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1

General Discussion Area / Re: Cycling in Britain

« on: 09 July 2017, 22:50:41 »

I'll be sure to wave to you when you're stuck in a jam in your gas guzzling box, as I pass with my thigh muscles bulging

2

General Discussion Area / Re: Cycling in Britain

« on: 09 July 2017, 22:48:00 »

Crack on? 

If as described the roads are twisty, with solid white lines, I can only reiterate that someone shouldn't be overtaking, unless they want to feature on cyclist's camera compilation on YouTube entitled 'douchebag drivers part 126

I don't think I've ever seen a cyclist doing less than 10 mph in such conditions. I generally go faster than a lot of cars when I'm cycling round urban areas.

Clearly alot of drivers have hate to others on the road from their more important than you attitude. If car drivers don't like the roads and conditions on them, get off them.

There, cracked!

3

General Discussion Area / Re: Cycling in Britain

« on: 09 July 2017, 22:34:42 »

I didn't describe anything twisty with solid white lines. 

My mistake, it was scimmy man. But what I said still stands.

It seems like a lot of ppl have hang ups about cyclists. If ppl don't like them that much why don't they just keep themselves right and accept the shortcomings of others? A sure sign of intelligence.

As a driver and cyclist I know which group behaves more responsibly on the road. Perhaps motorists (not all of course) should put their self importance to one side and understand the vulnerability of cyclists.

4

General Discussion Area / Re: Cycling in Britain

« on: 09 July 2017, 22:18:15 »

I followed one today, as the road got twistier and had double white lines, he SLOWED DOWN to block me.

Maybe the fact that the road became twistier and had double white lines, is an indication that that section of road is a little more hazardous, and the cyclist needed to slow down to make it safe for himself? Obviously it is safer to turn when going slower. How do you know the cyclist slowed to deliberately block you?

If he did, maybe he was doing you a favour. That's perfectly acceptable, a road user that is, commanding the road to make conditions safer for all, particularly a vulnerable cyclist. With double white lines you shouldn't be overtaking anyway.

GUFFER, as someone who is relatively new to road biking and who needed some tips, thank you for the links in your signature; very helpful. 

No it isn't, its insufferably selfish. If a vehicle behind you is likely to normally travel twice as fast as you on your bicycle, its ludicrous to take a position to prevent it from passing you. The only reasonable thing to do is to get out of its way, and let it carry on its way.
If someone did it in a powered vehicle, they would probably be committing an offence. I don't  see why it should be any different for cycles. But to me, it only reinforces the point that cycles shouldn't really be on the roads in this day and age.

It is.

If in the circumstances you describe. Twisty, solid white lines. You shouldn't be overtaking anyway.

As for thinking cyclists shouldn't be on the road, whenever I hear that it sounds like the egocentric unreasoned ramblings of someone who dislikes the fact someone else is using the roads in a way not to their liking but ok nonetheless.

Cyclists have just as much right to be there as you.

5

General Discussion Area / Re: Cycling in Britain

« on: 09 July 2017, 22:14:18 »

As road users they are just as entitled as you to be there. If they happen to go a little slow for your liking, that's unfortunate, but tough. Sometimes I get stuck behind tractors, or in a jam, or a red light.

If the roads are narrow, maybe they are too narrow for a car to pass safely, in that case what's wrong with riding two abreast? It's safer for them and you, it stops overtaking. Think commanding the road.

If the roads are as twisty as you say, and you go round the bend at "moderate" speeds, maybe you're the one driving too fast and possibly in a dangerous fashion. After all you should be able to stop in the distance you can see.

If they assume car drivers will see them, car drivers should see them, through use of good observation, anticipation, road positioning, awareness and appropriate speed. If they don't it could be argued they shouldn't be driving.

6

General Discussion Area / Re: Cycling in Britain

« on: 09 July 2017, 21:59:33 »

And as Guffer alludes to it's perfectly acceptable to ride two abreast should conditions allow. It's in the Highway Code.

7

General Discussion Area / Re: Cycling in Britain

« on: 09 July 2017, 21:57:38 »

I followed one today, as the road got twistier and had double white lines, he SLOWED DOWN to block me.

Maybe the fact that the road became twistier and had double white lines, is an indication that that section of road is a little more hazardous, and the cyclist needed to slow down to make it safe for himself? Obviously it is safer to turn when going slower. How do you know the cyclist slowed to deliberately block you?

If he did, maybe he was doing you a favour. That's perfectly acceptable, a road user that is, commanding the road to make conditions safer for all, particularly a vulnerable cyclist. With double white lines you shouldn't be overtaking anyway.

GUFFER, as someone who is relatively new to road biking and who needed some tips, thank you for the links in your signature; very helpful. 

8

General Discussion Area / Re: Tower block fire

« on: 15 June 2017, 01:07:46 »

Absolutely terrible

This will again raise the whole questioned about the safety of these tower blocks. In this case it seems the main fire escape staircase was overcome by fire and smoke; it was the only means of escape . This should never be the case in the 21st century. These ridiculous 1960/1970 experiments in housing should be demolished, as many have been. But that will take so much money, but to still have families with young children at high levels in the ruddy blocks is beyond comprehension.


When you look at the pictures it is clear that still the fire brigade have not acquired the equipment to fight the fire and provide people with a means of escape at high levels. The Towering Inferno film of 40 years ago has still not got through to the authorities; if people are still going to live in these blocks, then high level fire fighting equipment must be at last provided!

Just terrible!!! 

I was watching this disaster unfold this AM and could not believe that some 8 or 9 hours after the fire was reported, there was, apparently, only one fire hose playing, somewhat pathetically, on the 10th or 11th floor. I cannot believe that our fire services have nothing better in this day and age. Films of firefighting during the WW2 blitz appeared as efficient. Where are the high ladders as in New York?

Standard pumping appliances, the everyday kind seen driven around the streets have 13.5 metre ladders (category 1 appliance), which at full extension reaches the 3rd floor (as in g-1-2-3), and 10.5 metre ladders (cat. 2) which reach the 2nd floor. When behind an appliance you can tell the difference as the 13.5 has a jack beam, a horizontal spherical bar at the foot of the ladder.

Turntable ladders or TLs (old, mostly phased out) and aerial ladder platforms (ALPs) extend to about 32 metres max, subject to conditions and electronically limited. This would get to about the 10th or 11th floor. Some ALPs with greater reach (50m) have tipped up in North America and I don't believe are used here.

2 firefighters with a charged 70mm hose will be working hard directing it anywhere, let alone the 4-5th floors, which is probably as high as it will reach and still be effective. The higher it goes, the more pressure is needed and the harder it is to control. A monitor (device the squirts the water and doesn't need holding) won't go much higher.

Due to the structure of high rises, the only way to effectively fight fires in them is from inside. There are tried and tested procedures for this. 2 teams of 2 BA wearers from 1 and 2 floors below the fire enter with hoses charged from dry risers (used to be wet risers but maintenance too expensive). The dry riser usually has only one inlet. This allows 1 firefighting team and one covering jet. Dry riser outlets on different floors are fed from the same riser. The higher you go the more pressure you need due to gravity and friction loss. Open an outlet lower down and you'll get no or very little pressure higher, assuming of course the riser is capable of delivering the desired amount of water.

There's loads of other factors, but the most important and obvious ones is lack of access and egress from higher up, and crucially, firefighting and rescue capability. Obviously due to a whole range of reasons, like anything, reasonable control measures need to be taken. I can't imagine the logistical nightmare and the level of search and rescue coordination that needed to undertaken at this incident, never mind the difficult decisions that OiCs needed to take, and the moral pressure.

Based on what I know of this incident, and my knowledge of firefighting and the high rise procedures that my brigade has, unfortunately it seems to me that once the fire had spread to 2 adjoining floors above 10-11, the residents above will have been doomed.

9

General Discussion Area / Re: yoofs on scramblers

« on: 30 April 2017, 14:52:28 »

The police seem incompetent, unwilling and unable to solve such problems. Recently signs have appeared on lamp posts warning that it is an offence to ride motorbikes in unsuitable areas. That helped..........only in the world of the moronic office dwelling pen pusher who dreamt up the idea.

It is tempting to take action for the sake of safer more peaceful streets, as the ones we delegate this responsibility to, clearly can't/won't/don't.

This person clearly went a little far though:

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/crime/man-jailed-for-nearly-12-years-for-shooting-sunderland-teenager-in-the-head-1-8516435

10

General Discussion Area / Re: Name something that people only use once

« on: 15 April 2017, 11:02:33 »

An Omega? 

11

General Discussion Area / Re: Where do you stand?

« on: 10 December 2016, 17:17:47 »

Most of what she did needed to be done and done quickly. Her big mistake - recently admitted by Norman Tebbit - was not to put the resources into rebuilding the North after she had saved the country from total ruin.
The "wets" in her party stabbed her in the back because she was a Eurosceptic. Posthumous revenge was served cold in June 2016. 

Excellent, Migv6!

12

General Discussion Area / Re: Road rage incident

« on: 01 December 2016, 10:45:52 »

STEMO, how naive of you: they only bother to use technology chase motorists for revenue collection - anything else involves too much work (sorry Jason)!

Ron.

I'm in agreement with you on this Ron. Years ago I had the misfortune of being a police type person. I've worked as and with many different types of police in 3 continents, and the longer I did the worse I thought of it. Any interest in fairness and justice seemed to easily give way to the selfish and lazy whims of the officer, many of whom were also terribly incompetent, so even if they had the integrity to attempt to do the job properly, it didn't matter because they made a pig's ear of it anyway.

There have been many incidents, both minor and serious and everywhere in between in many different contexts over a long period of time, and still on going, where me, my family or friends have made complaints to police, who haven't lifted a finger to take any action. One even tried to lie to us to avoid doing an investigation. It becomes apparent when you call 999 that they are not interested; the control room operators seem to try to divert and distract you, that's even if they answer at all (yes that has happened - in the early hours so presumably they were asleep). A few years ago I apprehended a burglar and restrained him on the ground (I was faster than fat plod), when the person was calm and compliant and face down on hard tarmac, the chasing policeman ran and did a two footed stamp on his head - judging by the noise it made it was lucky there wasn't brains all over the road.

Anyway, of course years ago I came to my senses and left. It's at the point now where I doubt I'd even ring the police for assistance as it would be worse than doing nothing.

13

General Discussion Area / Re: What is wrong with people ?

« on: 06 November 2016, 14:26:48 »

This is bad, very bad, and happened not far from me. However, the same thing happens thousands of times everyday to animals that value their own lives and don't want to be killed.

The main differences are that it is hidden away from sight so that people don't see the consequences of their consumption and gluttony, and it is organised on a mass scale.

14

General Discussion Area / Re: How NOT to join a motorway

« on: 01 November 2016, 10:50:26 »

The majority of the fault obviously lies with the driver of the other car; the manner of their driving led to a dangerous situation. However, a certain amount of responsibility I think lies with you. Once you were aware of the developing situation you could have adjusted your speed. You were aware there was a slip road, and that they maybe other cars attempting to join the motorway, and we all know that there are people out there whose driving falls below a satisfactory standard and think it is ok to drive like this.

I'd rather not have a collision, than be in the right with a damaged car and injuries. Think defensive driving. It would be nice if everybody followed the rules of the road, until then we have to drive for other people.

I had just joined at that slip road and this other car was BEHIND me on the slip road. An artic moved out into the middle lane to allow us in, with another artic coming up in the inside lane. I speed matched the one behind me and the overtaking one was by my rear right wheel.

If I brake I have an artic up my arse, if I swerve I have an artic in my right wing, if I accelerate I ram the vehicle in front.

I was taught, as a car driver, an HGV driver and a PSV driver, that you should never take an action that causes another vehicle to accelerate, brake or move on the road. I was also taught that mirrors are as important as looking forwards, so I KNEW what was behind me and to my right.

This idiot "undertook" me, forced his way on, and then undertook other vehicles. Luckily for me the artic driver in the middle lane reacted to the sound of my horn blowing and braked, allowing me to move. The 44 tonne artic behind might not have reacted had I braked, and there is no reason for him to expect me to brake.

I completely fail to see how "I have to take responsibility" for this incident, where a prat totally ignores "Give Way" road markings, or what I could have done SAFELY ...... note the last word... it's in capitals for your benefit.

Ah yes, apologies. I missed that bit at the start where you had just joined. It is there only not for long! As Aaron said most people would look and think you were already on the motorway, as I did. If it was a situation where you already were on the motorway I would stand by what I said. However in this case the French piece of shit should be cubed with the driver still in it yippeeee 

15

General Discussion Area / Re: How NOT to join a motorway

« on: 31 October 2016, 17:16:47 »

The majority of the fault obviously lies with the driver of the other car; the manner of their driving led to a dangerous situation. However, a certain amount of responsibility I think lies with you. Once you were aware of the developing situation you could have adjusted your speed. You were aware there was a slip road, and that they maybe other cars attempting to join the motorway, and we all know that there are people out there whose driving falls below a satisfactory standard and think it is ok to drive like this.

I'd rather not have a collision, than be in the right with a damaged car and injuries. Think defensive driving. It would be nice if everybody followed the rules of the road, until then we have to drive for other people.