This mornings cycling commute
Discussion
So this is what happened to me on this mornings cycle into work. Let me just say I have been doing this route every day for a couple of years now and never has anything like this happened to me. I've never seen it happen to anyone else either!
There is a small stage (I like to break the trip into stages and give myself split times every day) of the commute through some residential streets which then pops out onto a pretty busy main road. I have to turn right onto the main road so have to wait for a break in traffic.
There is a pedestrian crossing on the main road about 20m to the left of the junction (my left as I'm waiting for a break in traffic).
Normally the pedestrian crossing goes off once or twice a minute so once the lights go red I just have to wait for the inevitable bus or lorry to pull right across in front of the junction blocking anyone from pulling out, then negotiate around the back of that, quick glance and I'm away (new split stage).
Anyway, that's what normally happens, today however, something happened which I am really struggling to explain. I pulled up to the junction as normal and saw that the pedestrian crossing was on green and there was a substantial queue of traffic.
So I waited. As I was waiting, some sort of small car approached from my right, driven by a young 20's female, it must have been a Mini or something else terrible. Now this is the bit you've been waiting for, as it approached, it came to a stop! I looked at the driver for a moment and then,
unbelievably, she indicated for me to pull out. I believe the correct motoring parlez is 'she was letting me off'.
I can't make any sense of this and have absolutely no idea why a complete stranger would behave in such a way to a cyclist.
After a few seconds of awkwardly trying to jam my feet onto the pedals and grab the handlebars I did actually manage to get across the road, forgetting to set a new split stage in the process and ruining my timing.
Someone must be able to help me explain this utterly bewildering event? It defies all previous knowledge of motorist-cyclist interaction.
Surely this must just be a one off, a blip, a temporary dressing applied to the wounds of a vicious war? If it is the beginning of some sort of new world order then help us. How will society function if total strangers, who identify themselves not through any human interaction but
only by mode of transport, can't scream abuse at each other over perceived minor traffic violations.
This has shook me to the core and I really don't know if I will be able to cope. Am I now expected to return the favour to another random motorist?
Or should I wait until I am driving and return the favour to a cyclist? I really need advice on how to proceed with this.
There is a small stage (I like to break the trip into stages and give myself split times every day) of the commute through some residential streets which then pops out onto a pretty busy main road. I have to turn right onto the main road so have to wait for a break in traffic.
There is a pedestrian crossing on the main road about 20m to the left of the junction (my left as I'm waiting for a break in traffic).
Normally the pedestrian crossing goes off once or twice a minute so once the lights go red I just have to wait for the inevitable bus or lorry to pull right across in front of the junction blocking anyone from pulling out, then negotiate around the back of that, quick glance and I'm away (new split stage).
Anyway, that's what normally happens, today however, something happened which I am really struggling to explain. I pulled up to the junction as normal and saw that the pedestrian crossing was on green and there was a substantial queue of traffic.
So I waited. As I was waiting, some sort of small car approached from my right, driven by a young 20's female, it must have been a Mini or something else terrible. Now this is the bit you've been waiting for, as it approached, it came to a stop! I looked at the driver for a moment and then,
unbelievably, she indicated for me to pull out. I believe the correct motoring parlez is 'she was letting me off'.
I can't make any sense of this and have absolutely no idea why a complete stranger would behave in such a way to a cyclist.
After a few seconds of awkwardly trying to jam my feet onto the pedals and grab the handlebars I did actually manage to get across the road, forgetting to set a new split stage in the process and ruining my timing.
Someone must be able to help me explain this utterly bewildering event? It defies all previous knowledge of motorist-cyclist interaction.
Surely this must just be a one off, a blip, a temporary dressing applied to the wounds of a vicious war? If it is the beginning of some sort of new world order then help us. How will society function if total strangers, who identify themselves not through any human interaction but
only by mode of transport, can't scream abuse at each other over perceived minor traffic violations.
This has shook me to the core and I really don't know if I will be able to cope. Am I now expected to return the favour to another random motorist?
Or should I wait until I am driving and return the favour to a cyclist? I really need advice on how to proceed with this.
She liked the cut of your jib, evidently!
I let cyclists out and give way to them a lot - I know it's less physical effort for me in a car to stop and start again. Most of them - apart from some of the weekend lycra brigade - are very courteous back.
But I'm out in the sticks. Are you posting from a big city where everyone hates each other?
I let cyclists out and give way to them a lot - I know it's less physical effort for me in a car to stop and start again. Most of them - apart from some of the weekend lycra brigade - are very courteous back.
But I'm out in the sticks. Are you posting from a big city where everyone hates each other?
Apocalypto said:
There is a small stage (I like to break the trip into stages and give myself split times every day)
(new split stage).
forgetting to set a new split stage in the process and ruining my timing.
I really need advice on how to proceed with this.
Stop treating the roads and your commute as a racetrack and you'll be much better placed to cope with other traffic.(new split stage).
forgetting to set a new split stage in the process and ruining my timing.
I really need advice on how to proceed with this.
Apocalypto said:
So this is what happened to me on this mornings cycle into work. Let me just say I have been doing this route every day for a couple of years now and never has anything like this happened to me. I've never seen it happen to anyone else either!
There is a small stage (I like to break the trip into stages and give myself split times every day) of the commute through some residential streets which then pops out onto a pretty busy main road. I have to turn right onto the main road so have to wait for a break in traffic.
There is a pedestrian crossing on the main road about 20m to the left of the junction (my left as I'm waiting for a break in traffic).
Normally the pedestrian crossing goes off once or twice a minute so once the lights go red I just have to wait for the inevitable bus or lorry to pull right across in front of the junction blocking anyone from pulling out, then negotiate around the back of that, quick glance and I'm away (new split stage).
Anyway, that's what normally happens, today however, something happened which I am really struggling to explain. I pulled up to the junction as normal and saw that the pedestrian crossing was on green and there was a substantial queue of traffic.
So I waited. As I was waiting, some sort of small car approached from my right, driven by a young 20's female, it must have been a Mini or something else terrible.
I got to this point then realised you were a toolbox.There is a small stage (I like to break the trip into stages and give myself split times every day) of the commute through some residential streets which then pops out onto a pretty busy main road. I have to turn right onto the main road so have to wait for a break in traffic.
There is a pedestrian crossing on the main road about 20m to the left of the junction (my left as I'm waiting for a break in traffic).
Normally the pedestrian crossing goes off once or twice a minute so once the lights go red I just have to wait for the inevitable bus or lorry to pull right across in front of the junction blocking anyone from pulling out, then negotiate around the back of that, quick glance and I'm away (new split stage).
Anyway, that's what normally happens, today however, something happened which I am really struggling to explain. I pulled up to the junction as normal and saw that the pedestrian crossing was on green and there was a substantial queue of traffic.
So I waited. As I was waiting, some sort of small car approached from my right, driven by a young 20's female, it must have been a Mini or something else terrible.
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