Tonight's commute was a bugger.
Last night's police diversion was the result of an elderly person losing control of a modern car, mounting the pavement and killing a guy. Could have been many kids.
Rain and lightening didn't appear. Head wind was a mare.
Passing through a small village centre (I'm on Main road and a road to my left), a guy on my left took a risk and pulled out in front of me/traffic etc and hooned it (as much as you can do in a Vx Meriva). Avoided hitting him then a lady approaching from the other direction decided to do a similar shoot move and turn right into the lane on my left, but I was there. Slammed brakes on, shouted woh, woh woh, driver applied brakes and the Merc bonnet just stopped short of me. Car was now blocking 2/3rds of my lane. Absolutely no acknowledgement that I was there, no apology, driver looking to just drive round me. I was not there.
All I'll say is Merc with kids in, scruffy part of the world where the houses are manky but everyone has nice cars.
Five minutes later, junction, crossing over a big dual carriage way. Lights go green, follow two cars in-front to cross, just getting over junction and driver tried to pass me as we're approaching the side road which has a 2m restriction with metal barriers and a huge speed bump. I held my line. This was a clueless idiot.
I have areas on my commute where you just don't trust drivers, as a cyclist is seen as a piece of poo in various cultures - if you have any status in life, you don't ride a bike. Sounds racist, and I am not, but on the road I have to bear this in mind as it's not the area's culture for bikes. The drivers just pull out on you, stop on yellows etc.
