Friday diatribe

Hmm, coming through central London this morning on wet, greasy roads got me pretty pissed off with pedestrians but it made me think what the key issue for road-users is.

For me, it’s not education, or obeying the rules, it’s responsibility. I think it would be a total drag if I got fined by the cops for jay–walking because I didn’t wait for the green man, or I had to take a test and pay yet more extortionate rip–off insurance to ride a push–bike. But with the freedom I expect comes a corresponding duty towards other road-users.

The problem with the pedestrians this morning was that they were not taking responsibility for what they were doing. Their method of crossing the road was to increase their pace to an ineffectual scurry, quite insufficient to remove their silly arses from my path in time, and put their heads down and not look at me. Then it’s my problem to brake and not run them over, right? Not good enough guys. If you are going to break the rules, fine. I couldn’t care less. But what I find unacceptable is when you break the rules and create an inconvenience for me while I’m abiding by the rules.

Another example: traffic lights take a long time to change and sometimes, everyone seems to be sitting there with no–one on a green light. In those circumstances, if a cyclist wants to skip the lights, I don’t have a big problem with that. But if he’s going to do it, he’d better be damn sure he’s not going to hold anyone up who has obeyed the rules and waited for their turn. He’d better not cause a pedestrian, crossing on a green man, to have to jump out of the way and then react to the pedestrian’s legitimate expression of annoyance by turning round and shouting “cunt”, as happened to me the other week (Certain cyclists can be very arrogant, holier–than–thou tossers — I suspect something to do with the fact that they perceive that they’re doing something “worthy” by cycling rather than using the car. Almost as bad as joggers who feel that they have the right to elbow pedestrians out of the way and run across roads in front of traffic rather than allow their pulse–rate to drop out of its optimum zone. But I digress…)

Basically, take responsibility for yourself out on the roads. Be considerate to other road users. Be twice as careful if you’re going to break a rule. Don’t hold other people up, or worse, by your inconsiderate behavior. Don’t be a wanker and we’ll get on fine.