"Jon Senior" <jon_AT_restlesslemon_DOTco_DOT_uk> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> Dr Curious [email protected] opined the following...
> > The resultant adrelalin rush presumably meant your judgement was
> > impaired. Just thank yourself lucky that missing a turning was the
> > worst that happened. Basically whether we happen to like it or not as
> > cyclists, buses are always going to be pulling into curbs at the drop
> > of a hat. Bus drivers spend half of their days being wound up by
> > schoolkids. Being caught on the inside of a bus is generally
> > a bad idea to be avoided if at all possible. Also our being on a
> > bike costs the bus company a fare.
>
> If this rationale was coming from a bus driver, rather than a cyclist
> I'd consider disembowelment as the only option. I appreciate (or hope)
> that it's a joke but if a bus driver tries to kill me because I'm not on
> his bus then he'd better be a good runner!
Calm down! calm down! Its a case of balancing advantages against
disadvantages.
Adavantages - on a bike you can often make quicker journeys,
as you're not dependant on anybody else, even traffic queues.
It's healthier so you won't have to wait in doctors surgeries,
you can do all your own maintainance - on a normal bike anyway -
so you're not dependant on anybody else - your'e riding a design
classic - if the frame was built pre 1980 ish anyway so long as
it isnt maybe a Jack Taylor, a Hetchins, or a Gate etc - you're
using one of the most efficient machines ever designed except
for...a recuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurgggggggggggh
h
hhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmb....
Disadvantages. Some bus drivers and motorists are always going
to regard you as an inconvenience no matter what you do. And in a
game of chicken you're always going to come off second best.
So live with it. Nobody can have everything.
....
If you can't drive a vehicle
> of that size safely, under the "normal" working conditions, then you
> shouldn't drive it. Full Stop.
....
Sure thing. If you can't run the country you shouldn't be a
politician, if you don't know about insurance you shouldn't
work in a call centre, if you can't be polite to the public
you shouldn't work in a bike shop. You really should start
your own political party you know.
If you paid the sort of wages necessary to attract the sort of
paragons the job undoubtedly requires, you'd presumably have to pay
a far higher wage. Which means fares would have to rise, which would
drive more cars on the road. Either that or subsidies would have
to increase which would mean higher Council Tax Bills for everyone
including cyclists. Its also probably the case that agressive bus
drivers are better at keeping to timetables which is all the
BusCos are primarily interested in. As it enables them to run a
tighter operation.
....
>
> > Short answer. Because buses are bigger than you are. Longer answer
> > you're not. If you were riding defensively you wouldn't even be going
> > there in the first place. By anticipating whats likely to happen you
> > can in fact squeeze through smaller gaps on either side.
>
> I ride assertively. I consider that "defensive" assumes an attack, and
> I'd rather prevent the attack in the first place. (This time, I failed!)
> Other than that, I suspect we mean the same thing.
>
> > Its pointless occupying a lane when you're moving so much faster
> > than the other traffic.
>
> I'm a fast rider, but I can't maintain 30mph up a hill (Depends on the
> hill actually)!
....
But if the other traffic was almost stationary there'd be no need
to be doing 30 mph anyway. Also with a properly planned route
you should only be encountering buses some of the time in any case.
If there are particularly tricky strets with lots of bus stops
it might be an idea to try find an alternative route for that
particular section.
....
....
>
> > I'm always overtaking on either side.
>
> I try to avoid undertaking. Passing on the right is less likely to leave
> you stuck when the cars next to you turn left.
>
> > That's the point of riding a bike in London anyway. Anyone can go
> > faster than the cars nowadays. Or the buses. Other situations
> > may be different.
>
> Edinburgh? During the extremes of traffic it is easy to travel faster.
> On the flat, on good roads, I can match or beat most of the other
> vehicles. Up hills (And we have a few) I tend to lose out unless it's
> gridlocked.
>
> > This is purely defensive however. Because antagonising drivers by
smashing
> > their tail lights and then pedalling away in the opposite direction
only
> > means they'll take it out on somebody else. It wouldn't surprise me if
> > this thread actually involves a case of mistaken identity on the part
> > of the taxi driver.
>
> Rest assured that if I ever get close enough to being killed to drive me
> to retaliate, Mr Larrington's oft-mentioned methods will be tested.
....
I know we've all got our problems with Merkans but you really should
see some NYC bike messengers at work, taking tows in fast moving
traffic etc. You'd hang your head in shame, you really would.
They're not all chaps either, actually.
....
> The
> only reason that I didn't velcro a screw driver to my frame as a joke,
> was the fact that I might just take it seriously (And I don't have
> enough decent cycling gear to keep me comfortable while I wash the blood
> out!).
....
That's a guarenteed custodial sentence. You wouldn't like prison
believe me. That's not from direct experience, more indirect.
Calm down! Calm down!
Curious
>
> Jon