Irony + naivety * health & safety = frostbite

[rant]
Yesterday morning: First day back at work following the holiday I am filled with optimism for righting last years wrongs and enjoying hurtling past the traffic in some pretty entertaining weather conditions.
I spot, stop and help and stranded cyclist to fix their puncture. This makes me feel pretty good and I start looking forward to a little karmic treat later in the day. It also uses up the last patch in my repair kit.
Following a dire day a work I start pedalling home and promptly get a flat.
Unsurprising.
I turn my gear inside out for a patch before finally admitting defeat and attempting to catch a bus.
Cue smug bus drivers refusing to let me on their empty buses because of "health and safety". Even politeness and my semi-mythical silver tongue failed me and I am now considering an all out terror campaign against the HSE by encouraging my co-workers to lift from the back not the knees and move their own office furniture about. Idiots.
In summary, a 6 mile walk, in cleats, on icy pavements whilst dressed for a cycle sprint, is shit.
[/rant]

Bad luck fella sounds like a bitch. Have you bought some spare patches yet?

I'm doing my bit already pal; I've been resting a mug full of hot coffee perilously close to my computer all morning.

Extra stop on the way in this morning was to get more!
Loads of people cycled past too, which made me reconsider my stop and help policy.

I'm installing an alarm system... and i'm using the wrong type of ladder. stick that in your pipe and smoke it H.S.E.

to be fair, bike are not allowed on buses.

however, if you take off both the wheel, turn the stem 45 degree, some zip ties and plastic bin bags wrapped round it, they should let you in.

I did expect not to be allowed to take it on, but having not used a bus in 8 years I thought i'd give it a go. It also seems like a pretty stupid policy. I would think a lot of people a put of riding if they know that there is really a transport solution available to them if they have gear problems/bonk etc

spare tube FTW or get some decent tyres.

Ed +1.

I was refused once when I needed take a bus, whilst carrying my bike. I removed both wheels, and tied cord through the frame and wheels together. When the next bus arrived, the driver again tried to stop me boarding, but I told him, that disassembled, my bike was now luggage. He reluctantly accepted that, and I was allowed to travel. .

Hmmm. My gatorskins even punctured yesterday - the roads don't seem to have been cleaned since NYE and changing tyres in the wet and cold isn't much fun.

It's only going to get colder...

It's funny because they let MASSIVE buggies on, quite often several at a time so that you can't actually get off the bus.

They also let extremely fat people on and I'm basically made out of spaghetti, so there's no reason my bike can't come too as we take up the same amount of room. Although I think I'd actually rather walk in the cold.

They also let extremely fat people on and I'm basically made out of *spaghetti*, so there's no reason my bike can't come too as we take up the same amount of room. Although I think I'd actually rather walk in the cold.

no wonder everyone gets us confused.

sure there was a link to london underground or similar on another thread on here about how you can take your bike on certain tube line outwith peak hours. could be handy to know in situations such as this.

sure there was a link to london underground or similar on another thread on here about how you can take your bike on certain tube line outwith peak hours. could be handy to know in situations such as this.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/bicycle-tube-map-0108.pdf
Voila. Basically no deep level tubes, which is most of 'em and outside of rush hours.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/bicycle-tube-map-0108.pdf
Voila. Basically no deep level tubes, which is most of 'em and outside of rush hours.

yeah I once got on at top end of Northern Line with bike (above ground) and travelled to London Bridge with it (deep underground) got told off by staff as I came up the escalator avec bicycle.

carry spare inner tubes ftw

Although you can get away with some of the deeper lines if you have a sob story... or at least I've managed to get on the northern (and off again without killing anyone) and central... once each... (got on the northern at london bridge, off at south wimbledon... had to beg to get on but not a single comment as I got off)

In seattle (and I assume some other places) they've got busses with racks on the front so you can put your bikes on them... (at least up to four) but they are bendy busses so maybe they can't fit in london (or what ever the arguement against bendy busses is)... Still I'm sure you could fit the same rack thing to a route master if they wanted?

My friend was let on the bus with his bike the other day, not a long trip, New Cross to Edwardes in Camberwell but I was still suprised they let him on

spare tube FTW or get some decent tyres.

+1

[as in 2 spare tubes ftw...]

I did expect not to be allowed to take it on, but having not used a bus in 8 years I thought i'd give it a go. It also seems like a pretty stupid policy. I would think a lot of people a put of riding if they know that there is really a transport solution available to them if they have gear problems/bonk etc

I don't think it's a stupid policy, a single bike would take up at least 4 standing room, and due to it's size, a right hassle to take off the bike as well as on if it slighty crowded.

same thing go on the deep levels tube as well, even thought some people have big suitcase, it's still a lots more compact than a bike.

+1

[as in 2 spare tubes ftw...]

I carry 4 (I happen to have 4 lying around so why not) was out cycling with my friend over the holidays, he got 4 punctures, of course, I have 4 700c tubes, so obviously he has a 26" wheel.

to be fair, bike are not allowed on buses.

No, you're wrong. It's the driver's *discretion *as to whether you're allowed on or not, ergo: on an empty bus you would hope that the driver used that discretion in your favour and allowed you on. However from my own sorry experience I'd agree with OP and say they're much more Health and Safety trigger happy rather than using a bit of simple human kindness. Mind you, they take a lot of shit so who's to blame them for being miserable sods?

No, you're wrong. It's the driver's *discretion *as to whether you're allowed on or not, ergo: on an empty bus you would hope that the driver used that discretion in your favour and allowed you on. However from my own sorry experience I'd agree with OP and say they're much more Health and Safety trigger happy rather than using a bit of simple human kindness. Mind you, they take a lot of shit so who's to blame them for being miserable sods?

Don't go around telling people they're wrong right on their face!, it's folding bicycles you're speaking of;

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/9049.aspx#buses

Bus drivers hate me. This is just the way it goes.

Extra stop on the way in this morning was to get more!
Loads of people cycled past too, which made me reconsider my stop and help policy.

Poor show that. I like to help folk when I can in an altruistic stylee. But, part of me thinks, ffs does karma exist?