And today's commuting highlight is...

[mikey_b]

Gixer968CS said:

mikey_b said:

Sea Demon said:

Was nice & quiet on the way in to Blackfriars this morning, dont know if it was beacuse I left Maidstone at 9am or people not driving due to ULEZ etc

I came from Tonbridge to City this morning, wasn't especially quiet. Usual long queues before Fiveways on the A20, and again for the Blackwall Tunnel. I was passing through those at about 8.10 to 8.30, so peak rush hour. Probably would be much quieter 90 minutes later though. There will be no drop in traffic due to ULEZ, because as has been done to death, an overwhelming majority of cars are compliant already.

I imagine we must see each other sometimes, as I travel the same route from Sevenoaks. Grey GS1200 NL13TXU. Always with an stylish top-box

Highly likely - I'm on a 63 plate white Triumph Tiger Sport, also with super stylish (but incredibly useful) large topbox!

[Sea Demon]

Gixer968CS said:

I imagine we must see each other sometimes, as I travel the same route from Sevenoaks. Grey GS1200 NL13TXU. Always with an stylish top-box

More than likely! Im on a K7 1000 GSXR

[five50]

HairyMaclary said:

Today's commuting highlight after not being in London for a couple of weeks is the new 20mph section between Kidbrooke and New Cross.

I was overtaken by some hippie on an electric scooter right under a camera on Eltham Road. 20mph seems to make all the busses bunch up and a nightmare to get past.

2 and 3rd gear all the way makes for a very hot Super Adventure.

Honestly made me sad.

Sorry to make a political statement but there has been coverage in the national press about how Sadiq Khan has been continuing to lower speed limits via TFL, with one of the biggest increases in 20mph mileage just put through.
My main route to work is now 20mph (no warning or consultation - signs just changed) which just seems like a joke given the road characteristics - and judging by the behaviour of other road users, most think the same.
I will be using my vote in the London mayoral elections in May ‘24.

[kiethton]

five50 said:

HairyMaclary said:

Today's commuting highlight after not being in London for a couple of weeks is the new 20mph section between Kidbrooke and New Cross.

I was overtaken by some hippie on an electric scooter right under a camera on Eltham Road. 20mph seems to make all the busses bunch up and a nightmare to get past.

2 and 3rd gear all the way makes for a very hot Super Adventure.

Honestly made me sad.

Sorry to make a political statement but there has been coverage in the national press about how Sadiq Khan has been continuing to lower speed limits via TFL, with one of the biggest increases in 20mph mileage just put through.
My main route to work is now 20mph (no warning or consultation - signs just changed) which just seems like a joke given the road characteristics - and judging by the behaviour of other road users, most think the same.
I will be using my vote in the London mayoral elections in May ‘24.

Just coming to post this - the majority of my commute has now been made 20mph, basically all the way from Norbury - City (through Streatham, Brixton hill etc). Totally ridiculous, like a drive-through penalty every time you get to a camera (although both 20 and 30 signs are showing at the moment!)

The chances of a ticket through a momentary lack of concentration and the piss-take of a parking ticket I got the other month make the case for running with a transposed/no plate greater by the day!

[stu67]

Come on as a London commuter no one pays a blind bit of notice of the 20 limit except at Cameras. They've made the whole of the Holloway Rd a 20 limit, the only Camera down the whole stretch that's ever been calibrated to 20 is the one down the bottom near the rail bridge and that was a 20 long before all this nonsense which I don't get. Really don't see any police enforcement of the 20 limit, not that I want it, I'm sure they have more important stuff to worry about.

[Gixer968CS]

stu67 said:

Come on as a London commuter no one pays a blind bit of notice of the 20 limit except at Cameras. They've made the whole of the Holloway Rd a 20 limit, the only Camera down the whole stretch that's ever been calibrated to 20 is the one down the bottom near the rail bridge and that was a 20 long before all this nonsense which I don't get. Really don't see any police enforcement of the 20 limit, not that I want it, I'm sure they have more important stuff to worry about.

Pretty sure the two cameras on the A2 in New Cross have never been re-calibrated to 20mph - everyone (inc buses etc) goes through at a higher speed so I do and never an issue

[kiethton]

Gixer968CS said:

stu67 said:

Come on as a London commuter no one pays a blind bit of notice of the 20 limit except at Cameras. They've made the whole of the Holloway Rd a 20 limit, the only Camera down the whole stretch that's ever been calibrated to 20 is the one down the bottom near the rail bridge and that was a 20 long before all this nonsense which I don't get. Really don't see any police enforcement of the 20 limit, not that I want it, I'm sure they have more important stuff to worry about.

Pretty sure the two cameras on the A2 in New Cross have never been re-calibrated to 20mph - everyone (inc buses etc) goes through at a higher speed so I do and never an issue

If talking of the ones in the high street on the crossing near the station, they're for the red light and don't have the speed road markings painted

[Tribal Chestnut]

Is it sad to be at your desk in central London about an hour after waking?

In other news, that started off as a hit commute down the M1 with a failed fking pin lock, but got better as I passed cars with water lapping over my feet.

I saw a bit of water when I left this morning, but didn’t expect full-on standing water of some depth.

Edit: and my not particularly cheap Rev’It Dominator leaks. POS.

I just don’t have any luck with textiles it seems.

[HybridTheory]

First time in a long while I’ve had to don the waterproofs today but good news is they worked as my last pear of ‘waterproof’ trousers my crotch was drenched by the time I got into work

[HairyMaclary]

Well that was wet and wild into London today. For the first time I've got a wet nutsack so my Oxford advanced textiles are on their way out. To be fair to them I've done about 50k miles with them and the liner isn't in.

What's going on with the A2? The M20 has been a pain today and yesterday. Filtering required pretty much the whole way from Wrotham to the M25.

2 days in back to back. I can't believe I used to do this 5 days a week.

[kiethton]

Saw the rain and came on the train - seeing the weather now I regret it

[DirtyHarley]

HairyMaclary said:

Well that was wet and wild into London today. For the first time I've got a wet nutsack so my Oxford advanced textiles are on their way out. To be fair to them I've done about 50k miles with them and the liner isn't in.

What's going on with the A2? The M20 has been a pain today and yesterday. Filtering required pretty much the whole way from Wrotham to the M25.

2 days in back to back. I can't believe I used to do this 5 days a week.

A2 / M2 have been ste for the last 2 to 3 weeks! I'd definitely say that its busier than pre-covid even at 0500-0600 which is when I'm normally commuting; get to thte M2 M25 junctions and having to filter pretty much through to the average 50mph zone through bexleyheath most mornings now where-as before it would be that busy maybe once a fortnight if the M20 was duff.

I was wondering if more people are comign A2/M2 way because fo the continued 50mph issues with the M20 and then the recent raft of 20mph zones when you hit town?

Either way - today was .... WET with heavy rain and some serious standing water.... And despite it being a lovely afternoon to ride home, putting on sopping wet gear was not fun at all - just need to do the drying ritual ready for tomorrow as its not looking nice either!

[JulianHJ]

Tribal Chestnut said:

Edit: and my not particularly cheap Rev’It Dominator leaks. POS.

I just don’t have any luck with textiles it seems.

Rukka/Halvarssons or some Scott Ergo Pro waterproofs will see you right.

[HybridTheory]

On the way home today sidled up to a driver at the lights who had a flamin dog on his lap !

[Fastdruid]

HybridTheory said:

On the way home today sidled up to a driver at the lights who had a flamin dog on his lap !

How else is the guide dog meant to tell him which way to go?

[black-k1]

Fastdruid said:

HybridTheory said:

On the way home today sidled up to a driver at the lights who had a flamin dog on his lap !

How else is the guide dog meant to tell him which way to go?

But, it wouldn't be so funny if there wasn't an element of truth!

[RazerSauber]

There was a child riding down the main road on his bicycle yesterday. I wouldn't mind so much but the road was chuffing busy and the child was clearly inexperienced with cycling. Wobbling all over the place and very little concept of road safety. How he got there is a mystery. He was going the other way but the car horns were constant. Nothing in the news so I assume he made it home.

[Sycamore]

It takes me longer to get into my gear and get the bike out than it does to actually ride or drive to work - But I still keep doing it anyway

It's not even a fun route. 4 miles at most. Twit

[stu67]

Wetter than an otters pocket this morning. What is it with street lighting as well? have we really run out of money? Its difficult enough steering through the general murk but 50% of the lights don't seem to be operational on my route in at 6am.

[RazerSauber]

stu67 said:

Wetter than an otters pocket this morning. What is it with street lighting as well? have we really run out of money? Its difficult enough steering through the general murk but 50% of the lights don't seem to be operational on my route in at 6am.

If it's not that, it's crap LED street lights that create a fabulously illuminated circle on the floor that seems to cover very little of the road. I'm sure they've saved tonnes of electricity but my word, some of them are next to no use at all.