Why, when the kids go back

[Bigsharn]

...does everyone suddenly forget how to drive?

Now, I leave the house at 9am for work, which means the kids are (mostly) already at school, and yet there are still folk that overtake on the run-up to a junction, or leave no room whatsoever?

I left work at 12:30 (quiet day, not a lot on), went out riding until 2ish and I could count on one hand the amount of people that left me a decent amount of room. Most passes were acceptable (not brilliant) and I almost ended up under 2 white vans, a builder's lorry, a bus and 12 (no typo) cars. Because I was on the fixie* I never caught up to shout at any of them either

*I'm still a bit uneasy about doing a decent speed on my fixed gear bike, I'd have caught up on the Galaxy no problem


Sorry, rant over.

 

[2Loose]

You have a point Sharn, the summer has been incident free and yet in the last two days I have had a number of passes where people haven't even tried to give me a little room, along with an idiotic turn into my lane space this morniing.

Sigh, roll on half term!

 

[daSmirnov]

I had the opposite, despite roads being way more busy. Ride home completely uneventful, looked at my speed at several points and was surprised at what speed I was going. Nice tailwind.

Ride in was a tad more difficult with the wind and rain. Had one guy speed past me a bit closer than I'd like. But at places where drivers would normally be trying to squeeze past they held back nicely. So props to them.

Now if only it didn't take me getting blown around all over the road to make that happen.

 

[oldfatfool]

...does everyone suddenly forget how to drive?

Because most of them won't have driven for a good 6 weeks, and they couldn't drive before that in anycase. Besides which the Disco (insert choice of urban tractor, other makes are available) carrying the darlings always as right of way.

 

[skudupnorth]

It's been a killer week already ! The driving standard has totally changed to absolute carnage
Roll on Friday when i finnish commuting to Bolton and start my new life in the country

 

[ManiaMuse]

Lots of motorists desperate to catch up with the back of the traffic jam today.

I just let them be and docey-doe round the back of them right after they pass me.

 

[Bman]

I've actually had the opposite too.

This week Ive been leaving at 07:45 to arrive at 08:15 (17:30 to 18:00 on the return), so it could be I'm too early (and late) for all the school-run-mums.

One poor pass today. I was in a cycle lane and think thats why he/she did it. It was the wind that made it too close for me.


Nothing else to report.

 

[Matty]

It's a similar effect to not being able to write when you go back to school as a kid after 6 weeks of playtime.

 

[jonny jeez]

I know we always seem to have these discussions around this time of year (I think the summer break up is a lot more depressing for some so their tempers are set high).

But, so far this week I've been screamed at once, honked at (for like 10 seconds) once for no reason than I simply "wasn't going fast enough!" (I was doing 30 in the wet on a motorcycle around a bend...sigh)...been about 2 feet from a pretty small but very damaging collision of two cars and watched two motorbikes get knocked over....its totally unreal, I've never seen driving this bad before....ij one week

Dont think the weather has helped.

At the risk of sounding smug, I'm really pleased I've not risen to any of it, just kinda kept on going.

 

[fossyant]

Been OK for me.

If a driver, watch the Monday after the clocks change in October - crashes on the motorways were stupid. Not my problem any more.

 

[Wades]

Went out for a 10 mile blast in heavy rain after work today and the idiot count did seem higher than average, and this is in leafy Surrey!

Lots of silly stuff like overtaking and then turning immediately left and plenty seemed to be trying to redecorate their mirrors with my arm.

 

[Matthew_T]

From what I have been reading, I am not looking forward to getting back on my bike next week. Normally on weekdays, at peak times, roads near me get very clogged up with cars. The bad driving used to be consistant, I hope it doesnt increase.

 

[upsidedown]

I have a 2 mile stretch where a school bus picks up. There are always a couple of moms who have left it too late and have to overtake the bus to get their kids ahead of it. Some of the moves they make are ridiculous.

 

[Trevrev]

Today is the first day the kids are back to school, full-on in my area.
Every other week i have to start at 9am, and my 7 miles to work have been a joy for the last few weeks.
That came to an abrupt end this morning! Complete mayhem!
Oh well...........Roll on Christmas!!

 

[Bollo]

We live about 30 yards from the local school so get the full force of the school run.

I'll be lucky to stay out of hospital this term based on the driving so far.