Commute Woe's From A Newbie

Wallace1492

Ok, Newbie here, been commuting a few months now and really enjoying it. Started fair weather, now not caring as much, I find it great fun, especially on way home. Couple of things, and I apologise if they have been done to death, I am a newbie and not going to trawl though all previous posts.

Firstly RLJ - whether to or not, I started not, but now do a few (topic debated earlier today in seperate thread), will now consider not, but 1 junction is a bummer.

Next, cycle route that is on pavement - I mean why!! There is one in Glasgow and it is very narrow and is shared with peds with shopping bags, it is a receipe for disaster.

Signs for cycle routes - terrible, very small, and infrequent, do they think that cyclists have much better eyesight than drivers?

Potholes - well, the less said the better, I have been cycling for about 30 years and find the roads worse now than ever.

Buses - my nemises, love racing them into town, and feeling super beating them on my 7.5 mile commute, however, they are also my worst enemy, with nearly been taken out twice by them recently, they overtake then immediately pull in. Plus they are big and smell, a bit like my last girlfriend.....

Dogs - think cyclists are second to posties in human hatred of the canines. Still they do increase my acceleration, and improve my fitness, and rather be hit by a (small) dog than a bus, but then again buses don't have teeth!

Neds - do you get them in London? "Oi, Mr, where you get bike, gee us a go..." Again aid my speed, just need to look out for flying buckfast bottles.

Route variety - it is a must, have found all sorts of different ways home, but funnily enough just take direct route in tthe morning.

Interested to hear any comments, and a big HELLO to you all!!

always_tyred

Post a link to the bummer junction - someone might know it (like me - I used to commute from N. Glasgow) or might have suggestions based on streetview or something.

Potholes - worse in Glasgow than anywhere I've cycled. General road surface worse in Edinburgh though.

Busses - worse in Glasgow than anywhere I've ever cycled.

Neds - worse in Glasgow than anywhere I've ever cycled. (They don't have these in England really - chavs are sort of the same, but there is something particularly toothless-and-doomed-to-die-aged-45-of-heart-failure-due-to-pies-and-Irnbru about Neds that sets them apart.).

Route variety - the M8 limits your options. See above.

Wallace1492

Bummer Junction is heading up Garscube Road, towards Maryhill Road, where it goes under M8, an there are various side roads off it. Approaching there are two lines of cars, one defiantely left the other has choice of left or straight on towards Maryhill Rd, where I wan to go. At red, I make way to front in middle of cars, and then jump the lights when they change for the other direction, I have about 5 seconds to get past left turn before the desperate commuters and buses speed off in all sorts of directions.

Dont know how to do Google Map cut n paste!!

M8 is not a worry, usually head West to Renfrew, over ferry, then choice of Clydebank, or Drumchapel to get to Milngavie.

Roougers

At least with the Glasgow neds there is a tiny element of humour before they set the pitbull on you (thankfully most can only run for a limited time due to malnutrician).

Unfortunately I have to say some parts of Aberdeen contain the nastiest little sh*te bags I have ever come across.

always_tyred

Wallace1492 wrote:

Bummer Junction is heading up Garscube Road, towards Maryhill Road, where it goes under M8, an there are various side roads off it. Approaching there are two lines of cars, one defiantely left the other has choice of left or straight on towards Maryhill Rd, where I wan to go. At red, I make way to front in middle of cars, and then jump the lights when they change for the other direction, I have about 5 seconds to get past left turn before the desperate commuters and buses speed off in all sorts of directions.

Dont know how to do Google Map cut n paste!!

M8 is not a worry, usually head West to Renfrew, over ferry, then choice of Clydebank, or Drumchapel to get to Milngavie.

Oddly enough, I know said junction.
I ended up going out over Bath Street and through Uni Glasgow way any cutting across from the Great Western Road in the end. It avoided the worst of Maryhill as well.

To tackle that junction, you do have the option of the bike route across the road at the SPT - but there is much crossing of roads and waiting for little green cycle symbols and its a pain in the bum.
Alternatively, I think I took the primary posit in the left lane of the A81 (Garscube) to block the left lane from over or undertaking me until the slip road to the M8 west opens up. As I recall there is a red light holding traffic from the left turns, so you just have to move back to the left to avoid getting chopped by people in the right hand lane who don't want to go around to the M8 heading east. The people in the left lane didn't like it, but it can be over faster than it takes them to get really annoyed.
Its not great if the lights trap you half way around though, because people do tend to floor it, whereas on a bike you have no chance to clear the two roads coming from the left in time and have to stop.

shoulder_of_orion

bummer junction sounds like a bummer. try a different route if possible.

classic bus story and we do have neds in london, bloody loads of pissed up glasgow nutcases but they're normally homeless and harmless stumbling around the west end. I do get "nasty little sh*te bags" on my route sometimes. one of them had an iron bar tonight, it aided the speed...

always_tyred

Roougers wrote:

At least with the Glasgow neds there is a tiny element of humour

I never saw this. I think its a myth made up by Glaswegieans to have something to regard as commendable about Glasgow. My (limited) experience was that Glasgow as a whole was the most unfriendly, joyless, nasty, unhelpful, agressive place I have ever had the misfortune to live. I don't think its a coincidence that the only people who rave about the place are either (a) shopping (b) going to a nightclub or (c) from Glasgow. Sorry for the rant, but I really couldn't get on with the place, despite being highly motivated to do so. You get niggles with everywhere you live, but Glasgow is the perfect storm.

Aidy

Wallace1492 wrote:

Next, cycle route that is on pavement - I mean why!! There is one in Glasgow and it is very narrow and is shared with peds with shopping bags, it is a receipe for disaster.

These annoy me. Always have. It's not just the inappropiateness of sharing the pavement with pedestrians; it's the fact that every single car coming out of, or going into, a side road has priority. I just ride on the road.

Wallace1492

I too usually just do road, had tried these Cycle Routes, but they are too annoying. Road it is, vehicles beware!! The comfort is that they will get the grief for knocking me down, the downside is i will be blood covered, broken bones, crying, if not dying...... they may have a scratch on their Chelsea Tractor....

All this rant (sort of) and I drive a BMW...... Jesus, am I converted or what!!

rally200

I seem to get a helluva lot of p8nctures if I use the shared foot/cycle paths. plus theres always a few near misses with cars backing out of driveways

gb155

Wallace1492 wrote:

Ok, Newbie here, been commuting a few months now and really enjoying it. Started fair weather, now not caring as much, I find it great fun, especially on way home. Couple of things, and I apologise if they have been done to death, I am a newbie and not going to trawl though all previous posts.

Firstly RLJ - whether to or not, I started not, but now do a few (topic debated earlier today in seperate thread), will now consider not, but 1 junction is a bummer.

Next, cycle route that is on pavement - I mean why!! There is one in Glasgow and it is very narrow and is shared with peds with shopping bags, it is a receipe for disaster.

Signs for cycle routes - terrible, very small, and infrequent, do they think that cyclists have much better eyesight than drivers?

Potholes - well, the less said the better, I have been cycling for about 30 years and find the roads worse now than ever.

Buses - my nemises, love racing them into town, and feeling super beating them on my 7.5 mile commute, however, they are also my worst enemy, with nearly been taken out twice by them recently, they overtake then immediately pull in. Plus they are big and smell, a bit like my last girlfriend.....

Dogs - think cyclists are second to posties in human hatred of the canines. Still they do increase my acceleration, and improve my fitness, and rather be hit by a (small) dog than a bus, but then again buses don't have teeth!

Neds - do you get them in London? "Oi, Mr, where you get bike, gee us a go..." Again aid my speed, just need to look out for flying buckfast bottles.

Route variety - it is a must, have found all sorts of different ways home, but funnily enough just take direct route in tthe morning.

Interested to hear any comments, and a big HELLO to you all!!

I was commuting home in January and a guy on a monoose MTB from the other side of the road shouted "OI C*UN, Come here and giz yer F**kin bike" I looked up and said "Pardon" his reply ? "Oi sorry fat C*nt, Thought you were someone else" I assume he was a ned as someone I know told me he had moved from Goven (SP) Scotland.

Deadeye Duck

I'll have to agree with roougers here. At least the neds in Glasgow are always smiling when they're trying to mug you, and make a bit of conversation.

The most you'd get out of the aberdeen scum is some profanities followed by an offer of being stabbed if you don't comply.

_Brun_

I had to punch a Weegie ned in the face before attempting to aid a friend who was being accosted by three others. One of my most abiding memories of my time in exile north of the border.

Happy days.