Driving standards
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Hello all,
As a recent emigrant to the fair city of Worcester, and as a great believer of giving credit where
it is due, I would like to applaud the high standards of driving and courtesy shown to me when
riding my bicycle around Worcester.
Having lived in a variety of places in England, from London to Manchester (and several points in
between) I have seen standards slipping year by year and the common courtesy that used to be shown
to other road users had all but disappeared. Happily in Worcester this is not the case.
So, to every driver who waits for me to pass a junction, to every driver who passes me with a
clear three feet to spare and to every driver who waits those extra two seconds before pulling
back in after passing me, a hearty pat on the back and a heartfelt thank you to you all. Your high
standards of driving excellence have not gone unnoticed.
And isn't it nice to be able to say something good about motorists for a change?
Tom
Dont_know@btinternet.com wrote:
> Hello all, As a recent emigrant to the fair city of Worcester, and as a great believer of giving
> credit where it is due, I would like to applaud the high standards of driving and courtesy shown
> to me when riding my bicycle around Worcester. Having lived in a variety of places in England,
> from London to Manchester (and several points in between) I have seen standards slipping year by
> year and the common courtesy that used to be shown to other road users had all but disappeared.
> Happily in Worcester this is not the case. So, to every driver who waits for me to pass a
> junction, to every driver who passes me with a clear three feet to spare and to every driver who
> waits those extra two seconds before pulling back in after passing me, a hearty pat on the back
> and a heartfelt thank you to you all. Your high standards of driving excellence have not gone
> unnoticed. And isn't it nice to be able to say something good about motorists for a change? Tom
Any thoughts on the reason for the difference?
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Tom wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> As a recent emigrant to the fair city of Worcester, and as a great believer of giving credit
> where it is due, I would like to applaud the high standards of driving and courtesy shown to me
> when riding my bicycle around Worcester.
>
> Having lived in a variety of places in England, from London to Manchester (and several points in
> between) I have seen standards slipping year by year and the common courtesy that used to be
> shown to other road users had all but disappeared. Happily in Worcester this is not the case.
>
> So, to every driver who waits for me to pass a junction, to every driver who passes me with a
> clear three feet to spare and to every driver who waits those extra two seconds before pulling
> back in after passing me, a hearty pat on the back and a heartfelt thank you to you all. Your
> high standards of driving excellence have not gone unnoticed.
>
> And isn't it nice to be able to say something good about motorists for a change?
They were pretty good in Birmingham too. They're awful where I live now, especially the lunatic bus
drivers. What sort of psycho can you expect for £7 an hour, though?
"JNugent" <JNugent@AC30.freeofspamserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bvtrjd$p09$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
> > Having lived in a variety of places in England, from London to Manchester (and several points
> > in between) I have seen standards slipping year by year and the common courtesy that used to
> > be shown to other road users had all but disappeared. Happily in Worcester this is not the
> > case.
>
> Any thoughts on the reason for the difference?
People away from tbe big city are more likely to be relaxed? Less hurrying around, more space to do
it in? Probably shows in the attitude of people you see outside their cars too.
clive
"JNugent" <JNugent@AC30.freeofspamserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bvtrjd$p09$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
> Any thoughts on the reason for the difference?
>
There are a lot of cyclists in Worcester, kids on BMX's, people on shopping bikes, racers, MTB'ers
so it's always possible that the reason is, the next person you cut up or force into the kerb
could be a neighbour. However, it's not just when I'm riding my bike that I notice the difference,
drivers in Worcester are just as courteous when I'm in my car.
Whatever the reason, I'm still very impressed.
Tom
> They were pretty good in Birmingham too. They're awful where I live now, especially the lunatic
> bus drivers. What sort of psycho can you expect for £7 an hour, though?
I have several brothers who are psychos for free :-)
"Tom" <Dont_know@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:bvu03k$5hr$1@titan.btinternet.com...
>
> drivers in Worcester are just as courteous when I'm in my car.
>
> Whatever the reason, I'm still very impressed.
Worcester(shire) does very well in terms of accidents per million vehicles - there are a few areas
around the same level, only Swindon is a lot lower.
"Tom" <Dont_know@btinternet.com> wrote in message news:<bvthcv$8q8$1@titan.btinternet.com>...
> Hello all,
>
> As a recent emigrant to the fair city of Worcester, and as a great believer of giving credit
> where it is due, I would like to applaud the high standards of driving and courtesy shown to me
> when riding my bicycle around Worcester.
Courtesy shown to cyclists :-o That's the first I've heard of it!
> Having lived in a variety of places in England, from London to Manchester (and several points in
> between) I have seen standards slipping year by year and the common courtesy that used to be
> shown to other road users had all but disappeared. Happily in Worcester this is not the case.
>
> So, to every driver who waits for me to pass a junction, to every driver who passes me with a
> clear three feet to spare and to every driver who waits those extra two seconds before pulling
> back in after passing me, a hearty pat on the back and a heartfelt thank you to you all. Your
> high standards of driving excellence have not gone unnoticed.
>
> And isn't it nice to be able to say something good about motorists for a change?
>
> Tom
I find that the cylists are usually the ones which are aggressive and dangerous. I saw one almost go
up the kerb today because he was tail gating on a roundabout, only at slow speed, but it was still
too close. I had one undertake me (in the wrong lane) at lights and I had to stay back for a while
so that we didn't meet at the exit of the box junction. You wouldn't see a car undertaking and
forcing their way in at lights (not normally anyway).
What are the laws with bikes (push bikes and motor bikes) undertake, cutting in etc? Surely in rush
hour etc they should be driving in the middle of their lane with a sufficient gap behind and
infront? I've seen a lot overtaking on the wrong side of the road with nowhere to pull in!
On 5 Feb 2004 14:28:22 -0800, petermcmillan_uk@yahoo.com (Peter)
wrote:
>You wouldn't see a car undertaking and forcing their way in at lights (not normally anyway).
Exactly that happened to me yesterday. It was a car-derived van, not a car, though. I was riding my
bike, so it gave me a seriously nasty moment.
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://chapmancentral.demon.co.uk (http://chapmancentral.demon.co.uk/)
"Peter" <petermcmillan_uk@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c74310fd.0402051428.56d0c795@posting.google.com...
> "Tom" <Dont_know@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:<bvthcv$8q8$1@titan.btinternet.com>...
> What are the laws with bikes (push bikes and motor bikes) undertake, cutting in etc? Surely in
> rush hour etc they should be driving in the middle of their lane with a sufficient gap behind and
> infront?
Try doing that on a regular basis without getting assaulted.
"Tom" <Dont_know@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:bvu03k$5hr$1@titan.btinternet.com...
>
> "JNugent" <JNugent@AC30.freeofspamserve.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:bvtrjd$p09$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
> >
> > Any thoughts on the reason for the difference?
> >
>
> There are a lot of cyclists in Worcester, kids on BMX's, people on
> shopping bikes, racers, MTB'ers so it's always possible that the reason
is,
> the next person you cut up or force into the kerb could be a neighbour.
Try visiting Cambridge.
Dont_know@btinternet.com wrote:
> "JNugent" <JNugent@AC30.freeofspamserve.co.uk> wrote:
>> Any thoughts on the reason for the difference?
> There are a lot of cyclists in Worcester, kids on BMX's, people on shopping bikes, racers,
> MTB'ers so it's always possible that the reason is, the next person you cut up or force into the
> kerb could be a neighbour. However, it's not just when I'm riding my bike that I notice the
> difference, drivers in Worcester are just as courteous when I'm in my car.
Possible, of course (as is anything), but probably a little far-fetched, I think.
After all, Worcester is a fair-sixed town, not a village.
> Whatever the reason, I'm still very impressed.
Even in the stifling heat of a Mediterranean summer, *many* people in Italy ride bicycles - even
old(ish) ladies.
I hadn't noticed that it made Italian drivers less gung-ho (even in Tuscan villages), but we are
very different from the Italians (in some ways), I guess.
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Tom <Dont_know@btinternet.com> wrote:
> As a recent emigrant to the fair city of Worcester, and as a great believer of giving credit
> where it is due, I would like to applaud the high standards of driving and courtesy shown to me
> when riding my bicycle around Worcester.
Are you on drugs? Worcester has the highest concentration of complete
neighbour Great Malvern where driving standards are incredibly actually worse. A high proportion of
all drivers in both places are baseball cap wearing Nova drivers who screech around the city with
their foglights on to impress the girls. The rest are certifiable coffin dodgers who don't
pull out of junctions without looking, trickle down the road at 15 mph, never use indicators (except
when they have been left on, or they have left the hazard indicators - AKA parkanywhere lights -
on), cut corners, ignore traffic lights, dump the car in the middle of the street and shuffle to the
shops wondering what the fuss is about.
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JNugent <JNugent@AC30.freeofspamserve.co.uk> wrote:
> Any thoughts on the reason for the difference?
There isn't any, drivers in Worcestershire are legendary for their total and utter incompetence.
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JNugent <JNugent@AC30.freeofspamserve.co.uk> wrote:
> I hadn't noticed that it made Italian drivers less gung-ho (even in Tuscan villages), but we are
> very different from the Italians (in some ways), I guess.
Living and working as I do in both Worcestershire[1] and Italy. I prefer Italy, at least the drivers
are predictable. I think "Tom" is suffering from rose tinted spectacles. If he cares to visit
McDonalds any evening or take a cycle around by the Butts/City Walls/Warner Village he'll find that
the average Worcester driver is way below average. If he really wants to find out how bad it gets I
suggest a drive via the bypass through Powick towards Malvern around 5pm on any weekday.
[1] Before the loonies start trying to point out that I don't live in Worcestershire, I do, as well
as in Hampshire and Italy and I have the receipts to prove it.
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news:bvtsvo$q0s$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk:
> People away from tbe big city are more likely to be relaxed? Less hurrying around, more space to
> do it in? Probably shows in the attitude of people you see outside their cars too.
I've noticed this difference on the two motorways from Edinburgh, the M8 to Glasgow and the M90 to
Perth. There is a greater volume of traffic on the M8 (larger cities, more commuters?) and the
standard of driving isn't great and can be very aggressive. The M90, on the other hand, has less
traffic and seems to be driven by some fairly mellow and courteous commuters. Perhaps they're just
happy they don't have to live or work in Glasgow ;-)
Cheers,
Graeme
Graeme <graeme@gpdods.removethis.com> wrote on Fri, 06 Feb 2004 02:41:32 GMT:
> news:bvtsvo$q0s$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk:
>
>> People away from tbe big city are more likely to be relaxed? Less hurrying around, more space to
>> do it in? Probably shows in the attitude of people you see outside their cars too.
>
> I've noticed this difference on the two motorways from Edinburgh, the M8 to Glasgow and the M90 to
> Perth. There is a greater volume of traffic on the M8 (larger cities, more commuters?) and the
> standard of driving isn't great and can be very aggressive. The M90, on the other hand, has less
> traffic and seems to be driven by some fairly mellow and courteous commuters. Perhaps they're just
> happy they don't have to live or work in Glasgow ;-)
>
Don't forget the M9 to Dunblane, where at the Keir Roundabout (which I have seen several
cars/lorries in the middle of) it turns in to the A9 (dual-carriageway with speed cameras) A9 which
also goes to Perth (and far beyond).
Then there's the A80/M80 from Glasgow which joins up with the M9 at Stirling.
As one of the people commuting along the M9 most days I have to say it isn't too bad, although there
are obviously a few nutters on it (like every road). Never done the M90 (Given that I live in
Stirling, the M9/A9 is usually the best choice for Edinburgh/Perth, and so far I've never had to go
straight from one to the other).
--
David Taylor davidt-news@yadt.co.uk "The future just ain't what it used to be."
"Steve Firth" <usenet-urd@malloc.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1g8pldb.1rnh9rqn5n7lcN%%steve%@malloc.co.uk...
>
> Are you on drugs? Worcester has the highest concentration of complete
> neighbour Great Malvern where driving standards are incredibly actually worse. A high proportion
> of all drivers in both places are baseball cap wearing Nova drivers who screech around the city
> with their foglights on to impress the girls. The rest are certifiable coffin dodgers who don't
> pull out of junctions without looking, trickle down the road at 15 mph, never use indicators
> (except when they have been left on, or they have left the hazard indicators - AKA parkanywhere
> lights - on), cut corners, ignore traffic lights, dump the car in the middle of the street and
> shuffle to the shops wondering what the fuss is about.
>
Ah! I'm beginning to see your problem here Steve. Everyone who drives
everyone who drives slower than you is a "certifiable coffin dodger"
Enough said
Tom
"Steve Firth" <usenet-urd@malloc.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1g8plph.jza7so1adlhhyN%%steve%@malloc.co.uk...
> JNugent <JNugent@AC30.freeofspamserve.co.uk> wrote:
>
> I think "Tom" is suffering from rose tinted spectacles.
Not suffering, quite enjoying them actually. 2 for 1 at Specsavers.
> If he cares to visit McDonalds any evening or take a cycle around by the Butts/City Walls/Warner
> Village he'll find that the average Worcester driver is way below average.
I wouldn't visit McDonalds if they were giving stuff away, and why would I want to ride a bike
around a City centre drinking area?
> If he really wants to find out how bad it gets I suggest a drive via the bypass through Powick
> towards Malvern around 5pm on any weekday.
Try the "lemming run" on the A580 into and out of Manchester every weekday morning and evening.
And why do you keep refering to me in the third person singular? Or are you trying to prove that
not everyone in Worcester is courtious?
Tom
"Tom" <Dont_know@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:c00g88$38p$1@hercules.btinternet.com...
> Try the "lemming run" on the A580 into and out of Manchester every
weekday
> morning and evening.
"run" ?
Ah, I suppose I have seen some people able to get up to the speed of a running guinea pig.
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