I hate London

secretsam

- Suicidal pedestrians who step out in front of you and then give you abuse
- Buses that run red lights
- Psychopathic taxis
- Head cases in Post Office vans

How glad am I that I'm off on hols next week? :roll:

Big Red S

I thought they were the plus points?

Kieran_Burns

Right. Everyone who commutes in the countryside take a photo of their route and post it in this thread.

We may get spontaneous human combustion




(sorry to hear of the frustrating commute this morning Sam - we all have them unfortunately. I hope it gets better on the way home)

biondino

I hate things about London, but I love London.

always_tyred

SecretSam wrote:

- Suicidal pedestrians who step out in front of you and then give you abuse
- Buses that run red lights
- Psychopathic taxis
- Head cases in Post Office vans

How glad am I that I'm off on hols next week? :roll:

You meant "Britain", not "London".

Common misconception.

secretsam

Always Tyred wrote:

SecretSam wrote:

- Suicidal pedestrians who step out in front of you and then give you abuse
- Buses that run red lights
- Psychopathic taxis
- Head cases in Post Office vans

How glad am I that I'm off on hols next week? :roll:

You meant "Britain", not "London".

Common misconception.

Trust me, I know the difference, I get none of the above in sleepy Aylesbury on part 1 of my commute.

I've calmed down a bit now, steam no longer pouring from ears. Apologies to all you Londoners, I did not mean to denigrate your fair city. I'm sure my home town of Bristol is just as bad these days...

chuckcork

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Right. Everyone who commutes in the countryside take a photo of their route and post it in this thread.

We may get spontaneous human combustion

I was planning a ride today, with digital camera to take some photos of some of the more scenic bits but its been chucking it down all morning...

_Brun_

chuckcork wrote:

I was planning a ride today, with digital camera to take some photos of some of the more scenic bits but its been chucking it down all morning...

It's dry here

always_tyred

_Brun_ wrote:

chuckcork wrote:

I was planning a ride today, with digital camera to take some photos of some of the more scenic bits but its been chucking it down all morning...

It's dry here

Yes, but there are no scenic bits, so it doesn't help.

Coriander

However bad it is, it's not as bad as Brussels.

She says from the middle of a 3 day business trip to Brussels. At the moment I effing hate Bruseels and its citizens.

And no, the trip is not going well.

Bassjunkieuk

But that's what makes London such a "fun" place to ride :-) It's also a sorta natural selection process so it keeps away the timid riders - just have a look at some of the busier sections, such as the huge double roundabouts at Elephant and Castle and you tend to find only the bravest and most confident riders will dare tackle it :-) It's one of the highlights of my commute when I'm working somewhere that takes me through Camberwell :evil: If you time it just right you can fly on without losing any speed, if you end up stopping your normally done for, unless you have a good sprint!

Most of the other things you've mentioned you learn to anticipate, especially those bl00dy black taxis, for me the worst thing about riding in London is the high proportion of cyclist who like to make the rest of us look bad by RLJing!

Of course this doesn't mean for one minute that I wouldn't like a commute through the country but then who do I have to race :-D

biondino

Cori, if I were spontaneous and rich I would come over to Brussels tonight and take you for beer. If you don't like beer then I think there may be no hope for you.

roger_merriman

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

But that's what makes London such a "fun" place to ride :-) It's also a sorta natural selection process so it keeps away the timid riders - just have a look at some of the busier sections, such as the huge double roundabouts at Elephant and Castle and you tend to find only the bravest and most confident riders will dare tackle it :-) It's one of the highlights of my commute when I'm working somewhere that takes me through Camberwell :evil: If you time it just right you can fly on without losing any speed, if you end up stopping your normally done for, unless you have a good sprint!

Most of the other things you've mentioned you learn to anticipate, especially those bl00dy black taxis, for me the worst thing about riding in London is the high proportion of cyclist who like to make the rest of us look bad by RLJing!

Of course this doesn't mean for one minute that I wouldn't like a commute through the country but then who do I have to race :-D

years ago i used to ride to and from my first job in some retail park, though the lanes, lovely on the way there, as it's all down hill, used to get a good 40mph + at the end, sadly the return was a little slower and dark....most of the time was on a 50 year old bone shaker heh.

dondare

SecretSam wrote:

- Suicidal pedestrians who step out in front of you and then give you abuse
- Buses that run red lights
- Psychopathic taxis
- Head cases in Post Office vans

How glad am I that I'm off on hols next week? :roll:

I agree with you about the PO vans, but it's not so hard to cope with the others when you get used to it.

As for Bristol, that really is the worst place I've ever cycled. I suppose if you live there you get used to it.

roger_merriman

bristol is even more fun to drive though as they keep changing the layout...

Kieran_Burns

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Of course this doesn't mean for one minute that I wouldn't like a commute through the country but then who do I have to race :-D

Squirrels, rabbits, pigeons, the odd fox.

Cow sh** on one occasion. I lost.

Getting a tow off a tractor is fun until you realise that it's hay baling season and it has these MAHOOSIVE spikey things sticking out!

secretsam

Coriander wrote:

However bad it is, it's not as bad as Brussels.

She says from the middle of a 3 day business trip to Brussels. At the moment I effing hate Bruseels and its citizens.

And no, the trip is not going well.

I see your Brussels and raise you den Haag. What a tedious dump.

fairweatherbiker

biondino wrote:

I hate things about London, but I love London.

I hated it when I was working there,

But I love it as a tourist - Yes I admit it I have swelled the coffers of those open-top buses :oops:

secretsam

fairweatherbiker wrote:

biondino wrote:

I hate things about London, but I love London.

I hated it when I was working there,

But I love it as a tourist - Yes I admit it I have swelled the coffers of those open-top buses :oops:

Don't start me on those open-top bus bast...<<is dragged away by the blood pressure police>>

il_principe

Coriander wrote:

However bad it is, it's not as bad as Brussels.

She says from the middle of a 3 day business trip to Brussels. At the moment I effing hate Bruseels and its citizens.

And no, the trip is not going well.

Highest rate of burglary in Europe I hear. My poor bro lived there for a year, he hated it. Had his door kicked in once, they stole 10 Euros and a tie...

My brother's not one for material possessions.

biondino

jashburnham wrote:

Coriander wrote:

However bad it is, it's not as bad as Brussels.

She says from the middle of a 3 day business trip to Brussels. At the moment I effing hate Bruseels and its citizens.

And no, the trip is not going well.

Highest rate of burglary in Europe I hear. My poor bro lived there for a year, he hated it. Had his door kicked in once, they stole 10 Euros and a tie...

My brother's not one for material possessions.

You sure you're not adopted?

Jen J

biondino wrote:

jashburnham wrote:

Coriander wrote:

However bad it is, it's not as bad as Brussels.

She says from the middle of a 3 day business trip to Brussels. At the moment I effing hate Bruseels and its citizens.

And no, the trip is not going well.

Highest rate of burglary in Europe I hear. My poor bro lived there for a year, he hated it. Had his door kicked in once, they stole 10 Euros and a tie...

My brother's not one for material possessions.

You sure you're not adopted?

fairweatherbiker

SecretSam wrote:

fairweatherbiker wrote:

biondino wrote:

I hate things about London, but I love London.

I hated it when I was working there,

But I love it as a tourist - Yes I admit it I have swelled the coffers of those open-top buses :oops:

Don't start me on those open-top bus bast...<<is dragged away by the blood pressure police>>

That was before I was a cyclist. I don't think I'd dare use a cycle inside Zone 1. Does Ken/Boris give medals for bravery.

redvee

roger merriman wrote:

bristol is even more fun to drive though as they keep changing the layout...

They haven't changed it this week.

The Chingford Skinhead

My love for London was severely tested tonight. On the way in this morning I saw at least five RLJs. I would have shouted at them but they would not have heard me in their SHINY METAL BOXES. That's right, all cars and the type of cars with drivers who moan about cyclists not following the highway code :evil:

Anyway, that was the best part of my commute today. Going home was a nightmare.
Drizzly rain I can cope with. It was dark and not having 20-20 vision I was responsible and made regular stops to wipe my glasses so I could see (misty rain and cars with full beam are not a good combination). But it appears that I'm not alone with having poor sight...

Incident 1: Going throgh Hackney. Bike in front of me signals left. White van in the junction decides that means he can pull out regardless of the fact I'm not signalling. I slam on the brakes, which are less effective in the wet, and manage to glide just behind the van only to discover that the muppet in the silver merc behind WVM had decided he can pull out too. I've gone from full brake to full power in a nano-second. How he never hit me I'll never know. Discovered two interesting facts. 1 I can should very loud when angry and 2 I didn't know I knew so many swear words or that I could string them all together so coherently

Incident 2: heading down Chingford Road in Walthamstow in the bus lane. Full of parked cars as usual. Just as I'm passing a parked car it springs to life! No lights, no indicator nothing. I was right next to it with my flashing lights and hi viz jacket and he/she just cut right across me. Discovered another interesting thing. I can stand up on the moving bike and wave my arms in a threatening manner without falling off.

Incident 3: not involving a car but indirectly attributable to both incients above. Was a bit shook up by now and headed down the cycle underpass on the Billet roundabout. Few sharp turns down there and somewhat distracted thinking about whether commuting by bike when it gets dark for me is really an option and I clip the corner of the kerbstone on a tight turn. Not sure how I managed to stay upright but in some ways concerned that my reaction was to grip the handlebars tight and struggle rather than let go and attempt to break-fall sensibly.

I shall have to think again about riding home in the wet and dark - but the thought of returning to the bus / tube / train just fills me with dread

The Chingford Skinhead

My other pet London hate is the number of estate or people carrier cars with the blue TfL roundel in the back window (licenced mini-cabs). Far worse than black cabs. They seem to go out of their way to force you off the road or to pull across cycle lanes so you can't progress safely to the ASL.

robvalentine

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

My other pet London hate is the number of estate or people carrier cars with the blue TfL roundel in the back window (licenced mini-cabs). Far worse than black cabs. They seem to go out of their way to force you off the road or to pull across cycle lanes so you can't progress safely to the ASL.

seconded.

it's always fun just down the road when you overtake em. Whilst coasting. Especially if it's uphill...

lost_in_thought

dondare wrote:

I agree with you about the PO vans, but it's not so hard to cope with the others when you get used to it.

I know, they are really some of the worst drivers out there. Them and anyone in one of those BMW people carrier things get a wide berth from me. I don't understand why the post office vans are almost always such dreadful drivers.

And TCS, you're right, the smaller and cr@ppier the 'private hire' car the more likely they seem to be to drive like a goon and cut you up.

However, if I didn't live in London:

- it would be a lot harder to commute entirely by bike,
- I wouldn't get to have friday beerz with other cycling nuts
- I would have never bought a fixed gear bike
- I wouldn't get to enjoy zooming around the deserted streets in the dead of night
- I wouldn't appreciate the Essex countryside as much
- I wouldn't get to ride around Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens in the mist early in the morning
- I wouldn't do nearly so much sightseeing (I never go in, but I go past a lot!)

In summary,

Big Red S

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

My other pet London hate is the number of estate or people carrier cars with the blue TfL roundel in the back window (licenced mini-cabs). Far worse than black cabs. They seem to go out of their way to force you off the road or to pull across cycle lanes so you can't progress safely to the ASL.

Oh yes.

Black cabs seem to move with a large element of randomness, but minicabs seem bizarrely attracted to people who have to balance...

lazymedievalist

I hate London and am desperate to get out of this overcrowded stinking hellhole as soon as it's at all practical. Having said that, I would much rather cycle on London streets, where at least there's space to dodge insane minicab drivers and keep well away from HGVs, than on the narrow country lanes in the Shoire where I grew up, where the only way to dodge speeding tractors is to jump into a prickly hedge.

always_tyred

lazymedievalist wrote:

I hate London and am desperate to get out of this overcrowded stinking hellhole as soon as it's at all practical. Having said that, I would much rather cycle on London streets, where at least there's space to dodge insane minicab drivers and keep well away from HGVs, than on the narrow country lanes in the Shoire where I grew up, where the only way to dodge speeding tractors is to jump into a prickly hedge.

I've not got two profiles, honest.