Bad day commuting by bike again
Discussion
It's almost inevitable really that my journey is going to be a crap one. I go from SW London to Se London along some horrendous roads, and I just can't figure out a way to do it on minor roads. Anyway, all you fellow London commuters probably get the same s
t every day, and don't complain about it, but I felt such impotent rage this morning I feel I have to vent it in some way. I'm not the sort of guy who will lash out at other road users, I don't think that's helpful. What I'd really like to do is talk to them, but in the heat of the moment it can never happen like that.
Anyway, for anyone that cares, here's this morning's fun and games:
Incident 1: Woman in MPV thing refuses to let me change lanes on the Wandsworth one-way system. I have my arm out to indicate, and I am travelling at exactly the same speed as the cars around me, and she rides up the bumper of the car in front of her screaming out the window of her car "You can't pull in here!" and beeping her horn. I can't even explain what must have been going through her head. Mental.
Incident 2: A funeral procession pulls up at a side road. I have right of way. The front hearse pulls out right in front of me, and I swerve around the back of it as the only way of avoiding an accident, and the limousine following it also attempts to follow directly behind and honks his horn at me! What the hell am I supposed to do about that piece of stupidity!? Maybe the guy was trying to drum up business by creating another funeral. Anyway, I could have had it out with them, but it looked like there were bereaved in the car and it wouldn't have been helpful to create a scene.
Anyway. Enough. I'm not a trouble-maker, honest gov. I don't jump red lights, I stick to the laws, and you still get assaulted from all angles. Rant over. As you were.
t every day, and don't complain about it, but I felt such impotent rage this morning I feel I have to vent it in some way. I'm not the sort of guy who will lash out at other road users, I don't think that's helpful. What I'd really like to do is talk to them, but in the heat of the moment it can never happen like that.Anyway, for anyone that cares, here's this morning's fun and games:
Incident 1: Woman in MPV thing refuses to let me change lanes on the Wandsworth one-way system. I have my arm out to indicate, and I am travelling at exactly the same speed as the cars around me, and she rides up the bumper of the car in front of her screaming out the window of her car "You can't pull in here!" and beeping her horn. I can't even explain what must have been going through her head. Mental.
Incident 2: A funeral procession pulls up at a side road. I have right of way. The front hearse pulls out right in front of me, and I swerve around the back of it as the only way of avoiding an accident, and the limousine following it also attempts to follow directly behind and honks his horn at me! What the hell am I supposed to do about that piece of stupidity!? Maybe the guy was trying to drum up business by creating another funeral. Anyway, I could have had it out with them, but it looked like there were bereaved in the car and it wouldn't have been helpful to create a scene.
Anyway. Enough. I'm not a trouble-maker, honest gov. I don't jump red lights, I stick to the laws, and you still get assaulted from all angles. Rant over. As you were.
I put up with it every day going from SE London to Canary Wharf. I had a coach driver almost run me into some railings yesterday; he then smiled, waved and blew kisses when I rode past his window. I have to stop to cross the road a bit further down the road, so I stepped onto the pavement and took a photo of him as he went past and am now considering sending something to his employer and/or the police. Some people just turn into morons when behind the wheel (or bars) of a car, bus, bike or whatever.
The coach driver in question was a tiny waif of a man with questionable sunglasses and a wedge haircut, so I can only assume he was making himself feel better. That's what I like to tell myself when someone is needlessly aggressive to me whether I'm in a car or on the bike.
The coach driver in question was a tiny waif of a man with questionable sunglasses and a wedge haircut, so I can only assume he was making himself feel better. That's what I like to tell myself when someone is needlessly aggressive to me whether I'm in a car or on the bike.
I had some knuckle dragger pass me yesterday on an empty dual carriageway. He passed me in the same lane only inches away from me, even though all he had to do was move a little into the other lane.
I normally try to catch up with these idiots at traffic light or junctions but after talking to a friend I think I'll stop doing that, he said that he caught up with someone who almost knocked him down, the guy in the car got out and punched him in the face, then kicked him several times when he was on the ground.
He spent a week in hospital.
I normally try to catch up with these idiots at traffic light or junctions but after talking to a friend I think I'll stop doing that, he said that he caught up with someone who almost knocked him down, the guy in the car got out and punched him in the face, then kicked him several times when he was on the ground.
He spent a week in hospital.
NitroNick said:
I had some knuckle dragger pass me yesterday on an empty dual carriageway. He passed me in the same lane only inches away from me, even though all he had to do was move a little into the other lane.
I normally try to catch up with these idiots at traffic light or junctions but after talking to a friend I think I'll stop doing that, he said that he caught up with someone who almost knocked him down, the guy in the car got out and punched him in the face, then kicked him several times when he was on the ground.
He spent a week in hospital.
fI normally try to catch up with these idiots at traffic light or junctions but after talking to a friend I think I'll stop doing that, he said that he caught up with someone who almost knocked him down, the guy in the car got out and punched him in the face, then kicked him several times when he was on the ground.
He spent a week in hospital.
k's sake.I've had to cross cars a few times recently to turn right, and I don't like it.
How do others manage? If the cars are rolling slowly (nose to tail) or going quicker they usually ignore my signal right and I end up stopping adjacent to the junction to wait for a gap to cross.
Or I pick a gap, then end up in the middle of the road far too early and cars have to go up the inside which isn't ideal!
How do others manage? If the cars are rolling slowly (nose to tail) or going quicker they usually ignore my signal right and I end up stopping adjacent to the junction to wait for a gap to cross.
Or I pick a gap, then end up in the middle of the road far too early and cars have to go up the inside which isn't ideal!
I feel your pain Mr Gear, but I regret to say your assessment is correct.
This happens on LITERALLY EVERY COMMUTE for me.
I used to get upset.
Now I just enjoy the mental challenge of spotting what ridiculous manoeuvre will be pulled on me next and then patting myself on the back for averting disaster by assuming that every cager is a bat-st mad blind moron.
I am rarely disappointed.
I don't really mind the SMIDSYs like your incident 2, but incident 1 would qualify for some choice road rage.
I guess there is no point in you hopping over Putney Bridge and following the Embankment all along the Thames just to avoid those horrendous Wandsworth roundabout/one-ways??
I truly feel lucky to be alive every time I go "over the top" and into the war zone that is Wandsworth roads...
This happens on LITERALLY EVERY COMMUTE for me.
I used to get upset.
Now I just enjoy the mental challenge of spotting what ridiculous manoeuvre will be pulled on me next and then patting myself on the back for averting disaster by assuming that every cager is a bat-s
t mad blind moron.I am rarely disappointed.
I don't really mind the SMIDSYs like your incident 2, but incident 1 would qualify for some choice road rage.
I guess there is no point in you hopping over Putney Bridge and following the Embankment all along the Thames just to avoid those horrendous Wandsworth roundabout/one-ways??
I truly feel lucky to be alive every time I go "over the top" and into the war zone that is Wandsworth roads...
walm said:
I guess there is no point in you hopping over Putney Bridge and following the Embankment all along the Thames just to avoid those horrendous Wandsworth roundabout/one-ways??
You know what, I might just try that tonight. I use the embankment occasionally on my motorbike and it always is mega-hectic, but at least there are very few turnings and the road is wide.I try to cycle to work once a week (32-mile round trip, so please forgive me) to stay healthy, but at this rate I am sure it is reducing my life-expectancy!
Mr Gear said:
Incident 1: Woman in MPV thing refuses to let me change lanes on the Wandsworth one-way system. I have my arm out to indicate, and I am travelling at exactly the same speed as the cars around me, and she rides up the bumper of the car in front of her screaming out the window of her car "You can't pull in here!" and beeping her horn. I can't even explain what must have been going through her head. Mental.
Yup mental. There is no logic involved - just a ludicrous sense of entitlement on behalf of the moronic motorist.Mr Gear said:
Incident 2: A funeral procession pulls up at a side road. I have right of way. The front hearse pulls out right in front of me, and I swerve around the back of it as the only way of avoiding an accident, and the limousine following it also attempts to follow directly behind and honks his horn at me! What the hell am I supposed to do about that piece of stupidity!? Maybe the guy was trying to drum up business by creating another funeral. Anyway, I could have had it out with them, but it looked like there were bereaved in the car and it wouldn't have been helpful to create a scene.
Your comments are very funny BUT........shouldn't we all let funeral processions through?...respect for the deceased, etc. I can see both sides but I might have just pulled up and let them through. The ONLY case I'd let someone get away with this though....In general I usually end up shouting at at least one driver per 7.5 mile commute. Plus the odd pedestrian/cyclist. If I get past three yells per trip I start to feel very stupid. It really makes very little difference. Well, unless the motorist in question actually apologies in which case I feel I have not only survived but have also notched up a minor victory. This actually happened twice this week which is a minor result.
angusc43 said:
Your comments are very funny BUT........shouldn't we all let funeral processions through?...respect for the deceased, etc. I can see both sides but I might have just pulled up and let them through. The ONLY case I'd let someone get away with this though....
I would have let the whole lot out if they were already pulling out of the junction as I approached it, but as it was, I came up to the side-road and the hearse just pulled straight out without a second-thought (or glance). There was nothing behind me at all, and it was just 1 or 2 seconds before I would have passed the junction... hence the evasive-action.I've got decent brakes on my bike and I'm not afraid to use them, but there's only so much they can do on skinny road-bike tyres.
angusc43 said:
Well, unless the motorist in question actually apologies in which case I feel I have not only survived but have also notched up a minor victory. This actually happened twice this week which is a minor result.
I had a Black Cab driver apologise to me just yesterday after very nearly wiping me out SMIDSY-like.I felt like I had won the lottery.
Seriously, a. I was still alive and b. he looked genuinely sorry. Major result.
How much do you commute? Are you fairly new to this (don't mean to sound patronising!)?
It might be that you're not riding aggressively enough, ensure that you're a long way out from the kerb, make yourself known and move with conviction when you're manoeuvring.
Good luck though, still don't fancy riding in London much - Brighton can be hectic enough at times!
It might be that you're not riding aggressively enough, ensure that you're a long way out from the kerb, make yourself known and move with conviction when you're manoeuvring.
Good luck though, still don't fancy riding in London much - Brighton can be hectic enough at times!
Bikes are great but when riding one you are a bit vulnerable, be careful..
I couldn't open my left eye normally but was still dazed when the photo was taken and so I opened my left eye but thought that meant I could no longer open my right eye. I'm still broken now four weeks after the event.
I couldn't open my left eye normally but was still dazed when the photo was taken and so I opened my left eye but thought that meant I could no longer open my right eye. I'm still broken now four weeks after the event.
Interesting topic, I commute into London by cycle every day, New Southgate to Broadgate. I find you have to be in the mood so to speak. I also used to ride a motorbike and treat the cycle in exactly the same way.If I wake up slightly doozy etc I get the train that morning, likewise if I've had a rough day and don't feel like riding home I'm lucky enough to be able to leave the bike at work. You do need to be 100% to be safe.There are certain stretches such as Haringay High St that I always unclip the cleats as I know that I'll have to take avoiding action on a regular basis, I see the whole commute as more of a mental challange now.
I know exactly how everyone feels. I go through it all myself.
Funnily after 10 years of riding to work I can handle the stupid manoeuvres by cars. It is the pedestrians who don't look stepping out into the road in front of me whilst on their mobiles that angers me the most. Most people seem to cross the road starring at the floor.
I usually spot them a mile off so don't really have to take evasive action but I have to admit I do give them a bellow in the ear when I go past them. Most jump in fright as they don't even notice me going past!
As for cars most of my route now is through the park so it is not too bad. But when I am on a busy road I ride aggressively - I have no problem cycling in the middle of a lane and letting cars behind me honk me. My theory is if you honk me you can see me.
Funnily after 10 years of riding to work I can handle the stupid manoeuvres by cars. It is the pedestrians who don't look stepping out into the road in front of me whilst on their mobiles that angers me the most. Most people seem to cross the road starring at the floor.
I usually spot them a mile off so don't really have to take evasive action but I have to admit I do give them a bellow in the ear when I go past them. Most jump in fright as they don't even notice me going past!
As for cars most of my route now is through the park so it is not too bad. But when I am on a busy road I ride aggressively - I have no problem cycling in the middle of a lane and letting cars behind me honk me. My theory is if you honk me you can see me.
shalmaneser said:
How much do you commute? Are you fairly new to this (don't mean to sound patronising!)?
It might be that you're not riding aggressively enough, ensure that you're a long way out from the kerb, make yourself known and move with conviction when you're manoeuvring.
Good luck though, still don't fancy riding in London much - Brighton can be hectic enough at times!
Well, I have only done this particular commute about 10 times on a bicycle, but I have done the route for years on a motorbike and I am not timid or slow when pedalling. I've been cycling on the roads for years. I'm pretty sure I am doing everything right. It just seems there is little you can do when some people are just so incompetent.It might be that you're not riding aggressively enough, ensure that you're a long way out from the kerb, make yourself known and move with conviction when you're manoeuvring.
Good luck though, still don't fancy riding in London much - Brighton can be hectic enough at times!
I definitely think cyclists have a worse deal on the roads than motorcyclists.
Recommend the OP has a read of Cyclecraft http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/
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