(don't matter if you're) black or white
No, I'm not referring to this debacle. Really, I can't be arsed to comment on that child-molesting scumbag*. Nope, black or white vehicles is order of the day. Why? Because they're killers on the loose and I ain't happy with 'em!
As many of you know, I cycle the streets of London every day. Not - as is the common belief - because I have a death wish, but because it's a fun way to get fit and it's about 3 million times quicker than getting the bus into work. However, it has some serious pitfalls, not least the frequent near-death experiences caused by - guess what? - black cars and white vans.
I have realised, after 6 months of near-misses and almost-heart-attacks, that the main culprits on the roads are the drivers of black cars and white vans (cars meaning fancy, shiny, expensive-looking vehicles, often SUVs/4x4s). And I don't think it's just chance.
Last night on my way back, not one but TWO white vans pulled out in front of me on the same stretch of road. I saved myself by squealing to a halt and almost flying over the handlebars. Not very pleasant. The thing is, both drivers saw me approaching - I was going downhill on the main road, fairly fast, but made eye contact just before they pulled out (from the side road). Why would they do that??! There was nothing behind me, so if they'd waited for me to pass it would've only been for a couple of seconds. Maybe it's some sick joke they play - 'splat the cyclist' or something.
Black car drivers are an altogether different breed. Whereas white van drivers tend to be Sun-reading, Benson-chaining fat-bastard oafs, the black car driver is usually a high-powered 'exec' type with more money than sense or courtesy. My run-ins with these guys (yes, usually guys) have occurred mainly around Old St and Clerkenwell Road and let me tell you: they are one mean species. The problem here seems to centre around the fact that they have paid no small fortune for their bling-bling fast car, and they sure as hell aren't going to let a cyclist get in the way of them using the full force of its power.
So ... I'm looking for revenge. And it will be sweet. But I need your help people ...
[Motorcycles another time.]
*Does anyone else out there have issues trying to reconcile the image of that freak machine with the soulful genius of classic songs like 'Billy Jean' ..?
As many of you know, I cycle the streets of London every day. Not - as is the common belief - because I have a death wish, but because it's a fun way to get fit and it's about 3 million times quicker than getting the bus into work. However, it has some serious pitfalls, not least the frequent near-death experiences caused by - guess what? - black cars and white vans.
I have realised, after 6 months of near-misses and almost-heart-attacks, that the main culprits on the roads are the drivers of black cars and white vans (cars meaning fancy, shiny, expensive-looking vehicles, often SUVs/4x4s). And I don't think it's just chance.
Last night on my way back, not one but TWO white vans pulled out in front of me on the same stretch of road. I saved myself by squealing to a halt and almost flying over the handlebars. Not very pleasant. The thing is, both drivers saw me approaching - I was going downhill on the main road, fairly fast, but made eye contact just before they pulled out (from the side road). Why would they do that??! There was nothing behind me, so if they'd waited for me to pass it would've only been for a couple of seconds. Maybe it's some sick joke they play - 'splat the cyclist' or something.
Black car drivers are an altogether different breed. Whereas white van drivers tend to be Sun-reading, Benson-chaining fat-bastard oafs, the black car driver is usually a high-powered 'exec' type with more money than sense or courtesy. My run-ins with these guys (yes, usually guys) have occurred mainly around Old St and Clerkenwell Road and let me tell you: they are one mean species. The problem here seems to centre around the fact that they have paid no small fortune for their bling-bling fast car, and they sure as hell aren't going to let a cyclist get in the way of them using the full force of its power.
So ... I'm looking for revenge. And it will be sweet. But I need your help people ...
[Motorcycles another time.]
*Does anyone else out there have issues trying to reconcile the image of that freak machine with the soulful genius of classic songs like 'Billy Jean' ..?
