Road Rage
This is not your typical rant of a cyclist against senseless, inconsiderate drivers or a driver against arrogant, lycra-clad cyclists. But don’t worry, you’ll get your chance to rant at the end.
I find myself in a unique position. I cycled a lot – for many years while I was an Olympic rower then a few as a competitive cyclist. I ended up winning the 2009 Tour of New Zealand, then I became the National Time Trial Champion a year later.
But due to a head injury I sustained through a fall at a cycling race at last year’s Tour Down Under, I no longer cycle. And I had to surrender my car licence. I’ve recently been through the medical and practical driving test and have got it back after nine months of not driving.
Continue reading "Warney’s not the only one who needs a road refresher" »
I’m cycling on a side street crossing a major suburban arterial road in Adelaide.
At the intersection, I scan left and the traffic is banked up from traffic lights 300 metres away. To my right is a sizeable gap. Off I go.
A shiny 4WD accelerates towards me, closing the gap faster than I thought possible, but nowhere near fast enough for panic.
Continue reading "Cycling in Aussie cities needs some Swiss velocity" »
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Martin says:
So, you were in Amsterdam and got sworn at, spat on and shoulder charged for walking on the cycle lane? No wonder, last time I checked the laws over here specifically prohibit doing that… you’re lucky you didn’t get fined! We have sidewalks for pedestrians (where you aren’t allowed to… Read more »
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marley says:
@Geoff - PS maybe you should visit BC sometime - you could check out how things are done there, and assuage your carbon guilt with the knowledge that it’s much closer than Switzerland, and powered almost entirely by hydroelectricity. And from BC, take a couple of months and bicycle to… Read more »
ANYONE who has spent any time in NSW would be familiar with the provocative “small-penis” advertisement aimed at combating hoon driving.
The ad, filmed in slow motion with a classical music soundtrack, features a pimply-faced youth, still on his P-plates, who almost loses control of his crappy old Toyota Corolla while trying to do a burn-out.
His mates in the back seat look at each other, raise an eyebrow and smirk, then make a wiggly gesture with their little finger as if to say their driver friend must be so poorly equipped tackle-wise that he has to compensate by being a big man with the car.
Continue reading "Raised pinkie only provokes a raised middle finger" »
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Maria says:
The ad is directed at young men and their over-inflated egos because they have been identiified as high risk to themselves and other road users. I can’t recall where but I remember reading that the campaign has had some success in alleviating the risky behaviour of some of these men.… Read more »
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Nick says:
“speeding, no one thinks big of you” thats funny in a ad with no speeding?, ad’s like this just fuel the ignorance when it comes to people in Australia and anything driving related Read more »
“If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.” - Abraham Maslow
I was driving through Sydney on Friday around midnight and found myself surrounded by cars filled with youngsters. I’ve never felt so conscious of my own space.
The drivers were like roosters standing over their nests: music pounding, windows down, making their presence felt. I glanced over at one or two of the drivers, their glares were nothing short of threatening. It was a distasteful blend of “I’m out on the town with the boys” and “If you stare at me again I’ll have you.”
Continue reading "Everything rage: The spiral of anger in today’s youths" »
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LC says:
@ Anti Liberal/National, That is the most stupid and outrageous claim I have ever read on The Punch. Read more »
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Sherekahn says:
You say: “You get up in the morning and your shoelace breaks. It pisses you off” Why? Why not say: Mon dieu, c’est la vie! It was obviously your fault anyway, you pulled too hard! You had a bad night after a wild day. You should have seen it coming,… Read more »
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