Evening all. I've just got back from London on a visit from my outlaws. As always, I enjoy looking at anything bike-shaped and get a particular kick out of seeing all those skinny-jean clad hipsters on their aerospoked fixies. Unfortunately, this visit had some bike-related unpleasantness. In line with my scientific training, I'll try and present this as 'observation', 'hypothesis', (unfortunately skipping 'experiment') and 'conclusion'. I will swear. A lot.
Our family group was crossing Shaftsbury Av from Neal Street on a zebra crossing. The two whole cars on Shaftsbury Av had stopped. But, just as we are crossing, a gentleman on a black Cannondale slips through on the nearside of the two stationary cars and splits our group, narrowly missing my sister-in-law and my two month old niece in her pram. This was not a smooth dissection; Mr Cannondale wobbled like a dipsomaniac bike-polo player.
"It was necessary for him to do this to ensure his safety!", I hear the apologists cry. Lets test this. Shaftsbury Av was empty, so there was no immediate threat from the weight of traffic. The two waiting cars were doing exactly that - waiting. I've never seen anybody hit by something that wasn't moving. He chose to undertake them. Not the cleverest thing I've ever seen but, as there was no left turn near the zebra crossing he only risked being squeezed against the curb. His choice. I'd have waited behind the two cars, but what do I know, I'm just some country hick. Even if his manoeuvre was "safer", who was its safer for? Might I suggest that his risk assessment skills were, at best, a little self-centred. He was happy to risk tipping a two month-old baby on to the road in order to avoid some vague 'risk' posed by the only two cars remotely near him.
I don't believe he was 'minimising risk to himself'. I hypothesise that he routinely jumps zebra crossings (I'll place a bet on red lights as well) because he does not want to stop. I hypothesise that he does not give a shoot. I hypothesise that he is a c*nt.
Now, stretching the scientific structure to breaking point, here are some conclusions. I don't want a London-style cycling revolution because it's not the way forward. It seems to be about selfish people in cars and selfish people on bikes having a ruck and bugger the fallout. Like the spokesmatey from the AA or the RAC said, its become tribal. After this and a few other scenes that I witnessed, as a cyclist I felt a bit like the confused Nazi from the Mitchell and Webb sketch.
I got home this evening and went out for ride. During the ride, I (shock horror) gave way to a lady, even though I had the right of way, so she could make a right-turn more easily. Smiles and thank-yous all round. Pegging down a narrow lane, the driver following waited for half a mile behind without getting impatient. When its safe for him to overtake, I give him a thumbs-up. Smiles and goodwill to all men.
Why is this so f*cking hard to do in London?
Our family group was crossing Shaftsbury Av from Neal Street on a zebra crossing. The two whole cars on Shaftsbury Av had stopped. But, just as we are crossing, a gentleman on a black Cannondale slips through on the nearside of the two stationary cars and splits our group, narrowly missing my sister-in-law and my two month old niece in her pram. This was not a smooth dissection; Mr Cannondale wobbled like a dipsomaniac bike-polo player.
"It was necessary for him to do this to ensure his safety!", I hear the apologists cry. Lets test this. Shaftsbury Av was empty, so there was no immediate threat from the weight of traffic. The two waiting cars were doing exactly that - waiting. I've never seen anybody hit by something that wasn't moving. He chose to undertake them. Not the cleverest thing I've ever seen but, as there was no left turn near the zebra crossing he only risked being squeezed against the curb. His choice. I'd have waited behind the two cars, but what do I know, I'm just some country hick. Even if his manoeuvre was "safer", who was its safer for? Might I suggest that his risk assessment skills were, at best, a little self-centred. He was happy to risk tipping a two month-old baby on to the road in order to avoid some vague 'risk' posed by the only two cars remotely near him.
I don't believe he was 'minimising risk to himself'. I hypothesise that he routinely jumps zebra crossings (I'll place a bet on red lights as well) because he does not want to stop. I hypothesise that he does not give a shoot. I hypothesise that he is a c*nt.
Now, stretching the scientific structure to breaking point, here are some conclusions. I don't want a London-style cycling revolution because it's not the way forward. It seems to be about selfish people in cars and selfish people on bikes having a ruck and bugger the fallout. Like the spokesmatey from the AA or the RAC said, its become tribal. After this and a few other scenes that I witnessed, as a cyclist I felt a bit like the confused Nazi from the Mitchell and Webb sketch.
I got home this evening and went out for ride. During the ride, I (shock horror) gave way to a lady, even though I had the right of way, so she could make a right-turn more easily. Smiles and thank-yous all round. Pegging down a narrow lane, the driver following waited for half a mile behind without getting impatient. When its safe for him to overtake, I give him a thumbs-up. Smiles and goodwill to all men.
Why is this so f*cking hard to do in London?
