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Dibs! PM on the way!

I cycle regularly on Bayswater Road/Holland Park Ave and the Oxford Tube coaches down there often drive really fast and close. This morning one whizzed past me, nearly sucking me into his slipstream and then braked sharply in front of me. Wasn't anything too serious (well, not for London) but I dropped the coach operator a quick, polite email asking if they could pass on to the drivers that they're not giving cyclists enough space on that road (those coaches tend to pull in/out of stops pretty quickly and often cut up cyclists down there).

Almost immediately I had a reply from the company and then the duty manager who apologised profusely and asked for more details so he could check the on-board CCTV. Wasn't expecting such a response but was pleasantly surprised.

Totally don't want the driver to get into any unnecessary trouble, and mentioned that to them, but it'd be great if the drivers were more aware of cyclists down that road as it's often a bit too full-on really. I did make a point of commenting that the drivers are probably rushing around to stick to timetables so maybe adjusting these for London traffic might work.

http://youtu.be/hgCqz3l33kU

(via http://motherfuckingbike.com/)

Was just yesterday writing about my own cycling when I was little. So sorry to hear about this, desperately sad news.

Have been watching some of Taypet's other videos. Not sure what to say about them really...quite bizarre.

He jumped like a sheep when I caught up with him, and banged on his window and screamed at him about it though, which was satisfying.

Although I try not too; I shouted at a taxi driver last night. As he passed me on a street with loads of space he clipped my arm with his wing-mirror!

When we caught up at the next lights he was quite confused why I'd be shouting at him and didn't even know anything had happened. The passengers just looked a bit shocked.

Some crazy business in Bristol. Driver cuts up cyclist, claims he wasn't where he was and then drives off!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWXndP5zP58

Anybody have a decent Raleigh Twenty they'd like to sell in London? A friend is looking for one at the moment.

Update: Think we've found one already!

That's really worrying news, hoping that the rider is unhurt.

Write a letter to the Royal Mail as well, keep it very polite and said how disappointed that he put the Royal Mail in a bad light just for driving recklessly.

+1, be objective and polite. You can request a phone call back from the regional manager or someone in a similar position to discuss this further if you want to. It happened to me once (it was a delivery issue not a driving issue, but they should only take this more seriously).

Thanks both, I will do.

Had the most crazy Royal Mail driver last night that nearly wiped me out while giving me the finger. Simply because I was in a safe, primary position going around a roundabout. Managed to memorise his registration number and have just reported him to Roadsafe.

*I was travelling south on Hunter Street and approaching the roundabout next to Coram's Fields. As I was on a bicycle, I was positioned safely in the centre of the lane, having moved out of the cycle lane on my approach to the roundabout. As II'm familiar with the roads in that area and turn left at this roundabout often so know that there are always parked cars on the road and pedestrians crossing. Because of this I always take a safe line, often in primary position. This is exacerbated by a sharp right-hand turn after the roundabout so I do take primary position so that cars are more aware that I am in the road.

As I approached the roundabout I heard a large vehicle behind me and approaching very close. I checked over my shoulder and a Royal Mail HGV had come at speed down Hunter Street and was now approximately 2 meters from the rear of my bicycle and making a huge amount of noise. I kept looking around as I manoeuvred onto the clear roundabout, clearly signalling my left turn with a positive arm signal. The HGV continued to move closer to me and the noise was deafening. As I exited on the left-hand turn, I continued in primary position towards the sharp right-hand bend in the road, planning to move over when safe.

At this time the Royal Mail HGV swung out around my right-hand side and then swerved directly towards me, pushing me out of the lane and to the side of the road. As this happened the HGV was extremely close and I looked directly into the cab. I then noted the driver had his index finger up to 'give me the finger' with an extremely angry look on his face. After pushing me towards the side of the road he then accelerated hard away from me, it was at this time that I took his registration number from the rear of the vehicle, which was MX59 HUP.

During all of this I neither said anything to the driver, nor made any gesture towards him other than looking over my shoulder repeatedly to check his position. I was cycling courteously but assertively and had the primary position in the lane before the vehicle was anywhere near me.

In my opinion there was absolutely no reason for him to use his vehicle against me to bully his way through that junction. The roads were completely clear of vehicular traffic. Furthermore the aggression and offensive gestures of the driver were completely unwarranted and I believe his driving to be completely inappropriate for somebody in control of such a large vehicle.*

apologies if it's already been posted somewhere; just seen this ad on e-bay... either the guy is taking the piss or the bike is stolen. Hope someone recognises it:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/fixed-gear-bike-54inch-frame-needs-back-wheel-/190645813051?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2c63603f3b#ht_499wt_1153

At least it's got 'handles'...

The railling must have been moved sometime between the Googlecar visit and the ghost bike being placed. Was just a guess.

Sorry, I see what you're saying.

I believe that the works on the traffic island were to remove the railings. Wasn't the bike attached to those railings?

Deep's bike was locked to a post:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomadologist/6284105693/

There aren't any railings around it to remove from that island and I understand the island is going to be removed.

some of the advice above would have seen you screwed. Skinny jeans and hoodies? Laughable.

That wasn't advice, that was me saying I've had nice days in jeans and horrible days in lots of warm clothing—not that they should wear skinny jeans and a hoodie.

There's not really any need to get all arsey about it though.

Oh, it's definitely worth taking a Hoxton Bonnet too. ;-)

I've been snowboarding most years for about 25 years and you don't really need a huge amount of stuff. All depends where you're skiing and how close shelter is etc. If you're on a slope that's walking distance to a bar then you need very little. If you're off in back-country then you'll need a load of stuff to keep you warm etc in an emergency.

Mostly I just ride in snowboard trousers and a hoodie with gloves; it does help having something that's waterproof as you do end up sitting down a load on a board. Not so much skiing though.

I've never owned a pair of specific snow boots in my life either as I'm either wearing regular shoes (with some grip) or board/ski boots. In fact most times I'm away I'm either in board boots or nice shoes for a night out. Walking boots or something are perfect but trainers are fine too really.

I'd get a fleece and some warm trousers to go with what you have or get a cheap pair of ski pants. You can pick them up for next to nothing. You can wear a hoodie and your waterproof top and should be ok although sweating and cold is sometimes an issue as your clothes can freeze. Like I say, depends how close you are to the bar really.

It's like cycling really; you can do it in anything but you're more comfortable, especially in grim weather, if you have decent stuff. I've had great days boarding in skinny jeans and a t-shirt and grim days wearing loads of clothes. Gloves are, pretty obviously, really important though and I'd get some decent ones that are waterproof. Cold, wet gloves are pretty horrible.

Depends also on your budget and the poshness of the resort, but buying stuff out there might be an option too...

Not sure if that's any help or just ramblings. :-)

I'd been trying to find out for a few days how the bike has moved. I was involved in making it and it didn't seem that anybody else that was involved knew anything about it.

Seems it has been moved to the south side of the road by TfL for their 'works on the traffic island' AKA removing it...

Really interesting reply! Have to say I totally agree with you; vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians all get squashed together around there. They're all in their own separate spaces so I suspect they all feel safe but then they all end up together at the same spots. I never ever trust that vehicles will stop for me over those junctions and am assuming they haven't seen me. On an almost daily basis vehicles cross without checking the cycle lanes and pedestrians step out into the cycle lanes without looking. For me it's ok as I just deal with the situation as it is but there's always something going on, especially as the cycle lanes cross junctions and then onto a paved pedestrian area. Always amazes me at the amount of cyclists blasting down there straight across the zebra crossings and angrily ringing their bells at pedestrians.

This bit of infrastructure is a right mess though—think it could almost be safer just as a road without bicycle lanes.

Although I knew of Henry but had never met him I wasn't sure if I should go last night but I'm very glad I did, just wanted to pay my respects to such a well-loved man.

Does it really do any good? A trucker almost ran me off the road the other day and I thought about calling the number on the back. But then I wondered if anything actually ever gets done about it....?

I was run off the road by a Westbus coach the other week by a driver who was texting. Aside from reporting them to Roadsafe I also emailed them and had no reply. When phoning them they couldn't care less and the person I spoke to claimed it was nothing to do with them.

Still worth doing though—lots of companies have 'How am I driving?' schemes.

Passed by immediately after an RTI this morning going west on the cycle lanes to the south of Gordon Square into Byng Place. Car was stopped across the green bicycle lanes and cyclist picking himself up. Appeared that the driver had not yielded to the cyclists and gone straight over.

Cyclist looked ok but a bit shaken.

Horrible news. So sorry to see this.

This Guntree ad that popped up on Bikeshd looks pretty dodgy:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/single-speed-bike-bow-135/95495173

Great Condition
Very Light Weight
Smooth, Fast Ride
Hardly Used
Black Colour
Perfect For Anyone Between 5 to 6 Feet