Hmmm, my commute part 2: the ride home.
I took the bikeway home because it was peak hour. My first error was
taking the correct turn off but then seeing a continuation of bikeway up
ahead and needing to check it out, finding that it's actually through to
a street I didn't want to be on, heading back onto the right path.
Then further along, where recently they've put in a new stretch, I
followed it, and as a result got spat out onto a street I didn't know.
Navigated to Kessels Rd and tried to duck around the back of MacGregor
High School (scary memories) but by now it was full dark and I couldn't
find the correct path, only the dodgy dark path through a park to a
sports field. Found a hill, cycled up it, got my bearings, went back and
found the path. Got through to a street which at night looked nothing
like Bleasby St but just didn't know. Found Warrigal Rd and was very
happy, except that facing the roundabout there is always a bit scary.
Then, had issues with a bus driver. Heading along in the left lane, a
bus is sitting right up my bum as we approach a stop. Gee, I must be
slowing him down, he might be 2 seconds late. He stops, I continue
happily along. Then halfway down the next hill, he roars past me and
then immediately pulls left into the next bus stop. At this point there
is a traffic island in the centre at the rear of the bus, the road is
only JUST wide enough for a car to pass the buss, and he's given me
about 20m to stop when going about 40 km/h (I'd started to hit the
brakes as soon as he moved, otherwise he probably would've taken me out
while pulling left).
I consider my options: (1) ride straight into the back of the bus or (2)
take my chances and jump in front of a car. I took option (2), keeping
close to the bus (about 1-2 cm between bars and bus) and hoping he
wouldn't pull out at the same time. A big thanks to the 4WD driver who
(shock! horror!) saw me and pulled right, up against the island and then
about 1 ft into the oncoming traffic once the island ended (the other
lane is really wide), and slowed down until I had passed the bus. Thank
you whoever you are, you saved my life, I'm sorry that all I was capable
of was a little wave.
Chugged up the next (small) hill and the bus passed again, I was too
shaky to do anything but flip him the finger, and to my delight he had
to slow down for the lights at the bottom of the next hill (my street)
so I got PLENTY of time to memorise his number.
As soon as I got home I called the council help line, I love those guys,
they tell you who to call about what. They gave me the number and I
lodged my complaint, and here's the best part of the entire thing - the
guy who recorded my complaint just happened to be a cycle commuter (this
came out when he shared my amazement at a 4WD driver who saved me
instead of nearly killing me, it's a Brisbane 4WD thing...) so I know
that my case will actually be looked at!
Then I went to take a shower and relax and that's when it hit me how I
had nearly died and I had a little cry and then felt much better and
pigged out on mum's spaghetti bolognese and a nice glass of red.