[foot-loose]

Yup. Also motorbikes. I'm not saying they are all bad drivers, some can be very good in fact, however others appear from what feels like nowhere.

[Yudster]

Should we perhaps mention cyclists? The vast majority of whom are completely lethal and shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a road?

[MK Chris]

I know what you mean Yudwuk, but when I was a cyclist (believe me, it wasn't for leisure.. I hated it) I don't believe I was in that particular majority.

I could be wrong, though.

[Yudster]

They just don't seem to think that they have to follow the same rules as everyone else with signalling, junctions, roundabouts etc - I find I almost always have to guess what they are going to do, because it is very rare for one of them to ever actually give a signal, or follow the correct procedure for - for instance - turning right. And this isn't just the idiots bowling around, this is people who look like they should know better, with the proper gear and expensive bikes, people who are out there every day, diving recklessly all over the road, getting in the way and never giving you a clue what they're going to do next. And then, when they get knocked off and injured, they blame the f*ucking motorist! Makes my blood boil.

[Zoot]

They just don't seem to think that they have to follow the same rules as everyone else with signalling, junctions, roundabouts etc - I find I almost always have to guess what they are going to do, because it is very rare for one of them to ever actually give a signal, or follow the correct procedure for - for instance - turning right. And this isn't just the idiots bowling around, this is people who look like they should know better, with the proper gear and expensive bikes, people who are out there every day, diving recklessly all over the road, getting in the way and never giving you a clue what they're going to do next. And then, when they get knocked off and injured, they blame the f*ucking motorist! Makes my blood boil.

Also, Traffic Lights do not apply to cyclists. I've seen some pretty scary moments.

Cyclists who ride at night wearing all black and with no lights or helmets are frequent too.

[MK Chris]

And this isn't just the idiots bowling around, this is people who look like they should know better, with the proper gear and expensive bikes, people who are out there every day, diving recklessly all over the road, getting in the way and never giving you a clue what they're going to do next.

Ah my dad is one of those with proper gear and expensive bike.. I'm not sure if he's an idiot on the road though, quite possibly. He can't drive very well, so it would be my guess that he can't cycle to the laws of the road either.

f*ucking

Frucking? I reckon Foot-loose is right, it is your time of the month!

Cyclists who ride at night wearing all black and with no lights or helmets are frequent too.

I often see that, no lights. That is ridiculous, it's hard enough to see bikes in the dark at the best of times, let alone with no lights.

That said, I object to wearing a helmet. I look like a pillock and I am confident enough in my own ability (not that I've been on a bike for a long time) that I won't get knocked off (of course there's no accounting for other people, but in 10 years of cycling on main roads, I've never been knocked off.)

[Yudster]

I reckon Foot-loose is right, it is your time of the month!

Oh fruck off.

[Sunny So Cal]

Frucking hell, this is getting out of hand. Stop inquiring after Yuds's cycles

[foot-loose]

Sounds like a bike shop.

Well, from what I hear, she is in the business of giving good rides.



I'm still off to get pished.

[kendra k]

this thread is amazing, but i'm a transport professional.

i do agree with cat about public transport. yeah, i have a car i drive maybe once or twice a month. otherwise i walk, ride a bike, or take the chooooob. i know it's not the optimal solution for everybody, but it's cheaper than petrol and it's better for the environment. i don't really blame people who are married to their car, because development has been too car oriented (though there is more transit oriented development in the works), but the arrogance about public transit being gross is irritating. same thing with cyclists- there are lots of morons on bikes, but there are lots of decent people with light and all that. drivers have a huge protective cage that cyclists don't- share the road!

parking is always hilarious and the reason i hate driving around here.

[Mozzer]

Having done ten hours of driving in the since yesterday, I feel the need to let off some steam about middle lane morons. Well, one in particular. A white van man, would you believe? I was on the inside lane like a good boy, going faster than said WVM and therefore almost undertaking him. Normally I call my friend a knob for doing that cos it doesn't achieve anything, but I was so annoyed I was close to doing it myself. Instead I restrained myself and went past him on the outside, only to find he was on the phone. Excellent.

[foot-loose]

Another one: parking in disabled spots.

Ok, this isn't dangerous as such, but it really annoys me when I see a couple of lassies who are just running into the shop for a bottle of wine parking in a space for someone who is elderly or disabled. Having worked at a customers services desk in a supermarket and having had an elderly lady point out to me that she had to walk from the other side of the car park because there was no disabled spots beside the door, I feel it's something I sympathise with.

I know that there is no law that stops folk parking in those spots, but surely it's basic human decency?

[kendra k]

see, in america there is a law against parking in those spots without the placard. i should have gotten one when i was going through chemo because there were a number of occasions were i got really weak and dizzy after crossing a large car park.

[foot-loose]

To be honest, although I said it wasn't a law, I'm not a hundred per cent sure on that - there might be one for on the street, in a similar manner to yellow lines. It certainly isn't enforced outside most shops and supermarkets. It's left up to the individual store to enforce it.

[Sunny So Cal]

Well here even if it is a privately owned car park for a shopping mall or a supermarket and a police officer is driving through, he will ticket those illegally parked in disabled spots. I believe they're quite expensive fines, too.

[Yudster]

I get very annoyed when I have to take Baby Yudster shopping (which I normally avoid) and find all the Parent and Child spaces taken up by a mix of sports cars and cars occupied by perfectly able bodied but usually elderly people with no kids in sight. I never use those spots unless I have BY with me.

I'm obvously not the only person annoyed by this - I had managed to get one of these spaces one morning when BY and I had to get some stuff - and as I got out of my car, the people getting back into the car next to me (they were an elderly couple with their grandchildren in tow, and clearly feeling proprietal about the child spaces) started telling me off for using one of them, going on about how awful it is when you have small children in the car to get them in and out with no space on either side, and how people should respect the provision of these spaces....I didn't reply, but as they were ranting at me I just walked around to the back of the card and lifted BY out (he would have been two then).....the look on their faces was sublime as I smiled and said "Have a nice day!", and walked into the shop.........

[Andy B]

I just get taxis and trains everywhere, saves me a hell of a lot of bother. No tax, No MOT, no insurance, no parking worries, I can get as drunk as I like and still get home, I can fall asleep and still get home, no congestion charge nightmare, no speed cameras just nice and easy travel.

[kendra k]

I had managed to get one of these spaces one morning when BY and I had to get some stuff - and as I got out of my car, the people getting back into the car next to me (they were an elderly couple with their grandchildren in tow, and clearly feeling proprietal about the child spaces) started telling me off for using one of them, going on about how awful it is when you have small children in the car to get them in and out with no space on either side, and how people should respect the provision of these spaces....I didn't reply, but as they were ranting at me I just walked around to the back of the card and lifted BY out (he would have been two then).....the look on their faces was sublime as I smiled and said "Have a nice day!", and walked into the shop.........

i think some old people just think the world owes them and that they deserve everything to be catered to them. i spent two weeks with an 86 year-old woman in london four years ago, and she would chastise people for sitting in the front of the bus if they weren't an oap. she was pretty loud and rude about it. she said i could sit because i was helping her get around. i remember one time in particular, she started hitting some teenager's seat with her cane until he finally got up and left.

my grandmother is like that, too. she actually pokes people in thje chest with her finger wagging about how inconsiderate they are. as a result, we're not close.

[MK Chris]

To be honest, although I said it wasn't a law, I'm not a hundred per cent sure on that - there might be one for on the street, in a similar manner to yellow lines. It certainly isn't enforced outside most shops and supermarkets. It's left up to the individual store to enforce it.

I help run Milton Keynes Table Tennis Centre and our car park has a few disabled spots, which are routinely taken up by able-bodied people, it annoys us immensely. We do pay clampers, but they're about as much use as tits on a bull.

I never use disabled or parent and child spots, no matter how far away the parking spot is from my intended destination.

[SpaceBoy]

Like a Pheonix riseing from the ashes Foot-loose!

but they're about as much use as tits on a bull.

Never have come across that saying! It is quite funny. I may use it instead of chocolate fire guard.

[timp]

Phew... that went on longer than expected... discuss.

[S4B]

Major thread bump here but I wanted to say that I am now MUCH more confident at parallel parking! I practiced loads after this thread as I felt inept so thanks guys!

[MK Chris]

How many cars did you bump into while practicing?*

*The first person to mention pots and kettles after my recent record gets a slap. Well, they would do if I was sitting near them.

[S4B]

Haha none actually! I could do it just didn't like doing it. Now I don't mind doing it.

[foot-loose]

Well done missus.

Now we need more folk to follow your lead!