been on a bike for a years and all trying to be at the front. Tonight will be just as bad though and I'm jealous of your ability to stay at home!

(my flatmate worked form home and was 45mins late the sleeping in cunt!)

I had such a good commute this morning (6am-ish), the best in a long, long time.

Doubtful the commute home will be such a delight.

First time back on the bike in 7 weeks due to a fractured collarbone, besides spooky, I was too hyper to be back on the saddle (and concerned not to hurt myself) to let anything else bother me.

The clusterfuck was everywhere though.

Still off the bike. X68 bus was packed this morning and took 90 minutes instead of the usual 45-50, most of that was getting from Imperial War Museum to Waterloo. I usually have no problem getting a seat and have been downloading documentaries from Netflix so it's not been too bad. I was the first person to get on the bus after the very last seat had been taken so sat on the stairs. When I got off at Waterloo it was like some sort of safe zone from a zombie flick. People being shepherded by police and (I assume) TFL staff in hi-viz. Police helicopter was overhead too, for good measure. I didn't notice any aggro though, just people shuffling in the vague directions of various offices and bus stops.

numbarse/10 - might leave the office early to try and avoid the return clusterfuck

You're a few weeks ahead of me then - I'm 4.5 / 7 weeks into recovery from a badly fractured wrist so had to endure a tube strike today as a public transport user. It was not pleasant!

it certainly wasn't unendurable. sitting in an office surrounded by by whining, entitled, financially comfortable, middle class, able bodied, (mostly) white people all bitching about how they had to walk a bit or wait in a queue for longer than 30 minutes isn't pleasant either.

I'm a caring boss, I asked people how much longer it would take them to get in today, add that to how long they would normally work, then work all that from home. I know, compassion will be the ruin of me.

The number of people walking over the bridge was crazy. Strikes me that this means their onward journey from Waterloo is within walking distance (or at least it is for a majority - I dare say some of those were embarking on a massive trek). Why not just walk it all the time?

Welcome to the Euston road. My spider-sense is tingling.

Always do this, much nicer.

Shit myself watching a bloke try to get between a lorry and a bus, awful stuff which very nearly ended badly.

It was great fun. Y'all need to stop whinging. Boris bikes ftw.

The number of people walking over the bridge was crazy. Strikes me that this means their onward journey from Waterloo is within walking distance (or at least it is for a majority - I dare say some of those were embarking on a massive trek). Why not just walk it all the time?

Asks the guy who sat on the stairs for 40 mins whilst the bus went from IWM to Waterloo ...

First set down for the x68 after West Norwood is Waterloo...

x68

x = xtreme xprexxo xpress, brah

Drove in as I had an early meeting. Main route closed for some unspecified reason, took alternate route, met ridiculously huge artic lorry on a single track and had to turn around, foolishly chose to take some back lanes that I use for my summer cycle to work and happened upon a giant puddle/road river. Decided to risk it as I was running late by this time. Got through ok, but the car started to gradually shit a brick and fail. Thankfully managed to negotiate the rest of the narrow lanes and decided to try and get it up the hill to where I work and instantly regretted it. Car died about 200 yards (1/4) up the hill. Waited 2.5 hours for recovery vehicle, could have walked to work had a cuppa, done some work and walked back in that fucking time but the oft repeated 'They're really close and will be with you shortly' line kept me waiting by the car.

Missed the meeting, will be spending money whether or not the car is a write-off, just spent £100 getting it through an MOT of Friday, train/bus home, fuck this shit/10. Should have cycled.

Props to the 3 people who stopped to ask if I was ok, and the same number who laughed and gave me the wanker sign. Made me laugh at least.

I would tell you to go F yourself and i'll "work" my contracted hours from home thanks. Only ridden in once since Mid Nov and decided to sleep in and wfh today in the end. Maybe tomrorrow..

First set down for the x68 after West Norwood is Waterloo...

@stevo_com Bro, do you even emergency exit button just above exit doors?

To which I would have replied, see you in the office bright and early. Thanks for volunteering for the 7am shift.

My boss sent me home at 3pm. He said he was worried that I might get knocked off my bicycle in the cold and the rain in busy traffic. I didn't argue. Now home alone. Feet up. Cuppa. Mince pie. Darts.

You work at TFL?

Very nice!