Riding into Windsor this morning, there's a stretch of about 2km with 5 sets of lights. Just before the first set (outside The Bell, for anyone who knows the area), which were red, a car squeezed through and braked sharply in front of me. I went up the cycle lane and stopped, on the left, in the ASL. Over the next 4 sets of lights, this car (Ford Focus) passed between each set then stopped at the red, further and further to the left each time. Nothing much more than a typical moton, I thought.
At the last set, though, she obviously thought that I had a lesson to learn as her window came down as I was pulling alongside.
Her: "I had to overtake you 4 times!"
Me: "That's ok, this is the fifth time I've passed you."
Her: "But you kept holding me up!"
Me: "And now you and the other cars are stationary, holding me up."
Her: "You were going slower than the cars!"
Me: "Actually, I was doing exactly the same speed as the cars but I like to leave a safe area in front of me in case I need to brake." (this one made her pause)
Her: "And you were riding in the middle of the road!"
Me: "I was, thanks." (this had her completely flummoxed. She was berating what she saw as bad behaviour, and I said "Thanks")
Her: "Why were you out there?"
Me: "Avoiding people in cars who open their doors without looking"
Her: "Oh."
Me: "You should get a bike, you'll get there quicker..."
And, with that, I turned left down towards the river and didn't see her again.
I really should wear my camera more, but it was raining so I left it at home.
At the last set, though, she obviously thought that I had a lesson to learn as her window came down as I was pulling alongside.
Her: "I had to overtake you 4 times!"
Me: "That's ok, this is the fifth time I've passed you."
Her: "But you kept holding me up!"
Me: "And now you and the other cars are stationary, holding me up."
Her: "You were going slower than the cars!"
Me: "Actually, I was doing exactly the same speed as the cars but I like to leave a safe area in front of me in case I need to brake." (this one made her pause)
Her: "And you were riding in the middle of the road!"
Me: "I was, thanks." (this had her completely flummoxed. She was berating what she saw as bad behaviour, and I said "Thanks")
Her: "Why were you out there?"
Me: "Avoiding people in cars who open their doors without looking"
Her: "Oh."
Me: "You should get a bike, you'll get there quicker..."
And, with that, I turned left down towards the river and didn't see her again.
I really should wear my camera more, but it was raining so I left it at home.