
Applespider
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Everything posted by Applespider
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Dangerous cycling charge to punish 'Lycra louts'
Applespider replied to John247's topic in The Lounge
Very sobering... the online comments from motorists are even more so. rifleman - there have been radio advertisements for drivers on looking out for cyclists although I suspect they play it more in the summer months. IIRC, it was a driver saying what he saw as he drove along - bus, roundabout, school, zebra crossing, lights etc etc until you heard a screech of brakes and a crash and then he said 'cyclist' -
It's only a couple of miles from Goose Green to West Dulwich. By the time you wait 5 minutes for a bus that isn't the fastest anyhow, you might be quicker walking. And at least, you'd not be stressing about being late since you'd be more confident of your arrival time. Perhaps something to consider for sunny days at least... unless of course, you have limited mobility or have a double bass to transport with you...
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Dangerous cycling charge to punish 'Lycra louts'
Applespider replied to John247's topic in The Lounge
Nope. There was a skip lorry indicating left at a set of lights near Victoria this morning. There was a narrow cycle feeder lane into the ASL. The lights were likely to change within next 20 seconds but even knowing the phasing, there was no way to judge if 5 secs or 20. I stopped behind truck since didn't want to be alongside if the lights changed. Two cyclists arrived behind me and just continued up the narrow feeder. Thankfully they both made it to the ASL as the lights changed and the skip truck driver held off his turn til they were out of the way. But really... was a stupid move on both cyclist parts -
Not just on roads, we should cycle defensively pretty much everywhere. Since Dulwich Park was quiet tonight, I did a few laps of it just for the fun of it. On one of the laps, I spotted a guy walking along the edge of the road with a dog lead in his hand but no dog in sight... so I slowed down just in case his dog suddenly came bounding along. On my commute, I know the roads where pedestrians are likely to behave unpredictably (near stations primarily) just as I know the junctions where drivers are more likely to go through on amber and you tailor your riding accordingly. Cowbells? Hmm.... perhaps we should convert D-locks into bells - would have the advantage not only of alerting others but acting as a useful theft deterrent when locked up.
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Do you agree with why they are striking? If so, don't cross the picket line. If not, do.
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Dangerous cycling charge to punish 'Lycra louts'
Applespider replied to John247's topic in The Lounge
LOL giggirl - I really did let out a burst of laughter reading that one! -
Bunny19 - the majority of the litter this morning was around the bins so it seemed like most people had tried to do the right thing in taking the rubbish, in a bag, to the bin only to find it full. I'm assuming they thought it was better to leave it next to the bin rather than take it home which is understandable, if short-sighted. Did feel sorry for the park wardens this morning since foxes had scatter some of it in a radius around the bins and it did look like more of a chore than an extra bin run last night would be have been; given that there must have been someone there to lock up, didn't it occur to them to use their initiative and go that extra mile last night?
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Dangerous cycling charge to punish 'Lycra louts'
Applespider replied to John247's topic in The Lounge
John, Pearson is referring to the fact that in the last few weeks, there have been a number if threads on cyclists and their action and several of us may feel that we don't have energy to rehash it all again In general, it seems that most regular cyclists have no problem with their reckless brethren being held to account. However, most of us also claim to belong to the law-abiding majority so this shouldn't impact us aside perhaps for making us less of a target since now at least idiots who give us all a bad name might get their comeuppance -
Cycling (daily commute) for a beginner. Advice?
Applespider replied to philip walker's topic in The Lounge
Once you have a route in mind (from Google, cyclestreets or TFL) then identify key junctions and take a look at them on Google Streetview - it makes it much easier to identify the turn on the ground rather than desperately trying to keep an eye on street names. And I'll second the notion of not assuming most direct is the way to go especially where Sydenham/Crystal Palace hill is involved. Don't be too nervous of big roads tho - bus lanes can be great since there are remarkably few buses in them for the majority of the time. It is sometimes easier (and there are more signposts) than winding your way through more residential roads which often are narrower with lots of parked cars. Enjoy! I only started commuting by bike last year since I got my bike on a Cycle to Work scheme so thought I should at least try. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it and how frustrated I now get on the occasions I do use public transport now -
Cycling (daily commute) for a beginner. Advice?
Applespider replied to philip walker's topic in The Lounge
Look at getting a second-hand bike for your ?200; you'll probably get a better one than if you spend ?200 new. You probably want to look at getting one with a rack on the back or panniers since it can be nicer than putting all your stuff in a rucksack and getting a sweaty back as a result. Mudguards, although they may not look cool, are a good idea if you plan on cycling in the rain at all... or get caught in it. Clothes-wise, it depends on how you dress in the office and how 'hard' you cycle. If you're not really pushing it, then you're not going to sweat that much so you might get away with just wearing your regular clothes in. I tend to change and just roll my clothes neatly and pack them into a bag. Rolling as opposed to folding leads to fewer creases. I do quite often leave a pair of all-purpose shoes at the office since they tend to be the 'heaviest' bit of the outfit. If you need to wear a suit, then it might be worthwhile getting the train in/back once a week and taking a couple of suits/shirts in with you and leave them there. Don't get too focused on thinking you have to do it everyday to start with since it's surprising how much it can take out of your legs initially and don't get too caught up in 'racing' others that pass you. Do's Get some cycling training from Southwark Council - they can help you plan the best route and give you some great tips on cycling assertively in traffic. I felt lots more confident about my commute after I had my free hour lesson. Get something high-vis - even if it's only a rucksack cover. It does make you much more visible to drivers Practice on your bike in the park to get used to its quirks - its turning circle, its brakes and get comfortable signalling with each hand and checking behind you - before you head out in earnest on the road Follow the Highway code even if you feel stupid for sitting at lights while others sail blithely through them on red. Do learn some basics on bike maintenance Thank drivers with a wave if they're nice to you Enjoy it - it's a great way to start the day especially when the sun's out Don't Hug the kerb - learn about the primary position and use it Use pavements - and on mixed use ones, remember that they are primarily for pedestrians and the onus is on you to slow down and not hit them. Jump red lights - annoys everyone and unless you're 100% sure of phasing, eventually a recipe for disaster. Go down the left side of high sided vehicles stationery or moving - they can't see you Filter down the left side of any vehicle if it's indicating left; unless there's an ASL that you know you can get to before the lights change. -
Despite viewers seeing a mound under a tarpaulin and Bechers with a surround around another animal as the race coverage continued, it took the BBC a heck of a long time to mention anything about the fatalities. I'd have thought they might have mentioned it in their recap of the race when they covered other more minor details rather than having a very quick paragraph from Clare Balding right at the end - which was swiftly followed by the next link saying that nothing much had marred the day. I love watching horseracing since most of the horses look spirited and as if they're enjoying the run; but hate to see them fall. Perhaps the jumps should be a little less 'hard' so that there's more chance of recovery if there's a misstep?
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northlondoner Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Why are so many cyclists so freaking defensive ? Because it feels a bit like all cyclists are under attack from all comers. Drivers moan, pedestrians moan, the blind are trying to ban cyclists in a town centre. And there's little acknowledgement that the majority of regular cyclists are law-abiding, normal human beings and don't deserve the vitriol being sent their way. Or that no matter what bans/rules you put in place, the people who ignore the current ones are the ones who will ignore any new ones too - so the only ones who end up hurt (and if they will literally be hurt if the public's antipathy towards bad cyclists stops investment in infrastructure) are the good ones... so that's possibly why we can feel a little defensive at times because *we* have done nothing wrong but are expected to take the blame for others.
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I share bawdy-nan's conundrum over whether a bell is ruder than a comment or just giving the pedestrian enough room. Would a shout or bell may potentially more alarming than the gentle whirr of the bike... and if the pedestrian has headphones, then how do you alert them? Surely just taking some care and ensuring you're giving them sufficient room should be enough. However, I must chuckle at the assertion that most dogs are under control; I can't count how many times I've had to ride defensively in Dulwich Park as a dog runs across the road. And don't get me started on kids in those damned recumbent things which never seem to go in a straight line.
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And you're smiling! Even if a touch nervously! Well done! Where did you do it from? How high up were you?!?! I did a charity sky dive and got pics taken on the way down - I was amazed to find that I was smiling most of the way down although perhaps that was just the cheeks being pulled by the wind....
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What's the best cycle route to East Ham?
Applespider replied to Hackblade's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
Yes but maps don't always show that a particular route has a horrendous road surface and there's always some personal preference about preferring main roads v side ones. I do recall once picking a route just using a map and ending up going through a particularly dodgy-feeling estate that I wasn't entirely comfortable in. I don't think there's any harm in someone asking if anyone has a decent route to share... not least since it's a cross-Thames one and the majority of the river crossings aren't particularly bike friendly. Hackblade - the only thing with the foot tunnel is that the lifts are being refurbished and I'm not sure they'll let you (or you'd want to) take your bike down all those stairs. And since non-folding bikes aren't allowed on the DLR, you might be better just crossing at Tower Bridge and then going east on the north side of the river. Edit to say that you could go further east on this side and then take the Woolwich ferry over? Pretty sure that allows bikes -
Pearson Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ^Cyclist could also have been reporting a bad > driver > > *as wild a guess as yours* Given the body language, tone and motorbike positioning, I'd give my interpretation better odds of being true - but we'll never know either way.
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Except that emergency services have flashing lights, loud sirens and other vehicles/pedestrians are supposed to get out of their way and while many bikes do have flashing lights, I don't think they're quite as obvious! I think that's a horrendous idea since it would be open to so much interpretation. Better just to follow the rules since they are, supposedly there for everyone. I do stop at red lights and get annoyed when others sail through. However, I do admit to anticipating a green light at a junction where all the vehicles are stationary but only once all the 'green men' have turned to 'red men' again and the lights are about to change. That's only at junctions where I know the light sequences and is more about me getting an extra second or so to get moving again before the cars behind since those junctions tend to be 'short phase' lights and drivers start revving. Aspidistra - which cycle lane do you avoid now?
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Loz Wrote: - > And where did you get the 17mph from? How do you > know he wasn't going 30mph? Or faster? From a newspaper article reporting it (can't find a link online) but the prosecution accepted that he was going about 17mph. I'm not disagreeing with the overall theme of that Guardian article. I firmly believe that cyclists should follow the Highway Code and cycle responsibly. I'd rather there was more enforcement of rules to stop stupid and thoughtless behaviour on the part of all road users. There are very few instances where cycling on a pavement is acceptable (where it's mixed use primarily) and when it is, the cyclist should be going at the speed of the slowest person using that pavement and not making them feel uncomfortable. As a cyclist, I don't like a bus an inch from my back wheel and I try to follow the same principle on a mixed use path. Equally, most decent cyclists do keep an eye out for things that might mean they have to brake or stop whether that's dogs, kids, traffic lights etc. I know that coming down Station Road in Brixton, I keep in a low gear with my hands covering the brakes since pedestrians ignore the zebra crossing and just cross willy nilly. But the Guardian article paints the Rhiannon case as because the cyclist was belting down a pavement. That's not the case - he was on the road as was she. I'm not denying it was a tragic accident but I can imagine being in a similar scenario which is perhaps why I empathise a tad. If I was cycling down a road and a group of older teenagers were hanging around on the edge of the road, there are times I might not want to stop in case I then ended up being mugged for my bike and valuables. Then I might very well decide to keep going, shout and try to swerve around them.
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Oh I agree in principle that all road users should be treated the same - and if it was just a girl stepping out into the road, I'd agree. It wasn't the 'first aid' aspect that I thought put a different light on it, it was the being on the road and the girls playing chicken part. But if they really were playing chicken, then the pedestrians have to take some responsibility for their actions too. And in normal instances, if a pedestrian stepped out and a vehicle (car/cycle or horse) drew attention to itself (horn, bell or shout), the normal pedestrian would step back onto the pavement rather than baiting the driver. It doesn't absolve him from not being road aware enough to slow down more so I'm not saying it absolves him entirely. Being 'mowed down' on a bike is also somewhat different to in a car - a car would have been going quicker (above the 17mph of the cyclist most likely) and a pedestrian being struck would generally have more risk of broken bones and internal injuries. This case was particularly unfortunate because the girl hit her head on the kerb as she fell. If you replayed the incident 100 times, 99 times she might have fallen, bruised herself and not hit her head at all - and this case wouldn't have come up. If my drunk vagrant had toppled over and hit his head, I might be in the same position.
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Loz - there are some interesting comments (with links to news reports) under that article which show that the MP's article is a tad disingenuous. It seems that the cyclist was on the road when he approached the girl who may have been playing 'chicken' with him and had been drinking in the local park. He was also the one who tried to save her life after he'd hit her unlike her gang of buddies. It doesn't entirely mitigate his behaviour but certainly puts a different light on it. My only 'off' on a bike recently (well, so far) was a drunk vagrant who stepped back into my path after I'd taken evasive action while I was in a cycle lane. Thankfully, I'd slowed down to less than walking pace but I still came off worse in terms of injuries as I swerved and braked to avoid him.
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New Bus Countdown boards for ED
Applespider replied to Bic Basher's topic in General ED Issues / Gossip
dbboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Would be good to have one outside the old barracks > on Lordship Lane (going north into town) I agree that it would be a sensible pair of stops to have them fitted since there are a number of bus routes that 'cross' there so people switch buses. It's my 'local' stop and quite regularly more people disembark a bus and wait at the bus stop than walk off entirely. The 363 especially won't have a 'countdown' stop in any direction for some way. -
I believe that if you've had to buy a seat for the child, then they get the same baggage allowance as an adult using that seat. It's only if you only have an 'infant' ticket (i.e. the child is sitting on your lap) that you get a limited allowance. And a link to show it - the last line is the bit to print and take with you!
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I'd agree with the above - but remember not to follow the interchange signs at Green Park (since then you'll have to lug the case up and down stairs). Instead, just take the Way Out to the top of the escalator and then go back down the Piccadilly line escalator. If you don't mind a couple of sets of stairs, then you might want to take the 185 to Victoria and then take the District/Circle line changing at Hammersmith where it's a simple cross the platform as an interchange to the Piccadilly line.
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DaveR Wrote: > I would be interested to know what age people > start taking their kids on the road, though. Last autumn, I was going down Court Lane and spotted a cyclist father accompanying his son (who couldn't have been more than 7 or 8) on his bike on the road. Dad was behind and slightly further out son to 'shield' him. On Saturday, there was a family going along Wood Vale on bikes. Mum with child in seat on rear, then boy around 6 on his bike and Dad at the rear. Interestingly, the boy started to swerve a little for fun and Dad was straight on the case reminding him it was a road. More pleasingly, kudos to the driver at the little mini roundabout who waited patiently for the family to go by (it was their right of way but still, some would have tried to push it). Ladyruskin - I'm astonished anyone tried to cycle down that pavement. As you say, it's barely wide enough for pedestrians. And HenryB... get some cycle training. Grove Vale isn't all that bad and I hate seeing grownups using pavements as a matter of course for Pearson's point that it gives the rest of us a bad name. Not to mention that using the roads allows you to go so much faster. In fact, despite the fact that the pavement is dual use along the South Circ, I'd rather be on the road.
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