Commute in or commute out, whats more dangerous?

[karlos_the_jackal]

As the dark days are heading in, and after encountering two near misses this morning (one bmw pulling out in front of me when gong round roundabout, obliviously even though i now have my proper cycling shout "oii") (one mercedes pulling into a bus lane and nearly hitting me, although to be fair he did apologise)

I was thinking I have more close encounters of a morning commute than i do an evening one. In fact i don't think i've had any issues in the evening commute. Whats everybody elses experience?

 

[Theseus]

Evening is worse. In more of a hurry to get home than work & more of them.

 

[fossyant]

Morning usually, drivers half asleep, windows iced/misted, although when I was knocked of that was an evening. It was also the week before Christmas where everyone is rushing about.

I am using my lights now at 7.30am though, even though it's not dark.

 

[Absinthe Minded]

I'm with Touche - evening is worse for me.

 

[Alan Whicker]

I think evenings are generally worst, though the times when I have to go to work on a sunday morning i'm usually on the Mile End road about 7am. Despite the relatively quiet roads, It's without doubt the time when I have the most near misses, whether I'm on the Vespa or the bicycle. Car drivers seem to take joy in tailgaiting/passing within centimeters/jumping red lights/overtaking on the left at high speed/failing to indicate/driving at 60mph.

 

[Absinthe Minded]

Morning usually, drivers half asleep, windows iced/misted, although when I was knocked of that was an evening. It was also the week before Christmas where everyone is rushing about.

I am using my lights now at 7.30am though, even though it's not dark.

Yeah, Christmas is definately worse, and everyone seems to look more stressed and aggravated that usual.

I'm with you on the lights, too.

 

[BrumJim]

In is definitely better. The wind is usually behind me, the traffic less manic and less people ignoring the signs.
Out - I'm a little more tired, pedestrians abound in the park, and snogging couples hide under canal bridges.

 

[2Loose]

Evening is definitely worse than morning.

Navigating rush hour traffic with a whole days work stress inside them makes the poor cagers a bit more frustrated and a lot more aggressive.
Particularly during a full moon.

 

[jonny jeez]

I'm really struggling to determine a difference on my rides.

I definatley enjoy the ride in more as its more exciting, less lonely and nowhere near as hard work (with a big downhill start...you know all about that karlos...and the traffic jamming up to make me feel like I'm zipping along)

But I honestly dont see many "serious" incidents so I can't gauge an opinion on this one.

to be honest, I dont see that much poor behaviour at all, mostly pretty considerate road shares.. (an I come right in ...and through London)..i can say that i thank a lot more drivers that i tut at...perhaps that has something to do with it...yin-yang and all that.

I'm sure the moment I have a serious run in, my opinion will take on an instant form all of its own.

 

[J4CKO]

I find its seasonal, they seem very placid round our way at the moment, almost over cautious and considerate (not complaining) but then there seems to be a change in the mood and everyone is being thrusty and agressive, coming up to Christmas can be ropey as everyone seems to be panicing to get out and spend hundreds of pounds on presents nobody wants, more food than they normally eat in a month and enough booze to kill themselves ten times over for the two day festival of consumerism and gluttony.

 

[karlos_the_jackal]

Thanks j4cko for the social commentary.

Im now scared of christmas commuting! Luckily i'm going to india and nepal for a month for november to early december so miss out the supposed worse day for RTA's which is the third friday in november.

 

[palinurus]

My commute home is more dangerous I think. The two dual-carriageway roundabouts are trickier to negotiate in the home direction. Plus I reckon the nutters are nuttier in the evening.

 

[J4CKO]

Forewarned is forarmed !

 

[manalog]

In is much better for me, traffic is slower. Evening is a little bit stressful but not too much. Having said that a tw@t in a blue Porsche YE03 L** overtook me at very high speed when I was about to do a right into my street. When I see his car parked up, I hope I can control myself

 

[HLaB]

Potentially I think my evenings could be worse as in the morning its mostly uphill and visa versa at night. However I don't think I've experienced much difference. One theory in the morning more people are trying to get work in a shorter period of time (and throw in the school run) but in the evening people tend to leave work over a longer period of time.