An apology

Jacomus-rides-Gen

Dear Mr Beepy,

I am writing to apologise for my appaling conduct along Embankment this morning.

As an avid cyclist, I believed it my right to make use of public highways, not to mention that I also pay VED for my motorbike. Thank you to your kind instructions using your horn, and for being dedicated enough to lean out of your window at 48km/h and raise your voice so that I could hear you.

I now realise that riding in the middle of the inside lane, at 1km/h below the speed limit is dreadfully uncooth behaviour for a cyclist, and that I am making things worse for all other cyclists by impeeding your progress.

I think that without you forcing your way alongside and then squeezing me into the gutter, as your companion screamed at me to "get to the side of the road you f**king t*sser", I would not have learned my lesson fully.

When we got stuck at the lights 100m further down the road, I really appriciated that little extra touch, going that extra mile to teach me shows some real dedication. Your physically threatening and verbally abusive behaviour has really 'driven' the lesson home, really, there was no need for the two of you to get out to threaten me - you had done such a good job by using your 3.5ton Toyota Landcruiser.

To conclude, I would like to finish with a final apology. I didn't manage to get your numberplate so that I could thank you properly by calling the Police, because the car behind was intent on continuing your most excellent education by edging forwards in an attempt to either break my legs, or force me out of the way.


Yours in the (emotional) gutter
Jacomus

John Stevenson

So, I'll put you down for the first of the BikeRadar Bike Commuter Special Edition .38 Magnums shall I?

John "Dirty Harry" Stevenson
Firearms editor

mrchrispy

I’ve said it before, keep your cool and squirt nitromos on his bonnet as you slide past.
The legality of said response is somewhat questionable but I think well disserved.

overmars

Was flying over Chelsea Bridge. I had the green light. Two cyclists were about to rlj before seeing me and then inched slowly forward waiting for me to pass.
I gave them a quizical look and pointed to the green light. They said something... I told them to f*** o**.
Not my finest moment.

Sorry.

lateralus

I think, like me, you must have missed the invisible sign which says the speed limit on the Embankment is actually 55mph. It's fairly straight, and there are long gaps between traffic lights, so I guess the cagers see it as their only chance to escape the frustration of driving around central London in first gear. :roll:

Tynancp

kmh?

why do people do that? I hope it's not because it give a bigger number

louis winthorpe 3rd

Why is it some cyclist tend to ride in either 3rd 2nd or first gear on a MTB when I am stuck behind them?

Jacomus-rides-Gen

Tynancp - because I grew up in Germany

I use a mish-mash of mph and km/h, today I'm feeling more continental (and my cyclecomputer is set to km/h at the mo)

Hairy Jock

Jacomus have you ever considered a helmet cam, then we could full appreciate the scale of your crime, and should you in fit of remorse feel the need to incriminate yourself further you could hand it to the Police or just stick it on U-Tube for the rest of us to watch.

Hairy Jock

john_stevenson wrote:

So, I'll put you down for the first of the BikeRadar Bike Commuter Special Edition .38 Magnums shall I?

John "Dirty Harry" Stevenson
Firearms editor

Oh dear John you weren't paying attention, it was a .44 Magnum, the punk had a .38. Now are you feeling lucky punk!

Andy 71

The Embankment is on my route. Those w****rs are DEAD lucky that I couldn't bring my bike in today.

That sort of behaviour(i.e. attempting to kill or maim someone) makes my blood boil and one of these days, I am going to lose it and someone is going to get an 18-stone fat b*****d pummeling their head in.

I am sick to the back teeth with the 'You're not insured/taxed/licensed' bullsh*t being used as an excuse to run us off the roads.

Firstly, I do drive. My car is at home, taxed and insured. I am also covered when cycling by my house insurance which has a public liability element. Thirdly, I have a licence to ride a motorised two-wheeler whos power and speed well exceeds that of me on my bicycle.

When oh when are the courts going to treat these offences as Attempted Murder rather than a petty motoring offence???

I don't care if other people RLJ and regularly b*ll*ck people who do. Like the guy on the 1808 to Chelmsford last night. RLJs Threadneedle St, twice. My age, my build. Catch up with him at London Wall. 'Scuse me friend, don't you realise red means stop?' Shrugs shoulders. 'It's people like you that give cyclists a bad name. That's why we get so much hassle' Cycles off sheepishly without looking at me. Catch up at Liverpool St. We are both going into the station. He thinks I'm following him, sh*ts himself and picks up his pace. He takes the stairs, I head to lift. Anyway, I go for my train. Fold up my Dahon and forget about it. Focus on my dinner awaiting me at home, which by this time I am really looking forward to. No seats, so stand in doorway. Platform attendant blows whistle for train to leave. And who comes running up the platform? T*sspot himself. Sees me, does an about turn and jumps in carriage behind.

Now, I didn't remotely threaten this guy but I guess he realised he was in the wrong otherwise he would have stood his ground and asked me what my problem was.

Getting back to my point. Should I hate motorists because of the majority who speed? What about drink drivers? Should I view ALL motorists with contempt. The answer is 'Of course not'.

So why are we different? Why are we seen as the scum of the earth??

Wynne G Oldman

Andy 71 wrote:

The Embankment is on my route. Those w****rs are DEAD lucky that I couldn't bring my bike in today.

That sort of behaviour(i.e. attempting to kill or maim someone) makes my blood boil and one of these days, I am going to lose it and someone is going to get an 18-stone fat b*****d pummeling their head in.

I am sick to the back teeth with the 'You're not insured/taxed/licensed' bullsh*t being used as an excuse to run us off the roads.

Firstly, I do drive. My car is at home, taxed and insured. I am also covered when cycling by my house insurance which has a public liability element. Thirdly, I have a licence to ride a motorised two-wheeler whos power and speed well exceeds that of me on my bicycle.

When oh when are the courts going to treat these offences as Attempted Murder rather than a petty motoring offence???

I don't care if other people RLJ and regularly b*ll*ck people who do. Like the guy on the 1808 to Chelmsford last night. RLJs Threadneedle St, twice. My age, my build. Catch up with him at London Wall. 'Scuse me friend, don't you realise red means stop?' Shrugs shoulders. 'It's people like you that give cyclists a bad name. That's why we get so much hassle' Cycles off sheepishly without looking at me. Catch up at Liverpool St. We are both going into the station. He thinks I'm following him, sh*ts himself and picks up his pace. He takes the stairs, I head to lift. Anyway, I go for my train. Fold up my Dahon and forget about it. Focus on my dinner awaiting me at home, which by this time I am really looking forward to. No seats, so stand in doorway. Platform attendant blows whistle for train to leave. And who comes running up the platform? T*sspot himself. Sees me, does an about turn and jumps in carriage behind.

Now, I didn't remotely threaten this guy but I guess he realised he was in the wrong otherwise he would have stood his ground and asked me what my problem was.

Getting back to my point. Should I hate motorists because of the majority who speed? What about drink drivers? Should I view ALL motorists with contempt. The answer is 'Of course not'.

So why are we different? Why are we seen as the scum of the earth??

I am a cyclist, motorcyclist and motorist. I think that most motorists see cyclists as "scum of the earth" because they see a sizeable minority of us riding on pavements, jumping red lights and generally taking no notice whatsoever of the rules of the road. This, unfortunately rubs off on all us decent, law abiding cyclists, who don't do any of these things. I see it a lot myself, and it annoys me. The only reason these people do it, is because they know that they ain't going to get caught. How may cyclists would jump red lights if they had to have a number plate? This isn't a suggestion that all bikes should be registered, just an illlustration of the "I'll do it, because I can get away with it" mentality of these people. These are the people who cause such resentment from other road users.

Andy 71

RLJing is just so idiotic. Couriers are amongst the worst offenders in my view.

Not just illegal & anti-social but also downright dangerous. We are not talking about a minor and dated legal technicality here. Traffic lights are designed to manage competing streams of traffic, most of it heavy and motorised. RLJs remind me of a game called 'Frogger' from the early 80s.

It's just like saying 'I'll just look down the barrel of this loaded gun to see if it goes off'.

In my view, if you RLJ you have no right to complain when a car pulls out in front of you or someone tries to run you into the kerb.

Also, don't mutter a word when someone nicks your £900 fixed-wheel project. If you subscribe to anarchy, these things happen pal. Hey, I break the law, you break the law - so your point is???

And when a car T-Bones you, tough t*tty matey. I hope the motorist sues you for damage to their vehicle. Assuming you give your real details of course, which you won't because you're above the law, aren't you??

peejay78

whilst being pretty much against red-light jumping, and totally aware of the history of "mild debate" on the old site, some of the posts on here are pretty much the definition of the "fascist at the core of every liberal".

all this moral absolutism and intransigence is more than a little bit daily mail.

i don't think jumping a red light has any equivalence with bike theft, at all. or being run into the kerb deliberately for that matter.

cue tirade of righteousness, missing the point entirely, probably suggesting i am a RLJer or whatever.

Jacomus-rides-Gen

lol @ peejay - there were some very lengthy RLJ debates, Hackers and Theo don't seem to have come over to the dark side though, so we can take off a good 13 pages of ping pong!

I am wondering how I sparked off an RLJ debate!

secretsam

Guys & gals, calm down.

Having said that, anyone driving a car in central London must either be a cabbie or a £$%t.

Or both.

:twisted:

BentMikey

It's all a complete load of bollocks. Drivers don't hate us because of our law breaking (speaking generally here, I try not to break any myself), they hate us because we appear to be from a very different tribe.

Chriscommuter

Jacomus-rides-Gen wrote:

lol @ peejay - there were some very lengthy RLJ debates, Hackers and Theo don't seem to have come over to the dark side though, so we can take off a good 13 pages of ping pong!

I am wondering how I sparked off an RLJ debate!

Newton's 4th Law..."You post on a commuting forum, you spark an RLJ debate"

domtyler

Andy 71 wrote:

RLJing is just so idiotic. Couriers are amongst the worst offenders in my view.

Not just illegal & anti-social but also downright dangerous. We are not talking about a minor and dated legal technicality here. Traffic lights are designed to manage competing streams of traffic, most of it heavy and motorised. RLJs remind me of a game called 'Frogger' from the early 80s.

It's just like saying 'I'll just look down the barrel of this loaded gun to see if it goes off'.

In my view, if you RLJ you have no right to complain when a car pulls out in front of you or someone tries to run you into the kerb.

Also, don't mutter a word when someone nicks your ??900 fixed-wheel project. If you subscribe to anarchy, these things happen pal. Hey, I break the law, you break the law - so your point is???

And when a car T-Bones you, tough t*tty matey. I hope the motorist sues you for damage to their vehicle. Assuming you give your real details of course, which you won't because you're above the law, aren't you??

Wow, ain't been getting any?
________
Penny Stocks To Watch

cupofteacp

I think it's amazing that because some cyclists RLJing load'd of people think that excuses there behaviour.

Mad

What does the fact that every motorist breaks the law everytime they get in there cars by speeding mean.

I suppose we could get RLJ's and pavement dodo saying they break the law because Motorist do.

It's all wrong

The main difference is that motorist kill 3000 people a year and cyclist on a bad year 1

Bu then hey maybe I've got it all wrong and motorist behaviour is not their fault as they dumb thick pieces of (&*)(*&(*&(*&(*

IsledeBlanc

cupofteacp wrote:

I think it's amazing that because some cyclists RLJing load'd of people think that excuses there behaviour.

Mad

What does the fact that every motorist breaks the law everytime they get in there cars by speeding mean.

I suppose we could get RLJ's and pavement dodo saying they break the law because Motorist do.

It's all wrong

The main difference is that motorist kill 3000 people a year and cyclist on a bad year 1

Bu then hey maybe I've got it all wrong and motorist behaviour is not their fault as they dumb thick pieces of (&*)(*&(*&(*&(*

haven't got a clue what all that means, but totally agree with peejay's post on page 1.

I don't RLJ, but I don't really care if others do or not. I'm aware of the 'gives all cyclists a bad name' argument, but in my experience 99% of road users judge you by your own actions. I ride quickly, assertively and considerately, and I've found after 4 years of London commuting that I'm generally treated pretty well.

I'm more irritated by moral-high-ground cyclists trying to engage me in anti-RLJ chat because I happen to be waiting at a red light. Usual scenario involves the crusader pulling up next to me, then someone RLJs past us, crusader tuts, shakes-head, the makes comment along lines of 'Why do they do it?', I answer 'They get home quicker' and pray for the lights to change.

secretsam

They get home quicker

...they get home deader as well

peejay78

if you're dead you don't go anywhere, let alone home.

so that argument doesn't quite add up.

nevertheless the only ones that never jump the lights are the dead ones. they don't do much cycling though.

cupofteacp

Between 1999 and 2005 only two cyclist were killed RLJing

In the same time 17 were killed by vehicles turning left, 10 from vehicles being too close to you, and another 5 from motorists opening car doors, so in the scheme of things not that dangerous.

Especially when you consider 13 cyclists killed themselves cycling off the pavement.

When you look at the figures just as many cyclists get killed as kill themselves by their actions.

Sad but true.

I’m not saying RLJing is safe, I’m also not saying anyone should do it.

gandalfcp

Hairy Jock wrote:

john_stevenson wrote:

So, I'll put you down for the first of the BikeRadar Bike Commuter Special Edition .38 Magnums shall I?

John "Dirty Harry" Stevenson
Firearms editor

Oh dear John you weren't paying attention, it was a .44 Magnum, the punk had a .38. Now are you feeling lucky punk!

If you want to be really picky is was a Smith & Wesson type 29.

Hairy Jock

gandalfcp wrote:

Hairy Jock wrote:

john_stevenson wrote:

So, I'll put you down for the first of the BikeRadar Bike Commuter Special Edition .38 Magnums shall I?

John "Dirty Harry" Stevenson
Firearms editor

Oh dear John you weren't paying attention, it was a .44 Magnum, the punk had a .38. Now are you feeling lucky punk!

If you want to be really picky is was a Smith & Wesson type 29.

Harry or the punk?

Harry tell the punk he is carrying a "...44 Magnum the most powerful handgun in the world..." "...now do you feel lucky punk?"

Personally I would prefer a 9mm Browning, 12 round mag and one up the spout, plenty of stopping power and very reliable, used to be standard issue for duty in NI.

Hairy Jock ex Matelot

Tariq

I RLJ and ride on the pavement often. I do these two things only when it is safe to do so, despite them being illegal. I always look around for the police when RLJ because it is too much hassle to get stopped. I have cycled on the pavemnt at least 20 times past coppers and they don't even bat an eye-lid.

One should RLJ if it is safe to do so, it is what makes cycling more free than being car bound. I know this will annoy many people on here but this is a forum for a diversity of reasonable views.

I have been commuting for years and I'm an experienced rider.

IsledeBlanc

Tariq wrote:

I RLJ and ride on the pavement often. I do these two things only when it is safe to do so, despite them being illegal. I always look around for the police when RLJ because it is too much hassle to get stopped. I have cycled on the pavemnt at least 20 times past coppers and they don't even bat an eye-lid.

One should RLJ if it is safe to do so, it is what makes cycling more free than being car bound. I know this will annoy many people on here but this is a forum for a diversity of reasonable views.

I have been commuting for years and I'm an experienced rider.

.....LBTAR.......

Random Vince

Hairy Jock wrote:

gandalfcp wrote:

Hairy Jock wrote:

john_stevenson wrote:

So, I'll put you down for the first of the BikeRadar Bike Commuter Special Edition .38 Magnums shall I?

John "Dirty Harry" Stevenson
Firearms editor

Oh dear John you weren't paying attention, it was a .44 Magnum, the punk had a .38. Now are you feeling lucky punk!

If you want to be really picky is was a Smith & Wesson type 29.

Harry or the punk?

Harry tell the punk he is carrying a "...44 Magnum the most powerful handgun in the world..." "...now do you feel lucky punk?"

Personally I would prefer a 9mm Browning, 12 round mag and one up the spout, plenty of stopping power and very reliable, used to be standard issue for duty in NI.

Hairy Jock ex Matelot

i'll take an RPG (rocket propelled granade)

cupofteacp

Hairy,

You are kidding with the 9mm? Unless there dum-dums

It worries me when I see plod using 9mm MP5's whilst carrying out static protection, there unlikely to stop a car, OK you're less likley to kill bystanders but your also less likely to stop the target

I know there old, but what about a 1911 A1, ahh a 45ACP, or if you want something new a G36 assault rifle using 45's.

Now thats going to stop them

Jacomus-rides-Gen

Very true CoT, but as with any policing operation, the first and foremost concern beyond that of the officers is the general public.

That is partly why MP5's are commonly used, along with their accuracy, weight and manouverability their rounds stand much less chance of causing unintended casualties. If you start chucking around 7.62 assault rifles or .45 subs you lose advantage in the public's eyes - you become soldiers on the street, not armed Police, and that makes a BIG difference.

There is enough uproar when armed Police deploy their weapons currently - I don't want to start a debate on the rights and wrongs of the tube shooting or anything else. Imagine the furore if the officer who takes down a dangerous criminal / terrorist kills or injurs innocent bystanders at the same time. Saying "Oh, well, we wanted to be totally sure we got our man" won't cut it.

Finally, the training and skills of armed officers renders their 9mm MP5 a far more precise and deadley weapon than in just anyones hands.

If a situation gets so out of hand that armed police can't deal with it, there is a bunch of very hard men in Hereford...