What a way to start the day . . .

damnedinflames
damnedinflames Posts: 35
edited November 2008 in Commuting chat
Just sounding off really - my first winter commuting on the bike with it's dubious pleasures . . . .

Freezing rain starts exactly as I leave the house.
Lorry driver pulls out without looking (my right of way) and nearly splats me
half a mile later, bus driver pulls out without looking ( again my right of way) and nearly splats me.
Bus driver on foot then steps off the pavement without looking in either direction and I nearly splat him!
:x
(I am lit up like the proverbial xmas tree by the way)

I know it's cold/ dark/ a monday etc - but it seems like half of sheffield left their brains behind this morning

Comments

  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    It's the cold weather mate - brain gets cold. Everyone should wear more hats...
  • _Brun_
    _Brun_ Posts: 1,740
    damnedinflames wrote:
    (I am lit up like the proverbial xmas tree by the way)
    There's your mistake. People look, see a Xmas tree, and understandably don't expect it to be travelling towards them at 20mph. My recommendation would be to lose the tinsel.

    At least they were all nearlys.
  • damnedinflames
    damnedinflames Posts: 35
    do you think I should loose the fairy on my helmet and the panniers full of presents too? :D
  • Crapaud
    Crapaud Posts: 2,483
    damnedinflames comes off the turbo trainer. Caos ensues.
    A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject - Churchill
  • The Chingford Skinhead
    The Chingford Skinhead Posts: 718
    My bike is like a weather vein recently. I get it out, the clouds open up. I was fine with the drizzle until I got a flat back tyre half way to work. At that point I regretted not cleaning the bike yesterday :roll:
    Pain is only weakness leaving the body
  • mr_hippo
    mr_hippo Posts: 1,051
    I have just been watching Family Fortunes hosted by St Peter. In response to "We asked 100 people to name something people said when they arrived early at the Pearly Gates", the most popular answer was "But I had right of way!"
    Now, try these experiments for which you will need two bicycles, two bicycle display stands, two crash test dummies and one car:-
    Experiment 1 - Put the bike on the stand and the dummy on the bike about 200 metres in fromt of the car and accelerate the car hard into the bike. (Car crashing into bike)
    Experiment 2 - Put the bike on the stand and the dummy on the bike about 200 metres behind the car and reverse the car hard into the bike. (Bike crashimg into car)
    The results of both experiments wil be the same - the bicycles and the crash test dummies will suffer more damage than the car.
    Now which do you think is better - being aware that vehicles can pull out of side roads and being capable of taking avoiding action or telling St Peter "But I had right of way!"? The choice is yours!
    In Thailand, traffic entering the main road from the left has the right of way over traffic that is already on the main road but does give me the right to enter the main road without looking?
  • damnedinflames
    damnedinflames Posts: 35
    I'm well aware of the dangers of just assuming right of way - which is why all of these were nearlys and why I'm not knocking on any pearly gates.
    I mentioned having right of way - as it is indicative of an extra degree of carelessness on the other parties

    You never had one of those mornings where you felt like you needed an extra set of eyes and a crystal ball? (speaking of which if it gets much colder I'll have a pair!)
  • damnedinflames
    damnedinflames Posts: 35
    Crapaud wrote:
    damnedinflames comes off the turbo trainer. Caos ensues.

    I wish I was that fast to be honest :lol:

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