Warning: rude, angry pedestrian in Dulwich village

[Horsebox]

I was cycling home from work this afternoon, trying to get back in time to make the most of the sunshine and have a few ice cold tinnies in the Dulwich library garden.

As I turned right from Village Way into Dulwich Village, the traffic looked a bit sluggish and potentially dangerous for my liking so I hopped onto the pavement and bombed past the jam, skillfully weaving in and out of the Alleyns pupils as they trundled along at a snails pace. B)

When I got to the parade of shops I cut across the pedestrian crossing, intending to zip past th Crown and Greyound and bomb through the park, only to be SHOUTED at by some jumped-up yummy with an oversized pram "Watch where you're fu**ing going! It's a crossing not a bloody bike path!"

I skidded to a halt, almost stacking in the process but was so shocked by the unnecessary use of foul language I was unable to think on my feet (as it were) and come back with a witty and suitably cutting response.

Anyway, just a warning to any other cyclists thinking of taking this super-useful shortcut. Watch out for this psycho yummy mummy and her guttermouth! (No doubt she drives a 4x4 to Sainsburys at Le Weekend)(6)

[Annasfield]

Surely?

http://www.besportier.com/archives/only-stand-up-fisherman%27s-kayak.jpg

[citizenED]

Hey Horse, you got off lightly, mate; I was weaving in and out of the traffic on Lordship Lane today, trying to, like you, gain a few seconds in my quest for a few cans on the sun lounger, I burst through the pedestrian crossing by Iceland when it was on red, brushing the sholley of a surly OAP, before hanging a crafty right into North Cross, cutting across the path of a Taxi and virtually fleecing a couple of uber-mums with twin-prams in the process. Just as I was giving myself a smug pat on the back for my deft work, someone called after me that they would "see me next Tuesday"....

[KalamityKel]

This IS a wind up right?

[Horsebox]

I'm afraid not, Kel. There are some bloody rude people on the streets. The more I think about it the angrier I get.

What kind of example is this woman setting to the school kids? Some of them looked about school leaving age - if they use such language in front of prospective employers or college admissions deans, I can only pray for their futures.

CitizenED - glad you emerged relatively unscathed (other than an ear bashing!). Clipping anyone or anything at speed can occasionally result in a tumble onto the tarmac. OAPs seem to be somewhat denser than their slight frames would have you believe and in the past I have had some unexpectedly nasty falls as a result of the most minor collisions.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I tried this line of satire before - then quids gave his harsh but fair rating and I never bothered again

[Michael Palaeologus]

That was then and this is now Sean, its time to put that bad memory in a box marked "Yesterday" and move one.

Feel the fear and do it anyway ..

Edited: "fo it anyway" is silly

[KalamityKel]

Horsebox did you dismount? No?

Tut tut

[Horsebox]

KalamityKel Wrote:

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> Horsebox did you dismount? No?

>

> Tut tut

Kel, No, I did not. I was in a terrible rush and had an agonizing thirst for beer!

[Marmora Man]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

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> I tried this line of satire before - then quids

> gave his harsh but fair rating and I never

> bothered again

Never mind Sean - your new "undercover" roles as PROSouthwark and Gallinello is coming along nicely. Only someone with a finely honed sense of irony and knowledge of left wing lunacies could crate such characters.

[bigbadwolf]

Ha ha ha, that was good MM.

[Jeremy]

I wish to "get a rewind" and go back to Annasfield's post.

What is that guy standing on? Is that a kind of canoe, which converts into a stationary "mini-island"?

[Horsebox]

Jeremy Wrote:

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> I wish to "get a rewind" and go back to

> Annasfield's post.

>

> What is that guy standing on? Is that a kind of

> canoe, which converts into a stationary

> "mini-island"?

I don't know. It looks pretty cool though.

[Strawbs]

I hate to state the obvious but what about the fact it was a pedestrian crossing?

[Horsebox]

Strawbs Wrote:

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> I hate to state the obvious but what about the

> fact it was a pedestrian crossing?

What's your point, caller?

If I'd cut into the road suddenly I ran the risk of encountering the slow, dangerous traffic. I did a quick risk assesment

And chose the safest, quickest option.

[Muley]

Anyone up for forming a posse of tooled-up cycling vigilantes to take on this 'pedestrian menace?'

[cdonline]

Did you manage to get her number plate or can you give us a more detailed description of car driver with the vexed expression.

I may be able to get places quicker than other road users, but I may have to stop riding, until something is done about crazy car/ lorry drivers.

[????]

2/10, stop cycling without trouserclips and see me later

[KalamityKel]

I'm quite surprised you weren't presented with a shotgun pointing at your rear Horsebox (as is the norm for the area I believe) ;-)

[Strawbs]

Horsebox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Strawbs Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I hate to state the obvious but what about the

> > fact it was a pedestrian crossing?

>

> What's your point, caller?

> If I'd cut into the road suddenly I ran the risk

> of encountering the slow, dangerous traffic. I did

> a quick risk assesment

> And chose the safest, quickest option.

I guess Im just trying to work out whether she yelled at you because you went across a pedestrian crossing whilst she was on it with her child?

[Atila Reincarnate]

Horsebox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> As I turned right from Village Way into Dulwich

> Village, the traffic looked a bit sluggish and

> potentially dangerous for my liking so I hopped

> onto the pavement and bombed past the jam,

> skillfully weaving in and out of the Alleyns

> pupils as they trundled along at a snails pace.

The fact that you say you use the pavement to cycle on regularly means you got what you deserved, cyclists are supposed to use the road, not pavements which are meant for pedestrians. I can't see you've got any reason to complain. Whenever I see a cyclist riding a bike behind me on the pavement I make a pont of walking as slowly as possible and in the middle of the pavement so that the cycle riding idiot can't pass, or if he/she rings a bell or coughs to bring my attention to their presence I either ignore them or give them a few friendly words of advice, depending on how how grumpy I am at the time.

[????]

*giggling*

[bon3yard]

Hoary. Old. Chestnut.

[Moos]

Oh, come on boneyard, it was a fine effort! I particularly liked the touch of making the pedestrian swear in front of her children, that was very elegant.

[Atila Reincarnate]

There is of course another name for selfish pavement riding Merchant Bankers, but I'm too much of a shrinking violet to print them here.