ekimeno

Something crazy was happening in London today - my entire route was choked full of cars - one of the worst traffic jams I've seen in this city. Maybe it had something to do with the rain - absolutely chunking down. My ride was spent weaving between sitting cars - not my idea of a nice ride home...

2 close calls riding up Archway hill - first one was a pedestrian just walking out from between cars. Had to slam brakes on very hard and screamed at him to get his attention - very narrow escape as he saw me about half a second before I came sliding up to him. I called him a f***ing a****** because he was.

Second was a car that cut me off about 2 minutes later. I leaned into her window afterwards and called her a f***ing prick because from through her back window she looked like a man. Didn't have the time or patience to correct myself.

Anyway - got home in one piece...just thought I'd share a typical day commuting in London.

ryanparrish

I thought the british were so polite

ekimeno

I'm not British - I just live here

timmhaan

it sounds like you're from new york. we like to say things like that.

mikdes

You must be from Scotland, then. I've watched those soccer games!!

ekimeno

wrong and wrong, and I'm not partial to the odd head butt in the chest either (Zidane the Ram)

SDRider

So, you're French then?

Novakane 

No, that's the Canadians.

ekimeno

1/2 a point for you, Sir

Bklyn

Q: How do you make a Canadian apologize?
A: Step on his foot.

Har.

Rowan

Weaving between sitting cars *is* a nice ride, especially when there is a big traffic jam. Maybe they were all trying to get to pat Ken Livingston on the back for beating his one-month suspension from office.

Anyway, when are you up for the anger-management classes?

Chris L

Seriously, what's so wrong with it? Most of my commutes (both in and out) are like that. Personally I think passing all those gridlocked cars, all those thousands of dollars of other people's debt, is actually quite satisfying. I get even more excited when I pass a car which looks like the owner has spent a lot of money on the ability to go really really fast, and it's just as stuck as the rest of them. If someone tries to cut me off (which happens with surprising frequency for something so futile) I just change lanes and go around the other side of them.

There's no point getting riled up about it. It is, after all, just traffic.

rajman

Have you played hockey??

The way we play it is not so polite - maybe we repress and only express on the ice...

Bklyn

Yes, but hockey has great honor. (Gah, I sound like Don Cherry.) But in what other sport do the players shake hands after the final?

I apologize for the Canadian joke. I grew playing hockey in Pennsylvania and wanting to be Canadian. And I seriously considered relocating in early November 2004....

blickblocks

I can imagine what an apology after that would sound like...

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to call you a prick. I meant *****."

Sammyboy

Italian. Can only possibly be Italian.

ekimeno

Bit of a mixture am I - born in Canada, grew up in South Africa and living in Britain on a British passport...

My temper is really a result of having my life flash before my eyes on a daily basis - I'm just sick of the traffic and bad drivers, but not sick enough to stop commuting. Its a love/hate thing.

Caspar_s

Huh, I was born in Zimbabwe to British parents (I have a British passport) and grew up in South Africa and am living in Canada.

ekimeno

Hey - small world. What was it like moving to such a cold climate from such a warm one?

rodny71

hey, I was born in Colombia, raised in Canada (Canadian Passport) now live in NYC.