ban all idiots, please

[ajva]

I was reminded this morning of how potentially dangerous the roads can be when I was on Southgate Road in Islington, and approaching a narrowing of the road due to roadworks. I was beside a white lorry, and calculated that we would both reach the "funnel point" at the same time, but that he wouldn't have a lot of room to manoeuvre. Should I stop to let him through, or try to nip ahead?

I looked into the cabin to see if I could have a look at the driver and read his intentions, perhaps even make some eye contact.

He was texting someone.

This is how cyclists get killed, I think.

(I nipped ahead carefully, to get out of there as quickly as possible.)

Comments

[jhg.livejournal.com]

A fellow motorcyclist and I arrived at the gym concurrently last night. As he removed his helmet, he was wearing earphones through which, presumably, he was listening to music.

Surely that's, at best, inadvisable!

2 minutes previously, I nearly ran over a group of small children: I was doing 15 mph in a 20 mph limit in a residential road, and this group - led by the mother - stepped out right in front of me!!! It was one of the small kids that pulled her back and told her off!!!

An awful lot of people on the road are total idiots.

J

[thekumquat.livejournal.com]

Can you hear anything through a motorbike helmet, though? If not, I doubt it would make much difference - I think I've read you're just not supposed to listen to 'distracting' music.

But yes, many people on and near the road are total idiots!

[wintrmute.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you can hear a fair bit - it's more the noise of the bike underneath you that tends to be a problem. You can either have a very loud bike, which means other people hear you and sometimes realise that means you exist (but you can't hear them), or else you have a quiet bike, in which case you can hear the cars/people, but they don't seem to have any idea you're coming. WHich is weird, because even a quiet motorbike is still fairly loud as things on the road go (compared to, say, bicycles or small cars).

I was particularly unimpressed this morning by a balding middle-aged man in a white shirt and tie, who was driving a shiny landrover down Southgate road and evidently decided he was too important to stop for the red lights at the intersection. He just slowed down, edged out, and drove through when there was a gap. I was waiting for the lights on my bicycle and was astonished!

[kelemvor.livejournal.com]

This is why I would like some form of retractable blade concealed on bikes, that can be used to slash the tyres of vehicles with irresponsible drivers/riders. When the police arrive, you can explain why!

[jhg.livejournal.com]

My sister's partner Murray has one of those nifty folding bikes, which he uses to cycle from Crystal Palace to his office in Islington (yes he's very fit). Whenever, as is often, a driver nearly kills him, he gives the car a good hard thump and/or kick as they pass.


J

[lovingboth]

In normal London traffic, you can always catch up with them. It comes as quite a shock to most of them.

[jhg.livejournal.com]

I like being virtually the fastest thing on the road. It takes me 30-40 minutes ride time into work, it would take about 50 minutes on a pushbike, and believe you me, I reckon it would take close-on 90 minutes by car, the traffic is that bad.


J

[lovingboth]

This is why I'd happily see the death penalty introduced for using a mobile while driving.

[jhg.livejournal.com]

Some guy drove right in front of me on a roundabout, without indicating, and when I glared at him I noticed he was having a chat on his mobile!!!

Bloody BMW drivers, grumble mutter etc.


J