Some things I want to draw attention to in this video.
In the very first clip (I’m on my foldable bike) the cars just barged through using their weight to force me to stop even though (as I didn’t have to cross the centre line) I had right of way. I call it bullying when any driver uses the weight of the vehicle to force their way through. The only comeback will involve damage or injury and you can bet they they’d get really upset if the same was done to them! On this occasion I was on my way home after dropping off a Transit sized car I’d had for 3 days. At no time did I behave impatiently during this time and I managed to get to my destination every time without stress!
Bus drivers passing when there’s a stop just ahead really get by back up. The one seen here does it at a stop which effectively blocks my safe path through the double set of traffic lights, thus my outburst. I manage to squeeze though this time but it’s a bloody arrogant thing to do!
Now for these new cycle lanes. They are a good thing but as you can see here they bring other challenges to experienced riders. There’s a reason I avoid shared cycle paths / pedestrian walkways and that’s because I tend to ride at an average speed of around 12mph (19km.h) and pedestrians tend to move around without much warning. We see the same here with the children (no faces shown). As you see I didn’t rush it and never will but it is something we’re going to have to adapt to. Safer yes, but in some cases slower.
The last thing I want to bring attention to is the woman on her phone still in dressing gown and slippers. This isn’t the issue though, even though the van driver thought he was being nice he was actually being potentially very dangerous. He only has control of his own vehicle and has no say in any other vehicle on the road. The same applies to those on 2 lane roads that stop to let a vehicle turn right across their path without noticing the other vehicle passing at 30mph in the other lane. Bear this in mine, it’s not courteous, it’s bloody dangerous!
