Started my new job this morning and my first car commute in the morning rush hour. It was pretty much as I expected taking twice as long to get anywhere. However I dared to wave an old lady across the road less than a mile from my house. The lovely lady in the car behind then found it necessary to then get very vocal and try her horn out. She then carried on this hatred for me at the traffic lights we were waiting at less than a hundred metres up the road. Oh the irony.
Is this what I have waiting for me every morning.? I'll get myself settled in and get back on the bike I think.
I'd have got out of the car and gone round to see the lady in the car behind to see if she needed a hand sorting out the problem with her horn
The thing that always makes me laugh about people who are frustrated about being stuck in rush-hour traffic is that they don't seem to realise they are the sole cause of their own misery!
Get back on the bike! Doesn't matter if it's pissing down with rain, snowing, whatever; it still beats driving.
I have a 12 min cycle or 15 min city drive. today I drove in, I make a count of the idoits (people pulling out / cutting me up / stepping out in front or generally being inconsiderate). This morning it was 4 in 15mins.
Previously I used to have an hours drive and I used to get 1 or 2.
The more built up the area the higher the bellendery in my experience. Is there a longer but less busy route you can take?
The thing that always makes me laugh about people who are frustrated about being stuck in rush-hour traffic is that they don't seem to realise they are the sole cause of their own misery!
Very succintly put.
Driver: You cyclists holding up the traffic!
Me: How many bikes are in the queue in front of you?
Driver: Er, just you...
Me: Why don't you just think about that while you are stuck in this queue. Have a good day!
*rides off through traffic*
I rode my motorbike to work for the first time today.
Was great. Lovely sunny day, no traffic issues (just cruise to the front of the lights) and 15 mins instead of 30 cycling. Nice to deal with "the big hill" by twisting the throttle instead of my lungs.
Still, I prefer the bicycle. Would hate to commute by car (unless it was winter). Bus is the worst - slow, hot, smelly and full of fat idiots.
Not related to the OP but I make that less than 2hrs in your new job and you're already wasting time on the Internet. Good work!
My commute is about 5 miles longer than it could be simply so I can avoid the nasty bits of road. Looks like a big 'S' on a map. Lots of offroad or country lanes rather than dual carriage ways or busy roads. Brilliant.
Look for better routes if you can, you'll be surprised what little ginnels and snickets you find with some exploration and they really do make things far more enjoyable. I reckon my commute is now as nice as I can make it. There's one road that I've really struggled with. I just can't find a quieter road or any offroad sections round it unless I do a massive 10 mile addition. Never mind.
[url= http://www.geton.co.uk/ride-to-work-day/ ]This[/url] references [url= http://www.tmleuven.com/project/motorcyclesandcommuting/20110921_Motorfietsen_eindrapport_Eng.pdf ]this[/url], basically they reckon if 1 in 10 people switched from car to motorbike* congestion would drop by 40%, if 1 in 4 did then congestion would disappear. Quite surprised how only 10% of people changing would have such a drastic impact, but I like riding past queues of people stuck in their cars so I vote for maintaining the status quo. 🙂
(*Obviously (he says) anyone near enough to work to switch from car to bicycle would have the same impact.)
This references this, basically they reckon if 1 in 10 people switched from car to motorbike* congestion would drop by 40%,
What would it do to the cost of the NHS due to all the motorbike injuries though?
The problem with this plan is everyone thinks they are the 9 in 10 that "need" to use their car and a motorbike is not a possibility.
Never underestimate the smug self-satisfaction to be had when arriving at work, having had a pleasant ride in, to listen to everyone else bitching and moaning about being stuck in traffic because of those bloody temporary lights in the A56. Looks like they're going to be there for months too 😉
What would it do to the cost of the NHS due to all the motorbike injuries though?
I suspect that there would be an initial spike in accidents but then with the lower congestion and more bikes around people awareness will rise and accidents will drop off again.
Must admit, cycling in, it's a rare occurrence that I even notice the traffic.
It's a blissful existence. 🙂
I'd have got out of the car and gone round to see the lady in the car behind to see if she needed a hand sorting out the problem with her horn
Exactly. I've done exactly this and the woman behind threatened to call the police accusing me of road rage !
nbt - MemberI'd have got out of the car and gone round to see the lady in the car behind to see if she needed a hand sorting out the problem with her horn
That way lies trouble.
I can guarantee I'd be letting a lot of people out of junctions whilst she's following me though 😀
Is this what I have waiting for me every morning.?
Not if you're in the office before 7 every morning 😉
Depending on your circumstances, getting up early means avoiding the worst of the traffic and buys you a couple of hours of relative peace to crack on with things. Also means you can leave at a far more sociable hour.
However I dared to wave an old lady across the road less than a mile from my house. The lovely lady in the car behind then found it necessary to then get very vocal and try her horn out. She then carried on this hatred for me at the traffic lights we were waiting at less than a hundred metres up the road. Oh the irony
Small button usually on dash has a triangle on it, presing it makes all the yelow lights flash on car, then a slow glance side to side, a fake face plant moment, and slowly checking for cyclists exit vehicle, and slowly lift the bonnet and just stand manly still as if looking at a decapitated motorists head under the bonnet, very slowly pretend to fiddle with engine,not in a rolf harris sort of way, and then slowly close the bonnet, switch of flashing lights and drive off with a cheery wave to all behind.
Oh and as rule of thumb the more hoots you get the longer the time you must flash.
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Here's a wee story: when I lived in France I was 2 kms away from my office in Neuilly sur Seine along flat, beautiful, smooth, tree-lined boulevards. Every day I got in my car and drove the long way round for 20 to 30 minutes in solid commuter traffic, even in heavy snow when the journey took over an hour.
It NEVER occurred to me to walk, let alone buy a bicycle. I wasn't stupid, I just didn't think it through. How many more have never considered cycling to work?
It took me 45 mins to drive the 15 miles. Its 17 miles on the bike avoiding a suicidal bit of dual carriageway. That's a hour without cracking a sweat as its pretty flat. Taking some wipes, snacks, towel and spare clothes tomorrow and getting the bike out whenever I can. I recon if I gave it some welly I could do it faster on the bike.
This is why I go into work for 8, come home early, ride my bike. Or ride from the office and drive home around 7.
Bristol 1hr drive home or 15 min blast/grin!