The loveliness of most people

[brokenbetty]

I know these posts aren't as exciting as the ones full of p*ss and vinegar, but let's not forget the lovely drivers out there in the world.

Today was a typical day

Distance: 11 miles
Waves to drivers in appreciation of their hanging back or otherwise being considerate: 9
Of which reciporated: 5
Of which bus: 1 (bus driver wave scores 10!)
People I shouted at: 1 cyclist
Drivers who overtook cheekily: 1
Drivers who caused me no concern whatesoever: 50+

 

[slowmotion]

I know these posts aren't as exciting as the ones full of p*ss and vinegar, but let's not forget the lovely drivers out there in the world.

Today was a typical day

Distance: 11 miles
Waves to drivers in appreciation of their hanging back or otherwise being considerate: 9
Of which reciporated: 5
Of which bus: 1 (bus driver wave scores 10!)
People I shouted at: 1 cyclist
Drivers who overtook cheekily: 1
Drivers who caused me no concern whatesoever: 50+

I do not know where you are, but London drivers are pretty good. The only people I really wanted to shout at in the last week were cyclists who behave like arrogant prats. Plenty of them. ( is that piss and vinegar?)

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I'm commuting between Coventry and Nuneaton and 99.9% of drivers are pretty good, now if we could get something done about the .1% it would be perfect. As it is nearly all the rides are just routine, its just the weather thats providing the interest, its blowing a hoolie and peeing down this morning for the second time this week.

 

[BentMikey]

Same here, though you'd never guess from my youtube channel. I must have a couple of thousand good driver interactions on every commute.

 

[Ste T.]

Nice post BB. Lets be honest. Most drivers are decent and fairly safety minded. For all that we moan when we do have a run in with somebody, they are the exception. If they weren't we would all be arriving at work like gibbering wrecks


Didn't stop me wanting to punch somebody at the weekend though.!

 

[661-Pete]

Most of my rides are something like that. Good call, deserves to be put at the top of the forum in bold type, helps to show all those Doubting Thomases, how nice cycling really is, 99% of the time!

I sometimes wonder about the 'wave' to a motorist who's been considerate. I'd hate to think my gesture might be misinterpreted, what if my 'thumbs-up' were mistaken for a 'w*****' sign? Sometimes I give a sort of Naval salute (palm down) because (a) it doesn't need a twist of the hand, and (b) surely can't be mis-interpreted. Or is that too affected a gesture?

 

[theclaud]

Most of my rides are something like that. Good call, deserves to be put at the top of the forum in bold type, helps to show all those Doubting Thomases, how nice cycling really is, 99% of the time!

I sometimes wonder about the 'wave' to a motorist who's been considerate. I'd hate to think my gesture might be misinterpreted, what if my 'thumbs-up' were mistaken for a 'w*****' sign? Sometimes I give a sort of Naval salute (palm down) because (a) it doesn't need a twist of the hand, and (b) surely can't be mis-interpreted. Or is that too affected a gesture?

You need to work on your "self-gratification artist" sign a bit, I think.

 

[Poggs]

The lovely people - the ones that smile, let me out, look before crossing the road - they give me a warm feeling and make slogging my guts out worth it.

It offsets those who text as they're crossing the road, or just wander out between cars and don't look. One of these days, I'm going to stop at their feet, say "Good morning!" and give them a shock when they see me.

 

[Origamist]

I have overwhelmingly more positve interactions with drivers, cyclists and pedestrians on my commute than negative incidents.

At the moment I am compiling a vid with people smiling, waving, and nodding at me when I give way to them - it's far more therapeutic than posting a "smash" "SMIDSY" or a "near miss" vid...

 

[dellzeqq]

it's certainly got better in London, but cycling through Berkshire always leaves me pondering human deficiencies

 

[Origamist]

it's certainly got better in London, but cycling through Berkshire always leaves me pondering human deficiencies

I feel the same about Mitcham...

 

[ferret fur]

On the other hand when getting into your Lancaster bomber during WW2 there was less than a 5% chance of it ending nastily on any given raid. Over 50,000 of them died.

99% of people being Ok still means that out of the 500 drivers you interact with on a busy commute 5 people are trying to kill you.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Unfortunately when you get the one who explicitly treatens to knock you off, it spoilts any warm fluffy feelings.

Will review footage but think it's mostly audio (for which the ATC is not good for) and would have really needed a rear facing cam. Did unclip cam from mount on bars though and point it directly at his number plate and then face but I doubt footage is good enough for taking anything further

6 inches was generous in describing the distance between his front nearside corner and my back wheel

 

[yello]

I think in life generally that the majority of people are good and descent folk.

We all have bad days sometimes, or react sometimes in ways disproportional to the event (this itself normally a hangover from a previous incident), so I like to allow some slack. I think there are very very few (if any) embodiments of pure evil out there. Sadly, some people have heavy baggage and that causes them to be unhappy and/or angry. I like to avoid such people. I can sympathise but not help!

 

[Midnight]

Last weekend, I ventured out onto rural, NSL roads for the first time. It was already near dark when I set off, but it had to be done, and I'll admit I was apprehensive at the prospect of sharing the road with some of the drivers I see in town.

But I was pleasantly surprised by how considerate the motorists where - the vast majority gave me a wide berth when passing, or waited patiently at pinch points and sharp corners, and (nearly) all of the on-coming cars dipped their headlights for me.

It turned out to be an enjoyable ride, and I now feel far less apprehensive about doing it again.