Commuter diaries - we just ride here

Denzil - I couldn't really see whether he did or not, he was so low to the ground.

I am all for cyclists to be given more protection as I dont want to see my fellow riders injured or worse but we do ourselves no favours when we expect drivers to obey rules of the road when we feel we can bend or break those rules.

Jon - some look at me as if I'm a Martian, some look embarassed.
I've also said, "I suppose you have jump red lights because you're so slow it's the only way you get anywhere," which is a bit nastier and probably not as effective.
To people wearing glasses I've said, "I think you need a new prescription, you didn't see that red light."
To one guy on a recumbent I said, "If you can't see the lights from down there maybe you shouldn't be riding that thing in traffic." He got quite stroppy. Given that truck/car drivers are even less likely to see a recumbent than a normal bicycle I think the guy's attitude was in blatant disregard for his own safety.

Reasonable thing to say, how do they respond?

Hmm, were things really better in the good old days when riding across London on a bicycle was the preserve of a minority? At least there wasn't such a scrum at the lights though.

One thing I've noticed from commuting in London is that most of the people who jump red lights on their bikes are slowpokes who you catch up with about 100m further on. I often say, "Did you not see the red light? People like you give cyclists a bad name. You'll end up under a truck if you keep on riding like that."

I have to remind myself when on the commute that every bike rider who rides to work in London deserves a medal and encouragement - it's an effort because so many of them ride so badly and are so rude to pedestrians that I end up apologising for them and saying things like 'we're not all like that'.

I do miss the times where having a fixie to commute on was worth a nod between equals on the high road, but I also wish everyone to feel as lucky as I do to have discovered one of the few activities that can provide you with basic transport, fitness and a massive rush all at once...

Mainstream is what we're aiming for, surely? I for one would welcome with open arms the wholesale acceptance of cycling as legitimate transport, rather than being cut up and sworn at by a succession of wankers in every size of motorised transport each morning. +1 for mainstream from me.