(Sydney) Last week's commute report



Wotcher,

Between 27/2 and 3/3 I was nearly wiped out 4 times. A week of bad
returns? You judge:

Situation 1:Tuesday 3pm, City to Camperdown via Castlereagh, Pitt,
Broadway, approx 40kph
Situation: Occupying buslane on left, despite parked cars, downhill
from the Abercrombie lights, trying to maintain speed for uphill
section near City Road lights. Large dump truck on my right.

Critical failure: Car overtook on my right, and slowed down to turn
left into Buckland. Car's rear occupying all of bus lane at 20m. My
failure was I decided the car would turn in the intervening space. 5m
out I realised this wasn't going to happen, and edged right. Luckily
the truck wasn't sitting on the lane edge. I didn't read the traffic.

Situation 2: Wednesday 1.30pm Right/Left at Lawson into Redfern heading
West, 10kph
Situation: Cars try to merge on me from my right. They get a yelling
at.

Situation 3: Wednesday 4pm Roundabout at Codrington and Abercrombie
heading uphill towards Sydney Uni, 10kph

Critical failure: 15m out I decide the roundabout is probably clear.
5m out I discover cars entering from my right and break hard (didn't
enter the roundabout). I didn't read traffic.

Situation 4: Wednesday 9pm High St Camperdown, downhill, near Gate 2 of
UNSW. 60kph
Situation: Occupying the left lane, with a vest, white shirt, front and
rear lights, coming up on a green intersection. 20m out I look down at
the road surface to avoid unevenness. 5m up I look at the intersection
and discover an idiot in a black 4wd sports has turned right, across my
path. I veer right around their tail and yell at them.

I know, I didn't read the traffic properly on this last one, but it
really irritated me.

What a week. More angry at myself than anything else for being stupid
all too stupid: not taking right lanes when traffic is slow or clear.
Trusting streets "I know". Believing cars can actually see me at
night.

yours,
Sam R.
 
[email protected] wrote:
> Wotcher,


Ave.

>
> Between 27/2 and 3/3 I was nearly wiped out 4 times. A week of bad
> returns? You judge:


A week of learning experiences. Bung 'em in the bank, live off the
interest.
 
[email protected] wrote:

> Situation 4: Wednesday 9pm High St Camperdown, downhill, near Gate 2 of
> UNSW. 60kph


I guess you mean Kensington rather than Camperdown.

General thoughts about cycling around UNSW;
Avoid it. Cycling on either Barker St or High St is a health hazard;
road quality is poor, lanes are narrow and too steep on the downhill
(especially Barker Street), too many students late for lectures driving
recklessly, too many buses and trucks.
 
Bleve wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
>
>>Wotcher,

>
>
> Ave.


You'll never win Roman, 'cause we've got the secret potion!
--
Cheers | ~~ __@
Euan (indomitable Gaul)| ~~ _-\<,
Melbourne, Australia | ~ (*)/ (*)