This morning's commute and other commuting stories

I think I'll knock this one on the head we've clearly got way to much time on our hands and it's only day four of isolation for me. Maybe I'll take more of a spectators approach I'm sure there will be plenty of pointless nonsense to observe 😊

Lovely morning for lock down commuting. CS7 into town much quieter, bit of a chill but very sunny. Maybe half a dozen or so other cyclists. Hopefully decent weather holds for a bit.

Far fewer pedestrians so hopefully message is getting through, still lots of builders vans two up though.

I'm seeing this a lot, it's insane! I'm driving around as I look after NHS clinics (and here is my signed letter from the Chief NHS Executive Mr Police Officer ) but my company has forbade any engineers working as pairs.

The odd thing I see is lone workers driving a van with a facemask on. What's that all about?

As someone who works on site (I cycle to work, obviously) I'm genuinely fucked off that we haven't been shut down. The amount of people who are turning up in pairs, flouting all the social distancing rules whst they're here etc. is putting the whole of society at risk.
I'm in Brighton and we've still got people travelling down from south London to work here.
We need the government to close this industry, unless they are essential works, so that the firms can claim the 80% payment otherwise we can't afford to stop working and the lockdown will achieve nothing as people will continue to spread this virus.
Rant over.

Puncture on the TURBO, can't make it up!

Bit of sun this morning on cs7, very light on other cyclists, but obviously still loads of cars and vans. Got in and did 15 laps of my office, straights aren’t long enough and it’s a bit tight into the kitchen but would do again.

Dalston to hackney Wick this morning , no Victoria Park so have to stick to roads round the top of the park. Four faster than normal cars within that 200m of roads within 1/2m of my front wheel... social distancing my arse!

M25 at about 5:45pm yesterday. Traffic was coming in little crowded groups and then going quiet for a bit, but at 5:45pm it would normally be at a near standstill here!

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F**k

Far fewer vehicles on the way in this morning, hardly any builders vans, and a few more bikes than yesterday. Vauxhall one way was a bit like the m25 photo above.

had some absolute weapon in an audi come flying round a blind junction on the wrong side of the road straight towards me this morning on my "commute" - luckily he saw me with enough time to correct, but what a fucking douchebag!

otherwise, a lovely ride to work(ing from home)

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Another lovely morning in on cs7, bit fresh to start with. Traffic levels seem lower the closer to town.

I was un-furloughed last week and so have been back on my usual commute, CR7 to N16. It’s been pretty surreal, a bit of traffic at each end but the section for Kennington to Angel is almost free of cars. Not as many bikes as I thought there would be, either. Those that are about are usually respectful of the 2m rule when passing or at junctions, but the tourists on hire bikes are largely nobbers and need to be given a wide berth.

Whatever, it’s a good time to be out riding in town. I’m on short hours so finishing at around 3pm so I get a lovely warm ride home. I could get used to this.

tourists on hire bikes

Tourists ? Really ?

This. The 2m zone is when you are close to people for a prolonged length of time.

Just walking/cycling past someone in a few seconds without touching isn't going to make you get the lurgy.

Yup, esp in the city and Westminster. Possibly people who have been stuck here, but today I passed a group of 4 or 5 following a route on their phone on Santander bikes.

Riding down residential street of Stoke Newington at 8pm this evening while working. Felt like I was a pro in the TDF.

Genuine question to those with extensive knowledge and understanding of cycling etiquette.

Regents park this morning. Tons of cyclists, groups of 8/10 holding each other's wheel. Having been a regents park cyclist for the last 4/5 years on and off, this is seemingly always been the case. You always have someone sitting on your wheel, it's never been an issue and I'd always assumed that was how things are. Doesn't seem like such a smart idea with covid going on, so i wear a neck buff over my mouth and try and keep a descent space from the person in front.

This morning, I'm at the front of one of these trains, guy overtakes and immediately slows down directly in front of me. I'm now sitting on his wheel. Again, no biggie, happens all the time, I'll just follow him and keep the normal distance, plus a little extra.

We reach a stoplight, everyone slows down/unclips. Lights turn green, guy in front takes off, I follow, the people behind me do the same. Again, normal for Regents Park.

Guy in front then turns round and aggressively asks why I'm sitting on his wheel. Taken aback I explain we're all sitting on each other's wheel, it's fairly normal. He repeats the question, I tell him he overtook and slowed down. "Did I fuck", he responds, and cycles off.

He then sits about 2/3m in front of the group to prove a point. Then slows down and we all overtake him, again, in a group of maybe 5 riders spaced further apart than normal. I point out as I pass that it's fairly normal to be in a group.

Am I in the wrong here? I appreciate that with covid-19 drafting isn't the best idea, and I wear a face mask and try and keep about 1.5/2m, but I've always known drafting to be a normal thing around Regents Park.
Completely happy to admit my mistake.

This is the exact reason why I don't go to regents park during the day atm. Full of wankers.

I’m not sure how someone’s could consider you “on their wheel” if you’re sitting 1.5-2m behind them?
However with the current situation you/anyone 100% shouldn’t be riding in groups (I know that wasn’t your intention).

For them It’s simple enough to get someone off their wheel either speed up or slow down for. I guess people are just a little extra touchy at the moment.
Personally I’d just avoid riding in areas like that for now and just shake it off as someone being a bit grumpy.

Outside of the current conditions it seems like a pretty acceptable way to ride though, especially considering that it’s pretty much expected there and he appeared to be doing the exact same thing before.

Normal for Regents Park.

Faked a commute today for the distance and ventured into Hampton Park for the first time. Dayum sonnn.

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Completely fair point, and you're of course correct. No one should be cycling in groups. I know I was certainly guilty of it toward the beginning of lock-down, it's almost a reflex to speed up a little if you're not too far from the person in front of you.

Sadly Regents Park is the only place close to me that I can cycle before work, at least in the mornings you avoid the mass of new cyclists.

Regents park

No need for the rest.

The current state of affairs is irrelevant. As far as I'm concerned you should never ride on some random's wheel completely uninvited.