The loveliness of most people

[Sheffield_Tiger]

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.

What struck me on Monday when I went out for a ride in the darkness of country lanes, was the back-to-front nature of it all. The vans and 4x4s were the ones hanging back and giving lots of room. It was just the icy rain that spoiled it

 

[Chamfus Flange]

Yesterday, I had a typical ride. Muck like the stats given above. The 0.1% turned out to be a WPC!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

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

Try a rainy rush hour in Mid-Sussex, then you understand how wars start.

 

[661-Pete]

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

I shall eagerly await the video. Over to you, Claud!

The French have something called 'bras d'honneur' I think, which is almost guaranteed to fetch you a coup up la gueule. But alas! it's impossible to do it with only one hand!

 

[brokenbetty]

One of the things I enjoy most about cycling as a method of transport is that you do see and react to people. You aren't behind a windscreen communicating only through red and orange lights, or sitting in a train studiously ignoring the faces across from you.

To me cycling in traffic is more like a dance than a race.

 

[boydj]

Hard work coming home today in the wind and rain. Just made that bit easier by the number of drivers hanging back and leaving loads of room. Lots of patience and consideration - you could almost feel the love (as Darius once said).

 

[Banjo]

Trouble is that the one tosser who endangers your life sticks in your memory where as the hundreds of decent road users tend to drift out of your memory.

 

[jonny jeez]

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

Post them Mikey. I've been trying to put together a "medley" of good driving to post as a vid. The problem is, its so time consuming and the result is often hard (for the uninitiated) to spot.

Would balance the scales a bit though

 

[al78]

Try a rainy rush hour in Mid-Sussex, then you understand how wars start.

Out of interest, which roads in Sussex do you commute on?

 

[slowmotion]

Post them Mikey. I've been trying to put together a "medley" of good driving to post as a vid. The problem is, its so time consuming and the result is often hard (for the uninitiated) to spot.

Would balance the scales a bit though

My two pence. Good drivers hang back behind you. "Well, here is this WVM following me at 12 mph for a mile". It isn't exactly gripping viewing, is it?
Interesting and happy conversations would be a winner though.

 

[decca234uk]

I'd say that's about the right stats. Most drivers like most people are decent and considerate. It's the small number of inattentive idiots that are the problem but as mentioned above there's also a lot of inconsiderate aggresive cyclists as well.

 

[thomas]

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?

I know how lovely cycling really is!!!











- I sometimes give a thumbs up to drivers who overtake well....but then occasionally I'll do a thumbs up to a driver who does something stupid.

One has a little bit of sarcasm attached to it.

 

[thomas]

Post them Mikey. I've been trying to put together a "medley" of good driving to post as a vid. The problem is, its so time consuming and the result is often hard (for the uninitiated) to spot.

Would balance the scales a bit though

I've got some footage of good drivers.

In all seriousness though, I do:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcpO6NZIVFk


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zNue3bjKck


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zNue3bjKck


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WefDRQ7y8Aw


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AFJo3cBqac



There are more, but I'm bored going through my videos haha.

 

[fossyant]

London drivers seem pretty good with all the wobbly bobs on bikes you Londoners have. Some just don't have a clue how to cycle in traffic. Just spent 5 days there.