Vigilante cycling in the City.

I felt compelled to start writing a blog for one reason and one reason only. But before I divulge that reason, let me tell you a bit about myself;

I’m male, in my thirties, family man, good job, great friends, very mild and happy with my life. I enjoy cycling for fun, exercise and commuting to work.

Now, there is the reason for starting a blog. The cycle commute to work. I live in a city which is currently seeing an explosion in the number of cyclists, which is great. I myself have been commuting by bike to work for over 5 years now. You would think that it should get easier and safer with more cyclists on the road. Unfortunately this isn’t the case.

Over the past 5 years, I have always had a few problems with over road users (cars, buses, lorries, motorcyclists, and hairdryers with wheels), but now it appears that these fellow commuters are starting a backlash against the boom in cycling.

Last night, I had three occasions where I had to break hard to avoid drivers (cars on this occasion) that, had clearly seen me (eye contact made) but proceeded to try and run me off the road instead of giving me the correct right of way. The third driver fully expected me to mount the kerb to get out of their way as they drove around parked cars on their side of the road.

I am a courteous rider and driver; yes I do drive as well and pay my road taxes like everyone else.  I’m not saying that I never make a mistake, of course I do, but when I do I will apologise.  I obey the laws of the road and know my highway code pretty well.

Back to last night, on the third occasion of being run off the road, my temper got the better of me for an instance and I shouted abuse at the driver. Now, this wasn’t bad abuse but something like “if you can’t drive it, don’t buy it” (the driver was tucked comfortably inside a too large for our roads MPV).

Of course I got a reaction of the kind “what are you doing on the road, I pay my road tax”. So, I chased the person in question, and chased and chased, and caught up with them at the next set of lights. Let’s face it, in the city it’s quicker to cycle than to drive.

And then shouted more abuse at the driver, who turned out to be a middle aged lady and her husband. They were looking a little frightened by this point. Still, I was in the right and after three attempts at my safety I felt pretty annoyed and ready for a fight. Anyway, they apologised and I went off feeling a little better.

My decision to start a blog is simple. I will use this blog to vent my anger at other road users, and this will include fellow cyclists when the need arises, and hopefully after an incident I will be able to concentrate about what I will write in this blog instead of thinking of ways to damage the guilty parties vehicle (keys down the side, break the wing mirror and for the worst offenders the D-lock through the windscreen!).

So, come back and read about the everyday dangers of the road to cyclists, post your own experiences, frustrations and even methods of revenge! I’ll be listening, even if no one else is.

VC.