Two cyclists on the M5 off ramp into Milner Road

[mikkelz]

Flipping moron(s) man. I'm glad (for your sake) that you didn't seriously (permanently) injure anyone today. As if there isn't enough to deal with already!

[LazyTrailRider]

Jarek, I'm 100% with you on this, simply because the piece of tarmac in question is a ridiculous place to be on a bike regardless of the circumstances. I take this offramp several times a week to get onto Milner, and have only once seen a cyclist stupid enough to ride there. I don't have the facts on whether it's actually legal to even be on this piece of road, but logic and common sense dictates that there's not a snowball's chance in hell that it could be. If it is, then the rules are seriously flawed (even taking onetrackmind's comments about illegal sections into account), because even at the best of times most vehicles are doing close to 100km/h turning into the off-ramp... Why? Because of the on-ramp a few hundred metres back, which causes most people to have to accelerate to get past this traffic and then cut quickly in to make the off-ramp. No place for a bike of any kind.

 

What they did after they were on this piece of road to start off with, just makes it worse.

 

Cyclists in general are their own worst enemies, simple as that. My rant from a while ago where I warned any riders disobeying traffic rules that I'd physically harm them still stands. This is a good example of a trigger event.

[Slave]

Two words.

 

Dumbass moron.

[urbanroyal]

Is the speed limit not 80 k's in this area...?

[ThaStig]

My 2c50c: While you might be in the right and the alleged offending cyclists made an error in judgement which led to the "close call"; your comments and subsequent reaction is uncalled for and could only have led to an escalation of the situation. Yes you are upset and possibly rightly so but if I were one of those cyclists and had to read your comments we would be having more than words. If you had found them afterwards what would you have done? there is a good chance you might have ended the night cuddling with "Tyrone/Big Bubba" in one of the cells. We have all done stupid things while out riding(to varying degrees)and some of us have learnt from them, maybe they will.

PS. Did any of the guys swear at you or react aggressively towards you to cause you wish them ill or call their mental capacity etc into question. Please take note there are youngsters on this forum as well and we should not be perpetuating this form of aggression towards fellow cyclists/road-users albeit errant ones. If you had stopped and spoken to them and they had reacted badly to your reprimands/advice then you might have had some justification for your outbursts.Your post would have been better served if you had left out the personal attacks and name-calling. Yes they were wrong in crossing two lanes without checking/into oncoming traffic and I am glad you avoided them.

[LazyTrailRider]

Is the speed limit not 80 k's in this area...?

 

Yes it is, unfortunately the majority of motorists drive far above that (see my comment about the off-ramp). There's no excuse for that, but it's the reality.

 

Speed limit or not, the problem is that it's too high-speed and high-traffic/activity/action a piece of tarmac for any sensible cyclist to be on, even if everyone did 60km/h. I'd never in a million years even attempt riding there. Honestly, I can't for the life of me see why any part of the M5 would be legal for cyclists. It's an extremely hostile environment, especially with all the roadworks at the moment. Only a dumbass would ride there, which clearly was the case.

[Capricorn]

Get over yourself stig. I vented. It's not as bad u want it to be. Feel free to go eat some curb as well. Or use the report button if your sensitivies have been upended, which doesnt seem to be very hard to do.

And it's definitely worth 2c with 2c change, cos you failed miserably to see past the words conveying anger and frustation versus the core of the matter: cyclists doing stupid things.

You a roadie per chance?

Edited May 2, 2011 by Jarek Wysocki

[ThaStig]

Curb is not to my tastes, I prefer Pole especially before breakfast. And thank you for responding so quickly after really reading and understanding what I was getting at.

[LazyTrailRider]

My 2c50c: While you might be in the right and the alleged offending cyclists made an error in judgement which led to the "close call"; your comments and subsequent reaction is uncalled for and could only have led to an escalation of the situation. Yes you are upset and possibly rightly so but if I were one of those cyclists and had to read your comments we would be having more than words. If you had found them afterwards what would you have done? there is a good chance you might have ended the night cuddling with "Tyrone/Big Bubba" in one of the cells. We have all done stupid things while out riding(to varying degrees)and some of us have learnt from them, maybe they will.

PS. Did any of the guys swear at you or react aggressively towards you to cause you wish them ill or call their mental capacity etc into question. Please take note there are youngsters on this forum as well and we should not be perpetuating this form of aggression towards fellow cyclists/road-users albeit errant ones. If you had stopped and spoken to them and they had reacted badly to your reprimands/advice then you might have had some justification for your outbursts.Your post would have been better served if you had left out the personal attacks and name-calling. Yes they were wrong in crossing two lanes without checking/into oncoming traffic and I am glad you avoided them.

 

I'm sorry ThaStig, but unfortunately fools only learn the hard way. Their action in the first place puts them at blame. Doing what they did (and being there in the first place) was not accidental. It's just too difficult to place yourself in that situation (with these specifics) without realising what you're doing. Honestly, it's not like accidentally dropping a paper cup and then being beaten up by someone who has a vendetta against littering. IMHO, Jarek as all the right to be pissed off and to question their mental capacity. I would too.

 

Maybe they'll learn, but then again maybe they won't. Being smacked upside the head while your error is explained to you is usually the better way to learn. Oh wait, that counts as "human rights violation" these days. My bad.

 

PS: I would. Smack them upside the head that is, if I had the chance.

[Capricorn]

Stig: were u one of the guys I'm talking about?

 

oh and another thing: this thread is not about what u wrote or mean or imply or whatever. Njoi the pole and the dancer gyrating off it..

 

Edited May 2, 2011 by Jarek Wysocki

[ThaStig]

While I hear you; Being in the right, then kicking the cr@p out of the fool and then standing in front of a very unsympathetic judge explaining your actions changes that perspective very quickly and painfully; believe me. We are all macho when talking the talk, problem is that talk turns into action so quickly before you even realise it and leads to regret. Your bluff gets called so easily and with today's laws you could come horribly short.

[Capricorn]

You concern for our butts well being is touching, but dont worry. i'm willing to take that chance.

 

so, u one of those riders or not, cos if u are, i'm dying for my version of a very civil, face2face discussion..

Edited May 2, 2011 by Jarek Wysocki

[LazyTrailRider]

Oh no, trust me, I wouldn't kick the cr@p out of him. I'd just give him a smack on the back of his helmet, then push him over while he's cleated in (roadies can't balance to save their lives).

 

The key here is making the guy understand in VERY clear terms that he was in the wrong, and also making it very clear that he's getting what he deserves.

 

If he comes after me following that, I'd *happily* pay a few thousand bucks in legal fees, someone has to pay for the guy's education...

[ThaStig]

Stig: were u one of the guys I'm talking about?

 

oh and another thing: this thread is not about what u wrote or mean or imply or whatever. Njoi the pole and the dancer gyrating off it..

 

Not a chance, I restrict my riding to the M3 or N1 freeway sections not the mickey mouse M5Raapenbergofframps

[Capricorn]

hahaha. i'll keep an eye out for you on my next turbo-busting assault on the M3 or N1..

 

not.

[Joe Low]

Cool rant JW, more patience than was reasonable to expect & I think you're exactly right to feel the way you do. Pictures helped a lot. Well done for missing him.