Commuting familiars

[stag_on]

People are creatures of habit.

In a couple of months commuting for an hour or so each way from work I have noticed certain motor vehicles pass me both on the way in and way home, to the extent that I am puzzled when they do not show up at their appointed time.

Brown fiesta man usually shows up when I am just pulling onto the main road, can be heard through his car's bean can exhaust and drives like a lunatic every morning an inch off the car in front, although usually gives me reasonable amount of space

Yellow new mini with a private plate (probably a metrosexual 'non league footballer' type) hoons past me on a back road typically well in excess of the limit, if he passes me after the biggest climb on the journey I know I am setting a decent time.

A certain white van from a local decking company usually squeezes past me at some point on the way home, he's been honked a few times by vehicles coming the other way by choosing to pass me into oncoming traffic.

Who are your commuting 'familiars' and has anyone gone so far as to give them a friendly wave every day?

 

[CopperCyclist]

My only commuting familiar is bus driver number 21 who seems to genuinely hate being overtaken by a cycle and then have said cycle prove that cycling is faster than the bus. I only see him when commuting in for a late shift that starts at five on a Friday - but he's always there!

I'll give him credit that he never does anything dangerous to me, but it's noticeable that unlike other buses and drivers, once I pass him I can hear him puttin his foot down, and when he can, flying past to try and get down the length of the (long) road before me. I've even once seen him drive past a bus stop with people waiting that weren't to happy about it!

So far, I'm pleased to say I've always won the 'game' due to traffic and him having to frequently stop, and me not

 

[Moodyman]

My commuting familiar is a very attractive female who cycles in the other direction. I see her along the same stretch of road every day. She makes an effort to say hello every morning.

This morning, I didn't see her and my day has gone downhill since.

 

[fossyant]

Puke green Mazda I see most mornings - does most of my route, so have to pass it a few times, makes me feel sick

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

People are creatures of habit.

In a couple of months commuting for an hour or so each way from work I have noticed certain motor vehicles pass me both on the way in and way home, to the extent that I am puzzled when they do not show up at their appointed time.

Brown fiesta man usually shows up when I am just pulling onto the main road, can be heard through his car's bean can exhaust and drives like a lunatic every morning an inch off the car in front, although usually gives me reasonable amount of space

Yellow new mini with a private plate (probably a metrosexual 'non league footballer' type) hoons past me on a back road typically well in excess of the limit, if he passes me after the biggest climb on the journey I know I am setting a decent time.

A certain white van from a local decking company usually squeezes past me at some point on the way home, he's been honked a few times by vehicles coming the other way by choosing to pass me into oncoming traffic.

Who are your commuting 'familiars' and has anyone gone so far as to give them a friendly wave every day?

I have a Corsa full of students ( I think) that honk and wave every morning...

 

[gaz]

I must see near to 1,000 vehicles each day, the only ones i remember are the ones in the parking lot at work and the ones on my drive. All of which i have no problem with.

Bicycles on the other hand... I see lots of familiar ones.

 

[DCLane]

I must see near to 1,000 vehicles each day, the only ones i remember are the ones in the parking lot at work and the ones on my drive. All of which i have no problem with.

Bicycles on the other hand... I see lots of familiar ones.

The same - it's the problem with using main roads.

 

[ianrauk]

Same as Gaz, too many cars to remember. But do see a familiar amount of other cycle commuters.

 

[cyberknight]

I must see near to 1,000 vehicles each day, the only ones i remember are the ones in the parking lot at work and the ones on my drive. All of which i have no problem with.

Bicycles on the other hand... I see lots of familiar ones.

wow i might get overtaken by 10 cars maximum going to work , coming home on nights it has been known not to see a car for 5-6 miles .

Back to the OP ..

On days i regulary see ...

The dustbin lorry on the way to work

The arla milk tanker

The newsagent delivering papers to the farms in a little car thing , 2 seater and sounds like a 2 stroke engine .

 

[gaz]

wow i might get overtaken by 10 cars maximum going to work , coming home on nights it has been known not to see a car for 5-6 miles .

34 miles a day in London rush hour = lots of motor vehicles

 

[fizzler]

I always leave at the same time every day in the hope that the cars that I see every day might have that familiarity and think 'cyclist' before putting the foot down round every sharp corner or over every crest.
If people expect to see me at certain points everyday- it will be safer for me

 

[William John]

Don't recognize any vehicles to be honest, occasionally one of the teacher's cars if I'm in early enough, there are about five or six cyclists who I see regularly on the way, normally make an effort to nod as a way of saying morning.

Unless of course I can't see because it's raining too damn hard....

 

[ohnovino]

When I started commuting by bike just over 3 years ago, there was one particular p***k who used to cut me up at least once a week. He had a very memorable personalised plate so he stuck in my mind. I changed my route to work and thankfully that meant I didn't see him again.

Having long since forgotten about him, I recently changed my route again (due to roadworks) and on the first day I got left-hooked. As I swore at the driver I thought "that plate looks familiar". New car, but same plate, same driver and same shitty driving.

It's a bit scary that someone can drive in such a consistently careless and oblivious manner for so long, although I wouldn't be surprised if he changed car because he wrapped the old one round a lamppost.

 

[HovR]

Well.. There's the bright yellow micro-4x4 who plays the game of "Let's see how close I can pass without actually hitting the cyclist!"

A large silver pickup, and an old Morris Minor.

Then there is the older guy who passes me on the other side of the road, wearing a yellow jersey riding an older road bike. If I meet him nearer the top of the hill, I am early - If I see him at the bottom of the hill, I need to start pedaling faster!

 

[Hip Priest]

A woman in a Toyota nearly wiped me out into a skip yesterday. I gave a non-threatening 'more room' hand-signal. Today I saw her in the exact same place, and she gave me loads of room.

I think it could be the start of something beautiful.