Dayglo scarecrow

A couple of weeks ago when it was really windy all the high tech bird scarers in one of the fields my train passes got blown over and birds were freely pecking at the seeds. Even though bird scaring technology has moved on from the scarecrow, the new breed still doesn’t seem that effective. These consist of large, highly polished propeller blades that presumably work by reflecting sunlight to catch the bird’s attention.

I spotted an effective and brilliantly simple homemade device that a cyclist had placed on his bike. A small piece of laminated card, about half the area of a business card, green on one side and orange on the other had been attached by string to the rails of the saddle. As he cycled, this flicked in the breeze, drawing attention to him.

I’m a firm believer that with all the visual “noise” in large cities, riding around in dayglo clothing is not that effective. Plus, as soon as you get off the bike you look daft. I heard that people in Scandanavian countries wear small reflectors which dangle from their coats to alert drivers to their presence - which sounds like a great idea, presumably working on a similar principle.

Hand shadows

I was back on the bike yesterday which felt great. I got home late thanks to SWTrains deciding to stop all the trains running through my station. This meant a taxi ride with the bike (who ever designed London's black cab was a cyclist - just open the door, turn the bars and you can sit with your bike) followed by six miles of cycling through crisp, moonlight woodlands.

When I wasn't being blinded by oncoming motorists, I noticed that the new bike light I'd bought created a great shadow on the tarmac. The brake lever and drop of the bar looked just like a kneeling elephant.

Ticket to ride

Depending on which train I catch, I end up on either the type that has funky Tardis-style loos and dedicated cycle spaces or the one with loos that have just enough room to swing an aerosol and mixed cycle space and seating.

Unfortunately I was on the train that allows you to park you bike in an area that four people could flip down a seats were there no bikes there. Experience has shown me that non-cycling commuters don’t like this. Especially if you ask them to move to accommodate your bike.

This evening, on a relatively empty train i.e. nobody playing “sardines” in the vestibule, a commuter swore at my bike. Like it was a dog he could kick out of his favourite armchair before it skulked off to sit mournfully by the back door. Perhaps he couldn’t easily identify an owner – I was travelling incognito. No Dayglo, no Lycra. If he’d looked carefully he’d have spotted my gloves read “Gore Bike Wear” – I know, but the embroidered lettering is too closely stitched to allow unpicking.

In fairness Mr Overworked Angry Commuter has a point. Why should my bike deprive him of a seat? After all I only pay for one seat, why should I effectively take up five?