Tales from today's commute....

[summerdays]

Gave myself a nasty fright on the way home yesterday.
Coming up to some lights which go green, so I accelerate to get through them. (In retrospect, I should not have done this.)
They go amber quite quickly - more quickly than I expected. I jam on my brakes and stop. I am then overtaken at speed by a motorbike. If that had been a car, expecting me to go through the amber, I would now be in hospital or possibly dead.
Would a car driver have been able to stop, while the motorcyclist could not? (They were obviously accelerating to get through the green too...)

I've done that in reverse where a car and myself shot off quickly accelerating from one set of lights hoping to get through the next set about 50-100 m away, and the car did a fast stop, and I barely missed the back of it skidding to a stop with my wheel just going to the left of his bumper! I imagine my face must have been a picture of sheer panic!

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Back to a bit of normality this morning, 6-6 shifts finished so gave me more time for some miles. Sun was up so I thought I'd make the most of it and extend to a 40 miler. The first half I was lacking a bit to be honest, then found a steady rhythm. Long may these glorious mornings continue!

 

[Origamist]

Bit chilly first thing, but soon warmed up.

Roads getting quieter - 6 weeks of calmer conditions...

Told a driver to "wake up" whilst texting at a traffic light - she was in a world of Facebook, WhatsApp, etc and had missed the signal change. She looked confused...

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I bet you enjoyed that this morning @kevin_cambs_uk

@ianrauk must have enjoyed it

Its unreal, I shiuld have bet it would turn around and be a head wind again, you could not make it up!

 

[MisterStan]

Its unreal, I shiuld have bet it would turn around and be a head wind again, you could not make it up!

At the risk of jinxing it..... should be OK for the run home

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

At the risk of jinxing it..... should be OK for the run home

Lets hope so mate! I could do with a break!

 

[fossyant]

Rant alert.

Wobbly bob's get out the way or stick to one side. Nearly wiped out by one yesterday and couldn't pass one this morning.

 

[martint235]

A muppet b***h in a little Fiat this morning. Must get in front, must get in front. She got upset when I held position about 2 yards out from the kerb and behind a van. She had drawn up alongside me but because of parked cars on the other side she was now looking straight at a bus driver coming the other way. Lots of beeping until I took pity and let her in out of the way. I then just sat behind her for a couple of miles into Selhurst smiling nicely at her in her mirrors. I hope I see her again tomorrow.

Other than that it was quiet. Wasn't expecting the rain though, no one mentioned rain.

Same muppet today, I'm going to take photos of her on Monday. She truly is stupid.

 

[MisterStan]

Rant alert.

Wobbly bob's get out the way or stick to one side. Nearly wiped out by one yesterday and couldn't pass one this morning.

Had a couple of them recently - you give them a friendly - 'passing on your right' and they start wandering from side to side.

 

[martint235]

Had a couple of them recently - you give them a friendly - 'passing on your right' and they start wandering from side to side.

Isn't a case of giving them a bit more room? Kind of like what we all expect from cars?

 

[MisterStan]

Isn't a case of giving them a bit more room? Kind of like what we all expect from cars?

Not on a 4 meter wide cycle path!

 

[Keith Oates]

Head wind going to work this morning made the thighs burn but I felt good when I arrived in the office, going home tonight was fairly high speed due to the tail wind.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[martint235]

Not on a 4 meter wide cycle path!

But don't we as cyclists expect motorists to wait until they can provide sufficient room for an overtake? It seems a bit unfair to deny the same consideration to a fellow cyclist.

 

[MisterStan]

OK to clarify, i'm using the guided busway maintenance track. I see a cyclist ahead - 25 meters maybe, I say 'passing on your right'. They are on the very left of the 4 meter wide cycle path. I move to the very right of the same path. As i close on them, they start to meander over to the right. There is no obstruction in front of them. Is it inconsiderate of me to expect them to ride in a straight line?
ETA: Or chuck in a shoulder check before moving over?

 

[martint235]

OK to clarify, i'm using the guided busway maintenance track. I see a cyclist ahead - 25 meters maybe, I say 'passing on your right'. They are on the very left of the 4 meter wide cycle path. I move to the very right of the same path. As i close on them, they start to meander over to the right. There is no obstruction in front of them. Is it inconsiderate of me to expect them to ride in a straight line?
ETA: Or chuck in a shoulder check before moving over?

They were referred to as wobbly's. If they are inexperienced and they wobble because someone has shouted "Passing on your right" to them, then I'd expect you to hold back and give them room. If they are being deliberately obstructive feel free to push them over.

Unfortunately not everyone is an accomplished cyclist and for some even looking over their right shoulder will cause a drift to the right.