I witnessed the most appaling piece of suicidal cycling I've ever seen on the way home tonight. Apologies if trying to describe it in detail is a bit long-winded...
Riding West along New Cavendish St towards the junction with Portland Place, about 8.15 so not very busy. I was in the right hand lane on account of turning right up Portland Place, and there were two big fuckoff eight-axled construction trucks ahead, the nearest of which was sort of straddling both lanes, so I held back.
As I got nearer the lights the truck indicated left, and I did a quick check that the cyclist (bloke, mid 30s wearing jeans and shirt, fairly typical nodder) I'd just passed wasn't about to go up the left hand side. He looked like he'd spotted the indicator and held back. However, as I turned right I noticed the truck suddenly stop just before turning the corner, and looking back a couple of seconds this utter bell-end appears from behind the truck and saunters straight on across the junction. I was a state of disbelief that the pillock was probably completely unaware that his life might have been ended (or at least ruined) were it not for the fact that the driver did a damn good job of looking out for him. I'm not even sure he had lights, despite it being pretty obviously dark at that time. Of course he was wearing his plastic invincibility hat, which means his family, friends and colleagues are all assured that he's very safety concious.
Riding home I really wished I'd gone after him and offered some helpful advice, although previous experience of constructively criticising people's cycling suggests I'd have either had a shrug of the shoulders or a 'fuck off' in return. I appreciate that in an ideal world no one should be killed on the roads, but seeing people with such a massive disregard for their own safety and leaving it the hands of others is very depressing.
I witnessed the most appaling piece of suicidal cycling I've ever seen on the way home tonight. Apologies if trying to describe it in detail is a bit long-winded...
Riding West along New Cavendish St towards the junction with Portland Place, about 8.15 so not very busy. I was in the right hand lane on account of turning right up Portland Place, and there were two big fuckoff eight-axled construction trucks ahead, the nearest of which was sort of straddling both lanes, so I held back.
As I got nearer the lights the truck indicated left, and I did a quick check that the cyclist (bloke, mid 30s wearing jeans and shirt, fairly typical nodder) I'd just passed wasn't about to go up the left hand side. He looked like he'd spotted the indicator and held back. However, as I turned right I noticed the truck suddenly stop just before turning the corner, and looking back a couple of seconds this utter bell-end appears from behind the truck and saunters straight on across the junction. I was a state of disbelief that the pillock was probably completely unaware that his life might have been ended (or at least ruined) were it not for the fact that the driver did a damn good job of looking out for him. I'm not even sure he had lights, despite it being pretty obviously dark at that time. Of course he was wearing his plastic invincibility hat, which means his family, friends and colleagues are all assured that he's very safety concious.
Riding home I really wished I'd gone after him and offered some helpful advice, although previous experience of constructively criticising people's cycling suggests I'd have either had a shrug of the shoulders or a 'fuck off' in return. I appreciate that in an ideal world no one should be killed on the roads, but seeing people with such a massive disregard for their own safety and leaving it the hands of others is very depressing.