This morning's commute and other commuting stories

"3. Road junctions (170 to 183)
170
Take extra care at junctions. You should

watch out for cyclists, motorcyclists, powered wheelchairs/mobility scooters and pedestrians as they are not always easy to see. Be aware that they may not have seen or heard you if you are approaching from behind
watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning.** If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way.**"

Sorry but this is a source of much frustration for me when I'm a ped. You, as a rider or a driver, are entering a new road, of which is in use by a ped. Yes, obviously look to see if cars are flagrantly breaking this rule and are likely to run you down - no one wants that -, but the rule still states, to paraphrase, if you have started to cross you have priority. What if the indicating car is behind you as you look left and right and cross? or perhaps it is behind a bus/line of cars coming the other way? What if it isnt indicating (very likely)? are you just supposed to wait around in the case of a car perhaps turning up? No, this rule exists so you can, after checking both ways, cross the road in safety and approaching road users (who, of course, have slowed down as they are approaching a junction) will give way for you.

Apologies I thought I'd stated that peds always have right of way when crossing the road.

Also, I was referring to when a rider or driver are on a side road approaching a main road to turn L/R, rather than turning into a side road, like the cycle lane junction in question in this scenario - I concede that I also did not make that quite clear.

mistertea is correct. We are very lucky that British law in this respect dates back to the days when the main conflict between road users was between drivers of carriages and people on foot. Sensibly, people on foot have to be considered first and foremost when they're in the carriageway.

http://i.imgur.com/XQHaEpQ.jpg

The modal filter shown is fairly old and a bit of a halfway house. We'd generally recommend the 'Culford filter' now, as seen at the junction of Culford Road and Northchurch Terrace/Road.

Apologies for the pedantic point, but pedestrians are road users. The road or street is comprised of the footway and the carriageway. It's actually a very important distinction to keep in mind, especially if you're campaigning for cycling and walking.

When someone shouts 'get off the road'--you can't, not unless you have a convenient private house, public building or park to dodge into. The road or street is for everybody.

I take your poing about peds being road users, this did come into my head while writing that. 2/10 more research needed by me.

However, I think part of my still point still stands when referring to:

"Sensibly, people on foot have to be considered first and foremost when they're in the carriageway."

As soon as a pedestrian leaves the footway and enters the carriageway they have right of way, but in the junction in question there is no official crossing so right of way would stay with the cyclists until the pedestrian stepped into the road. Who would then decide whether the pedestrian made an unsafe move into the carriageway? I'd always be inclined to slow up to allow a pedestrian to cross on that junction, as I always do when riding or driving, but clearly not many others would.

Had to commute around midday today. Riding at 34°C is NO fun. :-/
Arrived a proper sweaty mess...

As soon as a pedestrian leaves the footway and enters the carriageway they have right of way, but in the junction in question there is no official crossing so right of way would stay with the cyclists until the pedestrian stepped into the road. Who would then decide whether the pedestrian made an unsafe move into the carriageway? I'd always be inclined to slow up to allow a pedestrian to cross on that junction, as I always do when riding or driving, but clearly not many others would.

Cheers all. The difficulty with that junction is that slowing to allow a pedestrian to cross the flow of cyclists isn't always safe; there's invariably some super aggy alpha commuters coming along there who are happy to overtake at the point of the barriers by going through different gaps, plus a couple of cars that have just gotten out of the Drayton Park traffic jam and want to let loose... and as NH says, it's not always clear what a pedestrian's intention is because there's no clear crossing.

What I should have said was that I'm in no position to speak 'as a cyclist' per se...

First commute in this morning, on my Genesis. 10.3 miles, average speed 15.6 mph, with a sprint of 31.7 mph .. although, I can't lie - that was downhill in Greenwich Park.

That's my fastest time yet, into work.

'love it.

Do you stop at reds?

Genuine question.

"3. Road junctions (170 to 183)
170
Take extra care at junctions. You should

watch out for cyclists, motorcyclists, powered wheelchairs/mobility scooters and pedestrians as they are not always easy to see. Be aware that they may not have seen or heard you if you are approaching from behind
watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning.** If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way.**"

Sorry but this is a source of much frustration for me when I'm a ped. You, as a rider or a driver, are entering a new road, of which is in use by a ped. Yes, obviously look to see if cars are flagrantly breaking this rule and are likely to run you down - no one wants that -, but the rule still states, to paraphrase, if you have started to cross you have priority. What if the indicating car is behind you as you look left and right and cross? or perhaps it is behind a bus/line of cars coming the other way? What if it isnt indicating (very likely)? are you just supposed to wait around in the case of a car perhaps turning up? No, this rule exists so you can, after checking both ways, cross the road in safety and approaching road users (who, of course, have slowed down as they are approaching a junction) will give way for you.

A source of frustration to me, too. I cannot count the number of times I have been shouted at, had horns sounded at me, threatened with assault and/or death, or had cars driven at me, for having the temerity to be crossing a road into which a car is turning.

The other day, out for a walk with the wife and in-laws, we stood on a central reservation at the entrance to a side road, whilst about thirty cars entered.

This is one of those cases which merit forcing your way across, and making sure you have a collapsible baton in your pocket.

Do you stop at reds?

Genuine question.

Me?

Always. And I mean always.

Same thing in the eyes of drivers, no?

The problem with drivers.. I daresay it's a 'people' issue rather than a 'driver' issue, is that when people are convinced that they are in the right, they never listen.

I have lost count of the number of times I have remonstrated in an entirely polite and non-confrontational manner with a driver, and received a constant, uninterrupted torrent of abuse in return.

Best idea is to wait two or three seconds to get a word in edgeways. If you can't, then hard punch to the side of the head, put him in the recovery position, make sure his airways are clear, and ride on. :)

So many squeaky drivetrains this morning. I think tomorrow I will put some Finish Line in the bag and offer it up at the lights.

I cannot count

I have lost count

you should get that looked at.

My first RLJ today but I decided it was in my own safety and best to do it. Heading North over Southwark Bridge there is a bit more than normal traffic and at the back a bus next to a tipper lorry so no room down the left or middle of the two north bound lanes. I decide to overtake the stationary traffic and as coming up to the lights notice the bike junction is completely blocked with a combination of bikes, scooters and motorbikes and the first vehicle is a bit tipper turning right.
"Oh balls" I think as I am heading down towards this mess - as it is my commute I noticed the lights were a couple of seconds before changing to green so just keep the speed regular and head across.
My options had been (a) slow down and get tangled in the traffic as they all try and make it through the lights
(b) keep going, I know the timing of the lights so there was no traffic, Ped lights were on red and the only green was for bikes heading south

Right or wrong?

or c) get off and push your bike across the shitstorm until you feel safe and then crack on.

Uneventful apart from the MTB biker who smashed into the back of me.

'Sorry mate didn't think you were going to stop'
'It's a red light'
'Yeah, sorry' Cycles through a red light

^Lol.

Maybe its my absence and forgetfulness but there seems to be many more arseholes cycling bikes in London now then when I last commuted on bike a years ago.

The main area I'm seeing them is the cycle lane/cut through between Hackney Empire and Hackney Road via London Fields and Broadway. There are people cycling along (south-bound) in the morning with their kids on bikes out front, lovely to see... and then some wallies are over-taking them in the (north-bound) oncoming traffic lane and completely disregarding the fact that there are cyclist travelling towards them.

So then I have to break and pull up, change rhythm.....if it happens now and again that's fine, but two or three times every morning??? I feel like ploughing in to one of them just the show them the error of there ways! WHY F**KING DO IT?

The arseholes start (for me, coming from the Bexley area into the Square Mile) at the bottom of Greenwich Park, onto Creek Road and then heading west.

you should get that looked at.

The damage is done.

So many squeaky drivetrains this morning. I think tomorrow I will put some Finish Line in the bag and offer it up at the lights.

Sweet. I hope you're cleaning the chain first though.

Where will you be? I use the Gold ceramic stuff. Maybe you could give the frame a wipe down too? Nice one. Keep the change.

Hippy, look for me between Greenwich and Moorgate. I leave at 06:00 so be sure to set the alarm

Hippy, look for me between Greenwich and Moorgate. I leave at 06:00 so be sure to set the alarm

I'm going to have to start doing that. Arrived in the changing room at 07:30 this morning, and it was already bloody crowded.

Fair weather cyclists.....

Hippy, look for me between Greenwich and Moorgate. I leave at 06:00 so be sure to set the alarm

Ah, well I'm back in the city now so maybe I could bring the bike around at lunch today? Do you have any headset bearings? Mine are fucked.

I hope they aren't the Shimano 1" sealed ones. Madison doesn't stock them anymore, and they are a bitch to find.

Me?

Always. And I mean always.

Then you're going some! Is that urban London or do you get good stretches of lane between junctions?

Nah, I've been free from 1" headsets for a few years now.

Then you're going some! Is that urban London or do you get good stretches of lane between junctions?

Bexley to the Square Mile. Journey time 46' 53 seconds, moving time 40' 18 seconds.

I was in a bad mood when I set out for work and I was in a worse mood by the time I got there, thanks to every car on my commute being driven by the blind and the stupid, most notably a woman who rolled her car into me while "stopped" at some lights. We had a massive shouting match. I didn't feel any better afterwards.

Did you get her plates?