suicidal cyclists

[bigdom86]

its been a while since I have had a suicidal pedestrian or cyclist on my london commute. well no i have them every day but usually i manage to spot them before a collision.

so the usual scenario this morning, filter up to the cycle box and sit myself in the centre as all the cyclists go beyond box and sit just before yellow box or go through the red lights. ok lights go green so off i go down the middle, cyclist from left doesn't even bother to look or signal but simply crosses in front of the bike with his headphones on. managed to brake and keep myself upright whilst he bounces off the front/left side of the bike onto floor. have to say the guy was extremely apologetic which was nice as usually it is never their fault, just gave my usual "what are F you doing gesture" and told him to be more careful and off i went onto work.

just another random day in london i guess, possibly poor obs by me a bit maybe as tbh i usually expect them to do this but was in a rush this morning but oh well

[Fizzoid]

[UnknownStuntm...]

[Derivative]

The first time I found myself in Hackney was a bit of a shock.

I tend to give cyclists a lot of room on the bike now.

The impression is that cyclists tend to think of a motorbike as being a bit like a bicycle that's faster. But it's not really because you're wearing a helmet, it weighs 100-200kg, you're actually bound by such things as red lights, etc.

Cyclists have far more peripheral vision and ability to drop the bike or pick it up and run, I feel more comfortable with crazy filtering on a bicycle.

I mean, basically, the roads would be far safer if everyone had to pass in a HGV and a car and a bike and a motorbike, but that's not realistic.

[gorillaonabik...]

If I don't get a suicidal pedestrian or cyclist in the morning, I'm surprised. Now I think about it, I don't get many in the evening...

Had one of them lean on me the other day. Not sure what happened but he ended up with his head of my shoulder sort of 'snuggling' at the lights. He seemed to be apologising and then we all went on our merry way.

That's London for you.
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FZR400 (blown engine), ZXR750 (blown engine), ZX6R (accident), CBR600 which had engine issues after which I learned to change gear..., CBR900, CBR924 (stolen), CB600, CB1300 (everything blew up), BMW K1300GT (written off, hit from rear while stationary), Bandit 1250 for a couple of months, Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (nicked) and somewhere in there, I wrote off a Ducati 748 at Cadwell.

[Ste]

[Commuter_Tim]

[Doink]

[Derivative]

I've never found wearing headphones a problem but then I actually have some level of understanding of how other vehicles on the road work.

I don't think headphones cause you to overtake and cut in front of or ride 10cm to the side of motorbikes whilst lights are changing. More misunderstanding of how much control a bike has and how fucked you are if a small gust of wind or tiny imbalance or road obstacle throws them off course.

But meh, as usual, it's people thinking it's Really Really Important to get to work at 8.58am and not 9.05am because the world will collapse and they couldn't have just had one less slice of toast before departure.

[Fizzoid]

[Rogerborg]

[daverave999]

I was shouted at by a cyclist this morning for sitting in the cycle box or something, as he proceeded to ride straight through a red light across a busy crossroads. Made me laugh.
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2007 Versys 650 2001 Yamaha XJ600S Diversion
HT: Imagine a bike......A bike designed by way of crude polls, assembled by cretins using the finest hammers that Lidl had on offer.

[Ste]

[ciderman]

I think ALL cyclists should be made accountable - with , say , a high viz jacket with a number on .. then we will see.....
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whos that then ?

[Nobby the Bastard]

[NutsyUk]

When i used to ride around london on my daily commute, I would NEVER wear headphones. You really do need to hear whats going on around you... Simple to hear the speeding tosser coming up behind you :p

As for ear plugs, you can get limiting plugs... Things that just cut things down by half, you can still hear but its a bit quieter
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Yamaha FZ8/Fazer800 (split headlight one) 2014, gingerly getting used to the massive increase in HP and not killing myself in the process! That was easy to get used to.
Kawasaki ER6F 2007 650 Gonna sell as a project bike!
Lexmoto XTR S 125 Sold!

[Commuter_Tim]

[barrkel]

I think deaf people should be allowed to cycle too.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[Londoner2015]