CS3 - this morning

[JamesAC]

I was cycling along Cycle Superhighway 3 this morning, when I encountered this.

I stopped, and asked the driver why he was parked on the cycle highway.
"Where else is there to park?" he asked.
"Not on the pavement or the cycle track" I responded.
"Don't be a silly c*nt" he said.

Now, I've been called such things before, and I feel slightly sorry for blokes whose life experience is so limited that they are unable to distinguish between female genitalia and a great big bloke. However, I'm pretty upset by the attitude of the guy. He was delivering a load of steel for a near-by building site. They're not ready for him, and there isn't room on the site. So .. let's not inconvenience motorists .. let's park on the pavement/cycle track, and set up a situation that potentially imperils the lives of those most vulnerable of our highways' users: pedestrians and cyclists.

 

[Brains]

The police will not back you up.

I had a similar situation.
I pointed out the copper that the lorry could block the road and inconveniance the odd motorist, or he could block the cycle super highway and the pavement and inconvience a lot more cyclists than cars, plus a lot more pedestians than cars.

Guess which option the copper elected to take.

1 car and 1 lorry are a lot more important than 10 cyclists and 10 pedestrians, and if it means that the cyclists and pedestrians have to endanger their lives then so be it.

 

[Tynan]

room for peds to pass and any cyclist that can't safely pass that shouldn't be riding in London

yes it's not considerate etc etc but hardly imperiling surely

 

[jefmcg]

Um, what about cyclists coming towards the camera? Are they supposed to go on the narrowed footpath, or into on coming traffic?

 

[BentMikey]

I really don't find myself getting very upset by someone blocking a cycle lane. They're such crap anyway, who cares? Just ride around it.

 

[Buddfox]

Agreed, I'm not sure what's the big issue here, just go around it? Given it's size, you'd have plenty of time to see it, anticipate, shoulder check, indicate, move out into the main lane etc? Is it too much to say cyclists stopping to complain about this helps to give cyclists a bad reputation?

 

[Clive Atton]

Was the lorry actually delivering it's load of steelwork to the adjacent property? If so it's hardly practical to put the vehicle in a pay and display round the corner and have the driver carry six tons of girders on his back.

What would you do if you were the driver?

 

[summerdays]

Um, what about cyclists coming towards the camera? Are they supposed to go on the narrowed footpath, or into on coming traffic?

Presumably into the on coming traffic and then get a mouthful from them....

I'm with the OP on this ... why is it OK to inconvenience cyclists and pedestrians - find somewhere safe to park up.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Park in the steelworks.

Was the lorry actually delivering it's load of steelwork to the adjacent property? If so it's hardly practical to put the vehicle in a pay and display round the corner and have the driver carry six tons of girders on his back.

What would you do if you were the driver?

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Was the lorry actually delivering it's load of steelwork to the adjacent property? If so it's hardly practical to put the vehicle in a pay and display round the corner and have the driver carry six tons of girders on his back.

What would you do if you were the driver?

I don't think anyone is suggesting that at all!

If you read the OP, the yard was not ready for the delivery, the driver was waiting for the yard to empty to gain access. It's the same as parking on double yellows outside the gates to a shop car park because it's not open yet.

Whether or not it's a big deal aside, the correct procedure would be to find somewhere safe and legal to park, then have the yard contact the driver when they are ready for the lorry to enter the yard.

Carrying things is neither here nor there

And to be fair to the OP regarding the "not a big deal" comments - I bet if I said "I go through red lights at 3am when no-one is around because who's it hurt, it's no big deal?" I would be lambasted by at least half the forum for being the antichrist on a bike.

 

[Tynan]

I think people were mildly expressing their opinion that cyclist are not actually being endangered or imperiled as OP stated

I agree oncoming cycle traffic isn't going to care for that but cycle lanes going counter to the road traffic are inherently problematic, I have a short stretch through Leytonstone that I no longer ride as pedestrians and motorists don't understand that it's there and any incident involving a swerve tends to put you into the path of oncoming traffic

 

[yello]

I have a great deal of sympathy for vehicles making deliveries in Central London, anywhere really but the problem is more intense in London. They know they're going to inconvenience someone, probably even get ticketed into the bargain, but there's not a lot else that they can do about it sometimes. Given the nature of the delivery they have to get as close as possible to the drop point and p*ss people off. Sure, some probably use that to their advantage and play on it but there are genuine cases.

A bit of give and take methinks, a bit of consideration all around is needed in such circumstances.

 

[fossyant]

It's only a bit of meaningless blue paint. Carry on, nothing to see. Got to agree with Yello about deliveries !

 

[Jezston]

I have a great deal of sympathy for vehicles making deliveries in Central London, anywhere really but the problem is more intense in London. They know they're going to inconvenience someone, probably even get ticketed into the bargain, but there's not a lot else that they can do about it sometimes. Given the nature of the delivery they have to get as close as possible to the drop point and p*ss people off. Sure, some probably use that to their advantage and play on it but there are genuine cases.

A bit of give and take methinks, a bit of consideration all around is needed in such circumstances.

Do you still have sympathy for someone who calls people c***s for asking them to not be in the way?

 

[yello]

I'd not be offended by the language if that's what you're asking. Nor think any more or less of the validity of the person's position because of them using that type of language.

I don't now the exact circumstances of the OP's experience but, on the face of it, I think the truck driver is not in a situation of his own choosing either (he'd rather be able to make his drop and be away) so I think his short response is apt even if likely to upset people of a more sensitive disposition.

Had I have been that driver I probably shrugged at the OP and said words to the effect of 'sorry mate, not a lot I can do about it'.