This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Yesterday, heading south on the A10, just before the canal bridge going into Shoreditch, a hi-viz workman stops traffic so a massive scary cement encrusted HGV can back into a building site. Fair enough. I stop, cars stop, HGV manoeuvres into position, and just before reversing into the site, a bike using person, in wooly hat, puffa jacket and high heels, cycles around me and straight through the gap the HGV is just about to occupy. Happy as larry, oblivious to the potential CRUNCH-SPLAT she's just narrowly avoided. Fucking un-BELIEVABLE.

I swap looks with hi-viz man and he says people like that give us all a bad name. I agree.

Shot through the heart and you're to blame

Yesterday, heading south on the A10, just before the canal bridge going into Shoreditch, a hi-viz workman stops traffic so a massive scary cement encrusted HGV can back into a building site. Fair enough. I stop, cars stop, HGV manoeuvres into position, and just before reversing into the site, a bike using person, in wooly hat, puffa jacket and high heels, cycles around me and straight through the gap the HGV is just about to occupy. Happy as larry, oblivious to the potential CRUNCH-SPLAT she's just narrowly avoided. Fucking un-BELIEVABLE.

I swap looks with hi-viz man and he says people like that give us all a bad name. I agree.

That used to happen every day when I was commuting down Whitechapel Road. The building site near the hospital. Used to have my heart in my mouth every time.

I refuse to agree with the whole "giving cylists a bad name" thing.
I never get credited with giving cyclists a good name through observing safe riding, obeying the laws of the road, experessing courtesy to other road users etc. Also, no one ever accepts that bad drivers give all other motorists a bad name. It's just another excuse to hold ill-informed, ignorant and unjustified negative opinions about a group you aren't a part of. Anyone who says that is a grade A fuckwit and needs beating about the head as soon as possible.

^that kind of violent outlook gives us cyclists a bad name.

;)

I'd agree in as much as the odd twatty cyclist sticks in the mind of non-cyclists, whereas good road craft is, by definition, invisible.

I'm sure it works the other way to a smaller degree, viz-a-viz hardcore cycling evangelists who have the odd bad experience with a car then think all cars are evil. I saw a sticker the other day saying 'one less car'. I don't want one less car, I want one better driver.

"Vis-à-vis"

#pedantrythursday

I've had it work the other way on occasion. Had cabbies roll down their window at the lights and thank me for indicating/shoulder checking. Very rare for this to happen though.

I was channelling Brent, I don't even know what it means

Nobody does. That's what makes it so powerful.

I refuse to agree with the whole "giving cylists a bad name" thing.
I never get credited with giving cyclists a good name through observing safe riding, obeying the laws of the road, experessing courtesy to other road users etc. Also, no one ever accepts that bad drivers give all other motorists a bad name. It's just another excuse to hold ill-informed, ignorant and unjustified negative opinions about a group you aren't a part of. Anyone who says that is a grade A fuckwit and needs beating about the head as soon as possible.

this +a million.
All cyclists are not united in some lovely common bond. Its so bloody annoying

My commute has approx 40 sets of traffic lights (counted with the help of google maps), 6.5 miles. Fucking hell, no wonder it takes so long to get to work. This morning I was also slightly delayed by a horse and cart. You'll be pleased to hear the horses weren't jumping red lights and giving other horses a bad name.

this +a million.
All cyclists are not united in some lovely common bond. Its so bloody annoying

I know exactly what you mean. It's like you read my mind.

train. again.

fml

79 sets of lights over 15 miles

Fooking temporary traffic lights have doubled the amount of lights I pass on the 15km to college.

From 1 to 2, FML

http://bikeyface.com/2013/12/12/traffic-talk/

Not on Penistone Rd. then.

lol, 'penis'

1 set of lights BTW

Yes, I actually cycle 0.4miles to work.

you're lucky. I hear they're fining cyclists who don't have any lights on their commute.

Lights = time to show off practise track-standing. More lights, not a bad thing. Also good way to be first off the the lights (then inevitably get eaten by a roadie hitting his big ring 100m later).

what's with people thinking track standing is showing off?

i trackstand always for a number of reasons. firstly i ride fixed so i find it really easy to just roll up to lights etc and just wait there sitting down until the lights change and can easily pull away. if i have to unclip i take a few stabs at getting my feet clipped in properly to my look keo pedals all the while i'm holding anybody up behind me.

but agreed what does look stupid is people who rock up to the lights and stand up track standing whilst trying desperately not to fall over, or the other guys who keep nudging forwards until they've gone past the red light and can't see when it changes, those are the funniest (or most stupid)

poser

http://bikeyface.com/2013/12/12/traffic-talk/

Ha! Cheers, now following her. :-)