Monday, 2 July 2012

Think, anticipate, drive

On my way home today I was overtaken by a black Audi. We were only 20 ft from a red light and a queue of cars, but still the driver though it was necessary to over take me (slowing from 15mph ish) and then immediately break hard.

This is annoying, but hey we all mis judge things occasionally so I could have let it go - that is if he had not then drawn to a stop across the cycle lane meaning I had no way past. This actually didn't matter, because the light had been red for a while so I knew was about to change any second, so was happy to stop in line, and let the legs recuperate.

Unfortunately this purveyor of Vorsprung durch Technik was clearly not paying attention or using the not so mystical power of anticipation, as no sooner had he stopped (in the cycle lane) he turned off his engine - at about the same time the lights changed to green (I am pretty sure that the car did not have the automatic engine cut system). He however didn't notice this as he was looking at a phone, not the world around him. It was left to the auto behind me giving a sharp blast on a horn to wake him from his stupor.

This is a prime example of why riding a bicycle on the main roads has it's concerns. This guy is clearly driving around with no idea and no consideration for anyone else, and one day it will end badly.

Saying all of this - I have also been amazed by the amount of cyclists riding around in a busy town centre chatting on phones - not looking around them and wobbling all over the road. Lets hope these two party's manage to avoid one another hey!


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