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Overheard in the Work Bikepark

(12 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by Wilmington's Cow
  • Latest reply from hippetyhop

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  1. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Leaving last week I was getting the bike ready when two people came out, one clearly also about to get his bike sorted, the other leaving on foot.

    "So you still cycle in the dark?" she asks

    "Yeah," he replies

    "That's brave," she opines

    He makes a non-commital response which basically indicates it's not really that dangerous etc etc etc.

    "You know what really annoys me about cyclists," she offers without any intro to the subject, "It's when they ride without lights... etc etc etc"

    Sigh. Thing is, she was saying this to him as he was attaching his lights. I really do think we need to start complaining to law-abiding motorists about those motorists who speed and talk on their mobiles; and start complaining to perfectly well-behaved pedestrians about those peds who wander into the roads without looking. Just to see if they query the point in us doing so.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. Nelly
    Member

    anth, I had a 'slightly tetchy' conversation with my dad last week.

    He came in to the house, and launched into a story about how a cyclist turned right on him at the meadowbank end of the park (not indicating), then about another who 'came out of nowhere' at the other end near the commie pool. Then followed a lecture about how 'in his day' people were taught how to cycle on the road (!!)

    I tried to remain calm, then - being a day out of hospital and still grumpy - gave him some of the usual stuff - i.e. cant judge us all by the no lights, cycle on pavement numpties, then I went off on one about all the taxis, cars, vans, buses that had given me near misses over the years (not all of which my wife was aware of.....)

    It really annoyed me - and got me thinking same as you - why tell me if someone is a crap cyclist ?

    Its not my problem, in the same way that a drunk driver is not his problem.

    Perhaps I am being too sensitive, but I always get the impression that, in these conversations with non-cyclists, the implication is that we are all jumping red lights, in the dark, wearing black - or using pavements.

    Aaaargh.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I really do think we need to start complaining to law-abiding motorists about those motorists who speed and talk on their mobiles

    It has now been removed from the website, but yesterday evening the BBC had a "viewer's clip" filmed on a mobile phone of the scene of the fatal crash on the M56 where a lorry came off an overpass onto the motorway below. Except it was taken from the driver's seat. By a driver. While driving. Past a fatal accident.

    I am goign to harangue all motorists about this today because of the shocking behaviour of this driver. AS drivers themselves they must some how be conspirators / implicated / involved / be made to feel guilty for someone else's stupidity.

    I hope the bizzies (it was in Merseyside) were tapping on his door last night seeing as he managed to get evidence to convict him up on the national news.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. Smudge
    Member

    Last night I was driving in the fog, I was making decent progress and slowing as I went into thicker fog banks, yet I was passed by large numbers of speeders and incessantly tailgated, (often by drivers who overtook me then slowed down to a lower speed than I was doing once they didn't have my tail-lights to follow, grrr)
    The general standard of driving was below dreadful. I could only see one other car sitting at 40mph in the new 40mph limit past Newbridge (on the M9)... I really do despair, on the basis of last night if it was in my power I would revoke all driving licences in the UK now and insist on a re-test for the whole dashed country.
    Words fail me >:-<

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. cb
    Member

    Curious, that's not what I found.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. Smudge
    Member

    Just luck of the group I guess, I was through there about half four/five-ish and the impatience and stupidity was mind-boggling :-(

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. crowriver
    Member

    "That's brave," she opines

    I would have stopped listening in at that point. Using this expression* is a sure sign of a closed mind and prejudice towards cyclists, I'm afraid!

    * Rough translation from petrolheadspeak: "Oh you are one of those. Are you an idiot? Do you want to get yourself killed?"

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    I've had this kind of thing from relatives (by marriage) in the context of one of them dooring a cyclist.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. druidh
    Member

    Smudge
    Member
    the new 40mph limit past Newbridge (on the M9)
    Oh - when was this changed??

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. Smudge
    Member

    @druidh Quite recent, but I'm not certain *how* recent. It's for the roadworks, the word from one who knows these things is that average speed cameras are coming there sometime and the limit (and works) is(are) expected to be there for a couple of years.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. cb
    Member

    Ah - just worked out that this is all part of the works for the new Forth Crossing

    http://trafficscotland.org/news/

    Posted 13 years ago #

  12. hippetyhop
    Member

    "That's brave," she opines

    That's funny - my work hours are usually about 4pm to midnight, and the guy who does the rota asked if I'd prefer a 2pm start "now it's getting darker". And he's a cyclist!!! I pointed out that it's normally quite dark at midnight... I know he meant well, but duhhhh.

    Posted 13 years ago #

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