This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Also, chucklesome non-issue. Traffic was stationary, because Bristol, and idiots choosing to sit in cars. I was filtering past, still well within my nice wide lane, when some fuckhead coming the other way eyeballs me and gives me a solid middle finger for ages as he approaches and passes me, presumably for having the gall to be moving while the opposite lane to him was gridlocked. Anyway, it made me laugh at his impotent rage.

Possibly / probably / maybe / yes / no?

I don't even have a full driving license in the UK, I have no idea of all that stuff. All I know is that that vehicle definitely did not look healthy.

A long time ago there was an 0800 number you could call if you saw a vehicle with smoky exhaust that was not limited to HGVs. These days, I'm guessing the reduction in Police officers means even if you could report polluting vehicles there just would not be any personnel available to enforce the rules.

I know what you mean about smoky trucks elsewhere.
Aegean Turkey, Shell liveried fuel tankers all seemed to be emitting a continual stream of charcoal dust.

Yeah it definitely feels like the police definitely is way too busy overall to actually have time to deal with most of the 'small fry' stuff, including all kinds of traffic-related issues. I can understand that from the perspective of individual police officers or stations that are over capacity with regards to crimes and rule infractions to follow up on, but looking at it from an overall perspective, it really isn't great. But #nomagicmoneytree, right? :[

Bit cold, but beautiful commute. Used it to tweak my route a bit. Late to work, but fuck it.

I had a protracted Twitter 'debate' with a driver over his fury about overtaking cyclists only to have them filter past at the next traffic queue so he had to overtake them a second or even third time. He regarded it a huge inconvenience and selfish by us. Apparently we should wait in traffic breathing in fumes despite being able to get through gaps.

But then how will I jump the red light they're waiting at.

But then how will I jump the red light they're waiting at.

If you're behind a black cab, you can just follow them through the red

I've really come to see this 100% the other way around: how the fuck dare they be so selfish as to use as much space as a car takes, usually for just one person. The road is wide enough for everyone, until car drivers come along and clog them up for everybody else who isn't using an egomobile.

They have to overtake cyclists several times? Bitch please, be glad I'm not in a ridiculously oversized vehicle myself, at least it's possible to overtake me.

Have to agree here. I struggle to understand how motorists seem to be of the opinion that other four wheeled vehicles aren't 'in the way' as much as cyclists on the road are. Most of these fuckers are perpetually parked on the road.

I have a short one way road on my way home, literally 200 yards no more. There are parked cars on both sides of the roads so the road is a single lane. I have had a number of confrontations with drivers who beep at me, rev their engines and then scream abuse at me at the end when they can get alongside me at the end as I take primary throughout it. For 200 yards.

I would love to be able to point out that the road could be three lanes wide, but the reason it isn't is because fucking EMPTY, PARKED cars take up two of them, and it isn't me me getting in the way, it is those other fucking cars.

Honestly car culture is a fucking cancer on society, from polluting the environment, the non-stop death, road rage, incompetent driving and the amount of space those metal lumps take up and we tolerate and excuse it all. There was a thread on twitter listing the sentences dangerous drivers receive and it so depressing how bad and careless drivers can be, taking lives, and how rarely they receive a proper sentence.

^snap

I will admit to a delicious frisson of smugness filtering past traffic jams. A car will trap you on the road, while a bike makes you free. That freedom is part of the reason certain drivers take such great umbrage towards us.

I eat their umbrage and wash it down with a big mug of their warm, steaming outrage

I take great pleasure in consistently overtaking motorists on virtually any road (hill or flat) with speed bumps, highlighting the impotence of their coughwagons.

Brake cable snapped in the lever. Much sketchy, very brown trousers.

First for me- this morning, a pedestrian walked into me and knocked me over.

I had the good sense not to apologise

I take great pleasure in consistently overtaking motorists on virtually any road (hill or flat) with speed bumps

College road is good for this. Although I've been guilty of some sketchy overtaking down there and go another way to avoid temptation.

hopefully you had your emergency parachute.

Turned that brown 'n' all

Oof, hope you’re okay. They’re surprisingly solid aren’t they? (not as solid as tarmac obv).

I had one last year. Taco’d front wheel, concussion and a lot of road rash. The ped just looked at me and walked off.

They’re a law unto themselves! No insurance, don’t even pay road tax etc 😂

I had a terrible collision with a tourist, I was doing a shoulder check while going over Westminster bridge, and he stepped right out into the road at just the same moment. Turned my head and saw him right in front of me. I think the impact knocked him out (not from head trauma, but from all the air getting knocked out of him, is that a thing?).

Anyway luckily we were both ok in the end.

The tourists who forget which side of the road we drive are the least predictable. I know, because I've been that twat when visiting countries that drive on the wrong side.

thanks, I'm undamaged

bound to happen sooner or later; it was surprising though

I wonder what the enxt accident will look like?

I've been guilty of some sketchy overtaking down there

Yeah, I did similar this morning coming down Court Lane. I should just take a more sedate route really.

Lovely one this morning...

Doing my usual route up the OKR, 2 lanes, most drivers happily sat in the right hand lane as the inside is about to become a bus lane just outside the big Asda. Van driver squeezes past in inside lane to jump traffic so i gave him and "oi!" and tap the side of his van as he's way too close. Window goes down, lots of effing and jeffing, he then drives in front of me and then cuts into the curb to force me to stop. He gets out and whilst i'm still standing over bike gives me a massive shove which slams me to the ground. I get up and he gets his pigeon chest out and tells me how he should knock me out. Bystander is pleading with him to stop, i foolishly remain over bike so he gets me again with a shove and once again i trip over my bike. Lots more abuse to follow, i hold my ground and say nothing just get my phone out to take reg. Next thing i know is some other riders stop behind (as we're blocking the lane) and he storms off. Unfortunately the witness wonders off when other riders arrive and i don't get any details from her. After realising this I did get details of one of the riders but i not sure how much he saw. Popped into Asda and there CCTV doesn't catch that area.

Was gonna leave it based on the fact i didn't have a clear witness but decided to pop into the city station and ask their opinion. Was told i needed to report dangerous driving and common assault. 2 hours later i've now done a full report at my local station. They're going to see what CCTV they can retrieve but i won't hold my breath.

Arm and knee a bit banged up but nothing visible so no point in getting a check up. Was thinking of calling LCC as i'm a member for their advice, anything else i should do?