So, this morning went to work for a client of mine in Central London. First proper bike ride since my return back to London from a two weeks cycling touring holiday in Norway. Early ride on a Saturday means the roads are absolutely deserted so its actually quite nice :-) I have been cycling in London for a long time now and I have become more aware of dangers and I have become even more respectful of the Highway Code. So when I saw a fellow (he doesnt deserve to be called fellow btw) cyclist riding though a set of red lights I thought to myself you bloody doughnut!!!! By doing so you put your life in danger for the sake of shaving a few seconds off your journey and give us good guys a bad name. That was pretty much it..but then saw the same guy jumping another set of red lights when I stopped at the same lights and was waiting for the orange lights. So, what do you do in these circumstances!? As I got the green light I sprinted and caught him up an told him you aint gonna make it any quicker if you jump red lights!!! His reply was I am a man capable of making decisions by myself so I dont need you to tell me what to do!!!! As I didnt want to have an argument with an overweight Afro Caribbean slightly older than me I simply replied ride save but I wanted to tell him sure, tell me that when you get run over by a lorry you twat!!!. There is a lot of debate going on about cycling safety in London and everyone seems to have their opinion (which of course they are entitled to it). On my way back I actually got it!!!! Cycling through Central London then Waterloo Bridge towards Brixton I finally understood why this beautiful city will never ever be able to emulate and be like any other European cities and capitals where cycling is regarded like a class A transport such as a car, lorry, buss or a motorbike. Just to make a few examples and references with my recent trip to Norway..in this country (I can only talk about London Im afraid..) there is a chronic, deep, rooted, DNA lack of understanding and respect for cyclist..full stop. In Norway, even on main roads, we were given plenty of space and priority to make us feel safe. Drivers were slowing down and stopping with plenty of time/space between us cyclists and junctions etc. Their attention and space awareness was surprisingly reassuring. We never felt in danger even when we had to cycle through tunnels (with lights and high visibility gear on) and no one, not a single driver, got irritated!!! Riding today left me a bit disappointed and sorry for the uk drivers which lack an almost moral sense of respect towards other road users, of any kind. Dear Boris Johnson and dear British Government, do you really want to make cycling safe in London!? Dont bother by creating expensive cycle schemes or cycle highways, educate motorists (can drivers, buss drivers and lorry/can drivers) to be more respectful.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 13:59:24 +0000
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