I am known by my work colleagues as a MAMIL (Middle Aged Man in Lycra) and have biked regularly to work, for over 30 years and in Jan this year I took the decision not to ride the 10 miles home from work after night shifts, as riding to work at 6am is OK riding home from work at 7am is just getting too dangerous. I broke my new rule this week……that was a big mistake and one I will not be repeating.
For those 30 years I have stopped at red lights, very rarely ridden other than solo and never more than 2 abreast, and always tried to follow the Highway Code to the best of my ability. I never shout, swear or complain at driver’s antics, life is too short, despite being knocked of twice by cars that had failed to see me, one failed to stop despite my having removed his wing mirror with my elbow. I wish I had a helmet camera, I would like to think you would be shocked at the driving of many.
So what effect has this had on drivers?
Well none really, I still get sworn at by those who despite my riding closer to the curb than any car, they think I still need to be hitting the drains in the gutter, I can tell you this is not an option at 20mph or above. This probably has more to do with the fact that to overtake me they have crossed the double white lines and are being blasted by the oncoming traffic for being on the wrong side of the road on a blind corner, than my riding but hay ho I’ll take the blame if it makes them feel better. I still get things thrown at me from car windows, and I always thought it was washer water now I am wondering. Still get cars pulling left in stationary or very slow moving traffic to deliberately stop me SLOWLY going up the inside of them, despite or because of others moving right to let me pass.
I actually think this is more to do with the intolerant way society is moving, I am more important than you, my time is more important than yours , how dare you hold me up etc etc. The reason I say this is because I have noticed similar situations whilst driving my pre-war car which is susceptible to fuel vaporization, especially with modern fuel.
Until a few years ago my having to wait on the side of the road for things to cool down, was greeted with a friendly wave or the offer of help, these days it is more likely to be met with swearing and being told I am a rich person whose father was a bachelor.
As for all cyclists not letting any niggling traffic law get in the way, whilst two wrongs don’t make a right, in the UK at least motorists are far from immune on this point. If you don’t believe me try a little experiment for me. The next time you are out driving stick rigidly to the indicated speed limit whatever it is. I will guarantee that if you are in the UK and I suspect in some other countries although perhaps not France, you will be by many, at the least overtaken at the worst abused, sworn at and hassled even if you are obeying the speed limit in a built up residential area. I know this as my wife does stick to the speed limits and the abuse / hassle she gets from impatient drivers behind her has to be seen to be believed.
I would like to confess I have been known to break speed limits in my car on a number oh ok a lot of occasions but never on my bicycle, despite numerous attempts to do so. I don’t count the 20mph ones they are too easy
