The Joy Of Other Road Users

Blog Date - 23 November 2013

I had "one of those days" last week.

It started with a ride back from town on a wide road. It's one of those that used to have 2 lanes but now with the use of central chevrons and a cycle lane is now one lane. I was to the right of my lane to gain a view of the traffic further up the road. This of course leaves a fair bit of space to my left if you include the cycle lane. A driver decided she was in enough of a rush to pass me on the left using the cycle lane, my nearside.

I could not understand why. There was a line of cars in front of me so the furthest gain she could make was maybe 40 yards. I was momentarily livid and shook my fist, flashed my lights and uttered some curses. The advantage of old age is acceptance. I could have pulled alongside and smashed her window which would have felt good but lead to a whole hill of trouble. I swore some more then let it lie. Move on.

Out with the gf later we were travelling at a comfortable yet fast pace down a rural road. In my mirrors I noticed a bike overtake the gf and approach me. The road was quiet and the biker on a 500cc machine should have no issues at all safely passing a couple of 125's. When he passed me rather than using the open and empty expanse of the opposite lane he buzzed by with merely inches to spare from my right hand handlebar. It turns out later he did much the same to the learner "L" plated gf.

I could not understand why. He chose to overtake on a straight stretch of road with a clear and empty view ahead, all quite correct. Why the devil he could not make the final extra effort of giving us both some wobble space I do not know. I shook my fist, flashed my lights, cursed some more. Let it go Ren, move on.

A while later with the gf still following on another quiet rural road I approached a bend. This bend turns 90 degrees to my left and a side road joins from the right on the corner. The road markings clearly show I am on the main road but it could be argued that the side road follows a straight line onto the main road which could be confusing if it were not for the eminently visible markings. On approach to the bend I noticed a white car. As I navigated the bend he continued moving in towards me. I beeped a warning to which he gesticulated rudely.  

I could not understand why. Unless he'd not seen the road markings it was clear I had right of way. The gf later informed me both the driver and his companion were making rude gestures to both me and the gf who was left behind the white car. I again cursed and shook my fist. I pulled in to let him past and to allow the gf to get safely behind me. This time we both moved on.

There were other events that day. Daft actions on roundabouts with indecisive drivers. Impatient drivers overtaking while we both allowed a bus to pull out of a bus stop (that was scary to watch). I'm sure anyone reading this with a few miles under their belt can list a multitude of similar events. I want to write a rant about the standards of modern driving, to lambaste the world full of fools, imbeciles, idiots and toss-pots. There's no point though. It's what it is, the roads are what they are.

The Zen approach is to accept things as they are. I cannot control other road users. All I can control is what I do or how I feel about them. In Ren's perfect world when I am Grand Emperor of All The World I would have a set of rockets fitted to my bike. When some incompetent buffoon upsets me with awful driving I simply blow them up. For more serious offences my all-seeing robot helicopters come and magnet the car away to Siberia where the offenders are tortured then used as slaves to dig up oil with their bare hands. Penalty points and small fines my arse.

However my plans for world domination have not got off to a good start so in the mean time I shall take great pains to use the Zen approach. I shall curse quietly under my breath, wish the world was a better place then realise I'm only on a 125 so I can't burn them off. I'll let it go. Let it go Ren...let it go...

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