I'm a **** because I stopped at a red...

[very-near]

You got that one right. My real hate is the divs who drive in the middle lane. Most drivers don't routinely do this (90% of 4x4 drivers excepted, of course - normal rules don't apply to them) and are quite good so it's noticeable when it happens. Holiday time changes all that and I estimate the numbers of Middle-Lane-Malcolms trebles or even quadruples.

Did you just make this bit up or do you have any hard evidence to back it up

 

[Joe24]

Did you just make this bit up or do you have any hard evidence to back it up

No, thats 100% FACT

Ive just fact stamped it.

 

[PaulB]

Did you just make this bit up or do you have any hard evidence to back it up

Roll all the eyes you want. I drive 35,000 miles per year and have done so for 23 years and I have the evidence of my own eyes to back my assertion up. Do I count them? No. Do I see a larger proportion of 4x4 vehicles needlessly in the middle lane? Yes, absolutely. Does every 4x4 do it? No, but it's even become noticeable now when one moves over into the inside lane after overtaking, that's how unusual it is. Do you feel included in my assertion or something?

 

[very-near]

Roll all the eyes you want. I drive 35,000 miles per year and have done so for 23 years and I have the evidence of my own eyes to back my assertion up. Do I count them? No. Do I see a larger proportion of 4x4 vehicles needlessly in the middle lane? Yes, absolutely. Does every 4x4 do it? No, but it's even become noticeable now when one moves over into the inside lane after overtaking, that's how unusual it is. Do you feel included in my assertion or something?

Why would I feel included if I don't drive this way, and there are idiots in all types of vehicles - especially reps tailgating in the outside lane!

 

[tdr1nka]

very-near excluded, I find that in London the 'large' car driver is much more likely to barge their way thru, pass too close, and genuinely have no idea just how intimidating their vehicles can be to a cyclist.

I think this comes from the safe and comfortable driving aspect, being higher up, etc.

My bug bears are that Mitsubishi 'Warrior' thing, being favoured more by the traditional WVM or tradesmen and the Discovery 3, who's flat grill, when driven right up your chuff, feels as comforting and yielding as a wall of motorised granite.

OK, it's not the fault of the vehicle being driven, but as a lot of folk insist on driving badly in huge, and ultimately, unecessary cars that 'amplify' their personalities then a generalisation about 4x4s is going to emerge.

 

[PaulB]

Why would I feel included if I don't drive this way, and there are idiots in all types of vehicles

I know, that's why I wrote what I did. I just find it more apparent in drivers of 4x4s. They seem to have an arrogance about them. I also find it illuminating you took offence. Why it's almost as if you felt guilty about something.

 

[very-near]

very-near excluded, I find that in London the 'large' car driver is much more likely to barge their way thru, pass too close, and genuinely have no idea just how intimidating their vehicles can be to a cyclist.

I think this comes from the safe and comfortable driving aspect, being higher up, etc.

My bug bears are that Mitsubishi 'Warrior' thing, being favoured more by the traditional WVM or tradesmen and the Discovery 3, who's flat grill, when driven right up your chuff, feels as comforting and yielding as a wall of motorised granite.

OK, it's not the fault of the vehicle being driven, but as a lot of folk insist on driving badly in huge, and ultimately, unecessary cars that 'amplify' their personalities then a generalisation about 4x4s is going to emerge.

I'd say that the average warrior driver in London is a builder who wanted to flexibility of a 5 seater crewcab vehicle and a flatbed back for loadspace (which they are). This saves them the agro of running a WVM panel type van and a separate car.

The vehicle they would have likely been driving before they got a Warrior would have been a Transit type panel van and whenever I've driven or ridden in London, it has always struck me how the bigger vehicles push the smaller ones around when squeezing a gap. That just about sums up London traffic for me

Up this way, the Warrior type vehicles are used by a mix of agri/equestrian/builders.

I'm not saying I haven't had close calls with 4x4s on my cycle up here, but I've also had them with lorries and regular cars as well.

A badly driven vehicle is a danger to a cyclist irrespective of whether it is a fiat 500 or a 44 tonne HGV

 

[very-near]

I know, that's why I wrote what I did. I just find it more apparent in drivers of 4x4s. They seem to have an arrogance about them. I also find it illuminating you took offence. Why it's almost as if you felt guilty about something.

What are you implying ?

 

[PaulB]

What are you implying ?

Love to have it out with you but I can't be entirely sure stupidity isn't catching.

 

[very-near]

Love to have it out with you but I can't be entirely sure stupidity isn't catching.

Is that a threat ?

 

[very-near]

Love to have it out with you but I can't be entirely sure stupidity isn't catching.

I will repeat this just in case you missed the last one PaulB - Are you threatening me, and do you resolve all the difference of opinions you have with others with violence ?

Given you drive 35k per year, you must have a lot of road rage building up in your system for anyone who gets in your way, or have I read you wrong ?

 

[Jonathan M]

....in the car.

On a motorway roundabout. Approaching a light which had already turned to red. Car behind accelerating towards us. I stopped. He had to brake sharply. I get a load of gestures and mouthed abuse.

Hey ho.

Driving through Birmingham on saturday returning from Kent my wife developed quite a low opinion of some of the drivers, aka 4 cars (not good ones, just sheds) stickered up as the "Bald Ball 2009" with rally-esque names & numbers displayed. Drove like knobs, then left for the junction that went to the city IIRC.

One name stood out on two of the shoot-boxes, either Pettifer or Pettigrew. So if you know these people, or see them, feel free to call them w@nkers on behalh of my missus.

Rant over!

 

[goo_mason]

I will repeat this just in case you missed the last one PaulB - Are you threatening me, and do you resolve all the difference of opinions you have with others with violence ?

Given you drive 35k per year, you must have a lot of road rage building up in your system for anyone who gets in your way, or have I read you wrong ?

I think he meant a discussion on these very boards - at least that's how I interpreted it.

I think you're just coming over a bit paranoid, LLB !

 

[very-near]

Love to have it out with you but I can't be entirely sure stupidity isn't catching.

I think he meant a discussion on these very boards - at least that's how I interpreted it.

I think you're just coming over a bit paranoid, LLB !

He gave me the impression he was 'offering me out'.

he hasn't come back to either prove or disprove that, and generally people who make this sort of statement usually want to settle things in the pub car park - they are usually half cut when they do it though

 

[very-near]

A tax clause meant that a lot of self-employed benefitted from having these over a car, so many of them have a scratch-free flatbed. Dual-purpose often doesn't come into it.

What would that tax clause be and has it been closed yet ?