Tales from today's commute....

[Frood42]

Speakers down for the first thirty seconds if you don't like swearing:
Say what you like about my conduct, I can take it on the chin but the driver's excuses were incredible.

Ok, the camera certainly picked up your annoyance, and while the initial outburst was something to be expected in such a situation, I am not sure your reactions towards this driver afterwards when you caught them further in traffic would be considered wholly acceptable IMO.

I know it was a scary situation for you, but the police may act negatively as to your decisions afterwards, IMO.

I cannot criticise your riding position due to your speed and due to you coming up to that junction, I would have taken primary as well, as advised by National Cycling standards (links for newcomers below ). That pull out was sheer bad judgement.

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/cy...eability-Part-1--Side-Roads-and-Parked-Cars-0
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/cy...219-Bitesize-Bikeability-Part-2--Left-Turns-0
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/cy...Bitesize-Bikeability-Part-3---Communication-0
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/cy...ze-Bikeability--Part-4--On-Road-Positioning-0


However, to not take away from what this driver has done, why at the end are you using the road where it is clearly marked "BUS AND CYCLE ONLY" (1m 29s), and then becomes "BUS ONLY" (1m 36s)..?

I am more than aware that cycles lanes are not mandatory, but in this instance those road markings are prohibiting all vehicles expect Buses, so as I see it your only choice is to use the cycle farcility there..?

If you know differently please share this with me.


Besides from this incident, I hope the rest of your commute was good?
.

 

[potsy]

Hot hew:

My clothing plans are in tatters, been wearing base-layer with the Aldi winter jacket all week and not had to think about it, now it's too warm for it

 

[Frood42]

Well, that was interesting, took primary at a roundabout and had a driver decide to undertake and close pass, and another driver overtake and close pass, all while it was rainy/drizzly and the road was wet, and did it gain either of them any advantage, nope

Apart from that, the rain, and the chill it was a nice commute.
.

 

[apb]

Nice one, I'm 10 miles short of 3k miles myself.

You need to up your work rate. slacker.

 

[fossyant]

Thwarted on a Strava segment last night. Bloody walkers with a pack of about 6 ankle biter rat things (dogs I think). All over the show. Had to stop before they could get them under control, then they warned my about a pug who would chase me - needless to say he did. Took it carefully as the little bugger was right up close and I didn't want to turn him into sliced salami with my studded tyres. He moved slightly away, so I put the hammer down, before the little rat had a heart attack.

Got one back for @User1314 this morning. Made a lady cyclist completely crap her pants this morning

Flying down the A34 near Birchfields Park, with another roadie on my tail. Pass a number of wobbly bobs and was closing fast on another. Wobbly bobbette was in her own little world wobbling next to the curb in the cycle lane. I flew past on the cycle lane line/on road, loads of room, as I made sure I was closer to the cars than her. As I passed she let out this high pitched 'argh'. Would have made her crap even more as second cyclist came past. I just shook my head. Some folk need to pay a little more attention to what's going on around them.

Stopped at the next set of lights and bumped into a colleague who was experiencing the delights of single speed - snapped gear cable.

 

[Hacienda71]

Late start this morning, crossed with two GB ladies in Wilmslow, Looked like Laura Trott and Dani King, which was nice.

 

[Genau]

I passed a man being supervised by the police whilst he scraped the ice off his windscreen properly. No letterbox drivers allowed here!

I think they usually get fined too.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Got very wet this morning, not due to rain, but sweat, couldn't believe how warm it was. Might be a shorts job tonight for the homeward bound leg.

 

[jagman.2003]

Steady ride home last night. Alot warmer than the previous morning.
Slowly getting some rythm going on the winter mountain bike.
Last couple of miles is gentle uphill, straight Roman road.
Good to save a little energy to steam up that road.
Weather permitting, go the hill route tomorrow.

 

[ianrauk]

Steady ride home last night. Alot warmer than the previous morning.
Slowly getting some rythm going on the winter mountain bike.
Last couple of miles is gentle uphill, straight Roman road.
Good to save a little energy to steam up that road.
Weather permitting, go the hill route tomorrow.

Is that a song..

 

[jagman.2003]

Is that a song..

Could be....all we need is a tune. As it ends fairly optimistically it can't be a blues song.
It can't be country & western as it doesn't mention, horses, cowboy hats, trailer parks or guns.
Don't think it's rap...or RnB.
But as the bike is a Giant ROCK, it could be that. Or based on the effort to carry it over the doorstep I'd say it's Heavy Metal..!

 

[HLaB]

A short direct 2.4 mile commute this morning, I wanted to pop to a lbs at lunch time; I was there and back though in 25mins so I should have used my flexi time up this morning.

 

[paul04]

Warmer this morning than it has been, nice ride into work although I did see a cyclist who I think was on a suicide mission,
Just near work there is a very busy road, and the speed is 40mph, even I will not dare to cross that road, so use the pelican crossing, at lot safer.

So there I was 7,00am and dark on the busy road,slowing down to cross the road, and this idiot passed me on his bike, dressed all in black,black bike and no lights at all, and riding his bike without a care in the world, he did get a shock when a wagon driver blasted his horn at him., the drivers mate shouted out of his window at the idiot on the bike to get some bl**dy lights on, and said a few more swear words aswell.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Very mild again tonight, so let the fresh air on my legs.

Tapped on a woman's passanger window tonight, she refused to open her window and told me to piss off! I just shouted you ain't got your car lights on and rode off. Hope she feels guilty about being rude to someone who was only trying to be helpful. Karma paid her back straight away, next set of lights she was heading to the road was completely gridlocked.

 

[Black Country Ste]

Ok, the camera certainly picked up your annoyance, and while the initial outburst was something to be expected in such a situation, I am not sure your reactions towards this driver afterwards when you caught them further in traffic would be considered wholly acceptable IMO.

I know it was a scary situation for you, but the police may act negatively as to your decisions afterwards, IMO.

I cannot criticise your riding position due to your speed and due to you coming up to that junction, I would have taken primary as well, as advised by National Cycling standards (links for newcomers below ). That pull out was sheer bad judgement.

However, to not take away from what this driver has done, why at the end are you using the road where it is clearly marked "BUS AND CYCLE ONLY" (1m 29s), and then becomes "BUS ONLY" (1m 36s)..?

I am more than aware that cycles lanes are not mandatory, but in this instance those road markings are prohibiting all vehicles expect Buses, so as I see it your only choice is to use the cycle farcility there..?

If you know differently please share this with me.

Besides from this incident, I hope the rest of your commute was good?
.

I'm not happy about what I said when the driver pulled out and don't like effing and blinding in the street but genuinely thought I was going to hit the car. I don't understand what wasn't acceptable about talking to the driver. I was about as polite as I could manage and wary of keeping the moral high ground, stuck to the facts and didn't insult or threaten. The pointy stuff as I moved away, unnecessary but I think harmless. I'd just sat stewing at that red light. I couldn't hear over traffic but the rear cam shows her opening the window and calling out at me. Neither camera picked it up but she was was pointing at the 'bus only' bit I had been waiting in, which nicely brings me onto that.

They're really only there to reach the redundant toucan controls. Am I expected to go through the cycle lane on a green light and if not why shouldn't I be able to wait in the bus only on red? Besides, they're lethal conflict generators. In my direction of travel cyclists the junction narrows drastically forcing cyclists to move into the path of traffic crossing illegally. Even bus drivers take liberties so it's safer to wait there and take primary through the junction.

If it turned out that cycles genuinely are prohibited from that section and it isn't just poor road design/signage, and I got a fixed penalty, I think I'd have a strong case for appeal (IANAL!).