A danger to himself?

Saturday I got down to the local bikeshop to equip myself with some means of transport for getting around the suburbs of London over the coming months. I went a more bit upmarket than I planned. The bike I went for was only £50 more than the basic model, but with the mudguards and luggage rack the difference soon slid up to £100. With the padlock and lights it was even more. But she rides like a beauty. So off I pedal into the quiet suburban streets of SW London. On the right hand side of the road! Why are there cars coming towards me? Seems like I've been away too long. I just can't get used to cycling on the left hand side of the road again. A danger to himself? Look into the mirror? Perhaps someone should lock me up and throw away the key.

Well there are cycle paths here now (there weren't twenty years ago) - but they might as well not be as so many drivers continue to use them as parking lots. I counted twenty cars parked in the cycle lane in about a I Km section of the main road. In Holland they would be towed and the drivers' get five penalty points on their licence. At traffic lights here you still have jostle for space with a ton of steel. Think I will bring my cycle helmet back with me on my next trip.