Too fast, poor forward planning and a collision

[Bollo]

that hurts guys, it was dark as well, so the fear was the voice alone, you're not doing much for my self confidence here!!!

Don't let him get to you MacB, charisma doesn't need daylight!

 

[Amanda P]

Returning (reluctantly) to the original topic...

It strikes me, watching that video, as someone who rarely cycles in a city and extremely rarely in rush-hour London, that almost everyone moving in it is behaving irresponsibly.

When you approach a junction, with or without traffic lights, it makes sense to ease off and slow down: if they're red, you'll need to stop. If they're not red, they might turn red at any moment, and anyway, people will be turning at the junction, maybe conflicting with your path through it. Someone might even jump the red light!

No-one seems to be easing off on their approach except the scooter rider. In fact all the bikes, far from easing off, are busy overtaking one another as they approach the junction.

Then, when the lights change (who'da thunk they might change?!) at least two of those riders are caught out when another road user actually anticipates this and stops!

Now, I realise the rules are completely different down there, but maybe you guys need to relax and chll a bit...

What do you win if you get to work first anyway? Must be something pretty damn good to be worth taking all those risks for.

 

[MacB]

Ah, the bit you're missing is that Origamist is a cycling machine, South Londons very own Man Mountain just can't help himself.

Imagine, if you will, the Terminator sent back in time, not to kill Sarah Connor, but to commute at speed....he has no pity, he feels no emotion and he absolutely will not stop!!!!

 

[Amanda P]

...except occasionally at a red light, perhaps...?

 

[MacB]

...except occasionally at a red light, perhaps...?

careful Phil, he could probably convert a simple traffic light into a death ray and wipe you from the face of the planet....just mentioning like

 

[Origamist]

Returning (reluctantly) to the original topic...

It strikes me, watching that video, as someone who rarely cycles in a city and extremely rarely in rush-hour London, that almost everyone moving in it is behaving irresponsibly.

When you approach a junction, with or without traffic lights, it makes sense to ease off and slow down: if they're red, you'll need to stop. If they're not red, they might turn red at any moment, and anyway, people will be turning at the junction, maybe conflicting with your path through it. Someone might even jump the red light!

No-one seems to be easing off on their approach except the scooter rider. In fact all the bikes, far from easing off, are busy overtaking one another as they approach the junction.

Then, when the lights change (who'da thunk they might change?!) at least two of those riders are caught out when another road user actually anticipates this and stops!

Now, I realise the rules are completely different down there, but maybe you guys need to relax and chll a bit...

What do you win if you get to work first anyway? Must be something pretty damn good to be worth taking all those risks for.

I think that's a reasonable summary, UP.

A few rejoinders though:

1. If you start slowing on the approach to a green signal you'll get rear ended sooner rather than later as a high % of cyclists/motorcyclists do not observe the 2 sec rule in the bus lane. If you did adopt a strategy of preemptive braking it is at the cost of predictability.

2. I had executed all of the overtakes and I was approx 50m away from the junction - I did not want to be overtaking cyclists as I went through the mouth of the junction.

3. I'm very relaxed when I ride - perhaps too relaxed.

4. I don't get to work first - I extend my commute by 6 miles each morning in order avoid getting to work promptly!

5. People have their risk thermostats calibrated differently - I don't consider the riding excessively dangerous in the vid, but I'd certainly not argue that it was low-risk or best practice.

 

[Origamist]

Ah, the bit you're missing is that Origamist is a cycling machine, South Londons very own Man Mountain just can't help himself.

Imagine, if you will, the Terminator sent back in time, not to kill Sarah Connor, but to commute at speed....he has no pity, he feels no emotion and he absolutely will not stop!!!!

A cycling cyborg, I like that!

 

[Amanda P]

Like I say, different rules down there - and risk thermostats calibrated way differently.

When I drive into London (and I try to avoid it), the change in road behaviour is quite clearly visible on approach - everyone takes more risks. To an outsider, taking those risks to try and get a bit further, a bit faster, just seems utterly futile. Rats on treadmills is the simile that springs to mind.

That's relaxed? I won't ever try to keep up with you when you're going for it, then.

 

[BentMikey]

Although more risks are taken, I think the risks are generally smaller than those you encounter in the rural areas.

 

[MacB]

Although more risks are taken, I think the risks are generally smaller than those you encounter in the rural areas.

I'd agree with that, but we all get used to what we know, I still find London a bit intimidating, partly because I never know where I'm going(my own fault, I know). But I reckon, if something did happen, my chances of serious harm are far lower than further out of town. Yet I seem to be fairly blase about passes, out of town, that London cyclists find alarming.

Though the time we did the day ride to Southend the afternoon traffic was pretty hairy and very intolerant.

 

[User10119]

Indeed - I have made a policy decision, since the dun run, that a tandem is the only way I'm riding in that there London for the time being. I rather liked the fact that I could shut my eyes and just not look at the traffic, and on a solo I'd have got 50 yards out of King's Cross before turning tail and heading back home. Partly because any further than that and I'd have been hopelessly, woefully lost....