This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Boom boom

Vehicles need two horns;
1) polite friendly, 'I'm here', maybe like an icecream van non-threatening tinkly sound
2) conventional, aneurism inducing, self-important, 'geddoudamywayyyy' alert.

Trying to express all human intercations with a one-note system is sub-optimal.

I think you just lean on it for longer the more frustrating/dangerous/traffic jammy the situation is.

If you had two, people would be running out of their houses to buy 99s only to be disappointed.

Had a taxi pull the same trick apart from it was more to try get me out the way. Over takes then gets stuck behind the car that I was riding behind (funny that). Got to a set of traffic lights and gave him the thumbs up. He didn't looks impressed. Thumbs up is def more fun than the fingers.

No no, blowing a kiss is the best thing to do. Then you get to watch their fat little homophobic heads explode with rage from a safe distance.

Maybe followed by a wink

Not a spelling mistake

Had a guy on a scooter ask me if I wanted a cuddle once. (he thought I was cycling to close to when while he was overtaking me.) to which I replied "only if you buy me a drink first." he nearly rode into the car in front of us haha

Always do that, can't beat a real sarcastic thumbs up or if at traffic lights a slow clap

Was it me, or do all the roads that are still wet with remnants of the smog, that little (read much) more slippy/deadly than usual?

Here in the West Mids the roads are covered with black water despite it not having rained here for a while. Not come off yet, but my back wheel spins out whenever I get out of the saddle to get going from lights and junctions

They are pretty effective on twitter. Apparently 40% increase and this weather is defo not helping.

Had a guy trying to get past me only to find that i was keeping pace with the car in front and there wasn't room for his massive merc in that gap. Gave him an accidentally 'saucy' wink while he was along side me - didn't see what effect it had on him. Sexual fury, perhaps?

This seems like the best place for this - any cyclist in London could be a policeman to stop close passes - http://road.cc/content/news/216339-exclusive-any-cyclist-anywhere-london-could-be-cop-met-police-trial-gold

Wish they'd do it for RLJers as well

Saw a cycle plod pull over an addy lee van for driving and using a mobile #justice

The look on the drivers face was fantastic.

Brill. I kind of think that should be an immediate suspension offence. It's not something you can do accidentally, or even just through not paying attention.

since when does riding in the right hand side of the lane with your arm out indicating right mean a car can still overtake you on an empty fekin road at 6.15am cos (s)hes in a hurry and revving the engine to the max means "i have right of way so stop turning mr.cyclist"
knob

went from a nice 2degrees at the start down to -1.9 at the end. local climate change! ;-)

Vehicles need two horns;

1) polite friendly, 'I'm here', maybe like an icecream van non-threatening tinkly sound
2) conventional, aneurism inducing, self-important, 'geddoudamywayyyy' alert.

Trying to express all human intercations with a one-note system is sub-optimal.

I'm sure there's a Seinfeld episode about just this...

If car horn is used in tiny bursts (two is normal) it says 'cheers' or 'I'm here'. A longer burst signifies 'Oi!!!'. As eny fule no.

Wore a jumper as well as usual tshirt + waterproof.
Such sweat. Many drip. Wow.

Anyone seen K&C's lovely cycling advice?

I used to try & watch Seinfeld when it was bouncing around the late night BBC schedules,
in tandem with the The Larry Sanders Show,
but I don't remember this episode.
Not claiming any credit, as I doubt I've ever had many original thoughts.

Off to rummage through the 'dvd cupboard'.
Certain mrs mespilus bought a box set of Seinfeld

on the arse of a volvo bus. which is hardly surprising.

It's a bit nasty, any hurt cyclist must have been suicidal, or maybe they were trying to ride wide of parked cars but kept getting death threats off following drivers.

Meh, I think it's fine. It'll either be seen by cyclists who weren't aware of the potential for injury in the door zone, in which case they learn something new that'll keep them safer, or seen by a driver who might now appreciate why cyclists stay out of the door zone.

No point in sugar-coating it, is there?