This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Is is still under an inch of water? That’s going to be hysterical when we start getting sub zero temperatures.

Yes I do, down to Canary Wharf. It’s fantastic being out of traffic. I wouldn’t use it in the dark though after seeing those reports, and I’m on it at pretty normal hours. It’s not crowded but there are other cyclists - I’d guess I see around 15 - 20 each way?

Mind you I’ve been using it since schools were out. I don’t know if how they’re back if that’ll change how many people are hanging around it

Reports on Bikeradar of people on bikes being mugged by scooter riders outside Ham Gate at Richmond Park at night.

Stay safe, folks.

Bloody hell, probably one of the last places in London I'd expect to get mugged.
Targeting people with expensive bikes?

Fully loaded for a trip to scotland and heading up Regent Street in the bus lane. Bus sat on my ass and then burns past me and overtakes just as we are getting to the oxford street junction. All the buses turn left so I know he's going to hit the brakes and swing left. Which he does and forces me to slow down. Literally zero need. Saved himself about 5 seconds.
And then as I'm further north on Regent street, this time in the right lane, riding primary as I'm about to turn right, I hear a motorbike, shoulder check, see him, move right slightly so he can come past more easily as he's on my left side, for him to just slow down next to me, mutter something and ride off shaking his head.
Both times literally riding in a straight line on a straight road in primary, which is the only reason I can see for this mornings shenanigans.
It's all terribly boring.

Recent LinkedIn post below. For context, my job revolves around addressing physical inactivity. This was last week and has really taken the enjoyment out of my commute since. I actually saw the same van/occupants yesterday but they were coming out of a side road and I didn't see them again. I'm fairly unflappable normally with this sort of thing but it's taken away my joie de vivre.

'Are you in a rush mate?'
A fairly non-threatening way to ask the question 'Do you realise you nearly knocked me off my bike as you squeezed past me to beat the traffic lights?'
In response to my non-threatening, only slightly accusatory question:

• Two death threats
  
• Two half-full bottles of water thrown at me (one hit me, one missed)
  
• I was swerved into as the driver shouted 'I'm going to leave you dead on the f**king road'
  
• I was summoned to pull over to be 'banged out'…twice.
  
  

This morning's cycle commute from Upminster to London Bridge was the least enjoyable that I have ever experienced.
There are countless issues that contribute to fewer people cycling than otherwise might. However, this is one that should never have to be a consideration.

I truly believe that active commutes have a much larger part to play in the lives of tens of thousands of Londoners and I want to encourage more people to enjoy the fresh air and the energised feeling that I start my day with (almost!) every day. However, if I encouraged a friend to cycle and they had a negative experience like mine that might be enough to put them off forever.

I don't want to make this an 'us' vs. 'them' thing. It isn't. But was I wrong to speak to the man in his van in the first place?

https://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40012&t=12575770&p=20412726&hilit=gate#p20412726

A Head's Up:

I rode in with a mate this morning who said that this last Monday evening, a colleague (perhaps he said client, I can't quite remember) was exiting Richmond Park at Ham Gate on his bike and was forced to stop by a group on scooters, threatened with a taser and relieved of his expensive watch.

Utterly depressing read.

I would suggest, in all seriousness, you change your route (which is in itself sometimes a great re-invigorator, regardless of this nasty threatening behaviour). Also consider investing a rape alarm / spray something like that, so you can as it were move on and live your life.

I totally get what you’re saying about your work seeming hard to achieve in the face of this sort of aggression.

I am starting to think it’s best not to saying anything to anyone about their roadcraft, just focus on your own, remain positive, thankful to kindnesses and considerate to everyone who’s being cool. And forget the losers.

I’ve said it a thousand times on here: make like Supernanny - praise the good, blank the bad.

Impressively bad luck!

Cheers for the reply. To be honest I'm not that worried from a personal safety point of view - I'm pretty sure he's full of hot air. It's just a bit depressing isn't it?!

I am starting to think it’s best not to saying anything to anyone about their roadcraft, just focus on your own, remain positive, thankful to kindnesses and considerate to everyone who’s being cool. And forget the losers.
I’ve said it a thousand times on here: make like Supernanny - praise the good, blank the bad.

Sage advice, that I will try to channel ;)

Thanks again! Joe

That feeling when you see someone on a phone walking through the traffic and you are going between the bus and the stationary traffic and you think "oh". And they say "sorry" and you shout "fucking sorry?" and then you realise you've been the bell whiff.

said 10degrees on the thermo but the cold wind made it feel half that.
hello autumn (in leeds at least)

On a more cheerful note, great to see this on CS7 this morning

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My view is that the kind of arsehole who drives that inconsiderately is not the kind of arsehole that will response positively to advice (however friendly) from a stranger. The number of people who drive badly because they're genuinely oblivious is so small as to make running into one a very rare event.

good way to look at it to be honest. But I do feel that most drivers would benefit from getting on a bike to 'have a taste of their own medicine', much like they do with cyclists and lorries.

most drivers would benefit from getting on a bike.

The bad never gets punished? Seems like a good way to continue along with shitty behaviour.

I've reached the point of taking a long break from riding to & from work. The frequency of passive & active aggression from motorists has gone up (possible reaction to beelines headlines here in mcr?) such that there's no joy in commuting by bike anymore. It's a shame as its the quickest & most flexible option for me.

It's going to have to be a gradual wind-down whilst I work out if just run commuting will work for me (60-70mpw).

I will probably have to alternate run days with public transport but commuter cycling can gtfo my life for now.

...here come the frozen sausage brigade.

"you fucking will be, with these aerobars sticking through your sternum, cunt"

No?

As if I'd waste sausages.

I concede

I've found the best commutes are done when I'm completely fucking tired/wrecked - I haven't got the energy to ride fast, argue, etc. Then it's just a case of managing fatigue to get the 30min to the office without dying.

It is one of my 'If I Ruled the World' ideas that anyone caught speeding has to complete 100 miles of bicycling, verified by activity app on their mobile phone, within 3 months.
Until drivers have experience of their many mindless actions whilst driving they will never improve.

Come to think of I’m much the same, commutes are much more pleasurable when I’m hungover or sauntering along with my headphones in, deliberately oblivious to the raging torrent that surrounds me

Those occasions that I’m motivated and inspired tend to end in heartbreak

I guess the lower you are the less distance you have to fall