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Overheard

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Started 11 years ago by Min
Latest reply from SRD

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overheard conversations

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Min
Member

I have been thinking about starting such a thread for a while, this is for strange cycle/transport related things you have overheard other people talking about. The break room at my work is a rich source.

Yesterday it was:

Girl - I sometimes feel a bit guilty about using the disabled parking space.

Girls friends - *general noises denoting slight embarrassment*

Girl - But if I'm only there for 40 minutes or so it's okay.

Then another time:

Girl - OH MY GOD, how on earth do you manage without a caar????!!!!

Boy - I just ride my bike.

Girl - Oh. Yes.

Posted 11 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

geez. and I feel guilty about using the disabled loo!

(very handy when pregnant and cubicles too small)

Posted 11 years ago #
Min
Member

Well if you're only in there for 40 minutes or so you're okay. ;-)

Posted 11 years ago #
PS
Member

Just as long as you don't mistake the alarm chord for the light switch... I did once and didn't really get away with it.

Posted 11 years ago #
wee folding bike
Member

I've never been pregnant, don't really have the ducts for it, but I used to take my kids into the disabled cubical because there was space to be in there with them. I got told off once by a guy in England at a service station on the M5. It was a fair cop but I'd probably do it again if I had another small child to deal with.

Posted 11 years ago #
Min
Member

You only get baby changing facilities in ladies toilets, never gents.

PS - D'oh!

Posted 11 years ago #
neddie
Member

You only get baby changing facilities in ladies toilets, never gents.

LOL. I guess that's what men will have you believe... ;)

Posted 11 years ago #
wingpig
Member

"You only get baby changing facilities in ladies toilets, never gents."

Thankfully, not quite, though the café next to the Manor House in the zoo (a fold-down table in the gents) is the only one that comes immediately to mind where the entire baby-change room is neother unisex nor combined with the disabled toilet.

Posted 11 years ago #
DaveC
Member

Yes I have seen baby changing facilities in mens toilets but I forget which pub it was.... (just realised how that sounds)...

We use disabled/baby changing facilities most of the time, as our boys like to run off at the slightest chance. We occupied the Disabled loo in Muddy Boots at the weekend and I felt a pang of guilt as we left because there was a family waiting, with baby. But we had to put Camie's brace on (he has scolliosis) and its a little awkward in public as he has to strip nearly completely. If I ever got any problems I'd say the same as Richard E Grant in Jack and Sarah when confronted in the department store.

Posted 11 years ago #
Min
Member

Ah, glad to hear it. It is something I always notice when out and about. Of course I don't know if there are facilities in the gents if there isn't a sign outside. ;-)

Posted 11 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

Mr SRD takes on quite a lot of the baby-changing responsibilities and I can't think of a time when he's said that there's no where to do it except the ladies.

Posted 11 years ago #
wee folding bike
Member

I don't remember it being a problem but I also don't remember when I used facilities in the gents rather than a disabled toilet.

Not really supposed to call it that anymore, it's an accessible toilet.

I used the car a few times, Volvo wagons have a big space at the back. I once saw someone changing a kid on the hood at the Onich ferry. I'm sure that wasn't good for the paint.

Posted 11 years ago #
neddie
Member

Tow-able changing table for your bike?

Posted 11 years ago #
twinspark
Member

Think it was Cafe Grande in Bruntsfield where I disappeared to the gents to change first born's nappy.

Other half thought I'd disappeared off the face of the Earth with him but was understanding when I explained that the changing experience had involved me kneeling on the toilet facing the door, with son on our changing mat on the floor of the cubicle! Toilet seats are very slippery if you try to kneel on them and bending to have your head below your knees is not very good at the best of times never mind when faced with a "DEFCON 1" nappy!

The ladie's apparently was equipped for changing nappies in a more ergonomic fashion!

Posted 11 years ago #
wee folding bike
Member

Radio 4 had a piece about not using nappies at all a couple of weeks ago. Apparently even very young babies can be trained to perform on demand.

Just had a wee look at the likely suspects but I can't find any mention on the web pages.

Posted 11 years ago #
Uberuce
Member

At work between two folk picking up their respective kids, one a cyclist, one a driver.

"I'm going to have to get one of those. I just can't stand waiting in traffic any more"

"It's just as quick as the car."

"Honestly I wouldn't care if it wasn't, at least you're moving."

Posted 11 years ago #
Min
Member

Not overheard as such but an advert coming round at work for a flat, bannered that it is 5 minutes drive from work. Do people really drive for only 5 minutes?? No wonder there is an obesity crises. Also confirms my suspicions that parking permits are just given to anyone who asks and not actually based on any "need" to drive.

Posted 11 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

5 minutes drive is probably 3 minutes walk or a minute on the bike!

Posted 11 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

"Do people really drive for only 5 minutes??"

I think you know the answer. ;) And worse... Corner shop from my house is five minutes WALK, so all of 90 seconds or so in the car and some neighbours still drive there of a Sunday morning. Factor in parking and turning around and they save about 30 seconds on me walking.

Posted 11 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

ah, but people who drive rarely factor in the 'find a parking spot' etc time. though they do complain about it. they seem to think it's 'unfair'.

(have I mentioned how much I like this thread?)

Posted 11 years ago #
Min
Member

5 minutes drive is probably 3 minutes walk or a minute on the bike!

Yes probably! The absolute max distance it can be, assuming they can drive straight off at 30mph and not stop or slow down at all until they arrive at their destination is 2.5 miles. I reckon it is probably more like 1, if that.

Posted 11 years ago #
crowriver
Member

Tow-able changing table for your bike?

It's called a trailer.

Posted 11 years ago #
Min
Member

WC I think you know the answer. ;)

Well yes, it still stuns me though!

ah, but people who drive rarely factor in the 'find a parking spot' etc time. though they do complain about it. they seem to think it's 'unfair'.

True. In the same way that having to take a shower at work because you cycled takes time whereas taking a shower at home because you are driving in doesn't take any time at all because that is different.

Posted 11 years ago #
AKen
Member

i Not overheard as such but an advert coming round at work for a flat, bannered that it is 5 minutes drive from work. Do people really drive for only 5 minutes??

Hmm, a property advert describing something as '5 minutes'. In estate agent speak, does that mean '5 minutes at 3 am but 20 during rush hour and you'll never find a parking space in the same postcode'.

Posted 11 years ago #
holisticglint
Member

In estate agent speak anything is possible - once looked at buying a place described as within easy commuting distance of both Edinburgh and Newcastle!

Posted 11 years ago #
cb
Member

"Peaceful location, only three minutes from the airport and two minutes from the motorway".

Posted 11 years ago #
wingpig
Member

A colleague of mine and TractorFactory who has recently started cycling to work via C2W was recently given the "you cycled across Sheriffhall? *BrrlllblblGLLBLGHHBLLGRAABBRGH*" by an inveterately motorist colleague.

Posted 11 years ago #
MeepMeep
Member

I was on my way to get on my bike to make the cycle home on one of the stormy afternoons last week when a driver walked past me en route to his car and told me I'd "need specialist gear for that [cycling home]". I politely laughed and retorted "nevermind good gear, it's flippers and a snorkel I need!" but really thought to myself that it was only a bit of rain and you can't get wet past your skin anyway! I'm less afraid of getting soaked than I am about drivers cutting me up because they've failed to appreciate the significantly reduced stopping distances I have in the soaking wet.

Posted 11 years ago #
wingpig
Member

Two driving/cycling non-forummers and a non-cycling driving non-forummer and one driving/cycling forummer briefly just mentioned NWC via the purported instruction of the bus ads. General two-desks-away overheardness seemed to indicate that the message was not clear.

Posted 11 years ago #
Min
Member

Cycling through Harrison Park a little while ago with my neck warmer drawn up over my face as it was a bit baltic and one little kid turned to his mum as I went past and asked in a very loud voice "Why has he got something over his face?"

:-0

Posted 11 years ago #

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