The "secret" to a great commute

[Littgull]

Well that's you dropped down in my estimation.

Admire his honesty 9whilst not condoning Rljing).

Gone up in mine (not that I had a downer on him in the first place)

 

[jimboalee]

I care.

Having seen a motorist completely ignore my partners right to cycle safely on the road by driving at her, and then when confronted froth at the mouth about us all ignoring red lights, not belonging on the road, no road tax, should be locked up etc. etc. I do care.

I've been on the receiving end of enough anti-cyclists rants to get some idea of what the general public think. Even respectable colleagues assume I jump lights because I ride a bike.

And I don't care what name you choose to dress it up as, ignoring a traffic light signal is ignoring a traffic light signal. If we are on the road and not a farcility they apply to us. The only exception is when they are malfunctioning (induction loop not detecting cyclists).

Of course the bloke isn't going to go down the pub and rant about one isolated incident first thing in the morning. But it's going to help reinforce his negative impression. Chances are he is a bus driver on the way to the depot.

It's unfortunate the actions of some affect the rest of us.
The same way BMW drivers get angst because a considerable proportion of them drive like numpties.

From this, I get the impression you have a low regard for ALL motorists, based on a few incidents. You seem to think any motorist will 'grass you up' if you sneak across a red light.
Quite honestly, the vast majority of motorists don't give a toss. They would rather the cyclist clear off over the red than get in their way when the signal changes.

I too have been shouted at by motorists, but when I weigh up the number of abusive motorists versus the number of motorists who are not, the percenatge is rediculously low.
A few shouts and abusive comments don't install an 'all the bloody same' mentality in me.

There are times when I need to assert my position on the road by riding well across the carriageway. The motorists, probably 99.99%, give me claearance and let me move across the road. The 0.01% who blow their horns are just ignorant gits.

 

[iendicott]

Agreed, you can't tar all road users with the same brush, I am a part time driving instructor and I give all cyclist plenty of room and I use my indicators to let the car behind know that I am moving out for a reason. I also teach my students this. At the end of the day cyclists have no protection against a 1 ton car so this becomes a drivers responsiblity as well.

 

[jonny jeez]

Quite honestly, the vast majority of motorists don't give a toss. They would rather the cyclist clear off over the red than get in their way when the signal changes.

couldnt agree more.

As a someone who travels by bike, motor bike, car and very occasionally a big white van...I can say with some experince that I much prefer not to be hemmed in at the lights by a "gaggle" of bikes (all of varying competence) some of who wander and wobble about all over the place then start overtaking eack other...I never used to get irate when i saw a person jump away early from the lights ...or even get off and walk it across.

What IS the "collective" for cyclists?

Jonny

 

[Dan B]

What IS the "collective" for cyclists?

A "freeload of cyclists", of course. We're all freeloaders

 

[trustysteed]

What IS the "collective" for cyclists?

Jonny

a pedalon?

 

[jonny jeez]

A "freeload of cyclists", of course. We're all freeloaders

Snigger....excellent

 

[ed_o_brain]

From this, I get the impression you have a low regard for ALL motorists, based on a few incidents. You seem to think any motorist will 'grass you up' if you sneak across a red light.
Quite honestly, the vast majority of motorists don't give a toss. They would rather the cyclist clear off over the red than get in their way when the signal changes.

I too have been shouted at by motorists, but when I weigh up the number of abusive motorists versus the number of motorists who are not, the percenatge is rediculously low.
A few shouts and abusive comments don't install an 'all the bloody same' mentality in me.

There are times when I need to assert my position on the road by riding well across the carriageway. The motorists, probably 99.99%, give me claearance and let me move across the road. The 0.01% who blow their horns are just ignorant gits.

Abusive/ignorant motorists maybe in the minority, especially those who like to make their opinions known by actively endangering other people. (It's not just cyclists - it's other motorists too).

But neither you nor I have anyway of discerning who those motorists are. I'd rather not give them any ammunition.

I suggest you come to Manchester and ride on a bus up and down the Oxford road. Watch for all the cyclists and have a think about it from the bus drivers perspective.

 

[jimboalee]

On a lonely early morn,
Before the sunrise brings the dawn,
Schrödinger is up and on his bike.
I know his thoughts, I do alike.

A signal turns RED to his astound,
But he is the only soul around…
Does he stop, or does he go?
Take a guess, you’ll never know.

Found it.
It was from a while back.

The answer is simple, as one astute member told us....

He does both....!

 

[karlos_the_jackal]

my secret to great commute is having a bike.

now coming up to two weeks without bike.

and did a leisure ride of 26 miles in norway on an up and down route around a beautiful lake with hardly any traffic.

So now im biddin on anything to get back in the saddle!

 

[jonny jeez]

my secret to great commute is having a bike.

now coming up to two weeks without bike.

and did a leisure ride of 26 miles in norway on an up and down route around a beautiful lake with hardly any traffic.

So now im biddin on anything to get back in the saddle!

Where did your bike go?