Grrr. Temporary traffic lights.

Martin

I had a lovely ride into work this morning, a reasonable day at work,
followed by a lovely ride home this evening (until the last mile).

For about the last three months there have been one or two sets of
temporary traffic lights. As I don't consider there is enough room to
safely be overtaken, I always take the primary pos. through these, and
on the way home revert back to the secondary when there is room to be
overtaken.

Tonight as I approached, there was another cyclists kerb hugging in
front of me, and a car or two squeezed past him with little room.
The car (W481BFC) driver behind me then started honking his horn. When I
looked behind the passenger started pointing at the kerb. I carried on
an the driver lent on his horn. I then stopped to see what the problem
was and he started yelling that I should be on the left.

Anyway this was repeated through the second set of lights, and after
W481BFC passed me he started yelling "Do you want to be run over."

One group of idiots spoilt the whole day.

_

On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:17:11 +0100, Martin wrote:

> I had a lovely ride into work this morning, a reasonable day at work,
> followed by a lovely ride home this evening (until the last mile).
>
> For about the last three months there have been one or two sets of
> temporary traffic lights. As I don't consider there is enough room to
> safely be overtaken, I always take the primary pos. through these, and
> on the way home revert back to the secondary when there is room to be
> overtaken.
>
> Tonight as I approached, there was another cyclists kerb hugging in
> front of me, and a car or two squeezed past him with little room.
> The car (W481BFC) driver behind me then started honking his horn. When I
> looked behind the passenger started pointing at the kerb. I carried on
> an the driver lent on his horn. I then stopped to see what the problem
> was and he started yelling that I should be on the left.
>
> Anyway this was repeated through the second set of lights, and after
> W481BFC passed me he started yelling "Do you want to be run over."
>
> One group of idiots spoilt the whole day.

Camera, with flash, tends to shut them up.

john.sabine@gmail.com

On 12 Jun, 22:17, Martin <martin.d...@virgin.net> wrote:
> I had a lovely ride into work this morning, a reasonable day at work,
> followed by a lovely ride home this evening (until the last mile).

> The car (W481BFC) driver behind me then started honking his horn. When I
> looked behind the passenger started pointing at the kerb.

I must admit if people start hooting at me I just assume that it's
friends who have recognised me before I've had a chance to spot
them, so turn round to give them a broad grin and a cheerful wave.

> One group of idiots spoilt the whole day.

Hopefully getting home to coffee/tea/beer/dinner (delete as
appropriate) raised the tone a little again.

J

Martin

_ wrote:
> On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:17:11 +0100, Martin wrote:

>> Anyway this was repeated through the second set of lights, and after
>> W481BFC passed me he started yelling "Do you want to be run over."
>>
>> One group of idiots spoilt the whole day.
>
> Camera, with flash, tends to shut them up.

I will have to try that one day.

I have uploaded the video, unedited to youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkqbsT2nOy8

Turn the sound off if you don't like swearing (me unfortunately).
I think the car was further back at through the second set of lights, as
the horn is not clear.

The idiot would have saved at most 1s by passing me.

Colin Blackburn

Martin wrote:

> I have uploaded the video, unedited to youtube.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkqbsT2nOy8
>
> Turn the sound off if you don't like swearing (me unfortunately).
> I think the car was further back at through the second set of lights, as
> the horn is not clear.
>
> The idiot would have saved at most 1s by passing me.

I don't think he'd have even saved that. With the other road works and
the general traffic speed you caught up to the car in front, he'd have
done no better than a bike's length had he passed you.

He did that left turn at the T-junction very badly!

Colin

Ian Smith

On Thu, 12 Jun 2008, john.sabine@gmail.com <john.sabine@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 12 Jun, 22:17, Martin <martin.d...@virgin.net> wrote:
> > I had a lovely ride into work this morning, a reasonable day at work,
> > followed by a lovely ride home this evening (until the last mile).
>
> > The car (W481BFC) driver behind me then started honking his horn. When I
> > looked behind the passenger started pointing at the kerb.
>
> I must admit if people start hooting at me I just assume that it's
> friends who have recognised me before I've had a chance to spot
> them, so turn round to give them a broad grin and a cheerful wave.

Try blowing them a kiss.

regards, Ian Smith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

Mark

On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:17:11 +0100, Martin <martin.dann@virgin.net>
wrote:

>
>I had a lovely ride into work this morning, a reasonable day at work,
>followed by a lovely ride home this evening (until the last mile).
>
>For about the last three months there have been one or two sets of
>temporary traffic lights. As I don't consider there is enough room to
>safely be overtaken, I always take the primary pos. through these, and
>on the way home revert back to the secondary when there is room to be
>overtaken.
>
>Tonight as I approached, there was another cyclists kerb hugging in
>front of me, and a car or two squeezed past him with little room.
>The car (W481BFC) driver behind me then started honking his horn. When I
>looked behind the passenger started pointing at the kerb. I carried on
>an the driver lent on his horn. I then stopped to see what the problem
>was and he started yelling that I should be on the left.
>
>Anyway this was repeated through the second set of lights, and after
>W481BFC passed me he started yelling "Do you want to be run over."
>
>One group of idiots spoilt the whole day.

Morons like that are unsuited to driving and should be prevented from
doing so IMHO.

I tend to completely ignore idiots like this nowadays. I am worried
that the situation could escalate. I did swear profusely the other at
a driver of mini who overtook me so close that his wing mirror went
under my handlebars. Unfortunately it was close to a school so I
guess a lot of small children learned some new words.

--
(\__/) M.
(='.'=) Owing to the amount of spam posted via googlegroups and
(")_(") their inaction to the problem. I am blocking most articles
posted from there. If you wish your postings to be seen by
everyone you will need use a different method of posting.
See http://improve-usenet.org

Chris Smith

Martin wrote:
>
> _ wrote:
>> On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:17:11 +0100, Martin wrote:
>
>
> The idiot would have saved at most 1s by passing me.

Not even that - he'd just catch up with the car he would have been
behind anyway - which indeed you did too, at the next set of temp Lights.

What an eedjit.

However - I think I probably would have just turned, smiled and waved on
the assumption it was someone I knew, rather than sound off at the mouth
- juuuust in case.

Nat

On 13 Jun, 11:33, Chris Smith <spli...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Martin wrote:
>
> > _ wrote:
> >> On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:17:11 +0100, Martin wrote:
>
> > The idiot would have saved at most 1s by passing me.
>
> Not even that - he'd just catch up with the car he would have been
> behind anyway - which indeed you did too, at the next set of temp Lights.
>
> What an eedjit.
>
> However - I think I probably would have just turned, smiled and waved on
> the assumption it was someone I knew, rather than sound off at the mouth
> - juuuust in case.

I do the annoying thing of simply pretending I haven't noticed at all!
(I do the same in my relationships too)
If it is a four-by-four and a bloke is driving, I tend to waggle my
little finger. They know exactly what I am saying!

Nick

Martin wrote:
>
> _ wrote:
>> On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:17:11 +0100, Martin wrote:
>
>>> Anyway this was repeated through the second set of lights, and after
>>> W481BFC passed me he started yelling "Do you want to be run over."
>>>
>>> One group of idiots spoilt the whole day.
>>
>> Camera, with flash, tends to shut them up.
>
> I will have to try that one day.
>
> I have uploaded the video, unedited to youtube.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkqbsT2nOy8
>
> Turn the sound off if you don't like swearing (me unfortunately).
> I think the car was further back at through the second set of lights, as
> the horn is not clear.
>
> The idiot would have saved at most 1s by passing me.

Yep, you should never shout swear words in an argument. You were correct
to stop and ask what the problem was. You shouldn't use any obscure
technical terms, such as primary position. You should state clearly that
you have a right to use the road and that you would let him pass as soon
as it was safe for you to do so. You should apologise for upsetting him
but insist again firmly that you have as much right to use the road as
him. You should state that him blowing the horn is illegal and very
distressing to you. You should then ask him to stop blowing his horn so
that you can proceed. If he refuses spend another minute or two trying
to reason with him before getting off you bike and out of the way.

Now if you are feeling sick and annoyed by my drivel you can imagine how
he would be feeling while you were holding him up. But you will have
played to the crowd and will have a good tape for evidential purposes.

If you do need to swear at him do it up close and smiling, make sure
only he can hear.

A.C.P.Crawshaw

Martin wrote:
>
> The car (W481BFC) driver behind me then started honking his horn. When I
> looked behind the passenger started pointing at the kerb. I carried on
> an the driver lent on his horn. I then stopped to see what the problem
> was and he started yelling that I should be on the left.

It's odd how it's accepted that motorcyclists should ride close to the centre line yet
cyclists are widely expected to hug the kerb. Last week I watched a long line of traffic
stuck behind a very slow motorcyclist chugging along in this position, yet no-one was
hooting.

I annoyed some twat on my way back from the gym at lunchtime, blocking the cycle filter
lane leading to traffic lights so I clobbered his wing mirror with my handlebar. He
started ranting so I shouted "bike lane" and pointed downwards before riding off. They
complain about us not using the facilities provided, then they block them.

Alan

David Hansen

On Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:22:40 +0100 someone who may be
"A.C.P.Crawshaw" <iss02b@bangor.ac.uk> wrote this:-

>I annoyed some twat on my way back from the gym at lunchtime, blocking the cycle filter
>lane leading to traffic lights so I clobbered his wing mirror with my handlebar. He
>started ranting so I shouted "bike lane" and pointed downwards before riding off. They
>complain about us not using the facilities provided, then they block them.

Very true.

The unacceptable face of motoring are always looking for something
to whine about. I wonder if we could harness the whining as a source
of energy? It might even be renewable.



--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

Robin Johnson

A.C.P.Crawshaw wrote:
> I annoyed some twat on my way back from the gym at lunchtime, blocking
> the cycle filter lane leading to traffic lights so I clobbered his wing
> mirror with my handlebar. He started ranting so I shouted "bike lane"
> and pointed downwards before riding off. They complain about us not
> using the facilities provided, then they block them.

I almost got doored by the passenger door of a white van queuing at
temporary traffic lights on my commute home today; there was a bike lane
to its left, which I was filtering up. I braked and shouted "Mind out!"
as good-naturedly as I could manage; the fellow getting out said
something rude. As I passed the van, the driver shouted out the window:
"Well, you were about to skip the lights!"

Must be the heat.
--
Robin Johnson

PoB

"Martin" <martin.dann@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:xng4k.39562$pu3.8758@newsfe05.ams2...

| Anyway this was repeated through the second set of lights, and after
| W481BFC passed me he started yelling "Do you want to be run over."
|
| One group of idiots spoilt the whole day.

A couple of days ago, I checked behind me, assessed the traffic flow,
decided to get in position for my forthcoming (about 2-300m) right turn,
indicated and pulled out to take position, and maintained my speed at the
general speed of the traffic

I was in this position, still indicating right turn, for about 100m, when a
car roared up behind me, hand on horn. I ignored it as I was approaching my
turn. The driver then leaned out and yelled "Get out of my way, I'm a
f****** car" Again, I ignored it. He then pulled alongside, as the road
widened near the Lidl and Shell station opposite my street and tried to
punch me through his window - but fortunately he would have needed to be
related to an Orang-utan to have succeeded.

I was turning by this point and finally expressed my feelings - cowardly by
now, as there was now way he could turn, but it made me feel better, so I
yelled 3 words, one of which was off - and again with retrospect it was a
mistake, as all the passers by would have seen was potty mouthed cyclist,
which doesn't do much for our image (but judging by the size of him, if I
hadn't been making a safe sprint down a side street, I'd have been picking
up my teeth with a broken arm, and I needed to do something other than
fulminate futilely)

The car in front of me was never more than 20 feet in front of me, so I
wasn't holding him up, and as I turned off, I saw he'd have to join the tail
end of the queue stretching back from the Ardmillan lights.

It's sometimes disheartening how agitated drivers can get, and as you so
rightly say, one idiot can put a depressing pall on your entire day.

Ah well, I took some comfort from my memory of him sitting stationary in his
18foot penis extension in a queue of traffic as I wandered into my house for
a nice relaxing cuppa - I just wish he was still there.

pOB