How was your commute ... today, yesterday, last week ...

[Summernight]

Speaking of Tuesday - I was cycling to work on Tuesday and there was a big green ute that was coming out of a driveway onto the road, and had already edged out over the bike lane. So I had to move right out into the lane of traffic to get past him. As I passed him I just pointed at his tyres in the bike lane, that's all I did. So when he took off he felt the need to roar past me and give me a blast on his horn. Because you know a middle aged woman on an urban bike is so threatening to a big tough guy in a ute.

You're bucking the trend, hence his aggro. Keep up the good work.

I wasn't in the best mood leaving work last night due to an upset customer I had to deal with.

Then when I was almost home I had a car suddenly move left over the bike lane without looking to pull into a parking space (that didn't exist). I had to take evasive action and shout at him for his stupidity for not looking before doing something.

And then when I got home I placed the bike on its stand and went to close the front door, only to have the bike fall onto the ground as it wasn't properly secured. My front plastic mudguard snapped in the fall (which is what it is supposed to do in an accident).

Luckily electrical tape saved the day and the flap of my mudguard has been reattached.

Apart from some rubbing at the start of the ride this morning due to the mudguard not being in the correct position (which was fixed at a set of lights) the ride in this morning was fine. I had a laugh at a motorist who was clearly in an MGIF mood and, after overtaking me (properly due to my lane positioning), he moved back into the left lane and had just put his foot on the accelerator... Only to have to re-merge into the right lane as a truck was parked in the left lane not 100 metres up the road. Anyone actually looking at road conditions and planning ahead would have seen that truck, but not this person as he was clearly fixated on passing me.

[TailWind]

Did you get the rego number of the scooter? (Assuming it had one).

No plates on it. I'm pretty sure it's the same lot that tear up the park with an assortment of trail bikes.....

[TonyMax]

If you swerved into them (not hitting, just baulking and then swerving away) I wonder if they'd deviate onto the grass and crash? Might teach them a lesson. No helmets by the looks?

[fat and old]

If you swerved into them (not hitting, just baulking and then swerving away) I wonder if they'd deviate onto the grass and crash? Might teach them a lesson. No helmets by the looks?

No need t swerve. Last week it was 2 on a little white scooter wanted to play chicken, near Bell St.

Stupid kids.

[TailWind]

If you swerved into them (not hitting, just baulking and then swerving away) I wonder if they'd deviate onto the grass and crash? Might teach them a lesson. No helmets by the looks?

Nope, no helmets, no license plate, no right to be on the path, no respect for legitimate path users. I've had them stick out their legs and arms at me in a threatening manner as they are about to pass, and yep, I've thought about engaging them, but mass and momentum isn't on my side, so I've made sure to avoid potential contact....

[Mububban]

If you swerved into them (not hitting, just baulking and then swerving away) I wonder if they'd deviate onto the grass and crash? Might teach them a lesson. No helmets by the looks?

Nope, no helmets, no license plate, no right to be on the path, no respect for legitimate path users. I've had them stick out their legs and arms at me in a threatening manner as they are about to pass, and yep, I've thought about engaging them, but mass and momentum isn't on my side, so I've made sure to avoid potential contact....

Are they regular enough on their route to suggest a discretely stationed police presence at a certain time and place?

[find_bruce]

Wondered why there were so many cops & firies on my commute - pic says it all really

More detail http://goo.gl/aD7V2C" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jasonc]

Wondered why there were so many cops & firies on my commute - pic says it all really

so are you forgiving the il-placed bins?

[TailWind]

Had to be home at 5pm yesterday for an telecon, so gave it some gas on the way back. Pleasingly, the effort was reflected in a pretty good time (for me ).

Already completed my second commute for the day today. Home into the CBD, then across to Fitzroy North for a father's day breakfast at the kiddo's school.
Heading back into the CBD, I checked out some of the smaller roads in Fitzroy.
Heading to an intersection with Canning St., there's a new warning sign to alert motorists to bicycles using Canning, which is a major cycling corridor, complete with bike traffic jams at intersections.
Interestingly, the sign flashes in a rhythm similar to some blinkies.


Mulit-hop commute this afternoon, stopping off at my brother's place for some refreshments.

Happy Friday!

[Summernight]

Well met last evening, Nezumi! Sorry I couldn't hold a decent conversation while we waited at the traffic lights due to my out-of-breath puffing after getting up the Collins Street hill.

Loved your hand signals further up at the Macarthur St pedestrian lights. I was going to shout out something to you while waiting at those lights but decided against it on account of the three cyclists in front of me and the embarrassment factor .

As I posted in the Dumb Cyclist's thread, on this morning's run (pre bike commute) I was probably labelled the crazy jogging lady by the bike rider I told off.

Mr Old-School Telstra jersey/jacket (with the orange and blue colours ala: http://companies-history.com/wp-content ... elstra.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) flat bar commuting bike rider passed me on the MYT up the Boulie hill going towards Walmer Street. Guess who I saw in the bushes in his usual spot doing a bit of yellow watering? Yup. He pees there so often that he has worn a path into the bush. I know this guy's commute goes straight past the toilets at the CCF so stopping to pee only a couple of minutes later is just plain dumb. You aren't in a cycling race and you know exactly where the nearest public toilet is. Do the decent thing and pee in a proper toilet.

Anyway, as he was relieving himself I passed him. Further down the track when it kinks left to meet the Walmer Street bridge he overtakes me again... By going between me and the oncoming female jogger. Said oncoming jogger had to move so as not to be hit and threw her hands up in a "what the?" expression. Way, way too close and a very stupid move when you have brakes or could have overtaken off the path on the left OR the right. Instead you needlessly pushed through a small gap.

I shouted "Too close" at you at that time as I agreed with the oncoming jogger that your move was dangerous and needless. I don't think you heard. Lucky for you, you were stuck waiting at the traffic lights at the intersection of Walmer/Burnley and Victoria Streets... So I puffed my way up to you and told you about your dangerous overtake and that there was a toilet at the CCF that you should use instead of constantly stopping to pee in the same spot every time our paths meet.

Of course, there were two cyclists waiting in front of you at the lights who heard me politely tell you off and seemed to commiserate with you about the crazy jogging lady (one shook his head). Whatever. If Mr Telstra-commuter is on here, please be more courteous to fellow path users.

* * *

The fog rolled in between my morning run and my ride to work so it was a lovely, misty ride. Even with the salmon skateboarder in the bike lane not looking where she was going and skating there when there are two perfectly good footpaths AND a bike lane going in the direction she wanted to go. Silly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-ipXxWDsRs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TailWind]

If you swerved into them (not hitting, just baulking and then swerving away) I wonder if they'd deviate onto the grass and crash? Might teach them a lesson. No helmets by the looks?

Nope, no helmets, no license plate, no right to be on the path, no respect for legitimate path users. I've had them stick out their legs and arms at me in a threatening manner as they are about to pass, and yep, I've thought about engaging them, but mass and momentum isn't on my side, so I've made sure to avoid potential contact....

Are they regular enough on their route to suggest a discretely stationed police presence at a certain time and place?

Well, there was an illl-fated attempt by the police to crack down on them...I've seen no attempts to patrol the area since.

[fat and old]

Nice rides last few days.....I even saw another bike on Plenty Rd yesterday morning (I leave at 4.30am) which was a shock. Only downside was spring lulled me into a false sense of security so I've been in shorts last week or so. Cold yesty and today though Still have 3 layers on top that early, which is a pain to carry home each night. Might have to put a wardrobe in the office, rather than just leaving stuff lie around the place

M80 magpie still there, I think he was on double time two nights ago. Got me at 8.00pm.

[jasonc]

I even saw another bike on Plenty Rd yesterday morning (I leave at 4.30am) which was a shock.

it was probably TW. he leaves around that time

[FiveDaysAWeek]

Glorious commute in this morning: no rain, no aggro birds, no absent-minded pedestrians or drivers, no issues at all. I could get used to this.

Bit surprised to glance down at the bottom left corner of my browser just now to see:
Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot]

I'm sure it isn't a member

[jasonc]

my legs don't like me today
95kms with ~1450m of climbing for the day

360kms with 5000m+ of climbing for the commute week.

/done

(oh and i've taken the endomondo gretaboy commuter challenge lead)

[fat and old]

Why oh why did I let my wife convince me Preston to Rye was a "commute" just because there's bike trails 75% of the distance?

[jasonc]

Why oh why did I let my wife convince me Preston to Rye was a "commute" just because there's bike trails 75% of the distance?

That's a fair commute. 80kms?

[fat and old]

Got so excited at the prospect I forgot to turn the garmin on Felt like 300 by the time I got to Dromana though. Going via bike paths maybe 80-90 I think.

I'm not joking about the "old and fat" you know

[jasonc]

You keep that up and you will only be old
tapatalk for Windows Phone. For when you want it done right

[jasonc]

thankfully I didn't clean the commuter over the weekend as I had a half and half commute. first half was dry. second half I had drizzle and wet roads.

[Summernight]

Friday night I went to a meeting for my sports club at a pub in Smith St, Collingwood. I lugged the two D-locks with me as I was paranoid my pride and joy would be stolen while I was in said meeting. Luckily I found a tree with metal cage around it right outside the pub and the tree leaned over and cuddled my bike, hiding it from thieving eyes.

I came out after the meeting and decided to head back to the office in the CBD to drop off the heavy D-locks as I didn't want to lug them to work on Monday morning (I was borrowing a car for the weekend as my car was out of town on a family trip so I didn't have to ride home first).

On my way back to the CBD I used Victoria Parade (the cars were surprisingly polite) and La Trobe Street. At Melbourne Central a couple of pedestrians decided to step out onto the bike lane without looking, causing emergency braking by me and repeated shouts of "STOP!!" (also by me). The lady heard me first and stopped half over the bike lane, the guy came to within 30 centimetres of me before he stopped. No way to take evasive action with those concrete blocks there when I saw them about to step onto the bike lane, but luckily I had it under control and they did stop. An apology came from the guy and an exasperated "Please look" came from me and we went our separate ways.

Then further up I had just turned left from La Trobe into Queen Street and rolled up to a red traffic light at Little Lonsdale. I was placed in the left lane. I heard the acceleration of a car behind me going faster than they should heading towards the red light I was stopped at, I turned my head and saw a car in the right hand lane that wasn't stopping for the light and seemed like it was going greater than 40kph.

Sure enough, this car blows through the red light I'm stopped at, nearly taking out 6 pedestrians and one car driving through its clearly green light. The only reason there wasn't a crash or skittling of pedestrians was because one of the pedestrians was aware and stopped her partner and I had my hand out saying stop as well. The green light motorist was also aware and slammed on the brakes so as not to be hit by the red light runner. It was a bit of a brown pants moment.

I didn't manage to catch up to the car after the next set of lights, but having a review of my rear camera footage this morning gives a clear picture of the licence plate so not sure whether I should mention it in my response to the police regarding them deciding not to issue an infringement notice to the truck driver who almost squished me into a parked car while I was riding in the dedicated bicycle lane in Elizabeth Street, Richmond back in early August (the police's reasoning for not issuing a fine being I was in his blind spot - ie. he didn't look in his mirrors, and the truck driver was very apologetic - so clearly 'Sorry mate, I didn't look' is a good enough excuse for the police - so this red light runner should get off with nothing as well because he clearly wasn't looking for the traffic lights and no pedestrians or cars were injured in the red light running. ).

This morning I was overdressed. And I was a bit dumb because I saw the garage door closing to the car park I wanted to get into, managed to sprint down the lane to get inside, ducked my head and got through... but completely forgot about my backpack and that it rises up when I duck my head. The backpack glanced off the garage door (which was rising back up by then due to me triggering the sensor) and sheepish me slapped my wrist for not taking into account the backpack. Silly me.

Mr Telstra commuter was wearing a different coloured Telstra jersey/jacket this morning as he rode past me when I was running prior to the ride to work. And he didn't pee in his usual place in the bushes. Progress!

Oh, and I saw from Facebook that apparently Channel 7 is doing another Cyclists vs Motorists beat up and my dooring footage is in the promo clip. Wish I got paid for every time someone used my clip...

[CXCommuter]

After a windy night headed out this morning with the hope of a screaming run into work with a nice north westerly- nah, BOM screwed it up- a squally, blustery West South Westerly (read crosswind to headwind) greeted me. Ground it out to work muttering the whole way in about BOM's failure. Thankfully "only" rained once just near the start for 2 solid minutes so not too wet.

[TailWind]

my legs don't like me today
95kms with ~1450m of climbing for the day
360kms with 5000m+ of climbing for the commute week.
/done
(oh and i've taken the endomondo gretaboy commuter challenge lead)

Nice work Jason, both on the distance/climbing and P1.
I, on the other hand, have slacked off today and am working from home

[jules21]

i got overtaken by an oldies' bunch ride this morning on the MYT! those oldies were sure giving it some. i was on a recovery ride. yes, yes i was..

[find_bruce]

i got overtaken by an oldies' bunch ride this morning on the MYT! those oldies were sure giving it some. i was on a recovery ride. yes, yes i was..

& you are still recovering ... From the shame