First time I've shouted at a RLJer

DonDaddyD

I've broken my cherry.

Prick on a brompton through Clapham, his cycling was so reckless I was scared to overtake him. At every single red light he would mount the pavement and pass the crossing.

Eventually by Clapham North I had enough and shouted as I passed him

"You should stop at red lights".

Bell end.

Ho hum

Did he say anything back to you?

zrazzle

I still love the little breather a red light affords!! Hate cycling up that hill at the end of latchmere road, get to the top, only to see the light going from red to green!

Gussio

Ran to work this morning and got to see quite an astonishing array of poor cycling. RLJing, squeezing between buses and the kerb, riding on the pavement, etc.. Winced more than once. Amazed at just how many cyclists there are on the road, now that the sunshine has returned. Will start leaving earlier in the morning, when on the bike, to miss the worst of the carnage.

On the upside, the pretty young things have started to shed their winter coats

cee

Gussio wrote:

squeezing between buses and the kerb

shudders...breuaghhh..

I hate watching people do that...

asprilla

Stopping at red lights is great, it's all good HIIT.

I also like chasing RLJers, it's all good exercise.

tailwindhome

What does shouting achieve other than to vent your own angry/ frustration/ annoyance?


Good to have you back BTW, it's been quiet round here the last week or two. Hopefully whatever kept you away has been resolved

DonDaddyD

Ho hum wrote:

Did he say anything back to you?

Nope, he was breathing heavy while waiting behind me at the next set of lights.

Greg T

TailWindHome wrote:

What does shouting achieve other than to vent your own angry/ frustration/ annoyance?

Venting annoyance and frustration is pretty much enough for me..

I've thought about shouting "look out" loudly and urgently and hope they stack it.

feck em.

DonDaddyD

TailWindHome wrote:

What does shouting achieve other than to vent your own angry/ frustration/ annoyance?

Absolutely nothing. I don't make a habit of it, but my adrenaline was pumping and this guy was just carelessly unsafe, I take issue with anyone who becomes a danger in my presence.

You should have saw his attempt to swerve around a bus, which was fully commited to pull out from the bus stop.

Good to have you back BTW, it's been quiet round here the last week or two. Hopefully whatever kept you away has been resolved

Thanks!

TommyEss

I had a suit on a Carrera Subway jump the red and mount the pavement to go round a bus taking its time to go round the tight left at the crossroads in town - he got in front of the bus, and stopped at the next lights!

I just said to him "If you stay on the road there's a chance we'll all get more rexpect from other road users."

He just stared straight ahead through his big Oakleys - and rode very courteously to the next red, where we parted company.

zrazzle

Speaking of all this, just remembered - I saw one of those motorised push bike things go up on a curb to cross a zebra crossing the other day!

kurako

Never underestimate the power is the disdainful look as you cruise by (assuming they're not too busy mashing furiously to notice).

jonginge

Kurako wrote:

Never underestimate the power is the disdainful look as you cruise by (assuming they're not too busy mashing furiously to notice).

I must admit to doing this, too, coupled with a resigned shake of the head.

I raise an acknowledging hand and nod to most people as I go by. RLJers not so much.

Canny Jock

Nothing better than beating someone over a few miles who RLJ's when you have stopped at every one.

davmaggs

Canny Jock wrote:

Nothing better than beating someone over a few miles who RLJ's when you have stopped at every one.

the downside (and I'm slow) is that they start taking more risks as they get annoyed as you keep catching them. So, I'm sorting of causing bad behaviour by not doing it myself.


On a second note, it seems that some cyclists are so used to doing what they want they simply no longer think it anti-social to sail through a crossing as the lollypop lady waves the kids across (clapham a good example).

phil_ss1

Lollypop operatives ought to just twat the passing cyclists like flies with their sign if they don't stop, or ram the pointy end through the front wheel :twisted:

Phil

roundthebend

I have a wee confession to make....I think I might be guilty of some RLJing, but it's not too bad in my opinion.

The road in question splits into two lanes - 1 for ahead and right, the other for left only. My preferred route is to turn right. With the traffic being quite heavy I find it difficult to get into a right turn position - I join this road not far before the lights at rush hour so the traffic is usually backed up all the way. So, I find myself in the straight ahead position which is roughly central on the ASL. I regularly just check that the traffic is stopped completely before moving onto the central island of the crossing, then over onto the path at the other side of the road when it's clear.

Now, I guess that I'm doing something technically wrong. But, it's perfectly safe and saves me hassle. I suspect it also removes some hassle for the drivers that would have to dodge around me as I turned right too.

Please, go easy on me. :oops:

TommyEss

I refer you to my previous comment.

TommyEss wrote:

"If you stay on the road there's a chance we'll all get more respect from other road users."

*(Typo corrected!)

Cafewanda

roundthebend wrote:

I have a wee confession to make....I think I might be guilty of some RLJing, but it's not too bad in my opinion.

The road in question splits into two lanes - 1 for ahead and right, the other for left only. My preferred route is to turn right. With the traffic being quite heavy I find it difficult to get into a right turn position - I join this road not far before the lights at rush hour so the traffic is usually backed up all the way. So, I find myself in the straight ahead position which is roughly central on the ASL. I regularly just check that the traffic is stopped completely before moving onto the central island of the crossing, then over onto the path at the other side of the road when it's clear.

Now, I guess that I'm doing something technically wrong. But, it's perfectly safe and saves me hassle. I suspect it also removes some hassle for the drivers that would have to dodge around me as I turned right too.

Please, go easy on me. :oops:

2 weeks travelling by PT for this blatant disregard of cycling rules!

*shakes head in dismay*

roundthebend

Cafewanda wrote:

roundthebend wrote:

I have a wee confession to make....I think I might be guilty of some RLJing, but it's not too bad in my opinion.

The road in question splits into two lanes - 1 for ahead and right, the other for left only. My preferred route is to turn right. With the traffic being quite heavy I find it difficult to get into a right turn position - I join this road not far before the lights at rush hour so the traffic is usually backed up all the way. So, I find myself in the straight ahead position which is roughly central on the ASL. I regularly just check that the traffic is stopped completely before moving onto the central island of the crossing, then over onto the path at the other side of the road when it's clear.

Now, I guess that I'm doing something technically wrong. But, it's perfectly safe and saves me hassle. I suspect it also removes some hassle for the drivers that would have to dodge around me as I turned right too.

Please, go easy on me. :oops:

2 weeks travelling by PT for this blatant disregard of cycling rules!

*shakes head in dismay*

2 weeks!? You don't realise how harsh a punishment that is. To get to work by bike is 2.8 miles. By bus, I have to take 2 half hour buses and it costs about £15 per week.

How about a promise to change my ways?

tatman69

A very interesting topic and one they has really made me think about how I cycle to work.

I too often go through red lights when it is a safe option ie no cars turning into my path etc and I also squeeze ibetween kerbs and buses/lorries.

I staated commuting about 6 months ago after about 20 years off of the bike.

I suppose I have got into very bad habits and ones which could potentially put my life at risk, something I dont really want to do when I have 2 very small children at home. Problem is I find that when I get on the bike the adrenaline starts pumping and rationality goes out the window.

I think my ride home tonight will be a fresh start at being sensible on the road.

Thanks.

TommyEss

After a few years being over-eager, I now take things much easier on the commute - too many close calls have made me think "Is it really worth it?"

lost_in_thought

tatman69 wrote:

A very interesting topic and one they has really made me think about how I cycle to work.

I too often go through red lights when it is a safe option ie no cars turning into my path etc and I also squeeze ibetween kerbs and buses/lorries.

I staated commuting about 6 months ago after about 20 years off of the bike.

I suppose I have got into very bad habits and ones which could potentially put my life at risk, something I dont really want to do when I have 2 very small children at home. Problem is I find that when I get on the bike the adrenaline starts pumping and rationality goes out the window.

I think my ride home tonight will be a fresh start at being sensible on the road.

Thanks.

Good stuff.

Kieran_Burns

tatman69 wrote:

A very interesting topic and one they has really made me think about how I cycle to work.

I too often go through red lights when it is a safe option ie no cars turning into my path etc and I also squeeze between kerbs and buses/lorries.

I staated commuting about 6 months ago after about 20 years off of the bike.

I suppose I have got into very bad habits and ones which could potentially put my life at risk, something I dont really want to do when I have 2 very small children at home. Problem is I find that when I get on the bike the adrenaline starts pumping and rationality goes out the window.

I think my ride home tonight will be a fresh start at being sensible on the road.

Thanks.

Please. Just. Don't.

Not being all wagging finger here, but please don't.

Cafewanda

@ roundthebend

OK, cos I've just had lunch and am feeling a tad sleepy, I'll knock it down to 5 working days

Cafewanda

I thoroughly recommend cycle training. It's not just for us adult learners.

tatman69

I promise...didnt realise how dangerous it was until I started reading this forum.....

I have been commuting on a MTB (15miles round trip) on noblies and after my week in Thetford next week am going to put some slicks on for the London 2 Brighton.

Managed a 30 mile ride which was quite hilly on the noblies so should be ok for L2B on slicks? Will they make a lot of difference in speed? Average around 16mph on the nobblies

The Rookie

I will admit to going between busses and kerb.....but only when the bus is stuck at the one set of lights I have to pass and the queue in front is stationary, he's not moving anywhere, otherwise, no chance!

Simon

Cafewanda

The Beginner wrote:

I will admit to going between busses and kerb.....but only when the bus is stuck at the one set of lights I have to pass and the queue in front is stationary, he's not moving anywhere, otherwise, no chance!

Simon

Still not a good idea. However, free will and all that.

andy83

I shouted at a woman once on a busy road who kept jumping the lights. I shouted "red means to stop" the reply I got was "f*$k off"

I got my own back when I overtook them and said "you still couldnt get ahead of me even with all the red light jumping"