Bikers as drivers?

[MrsMiggins]

I regularly get involved in conversations with colleagues at work about the relative merits of bike vs car. The conversations often turn to the subject of frustration at jams, delays etc and drivers are always surprised when my response is always "when I'm in the car I expect delays. My daily commute is 20 mins max on the bike and 25-40 minutes in the car. When I'm in the car I expect to be delayed so the different expectations in the car lead to less frustration"

How do you other PH bods feel about this? When I think seriously about this it's all a bit odd. I'm not in the slightest bit bothered by dodgy driving / delays on my commute when I'm in the car, but I find it HUGELY frustrating when I'm on the bike. Is this all down to my expectations when I leave the house, or is it everyone else's fault? I admit that other drivers' dodgy driving could potentially be fatal if I'm on the bike but is that all there is to it?

[MrsMiggins]

On the subject of bikes vs cars, why is it that as soon as someone finds out you have a bike they:

a) tell you that bikes are very dangerous
b) tell you a story about someone they knew who had a bike and is now dead

I always like to ask them how they get around every day. Whatever mode of transport they come up with you can always come up with some horror story about it.

"You walked?!! I heard about a guy who was walking down the pavement and was mown down by a drunk driver. Are you crazy? Walking's dangerous. You should get a car!!!"
"You drove?!! I saw the aftermath of a car accident a couple of weeks ago - driver didn't make it. Driving's dangerous. Look at all the crazy drivers out there!!"

etc etc

I feel sorry for those poor saps who don't appreciate the simple enjoyment of riding down a twisty A or B road on a bright sunny morning with nothing on your mind but the ride.

[MrsMiggins]

Hear hear. Compulsory CBT and bike lessons before car lessons can start.

Of course people would just do the CBT and lessons then never ride again, take car lessons, pass the test and drive as badly as before

[MrsMiggins]

Chuckler said:

I like Mrs Miggins idea...a lot....but then i'm an instructor....think of all that lovely lolly if car drivers had to do a CBT!! This time next year i'll be a millionaire!!!

I'm an instructor too, but only part time as I didn't want to give up my amateur status

I only teach CBTs during the busier periods when there's more work than can be done by the full time guys. Really love doing it. When people ask me what's so great about it I always tell them "getting paid to spend a day riding bikes and shouting at people? Who wouldn't love it?"