http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Horrible Commute en Wed, 13 May 2026 01:57:11 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8922 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:32:23 +0000 steveo 8922@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I had a lovely relaxing cruise in until i hit Haymarket between the buses congregating and some idiot passing way too close it suddenly gets a bit stressful by contrast to the gentle cruise up along St. Johns Road. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8919 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:55:15 +0000 Min 8919@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've only ever cycled in London once and it was about 10 years ago, before the current trend. Never seen so many cars in my life.</p> <p>Chalk and cheese this morning. Everything was much calmer and I had a really nice ride in. Could it be because the World Cup is finished (as far as this island is concerned)? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8818 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:24:42 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 8818@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>London is some sort of netherworld for cycling. I've tried it once, and as soon as you get into the very non-passive way of the roads it all slots into place. Although I still felt in the minority when I stopped at reds and so on. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8814 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:12:51 +0000 SRD 8814@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Was in London yesterday and boy do they cycle FAST. In Bloomsbury there are quite a lot of (new?) segregated cyclelanes, and they just GO. The flatness must help too. Lots and lots of folders. Saw one very pregnant woman leaving on a folder - was later told that she cycles to/from Croydon! </p> <p>Had one guy on a folder rather annoyingly come through intersection where I was trying to cross. I was clearly looking at him and waiting before stepping out, and he jingled his bell at me, but didn't make any eye contact, or even appear to look at me. Definitely gave me bad vibes - as though those not on bikes didn't exist.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8813 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:59:53 +0000 recombodna 8813@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I hit a woman who stepped out right in front of me at the bottom of the mound 'bout 20 years ago now.Hit her right in the face at about 30mph and knocked her unconcious. I had a helmet on but still managed an impressive shiner the next day. Never found out what happened to her as she was rushed off in a taxi and I was left sitting at the side of the road nursing a sore face knee and nether region. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8810 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:50:52 +0000 Dave 8810@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My better half annihilated a woman in town who walked out, she had just enough time to decide to go behind (between the woman and the kerb) when the perp. looked around, changed her mind and tried to get back to the pavement, which brought about something of a violent juxtaposition.</p> <p>Fortunately SWMBO stayed up, at the expense of the lady now lying on the ground, looking rather embarrassed!</p> <p>If it wasn't for the fact that generally cyclists come off worse than pedestrians, we could write it off as Darwin at work... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8805 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:20:02 +0000 recombodna 8805@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I like to cycle as close as possible to pedestrians who walk out and don't look. It'll make them look the next time. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8802 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:11:11 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 8802@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmmm, saw two cars jumping a red I'd already stopped for this morning (I was left lane, they were right), but I don't necessarily think it's that, since I had another one of those commutes this morning involving numerous things...</p> <p>Okay, so I amber-gambled, so did the B&amp;Q wagon coming the other way turning right across me. <em>I</em> stopped yards and yards short of being squished as he carried on regardless, while a cyclist <em>behind</em> me carried on turning left on front of said wagon, and it was <em>me</em> who got shouted at by the driver and passenger; a bus inexplicably started wandering into the cycle lane on Melville Drive just as I passed his rear end, I hauled on the brakes as he proceeded to slowly edge half way in (no way I was putting myself in the situation) then just as slowly ambled out again; and <em>every</em> morning I turn left into Stafford Street (having cut off Lothian Road to go down Canning Street), signalling my intent, and <em>every</em> morning those pedestrians who skipped the Tufty Club meetings step out in front, but today the chap int he sharp suit, plugged into his iPod, <em>looked</em> and saw me, then crossed anyway, then sort of stopped, then started going before I was completely past, all the while me flailing my left arm wildly. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8757 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 09:36:46 +0000 Min 8757@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hehe, cool.</p> <p>"Yeah I had a kind of horrible feeling this morning as well though no particular reason for it."</p> <p>I worked it out since the same thing happened this morning. Sheer number of vehicles driving through lights long after they had gone red. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8756 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 09:34:06 +0000 recombodna 8756@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My band has a song about the village of California on our new album. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8755 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:53:19 +0000 druidh 8755@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Balerno - California - Moscow - Balerno. 125 miles in the sun. My legs now match my cycle top. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8754 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:32:28 +0000 gembo 8754@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ah, that explains it - Round the world from Falkirk to Ayrshire and baCK </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8753 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:07:33 +0000 druidh 8753@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes, I did have tired legs. I'm just back from a "round the world" cycle tour.<br /> <img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1380/4722603040_e45c60c690.jpg"><br /> <img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/4721952073_11efe775d6.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8750 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:43:29 +0000 gembo 8750@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>good run for me today - caught druidh after he cycled past my house, took me to Gillespies Xroad but he had 'tired legs', also 'it's not a race'. Tram works at Edinburgh Park continue to dig up the road they put down about two years ago. Will look groovy when finished, </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8748 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:53:50 +0000 wee folding bike 8748@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Fine here and I had a picnic rug and a large cinema poster for "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" in my bag this morning. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8746 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:11:32 +0000 Min 8746@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yeah I had a kind of horrible feeling this morning as well though no particular reason for it. Having a driver wait behind at a particularly nasty traffic island rather than try to mow me down helped a bit. I have read that murders and all types of violent crimes go up with temperature so it could be true that there is "something in the air".</p> <p>I always try not to dwell on any unpleasantness, although it is difficult. I want to enjoy cycling and don't want to be bullied off the road or made to feel angry all the time. And that includes anything I might have done imperfectly as it is important to remember that by daring to get on a bike, everything I do is wrong to <em>someone</em>, from road positioning to what I wear or don't wear. So there is not much point in worrying about it. I mean, I know I complain about people passing me then slowing down but sometimes you have to slow down because of traffic or other obstacles but such is life. Some days you're the pigeon, some days you're the statue.</p> <p>And seeing a friendly face in the morning helps too.. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8744 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:38:30 +0000 Kirst 8744@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's the solstice, innit. Sends everyone a bit mad. Which reminds me, I need to make my solstic offering of sweeties to the traffic light goblins later. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8742 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:36:07 +0000 Stepdoh 8742@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Via cramond, idyllic, lovely. Mangaged to resist going to dereks for Bacon Roll. Seat bolt breaking pixies didn't ambush me on their normal corner.</p> <p>You should move to Samoa, big purple flowery shirts are de <strike>rigeur </strike> rigueur there. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8741 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:57:23 +0000 chdot 8741@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"may well be more than one"</p> <p>Well there's anth</p> <p>and there's</p> <p>anth at work</p> <p>... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8740 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:39:27 +0000 Arellcat 8740@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I did plenty of weaving this morning, but it was me trying keep primary position all to myself. Two motorists within ten minutes of each other still just <em>had</em> to overtake, just before pedestrian islands.</p> <p>I think the summer weather brings out impatience in drivers. Maybe it's from the solar gain from sitting in a greenhouse that's not going very fast. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8739 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:36:37 +0000 SRD 8739@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"That was you...(?)"</p> <p>I want to know how mnay of us logged on to post that, only to find chdot had beaten us to it! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8738 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:35:59 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 8738@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Depends on where you saw a mad flowery-purple-shirted cyclist, there may well be more than one... ;) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8735 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:27:32 +0000 chdot 8735@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"mad flowery-purple-shirted cyclist"</p> <p><em>That</em> was you...(?) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8734 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:21:04 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 8734@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>:D</p> <p>I fully expect someone to post a little later about a mad flowery-purple-shirted cyclist weaving about the traffic.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8732 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:16:00 +0000 steveo 8732@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Must have been a full sun last night... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=964#post-8731 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:11:56 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 8731@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I can't really put my finger on it, but the roads felt.... 'unfriendly' this morning.</p> <p>I saw Min this morning which always brightens things (if I'd seen Kirst on the Innocent as well then the unfriendliness may have been balanced out altogether), but this was just as I was catching a chap going up to the tunnel. He'd been tanking along the flat in a big gear, leaving me behind, but he kept the same big gear going uphill (yes, he <em>did</em> have gears) and slowed down dramatically. I'm not sure if he didn't like me going past, but he caught up later as I was stopped at lights, then I could <em>feel</em> his frustration behind as I fell in behind a slightly slower cyclist on the cycle lane through Melville Drive.</p> <p>I don't like squeezing between cyclist and cars, so waited for a gap in the cars to pop into trafic overtake, and consequently get past the person in front. No such qualms for Mr Frustrated (who on the Innocent had passed a few peds quite closely with cyclists coming the other way...), but I was still ahead of him even after his squeezing.</p> <p>Then down Lothian Road I keep fairly left because I turn left at the Western Approach. Not too far left however, otherwise you end up behind the taxi queue, or in its door zone. Unfortunately many many cyclists who are going straight on not only also stay left (to filter) but further left than me, despite the fact I'm turning off. I'd been checking round myself all the way down because there were a lot of cyclists, but even so I <em>think</em> someone managed to sneak up on my left into the metre or so gap I was leaving for the upcoming left-side stopped traffic. Pretty certain I didn't cut her up as she at least looked like she was also paying attention (then got trapped in the traffic as I cut round a taxi - able to do so due to my specific road positioning). Tellingly of about 8 cyclists around me, with around 6 of them further left, only one more turned left down the Western Approach with me.</p> <p>And that was just the other cyclists. The drivers.... Ooh, there was a frustration in the air. Nothing dangerous, not even anything mildly stupid, but there was just a <em>feeling</em> I didn't like. Hoping the commute home is more relaxed! </p>