Is it time to start calling out bad cyclists?

Got taken out by a lady on a big heavy town bike on Tuesday. She was riding at night, no lights, way too fast and was obviously totally oblivious to what was going on around her.

I was riding at a sensible speed and braking while approaching a reasonably blind little junction. She came barrelling out of nowhere (and it was pitch black so I couldn't see her because of her lack of lights) and didn't even attempt to brake (I did and nearly came off in the process!). She clipped my front wheel and sent me to the ground.

She gave me a quick "Daijoubu?" ("Are you ok?") and then rode off into the night with nary a care in the world while I was left picking up myself and my bike and brushing down my road rash.

WAC

Roads seemed a lot quieter today cos of Olympic lanes. Much less cuntery all round.

However, that didn't stop me from trying to squeeze through a too-small gap and clipping a dude's wing mirror like a twat.

Sorry Mr. Mercedes man.

it's ok you're allowed to do that to mercedes ... and bmw's

Definitely wasn't quiet Kings Cross->Angel->Old Street!
Busiest i've seen it, and cars were just hanging the whole way down in the cycle lane so i was a 'stuck in traffic' the entire way. bore.

Got taken out by a lady on a big heavy town bike on Tuesday. She was riding at night, no lights, way too fast and was obviously totally oblivious to what was going on around her.

Accurate, except she was more of a slightly-wrinkly middle-aged godzilla.

it's ok you're supposed to do that to mercedes ... and bmw's

;-)

From a driver's perspective;
Driving to my site yesterday - lovely sunny day, not in a rush, quiet back street in Brockley. At a difficult T junction at which I always stop dead in the car and slow right down on the bike because parking is right up to the corners and you just cant see dick.
I check both ways, start to pull out, fat man on a hybrid appears in line of sight coming from my left - I stop dead 1.5m from him, he turns and gives me a filthy look and gesticulates inarticulately, laughingly I shout from my open window -"Well I did stop didn't I?"
"only just, Arsehole!"
Charming.
He rode off showing 3 inches of fat bum crack, and I'm left thinking - (as a 20 year plus London cycling veteran) "Fucking cyclists!"

southwark bridge road / upper thames street junction is very funny today - the police were standing there trying to stop cyclists, but they all just got off, crossed as peds and carried on. They have now blocked one ped crossing and reopened the cycle crossing going up towards queen street. One motorbike policeman can't stop 20 cyclists every time the lights change...

My route has just changed - now Victoria to Kings Cross, as I've moved "out of town".

Bloomsbury cycle lane - OMG. I've been riding it for two days and I've already had enough. Nodder central, so you've got to be really patient - can do - then some penis-wad tries to squeeze past and nip in front when there's no space at all?!

googles new route
finds nowt

southwark bridge road / upper thames street junction is very funny today - the police were standing there trying to stop cyclists, but they all just got off, crossed as peds and carried on. They have now blocked one ped crossing and reopened the cycle crossing going up towards queen street. One motorbike policeman can't stop 20 cyclists every time the lights change...

I wondered why they would go to the trouble of creating what appears to be a very nice cordoned off bike lane, only to put barriers in the middle of Upper Thames St - then this morning sticking a concrete block in the middle of the bike lane entrance, giving just enough clearance both sides?

I used to try this but what you should do is just ride with the car traffic in the road. Give it some beans and pace yourself with the cars.

I'd rather gently annoy and slow down some traffic than get knocked down and then rolled over by a bunch of awful cyclists in a tiny not fit for purpose cycle lane.

My route has just changed - now Victoria to Kings Cross, as I've moved "out of town".

Bloomsbury cycle lane - OMG. I've been riding it for two days and I've already had enough. Nodder central, so you've got to be really patient - can do - then some penis-wad tries to squeeze past and nip in front when there's no space at all?!

googles new route
finds nowt

This morning 8:15 North East Hyde Park crossing over Park Lane. At least 20 people waiting to cross over. Mind the wobble then RLJing the other side of Park Lane.

I used to try this but what you should do is just ride with the car traffic in the road. Give it some beans and pace yourself with the cars.

I'd rather gently annoy and slow down some traffic than get knocked down and then rolled over by a bunch of awful cyclists in a tiny not fit for purpose cycle lane.

Totally agree.
I don't really like backstreets either as I've found I'm more likely to get swiped by a car turning or entering.

I wondered why they would go to the trouble of creating what appears to be a very nice cordoned off bike lane, only to put barriers in the middle of Upper Thames St - then this morning sticking a concrete block in the middle of the bike lane entrance, giving just enough clearance both sides?

Yesterday morning (north side, heading south), there were police explaining that it was fine to cross (in both directions) but we shouldn't use the left-hand lane whilst heading north... By the evening they'd almost entirely coned over the central dividing line.
???

PLEASE STOP RIDING THROUGH THE GREENWICH FOOT TUNNEL. THIS INCLUDES 'SCOOTERING'.

PLEASE DO NOT USE YOUR ANEURYSM INDUCING STROBE LIGHTS IN THE FOOT TUNNEL.

PLEASE DO NOT ZOOM INTO THE ENTRANCE OF THE FOOT TUNNEL.

Thanks.

LOUD^

PLEASE DO NOT ZOOM INTO THE ENTRANCE OF THE FOOT TUNNEL.
These fuckers deserve a shoeing.

these fuckers deserve a shouting.

ftfy

I cast a handful of carpet tacks into the entrance of the tunnel whenever I go through it now.

Yesterday morning (north side, heading south), there were police explaining that it was fine to cross (in both directions) but we shouldn't use the left-hand lane whilst heading north... By the evening they'd almost entirely coned over the central dividing line.
???
Is there any reason for not using the lane going North?

Is there any reason for not using the lane going North?

There was an unmarked City Police Shogun this evening parked up on the North/Queen St side. I asked what was going on & where cyclists/peds should cross and was told:

There is NO access across the Olympic Lanes (on Lower Thames Street) to either cyclists or Ped's ! The olympic lanes have unrestricted flow and do not follow any traffic lights ! I replied - ok that's going to work then (whilst pads were running/scrambling across the road as the ped crossing was barriered off)!

Sounds like it could be a bit tricky crossing here - watch out for liveried up Beemers who are not stopping !!!!

Looks like plod is making up their own rules as they go along.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/a3211-lambeth-palace-road-to-tower-hill-map-10.pdf

I cast a handful of carpet tacks into the entrance of the tunnel whenever I go through it now.

This actually happened once when I used to go through there regularly about 12 years ago.
It was drawing pins.

Does anyone remember drawing pins ?

PLEASE STOP RIDING THROUGH THE GREENWICH FOOT TUNNEL. THIS INCLUDES 'SCOOTERING'.

PLEASE DO NOT USE YOUR ANEURYSM INDUCING STROBE LIGHTS IN THE FOOT TUNNEL.

PLEASE DO NOT ZOOM INTO THE ENTRANCE OF THE FOOT TUNNEL.

Thanks.

but its fun