Andy 71
New Member
- Location
- Chelmsford
Took the car to work today as a one-off. After 3 days of homeworking, absolutely had to get to the office without fail to avert minor disaster. So I bit the bullet and used my car.
My observations about car driving in London.
a) Geez, it's claustrophobic. Felt really boxed in, imprisoned and isolated. Surprised I could see or hear a thing stuck inside my cage. No wonder cagers cause so many 2-wheeler and pedestrian injuries. Far more aware of my surroundings on a bike. Much prefer the wind in my hair only a bash-hat between me and the heavens. Perhaps they should make it law for motorists to drive around with their windows wound down and sunroofs fully back in all kind of weather;
Some pedestrians are COMPLETE AND UTTER NUMPTIES. The type I refer to are those who step right out and walk right on ahead with a second glance. Bad enough on the bike - worse when you are piloting a 1.5 tonne lump of steel. A couple of gentle toots on the horn woke them up. NOTE that I used the horn for it's intended purpose and that I didn't say aggressive incessant blast on the horn;
c) Being a cyclist, had no problems with cyclists. Call it empathy. However, there are still a few (usually trendy types) who feel that lights after dark don't apply to them - ' Hey man, I'm like WAAAAY too cule for lights'. Stupid F*****G morons. The inside of a morgue is pretty cool as well.
d) Texting/Using your mobile while driving is bloody dangerous. HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU NEED TO BE TOLD???
e) And as you can tell by my tone, I am knackered and unhappy. THANK GOD I am back on the train tomorrow. I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but come back National Express, all is forgiven!!!!!!
My observations about car driving in London.
a) Geez, it's claustrophobic. Felt really boxed in, imprisoned and isolated. Surprised I could see or hear a thing stuck inside my cage. No wonder cagers cause so many 2-wheeler and pedestrian injuries. Far more aware of my surroundings on a bike. Much prefer the wind in my hair only a bash-hat between me and the heavens. Perhaps they should make it law for motorists to drive around with their windows wound down and sunroofs fully back in all kind of weather;
Some pedestrians are COMPLETE AND UTTER NUMPTIES. The type I refer to are those who step right out and walk right on ahead with a second glance. Bad enough on the bike - worse when you are piloting a 1.5 tonne lump of steel. A couple of gentle toots on the horn woke them up. NOTE that I used the horn for it's intended purpose and that I didn't say aggressive incessant blast on the horn;c) Being a cyclist, had no problems with cyclists. Call it empathy. However, there are still a few (usually trendy types) who feel that lights after dark don't apply to them - ' Hey man, I'm like WAAAAY too cule for lights'. Stupid F*****G morons. The inside of a morgue is pretty cool as well.
d) Texting/Using your mobile while driving is bloody dangerous. HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU NEED TO BE TOLD???
e) And as you can tell by my tone, I am knackered and unhappy. THANK GOD I am back on the train tomorrow. I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but come back National Express, all is forgiven!!!!!!
Then I thought, why don't more motorists switch to cycling? I tell you why - because 'motorists' think it unsafe on the roads due the behaviour of 'motorists'.
Why don't people car share? Conclusion: A degree of selfishness. I can understand personal security concerns, but if there is someone you know/trust who does exactly the same route, it makes perfect sense to share costs and driving. But why don't people do it? Because if Person A doesn't keep exactly the same hours as Person B, that creates a problem - people nowadays want to come and go as they, and only they, please and shy away from entering into sharing agreements for fear of falling out with someone.
