Cyclist Down on the M2

"Glenn Stone" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This morning while driving to work, (I ride 3 days a week), I saw a
cyclist lying in the cycle lane of the M2 between Winston Hills and
Baulkham Hills. There were a number of people there and two or three
cars. Anyone know what happened?

It was Sally Robinson riding to work. Apparently she had just had enough
and decided to have a bit of a lay down.....BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

On a serious note...let's hope the guy is OK...and the motorist, if any,
that knocked him down receives a sentence of life imprisonment....

[censored said:

Shop Stiffy"]"Glenn Stone" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This morning while driving to work, (I ride 3 days a week), I saw a
cyclist lying in the cycle lane of the M2 between Winston Hills and
Baulkham Hills. There were a number of people there and two or three
cars. Anyone know what happened?

It was Sally Robinson riding to work. Apparently she had just had enough
and decided to have a bit of a lay down.....BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

On a serious note...let's hope the guy is OK...and the motorist, if any,
that knocked him down receives a sentence of life imprisonment....

Not funny, Jan.

The M2 is a bit serious to tackle on a bike, yes? I am following the Blackfriars Bridge bike lane debacle in London - so dangerous that it has killed two cyclists. A bike lane is meant to provide you with a bit of extra protection and visibility, yes? Two days ago on a rainy commute from Melbourne's west, the roads to the CBD were virtually paralysed by an accident on the Westgate. All the other traffic was diverted onto ther western roads, and the predictable sneaking into bikelanes was observed at close quarters, three times, literally at my elbow. I banged on their doors, quarterpanels, hoods, to get them thinking.

I don't want to be another statistic in people's failure to admit the road system can't cope with a relatively small disruption.

Hope the cyclist is OK.

M "there but for the grace of God . . ." H

[quote="[censored] Shop Stiffy"]
It was Sally Robinson riding to work. Apparently she had just had enough
and decided to have a bit of a lay down.....BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
QUOTE]

she obviously wasnt riding 'fixed'. lessons learnt in the last 2 weeks. there is no such thing as vagueing off on fixed!

hope the guy/gal's OK. Must have been serious for people in coffins to stop...

mfhor said:

The M2 is a bit serious to tackle on a bike, yes?

The M2 is a fairly serious road, but it's a million times better than the alternative, which usually involves either Epping Road (three lanes each way with no shoulder) or else a myriad of back-lanes, traffic lights, etc. Whilst traffic speed on the M2 is high, there is at least a really good (wide) breakdown lane to ride in.

I commute on the M2 every day, as do lots of other cyclists. In it's entire history, there has been only a handful of serious accidents involving cyclists. I reckon it's saved a few lives, at the very least.

Interesting to note that the M2 management company are talking about kicking cyclists off (see current push-on) so they can turn the breakdown lane into a third car lane. One of their arguments is "safety", which simply doesn't wash when the alternatives are considered.

Regards,

Suzy (who hopes whoever it was is okay)

quote='suzyj'mfhor said:

The M2 is a bit serious to tackle on a bike, yes?

The M2 is a fairly serious road, but it's a million times better than the alternative, which usually involves either Epping Road (three lanes each way with no shoulder) or else a myriad of back-lanes, traffic lights, etc. Whilst traffic speed on the M2 is high, there is at least a really good (wide) breakdown lane to ride in.

I commute on the M2 every day, as do lots of other cyclists. In it's entire history, there has been only a handful of serious accidents involving cyclists. I reckon it's saved a few lives, at the very least.

Interesting to note that the M2 management company are talking about kicking cyclists off (see current push-on) so they can turn the breakdown lane into a third car lane. One of their arguments is "safety", which simply doesn't wash when the alternatives are considered.

Regards,

Suzy (who hopes whoever it was is okay)[/QUOTE]

Always wondered about doing a regular ride in a freeway bike lane - in Vic, both the Western and Calder have bike provision, although after trying it a few times, the constant traffic noise/windrush/vibration/dodging discarded truck retreads, both flying through the air :O and on the ground made me investigate other routes out of town - I suppose I shouldn't be smug that us Mexicans don't have the traffic problems you guys up north do. OTOH, it's made me a bit creative with routes out of town.

Vote MH for President! I guarantee that my first decree will be to lay 80cm of velvet billiard-table hot-mix with 1m deep foundation on the edge of every road in Australia, with fluorescent bike lane markings, and the bastinado for everyone even suspected of using a mobile phone whilst driving! 🙂

M"La lucha de republica bicicletta continua!"H

suzyj <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

mfhor said:

The M2 is a bit serious to tackle on a bike, yes?

The M2 is a fairly serious road, but it's a million times better than
the alternative, which usually involves either Epping Road (three lanes
each way with no shoulder) or else a myriad of back-lanes, traffic
lights, etc. Whilst traffic speed on the M2 is high, there is at least
a really good (wide) breakdown lane to ride in.

I commute on the M2 every day, as do lots of other cyclists. In it's
entire history, there has been only a handful of serious accidents
involving cyclists. I reckon it's saved a few lives, at the very
least.

Interesting to note that the M2 management company are talking about
kicking cyclists off (see current push-on) so they can turn the
breakdown lane into a third car lane. One of their arguments is
"safety", which simply doesn't wash when the alternatives are
considered.

But but but it was a condition of the original contract to provide
viable cycle and bus lanes on the M2??? Thats how they got prime
private ownership of _my_ land. (Taxpayer in NSW)

They even got the rights so well fixed that there is to be no
expansion of public transport infrastructure over the next 50 years
that might reduce thieir profits... (Yes thats right - your friendly
govt. sold whats not theirs and did very bad deals with the
devil..Fancy that!)

Grrr!!! Gets me all worked up from 4000km away.

Tom

(Who also hopes no worse than some missing paint or leg hair)

mfhor <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Not funny, Jan.

Bad taste perhaps, but *I* thought it was at least vaguely amusing.
Then again, using me as a guide for humour is asking for trouble.

Quoted message said:

The M2 is a bit serious to tackle on a bike, yes?

Not really. The traffic speed is high, but the bike lane is nice and
wide. The bigegst issue is blind drivers at the on ramps, though
healthy paranoia gets you through there. The original post made it
sound like it wasn't near an entrance, which means someone veered out
of their lane. The prang could have been nasty. I hope everyone got
off lightly.

OTOH you couldn't pay me enough to ride Epping Rd, or any of the other
"alternatives" to the M2. I'll ride the Pacific Highway, but that's
only a 60 zone, and there are lights.

Dave - who saw someone with an occupied kiddy seat on the M2 on Sunday
--
Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
I think it's a beautiful day to go to the zoo and feed the ducks.
To the lions. -- Brian Kantor

Random Data said:

mfhor <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Not funny, Jan.

Bad taste perhaps, but *I* thought it was at least vaguely amusing.
Then again, using me as a guide for humour is asking for trouble.

Quoted message said:

The M2 is a bit serious to tackle on a bike, yes?

Not really. The traffic speed is high, but the bike lane is nice and
wide. The bigegst issue is blind drivers at the on ramps, though
healthy paranoia gets you through there. The original post made it
sound like it wasn't near an entrance, which means someone veered out
of their lane. The prang could have been nasty. I hope everyone got
off lightly.

OTOH you couldn't pay me enough to ride Epping Rd, or any of the other
"alternatives" to the M2. I'll ride the Pacific Highway, but that's
only a 60 zone, and there are lights.

Dave - who saw someone with an occupied kiddy seat on the M2 on Sunday
--
Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
I think it's a beautiful day to go to the zoo and feed the ducks.
To the lions. -- Brian Kantor

It's funny until someone you know is killed or seriously injured by a driver. Then all reports of cyclists lying by the road make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, and you feel sick in the stomach.

MH

mfhor <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

It's funny until someone you know is killed or seriously injured by a
driver. Then all reports of cyclists lying by the road make the hairs
on the back of your neck stand on end, and you feel sick in the
stomach.

Maybe I have a warped sense of humour, but my attitude is that if you
can't see the funny side of the worst things, you can only feel the
pain. I do realise that some people can find this offensive, but I
also know a lot of people who also laugh at similar things. I know a
lot of rock climbers have a similar attitude.

Just because you find something too disturbing to be funny doesn't
mean we all do. Have you seen the picture of the hat worn to the '01
Melbourne Cup, featuring a plane and a burning building? That's going
to disturb a lot of people, but it was still funny.

Dave - who thinks his random signature chooser is showing signs of
sentience.
--
Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
God was my co-pilot, but we crashed in the Andes, and I had to eat him
— adferraro

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> "Random" == Random Data <[email hidden]> writes:

Random> Maybe I have a warped sense of humour, but my attitude is
Random> that if you can't see the funny side of the worst things,
Random> you can only feel the pain. I do realise that some people
Random> can find this offensive, but I also know a lot of people who
Random> also laugh at similar things. I know a lot of rock climbers
Random> have a similar attitude.

It's not that unusual actually. Generally the riskier the profession /
hobby what have you, the more likely you are to encounter course humor.
It's a dealing mechanism.
--
Cheers
Euan

Reading posts about riding the M2, I realised I could ask a (hopefully
easy) question: What do you do when you get to the end of the M2 into
Epping Road. I have always wanted to commute from Cheltenham to the
city, and the thought of riding the M2 smoothly to then try to get
onto Epping Road makes me cringe.

How do people do it?

Diego

Ps/I'm also very curious about a comment made to me by my wife; her
opinion is that riding on the shoulder of the M2 will be more harmful
that healthy due to the inhalation of carbon dioxide from passing
cars. THis sounds like total hogwash to me, but have never been able
to find any article discussing the topic. Any ideas on the topic?

Diego V said:

Ps/I'm also very curious about a comment made to me by my wife; her
opinion is that riding on the shoulder of the M2 will be more harmful
that healthy due to the inhalation of carbon dioxide from passing
cars. THis sounds like total hogwash to me, but have never been able
to find any article discussing the topic. Any ideas on the topic?

Recent SMH articles said that car drivers actually had worse pollution
from all the VOC/plasticisers being vented inside the sealed car.

If CO2 sinks, then most bicycle riders are above the emission layer.
Also the wind (yours and nature) assists in diluting it.

The exercise improves your lung capacity to shift it back out
overcoming/reducing/removing the effect of breathing it in the first
place.

On Mon, 06 Sep 2004 20:26:29 +1000, Terry Collins <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Recent SMH articles said that car drivers actually had worse pollution
from all the VOC/plasticisers being vented inside the sealed car.

If CO2 sinks, then most bicycle riders are above the emission layer.
Also the wind (yours and nature) assists in diluting it.

It won't sink while all the traffic is creating turbulence, though.

---
Cheers

PeterC

[Rushing headlong: out of control - and there ain't no stopping]
[and there's nothing you can do about it at all]

Diego V said:

Reading posts about riding the M2, I realised I could ask a
(hopefully easy) question: What do you do when you get to
the end of the M2 into Epping Road. I have always wanted to
commute from Cheltenham to the city, and the thought of
riding the M2 smoothly to then try to get onto Epping Road
makes me cringe.

I commute from Lane Cove to Marsfield. I simply ride out the end of the M2 at speed, and cross across to the left side to get to Mowbray road. It's downhill, so it's not hard to match speed with the traffic.

The other way is a bit more of a pain as it's uphill. I just wait on the left side at the entrance to the M2 for a break in traffic, then ride across.

Quoted message said:

Ps/I'm also very curious about a comment made to me by my
wife; her opinion is that riding on the shoulder of the M2 will be
more harmful that healthy due to the inhalation of carbon dioxide
from passing cars. THis sounds like total hogwash to me, but have
never been able to find any article discussing the topic. Any ideas
on the topic?

CO2 isn't poisonous (it just contributes to greenhouse gasses). However most other garbage that comes out of the back of cars (CO, ozone, sulphur compounds, etc) are.

Cars generally have their air intakes down low, so they get a bigger dose of exhaust from the car in front. Being a bike rider you're generally above it all.

Regards,

Suzy

Random Data said:

Maybe I have a warped sense of humour, but my attitude is that if you
can't see the funny side of the worst things, you can only feel the
pain. I do realise that some people can find this offensive, but I
also know a lot of people who also laugh at similar things. I know a
lot of rock climbers have a similar attitude.

Just because you find something too disturbing to be funny doesn't
mean we all do. Have you seen the picture of the hat worn to the '01
Melbourne Cup, featuring a plane and a burning building? That's going
to disturb a lot of people, but it was still funny.

Tragedy is when I break a nail, comedy is when you fall down a manhole and die, hey? As Mel Brooks once said.

Why are you getting all defensive, and trying to call me a killjoy? Did you know the person hit? Do you know ANYONE who has been hit?

And you're right, you're joke was tasteless, especially in the fact you were making fun of a particularly easy target - a target every lunchroom wit has had a go at. Banal.

If you were riding past with your mates, would you make the same joke to them, and ride on by? Would you stop to help? Why is it OK to make that joke on the Internet, and not OK (I hope you agree)if you were there?

Is it all about proximity? Just cos you share the risks, and the activity, and the fear, can you make a joke about someone being hurt that you don't know? How do you know I'm not related to the person who was hit? Would you feel bad if I was? Am I just meant to sit back and put up with your teenage attempt to win brownie points in the group by being a bit 'outrageous' (read 'dumb'😉 and hoping people think you are witty? Or do I tell you to pull your head in, which is what I'm doing now?

I ride bikes, and I climb rocks, and I reckon the funniest jokes about these potentially hazardous activities are the ones you make at your own, or your close mates, expense, who were there the time you almost died, usually coz of your own stupidity. Have a think about that before you try and push the envelope of humour in whatever 'warped' way you want to, and consider those who are listening/reading, hey?

M "sourpuss" H

errata to that last message,

news.com.au0,4057,10661846%5E952,00.htmlOpen ↗

I enjoy a giggle & taking the [censored], but sometimes, like present times, it's really really difficult.

BTW, Heads up for Vic/Melb cyclists, its gonna cack down later today,
SA:
mirror.bom.gov.auIDR143.shtmlOpen ↗
Vic:
mirror.bom.gov.auIDR023.shtmlOpen ↗

mfhor <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Why are you getting all defensive, and trying to call me a killjoy?

I'm not. I'm simply pointing out that a blanket "not funny" was
incorrect.

Quoted message said:

Did you know the person hit? Do you know ANYONE who has been hit?

I've played with the windscreen of a car while on my bike. I haven't
gone under the wheels. I know a bloke who has been hit on the M2 and
ended up in hospital. I wasn't the first to ask if I could "mind his
bike" while he recovered.

Quoted message said:

And you're right, you're joke was tasteless,

1) It's "your joke"
2) It wasn't mine

Yes, I'm resorting to grammatical pedantry. Deal with it.

Quoted message said:

If you were riding past with your mates, would you make the same joke
to them, and ride on by? Would you stop to help? Why is it OK to make
that joke on the Internet, and not OK (I hope you agree)if you were
there?

I would stop, and quite probably would say something along those
lines. Like I said, I've done it before, and I'll probably do it
again. I'll try to keep it reasonably discreet, but if you're going to
be offended by it, that's your problem. Without wanting to sound like
a seppo, freedom of speech means the freedom to say unpopular things.
That includes "banal" black humour. And before you tell me that
Australia doesn't have a constitutional right to Freedom of Speech,
I'd point out Article 19 of the Universal Decalaration of Human Rights
(http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html).

Quoted message said:

Or do I tell you to pull your head in, which is what I'm doing
now?

Do what you want. I'll still defend [censored] Shop Stiffy's right to say
what he said, even if it was silly and in bad taste. You're quite
welcome to tell me to [censored] off, but that doesn't mean I'm going to
listen to you.

Quoted message said:

I ride bikes, and I climb rocks, and I reckon the funniest jokes about
these potentially hazardous activities are the ones you make at your
own, or your close mates, expense, who were there the time you almost
died, usually coz of your own stupidity.

So what gives you the right to do that, given it's your mates who will
have to deal with your death or injury? Is it the proximity?

--
Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
"...and trogdor smote the kerrek. And all was laid to burnination."
-- Strongbad

Random Data said:

"...and trogdor smote the kerrek. And all was laid to burnination."
-- Strongbad

leave the kerrek's alone!!! wot they ever do to you?
FD

Random Data said:

mfhor <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Why are you getting all defensive, and trying to call me a killjoy?

I'm not. I'm simply pointing out that a blanket "not funny" was
incorrect.

Quoted message said:

Did you know the person hit? Do you know ANYONE who has been hit?

I've played with the windscreen of a car while on my bike. I haven't
gone under the wheels. I know a bloke who has been hit on the M2 and
ended up in hospital. I wasn't the first to ask if I could "mind his
bike" while he recovered.

Quoted message said:

And you're right, you're joke was tasteless,

1) It's "your joke"
2) It wasn't mine

Yes, I'm resorting to grammatical pedantry. Deal with it.

Quoted message said:

If you were riding past with your mates, would you make the same joke
to them, and ride on by? Would you stop to help? Why is it OK to make
that joke on the Internet, and not OK (I hope you agree)if you were
there?

I would stop, and quite probably would say something along those
lines. Like I said, I've done it before, and I'll probably do it
again. I'll try to keep it reasonably discreet, but if you're going to
be offended by it, that's your problem. Without wanting to sound like
a seppo, freedom of speech means the freedom to say unpopular things.
That includes "banal" black humour. And before you tell me that
Australia doesn't have a constitutional right to Freedom of Speech,
I'd point out Article 19 of the Universal Decalaration of Human Rights
(http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html).

Quoted message said:

Or do I tell you to pull your head in, which is what I'm doing
now?

Do what you want. I'll still defend [censored] Shop Stiffy's right to say
what he said, even if it was silly and in bad taste. You're quite
welcome to tell me to [censored] off, but that doesn't mean I'm going to
listen to you.

Quoted message said:

I ride bikes, and I climb rocks, and I reckon the funniest jokes about
these potentially hazardous activities are the ones you make at your
own, or your close mates, expense, who were there the time you almost
died, usually coz of your own stupidity.

So what gives you the right to do that, given it's your mates who will
have to deal with your death or injury? Is it the proximity?

--
Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
"...and trogdor smote the kerrek. And all was laid to burnination."
-- Strongbad

I think there's a basic disconnect going on in your brain. We're not defending egos here. We're talking about you and the guy with the stupid username making fun of a potentially lethal situation in which someone's close friend/relative has been maimed/killed, and then you/PSS trying to score cheap points off it with a cheap joke, and then when someone (me) mildly remonstrates with you for doing so, you being offensive in return.

The only people I tell to "[censored] Off" are idiots in 4WDs or similar who try to, or neglect to attempt not to kill me when I am on my bike, and who disagree with my reading of the situation.

Gallows humour is OK to nearly everyone when it is done in context. It becomes less OK when you are more distant from what happened, and are more flippant. That was my point. Stop being defensive.

M "😄 or you 🙁" H