Chutzpah
Über Member
- Location
- Somerset, UK
Often I read a lot of your posts about poor driving on commutes and think "well, apart from the taxi drivers it's not that bad around here".
However, today more than made up for that... let's try and remember them all....
A car that swerved wildly and honked their horn as I moved out to go around a pot hole. I'm sorry, but if you need to swerve wildly when I move half a foot to the right then you were going to overtake me too close. And no, it's not MY job to stay on the left, if you want to overtake it's up to YOU to ensure it's safe.
Approaching a junction on the right, a car overtook me as a car was pulling OUT of the junction (turning towards us) and then turned right at the junction. Saved him (male, about 40 years old) a grand total of about five seconds and nearly caused a two car pile up with a cyclist on top for good measure.
Approaching a roundabout where I need to turn right. 30mph road but people happily do more than that. Shoulder check, car so far back I can only just see them. Shove arm out in the air. Do a lifesaver check about two seconds later.... glad I do as the car is now nearly alongside me and really going for it (female, about 35 years old). Saved her about three seconds as she turned left at the roundabout and about ten yards from my position the road splits into two lanes
The car who tried to overtake me as I slowed for pedestrians at a zebra crossing (and this was with me in the primary position!) He braked heavily as he was alongside me, effectively blocking the oncoming lane as we moved off (nice onward observation there bud- male,, about 40 years old)
Car not happy to be stuck behind a cyclist through a narrow street with cars either side. But nowhere to overtake as road is so narrow, and s/he wouldn't have saved ANY time as there's always a queue of traffic waiting at the junction at the other end
At that junction, the car who almost overtook a mother with two young kids (also on bikes) behind her signalling to turn right into my junction. Luckily(!) he pulled his foot out just before the point of no return.
Not cycling, but have to mention the guy who overtook me as I was doing 30mph in a 30 zone... and then proceeded to do 30mph in front of me. That was simply weird (male, about 50-60 years old)
Oh, and a special mention has to go to the cyclist in front of me who nearly hit a PARKED car as he was wobbling all over the road. I overtook as quickly as I could when it was safe to do so.
Luckily for me, that is the worst commute I've had in a long time. Normally I can focus much more on the positive encounters I have with drivers rather than the odd bad experience I have. Touch wood I won't endure it for another few weeks....
What was the problem this morning? Monday back to work blues?
(Incidentally, if you're wondering why I'm mentioning ages wherever I can, I've observed that for some reason I barely ever encounter poor driving from younger drivers, despite their reputation. Always more likely to be 30+... anyone else notice this or is it just me?)
However, today more than made up for that... let's try and remember them all....
A car that swerved wildly and honked their horn as I moved out to go around a pot hole. I'm sorry, but if you need to swerve wildly when I move half a foot to the right then you were going to overtake me too close. And no, it's not MY job to stay on the left, if you want to overtake it's up to YOU to ensure it's safe.
Approaching a junction on the right, a car overtook me as a car was pulling OUT of the junction (turning towards us) and then turned right at the junction. Saved him (male, about 40 years old) a grand total of about five seconds and nearly caused a two car pile up with a cyclist on top for good measure.
Approaching a roundabout where I need to turn right. 30mph road but people happily do more than that. Shoulder check, car so far back I can only just see them. Shove arm out in the air. Do a lifesaver check about two seconds later.... glad I do as the car is now nearly alongside me and really going for it (female, about 35 years old). Saved her about three seconds as she turned left at the roundabout and about ten yards from my position the road splits into two lanes
The car who tried to overtake me as I slowed for pedestrians at a zebra crossing (and this was with me in the primary position!) He braked heavily as he was alongside me, effectively blocking the oncoming lane as we moved off (nice onward observation there bud- male,, about 40 years old)
Car not happy to be stuck behind a cyclist through a narrow street with cars either side. But nowhere to overtake as road is so narrow, and s/he wouldn't have saved ANY time as there's always a queue of traffic waiting at the junction at the other end
At that junction, the car who almost overtook a mother with two young kids (also on bikes) behind her signalling to turn right into my junction. Luckily(!) he pulled his foot out just before the point of no return.
Not cycling, but have to mention the guy who overtook me as I was doing 30mph in a 30 zone... and then proceeded to do 30mph in front of me. That was simply weird (male, about 50-60 years old)
Oh, and a special mention has to go to the cyclist in front of me who nearly hit a PARKED car as he was wobbling all over the road. I overtook as quickly as I could when it was safe to do so.
Luckily for me, that is the worst commute I've had in a long time. Normally I can focus much more on the positive encounters I have with drivers rather than the odd bad experience I have. Touch wood I won't endure it for another few weeks....
What was the problem this morning? Monday back to work blues?
(Incidentally, if you're wondering why I'm mentioning ages wherever I can, I've observed that for some reason I barely ever encounter poor driving from younger drivers, despite their reputation. Always more likely to be 30+... anyone else notice this or is it just me?)
