We are all creatures of habit. How do we know? You change one thing from what you usually do and a light bulb goes off.
We’ve all been there, it’s happened to everyone of us.
We sit there in our day-to-day wrapped up world working the way we always have. Sometimes we’ve just not had time to really think about why we do things the way that we do. Often we don’t have the luxury of time to think about the things we do and why we do them.
I’ve had a couple of moments recently where something has forced me to behave in a different manor and I realise that it’s a change from my norm. And you know what? It can be really refreshing! In two cases I can think of lately, it even meant and improvement.
I could share with you what they were but they seem so trivial that I’m sure you’d be bored to tears and that’s not my intention.
Oh, OK! You’ve forced me into it 
I’ll just share one.
The other day I was cycling to work approaching a roundabout. I wanted to travel straight ahead.
As I arrived at the round-about a big SUV approached the round-about on my right. He indicated to turn left. On that basis I began to pick up speed to enter the roundabout to travel straight ahead.
Low and behold what does the dude do? He comes straight for me!
So rather than travelling through the roundabout which was my intention, I had to turn left in order to save my life (a little drama isn’t necessarily a bad thing ;-))
But in doing this I was no longer travelling the way I would normally go to work. I had to pick a side street to head back the way I meant to go.
In the end it worked out better for me. And now I travel that way ….. deliberately.
For those who want to brush up on the recent changes to the roundabout road rule, feast your eyes on this.
Today’s Gripe
On the same theme, the gripe is that since the introduction of the new road rule for roundabouts, you end up now with a group of people who don’t know when they should indicate and indicate for every darn turn of the wheel. They indicate to say they’re turning …. because they’re ENTERING the roundabout when they’re travelling straight ahead.
You take this as gospel i.e. they’re going to turn right around the round-about and end up in the predicament I describe above. In the way of a vehicle travelling straight ahead (sigh).
And the link again, just in case you didn’t catch it the first time. Though I know all my friends who cycle will know most of the road rules off by heart - we rely on them for our safety, but don’t always trust that everyone knows how to use them
The roundabout rule makes sense to me, particularly as that’s what’s in force here in Sydney. However putting it into practice is another matter. As you are pulling the steering wheel to the right to get around (or half-way around) and trying to push the indicator arm to the left at the same time as avoiding drivers who have no idea on roundabout etiquette, can sometimes be a manouvre beyond some peoples abilities.
Yup! that’s my gripe too - I guess if people aren’t sure what the rules are they just try to cover themselves. Keeps us cyclists on our toes though. I no longer trust indicators alone but wait for definite body language to back it up.
I’m so confused…but mainly because you drive on the wrong side of the road..don’t you?
That’s funny. Of course in NZ (Australia, South Africa, United Kingdom etc etc) we think YOU drive on the wrong side of the road
Right is right and left is..just wrong. Ha ha. :=)
Not only that Mum, but if you’re driving a manual, you’re also likely to be trying to change gears. Give up and buy a bus ticket - especially with today’s petrol prices
Haha - I have a VW and my indicators are on the left so very easy to indicate. turn right and change gear, but never mind - it is a funny law and very scary in a car trying to figure when to enter the roundabout little lone being on a bike!!!
Fat lot of use a bus ticket would do me - no buses go my way. Fortunately we aren’t quite as high as you with our petrol YET!! but it doesn’t look like it will be long before we catch up. Can’t imagine myself on a bike either - particularly not one that travels anywhere. (How do I put a smiley face here?)
you type it Mum. So a smile is: : with - and ). Just type the three symbols one after the other and you’ll get the smiley appearing. Have a look here and scroll down to “Common Examples”. You probably know how to do it but it’s not until you submit the comment that you see the comical representation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emoticon
You’re right - of course I know how to ‘type’ it, but didn’t know it didn’t appear until after you submit. Doh!! Although usually I don’t put the ‘nose’ in, which is probably helpful in this case.
Anyway, thx Anita.