Todays Parable

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by cfsmtb
Learnt two very quick lessons today within 10 minutes, whilst pedalling down Chapel Street.

Not all motorists are bad.

Not all cyclists are good.

First lesson, cycling along near the Jam Factory. Large 4WD is backing in to a parking spot. Causing me to brake and wait, as I was not particularly enthusiastic about taking on the heavy traffic swerving around the 4WD. When the driver finally took the spot, I continued on. The drivers’ window was down, and she smiled and said loudly "very sorry about that". I promptly said back, "Well that's no problem". Ah, the world is a nice place.

Second lesson, further down Chapel Street I came upon another cyclist, I wanted to pass but realised it probably wasn't a good idea. She was wobbling all over the bike lane, add that with a gusty wind and more heavy traffic, well, thought it best to hang back and wait. After patiently waiting, and watching her narrowly miss tram passengers at three separate stops, I'd had enough.

On the last near miss I yelled out "WAIT FOR PASSENGERS". She yelled something back about not wanting to hit people (this could of fooled most people watching) swore and raised the middle finger while turning left into Carlisle Street. I just felt really sorry for her; she seemed to have an unhealthy combination of nervousness and aggression.

Anyway, for me as a lady cyclist, it was an fascinating departure from the normally all male interactions one gets while cycling in the city and suburbs. 😉

Must say the female P-palter plague doesnt seem to translate to the road.
Never seen a noticeably bad female cyclist, but the amount of [censored] male cyclists going around is appalling.
Amazes me how few women there are racing, At Kew it would seem lucky to get 2-3 out of a total of 120-150 across A-D grades...

cfsmtb <[email hidden]> wrote in message
[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Learnt two very quick lessons today within 10 minutes,
whilst pedalling down Chapel Street.

Not all motorists are bad.

Not all cyclists are good.

First lesson, cycling along near the Jam Factory. Large
4WD is backing in to a parking spot. Causing me to brake
and wait, as I was not particularly enthusiastic about
taking on the heavy traffic swerving around the 4WD. When
the driver finally took the spot, I continued on. The
drivers’ window was down, and she smiled and said loudly
"very sorry about that". I promptly said back, "Well
that's no problem". Ah, the world is a nice place.

Feh. I was nearly killed today by an especially retarded
taxi driver on St Kilda Road. I was trundling south well in
the bike lane minding my own business when he simply shifted
lift whilst parallel to me in order to shoot into a space
between sundry parked cars so he could drop off his
passenger. In between my emergency braking he got a full
dose of air horn and he wound down his window to kinda-sorta
apologize (one of those insincere waves of the Guilty As
Hell And They Know It). It's a good thing we don't have

cabbie right now. I yelled at him instead (hi dutchy!).

[...]

Quoted message said:

something back about not wanting to hit people (this could
of fooled

I'm sorry, but I absolutely cannot let this particular
error go by: it's "could *have* fooled". "Have", not "of".
It's bad enough when people say "of" but to see it written
is too much.

--

A: Top-posters.
B: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

"DRS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]... I was trundling south
well in the bike lane minding my own

Quoted message said:

business when he simply shifted lift whilst parallel to me
in order to

shoot

Quoted message said:

I'm sorry, but I absolutely cannot let this particular
error go by: it's "could *have* fooled". "Have", not "of".
It's bad enough when people say "of" but to see it written
is too much.

If you are going to be a grammar nazi I suggest you read
your own posts first.

Fraser

"he got a full dose of air horn"

just how loud is the new toy Drs?

have only heard secondhand info about these but I have images(?) of foghorns or starts of sporting events. Must scare the B-heyzoos out of people (hehehe)

And where can I get one of those Taxi licences that forces you to straddle 2lanes, bcos apparently the car cant get in one or the other

Fraser Johnston <[email hidden]> wrote in message
[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

"DRS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]... I was trundling south
well in the bike lane minding my own

Quoted message said:

business when he simply shifted lift whilst parallel to
me in order to shoot

I'm sorry, but I absolutely cannot let this particular
error go by: it's "could *have* fooled". "Have", not
"of". It's bad enough when people say "of" but to see it
written is too much.

If you are going to be a grammar nazi I suggest you read
your own posts first.

You forgot to point out any grammatical error I might have
made, most probably because there isn't one and you're
confusing style with grammar. In any event, I remind you of
the old saw that "two wrongs don't make a right."

Using "of" for "have" is the grammatical equivalent to
fingernails on a blackboard.

--

A: Top-posters.
B: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by cfsmtb
Learnt two very quick lessons today within 10 minutes, whilst pedalling down Chapel Street.

Not all motorists are bad.

Not all cyclists are good.

First lesson, cycling along near the Jam Factory. Large 4WD is backing in to a parking spot. Causing me to brake and wait, as I was not particularly enthusiastic about taking on the heavy traffic swerving around the 4WD. When the driver finally took the spot, I continued on. The drivers’ window was down, and she smiled and said loudly "very sorry about that". I promptly said back, "Well that's no problem". Ah, the world is a nice place.

Second lesson, further down Chapel Street I came upon another cyclist, I wanted to pass but realised it probably wasn't a good idea. She was wobbling all over the bike lane, add that with a gusty wind and more heavy traffic, well, thought it best to hang back and wait. After patiently waiting, and watching her narrowly miss tram passengers at three separate stops, I'd had enough.

On the last near miss I yelled out "WAIT FOR PASSENGERS". She yelled something back about not wanting to hit people (this could of fooled most people watching) swore and raised the middle finger while turning left into Carlisle Street. I just felt really sorry for her; she seemed to have an unhealthy combination of nervousness and aggression.

Anyway, for me as a lady cyclist, it was an fascinating departure from the normally all male interactions one gets while cycling in the city and suburbs. 😉

Good parable...

I must admit, while I roll my eyes, curse and groan at some motorist stupidity, nothing outrages me more than cyclist stupidity. Last week I found myself getting so furious at a rider in front of me who ripped through every red light from Kew Junction to Harp, including pedestrian crossings. I nearly caught up with him afterwards (although not enough to tell him what i thought - not that it would've done much good), but it so [censored] me off as I think "That's why I get treated like scum when I'm on the road!" I hope my stopping at the lights says to motorists - "We're not all idiots like him", but I doubt that message means much.

Sigh. No justice...

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by eddiec
Good parable...

Last week I found myself getting so furious at a rider in front of me who ripped through every red light from Kew Junction to Harp, including pedestrian crossings. Sigh. No justice...

A bad stretch to run lights too (as if there is a good one. I dont)

as 2 of the 3 lights you mention are downhill and invariably a tram involved too. would be very easy to collect someone.
that intersection on the left (cant remember name; opposite vic park) is a doozy too. Always drivers trying to pull out blinded by the shop awnings, which is always a bugger cos if you are lucky enough to not get the lights red, the tram stopped and you want to honk up the hill to the Harp, the last thing you need is some berk pulling out in front of you!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by flyingdutch
A bad stretch to run lights too (as if there is a good one. I dont)

as 2 of the 3 lights you mention are downhill and invariably a tram involved too. would be very easy to collect someone.
that intersection on the left (cant remember name; opposite vic park) is a doozy too. Always drivers trying to pull out blinded by the shop awnings, which is always a bugger cos if you are lucky enough to not get the lights red, the tram stopped and you want to honk up the hill to the Harp, the last thing you need is some berk pulling out in front of you!

Oh that's a dandy one! I make a point of staring down anyone pulling out there as I approach that junction after too many close calls. (Of course the other bad spot on that run is the KFC - too many ppl desparate for fatty fried chicken driving in and out without looking!)

I think that's what miffed me the most. I hate stopping at those reds too, or for a tram there, because you've got some good momentum to get up that hill. But I do the 'right thing' and stop, so to see some berk just hound through rubs salt in the wound big time.

Quoted post said:

the other bad spot on that run is the KFC - too many ppl desparate for fatty fried chicken driving in and out without looking [/B]

hahahaha LOL

i think their fat little fingers slip on the steeing wheel.

what's with that?!?!?

the Kew rec centre exit isnt much good either.

In fact ANY exit, side road, etc, etc

and why-oh-why cant i get the lights at Kew Junction???

where you riding out too?

eddiec said:

it so [censored] me off as I think "That's why I get treated
like scum when I'm on the road!"

Nope, you are thought of as scum while on the road because
you are not surrounded by a steel cage. It's a matter of
pecking order and human instinct. one that will never go
away so long as cars are on the road, even if every cyclist
obeyed the road laws to the letter.

PC

DRS said:

Using "of" for "have" is the grammatical equivalent to
fingernails on a blackboard.

Amen brother. And thanks to those who are considerate enough
to tell people.

flyingdutch said:

eddiec said:

Good parable... Last week I found myself getting so
furious at a rider in front of me who ripped through
every red light from Kew Junction to Harp, including
pedestrian crossings. Sigh. No justice...

Quoted message said:

A bad stretch to run lights too (as if there is a good
one. I dont)

Quoted message said:

as 2 of the 3 lights you mention are downhill and
invariably a tram involved too. would be very easy to
collect someone. that intersection on the left (cant
remember name; opposite vic park) is a doozy too. Always
drivers trying to pull out blinded by the shop awnings,
which is always a bugger cos if you are lucky enough to
not get the lights red, the tram stopped and you want to
honk up the hill to the Harp, the last thing you need is
some berk pulling out in front of you!

"vic park"? you mean Kew cemetery?

I've managed to overtake a car down that stretch in the
left lane at about 70km/h. SHould've seen the look on the
woman's face 🙂

About that spot early in the morning there's usually a bloke
who must be a local, in a wheelchair, who always pumps his
fist in the air to cheer me on. It's refreshingly good-
natured and makes me want to sprint to the 'stage finish' at
the harp junction 🙂

--
Nick

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Nickzx6r

About that spot early in the morning there's usually a bloke
who must be a local, in a wheelchair, who always pumps his
fist in the air to cheer me on. It's refreshingly good-
natured and makes me want to sprint to the 'stage finish' at
the harp junction 🙂

--
Nick

Attack, attack!

Greetings, This is fine, but the 4WD has the far greater
capability, by virtue of kinetic energy, of killing you, and
anyone else who happens to get in its way. I have just fired
off a letter to The Age about one motorised moron sighted
this arvo who could not even give way to a man on crutches
with one leg at a designated pedestrian crossing. Sadly,
this is the prevailing attitude. You only need look at the
car ads on TV. BUY THIS

[censored]. I knew what road rage was before the term was
invented, in 40 years on the roads, I have been abused,
outrightly clobbered (three times) been the target of doors
and various missiles, and been shot at. I am a cyclist by
choice. I accept that if I make a mistake I could be killed.
The difference is that if I make a similar mistake in the
car I can take several others with me, to say nothing of the
acts of downright stupidity or outright malice I have
witnessed over the years, such as this arvo. The parable is
that a tiny percentage of the population, motorised or not,
are [censored]. But the motorised ones in this society cause
by far the greater damage and suffering. The Great God Car
rules. Read the article in this morning's paper about the
morons who cruise Chapel St as well. Regards, Ray.

cfsmtb said:

Learnt two very quick lessons today within 10 minutes,
whilst pedalling down Chapel Street.

Not all motorists are bad.

Not all cyclists are good.

First lesson, cycling along near the Jam Factory. Large 4WD
is backing in to a parking spot. Causing me to brake and
wait, as I was not particularly enthusiastic about taking
on the heavy traffic swerving around the 4WD. When the
driver finally took the spot, I continued on. The drivers'
window was down, and she smiled and said loudly "very sorry
about that". I promptly said back, "Well that's no
problem". Ah, the world is a nice place.

Second lesson, further down Chapel Street I came upon
another cyclist, I wanted to pass but realised it probably
wasn't a good idea. She was wobbling all over the bike
lane, add that with a gusty wind and more heavy traffic,
well, thought it best to hang back and wait. After
patiently waiting, and watching her narrowly miss tram
passengers at three separate stops, I'd had enough.

On the last near miss I yelled out "WAIT FOR PASSENGERS".
She yelled something back about not wanting to hit people
(this could of fooled most people watching) swore and
raised the middle finger while turning left into Carlisle
Street. I just felt really sorry for her; she seemed to
have an unhealthy combination of nervousness and
aggression.

Anyway, for me as a lady cyclist, it was an fascinating
departure from the normally all male interactions one gets
while cycling in the city and suburbs. 😉

--

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Ray Peace
Greetings, This is fine, but the 4WD has the far greater
capability, by virtue of kinetic energy, of killing you, and
anyone else who happens to get in its way. I have just fired
off a letter to The Age about one motorised moron sighted
this arvo who could not even give way to a man on crutches
with one leg at a designated pedestrian crossing. Sadly,
this is the prevailing attitude. You only need look at the
car ads on TV. BUY THIS>--

Should of clearly explained I was being CYNICAL about the seemingly polite behaviour of the 4WD driver I encountered.

Makes a pleasing change, in early 1997 while at the red lights at the intersection of Brunswick St/Alexander Parade, I was hit from behind by a 4WD excuting a illegal left turn into moving traffic. There is no love lost between 4WD's and myself.

Peruse this site:
http://www.nosuv.org/

Links page:
http://www.nosuv.org/links.html

Quoted post said:

About that spot early in the morning there's usually a bloke
who must be a local, in a wheelchair, who always pumps his
fist in the air to cheer me on. It's refreshingly good-
natured and makes me want to sprint to the 'stage finish' at
the harp junction 🙂

--
Nick [/B]

Yeah, i'm pretty sure he's a resident at the aged hostel just next to the pedestrian lights. Always raises an arm and says something. never caught what tho! Always meant to stop and have a chat (but he's at the bottom of a hill with another to follow and the idea of stopping is just too wrong... ).
He's even there on bleek mornings at about 6am when i roll on down to BeachRd...