You’d think a short 10-ish mile commute on what is still mostly a holiday here in Northern Ireland would be quiet and trouble free. Not so today.
Firstly, and by far the worst, are the idiots who are tearing up the Ardoyne area of north Belfast at the moment. That stopped me from getting to Cave Hill again, as I suspect it would have ended even more badly than my previous attempt.
Next, we have a cut-up and near left hook from an idiot 4×4 driver as I crossed College Avenue on to Millfield in Belfast city centre. She wanted to make a left turn to Divis Street, cut in in front of me then stopped dead in the queue for the lights. I had to stop similarly dead to avoid a collision, and then maneuver out and around her. Driver: oblivious.
The final idiot appeared immediately after that as I was making my way along Millfield. A car behind me revved its engine and roared past sounding its horn, and I could also see the driver gesticulating angrily in the cabin. The impression given was that I’d done something to annoy him, but I’m at a loss to suggest what. I think it was just that I was in “his” lane and delayed him getting to the next traffic light queue by a few seconds.
Anyway, I sailed past said traffic light queue and the car, then the lights changed and Mr. Revvy came up behind me again. This time I was treated to a long horn blast, more gesticulating and something was shouted out the window by the front passenger. I think it was along the lines of “get a car” or “get off the road”. Again, I’ve no idea what the problem actually was, and neither Mr. Revvy or his passengers didn’t accept my invitation to come back and discuss it.
Fucking idiots, the lot of them.
Count to 10 my man, count to ten ;)
Cycle helmets with video cameras attached: the only answer. Then get their insurance details from the Motor Insurers’ Database and send a copy of the video to their insurer. That would definitely make you feel better.
Fight Bad Driving contains many such examples…