Cycling: issues/noticeboard

[Laddy Muck]

Loz Wrote:

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> If he was - and he keeps up the way he cycles - it

> will end up being a flat cap...

And I just read that as: "...it will end up being a cat flap":-S

Must be something in the air.

[Loz]

I must mumble when I type. Or something.

[Laddy Muck]

You probably tumble when you mype...

...but on a serious note, just in case any of you haven't seen this...

Thankfully, bike muggings are still quite rare.

[RosieH]

One for female cyclists (sorry fellas): are you familiar with the Breeze network from British Cycling?

It's a network of bike rides led by women for women, to encourage more women to get cycling. If you're on Facebook, check it out here.

Website

It seems to me that ED is just the sort of area that has people motivated and helpful enough to set up a local network.

[Laddy Muck]

I must admit, I had never heard of the Breeze network. But I have now! Thanks for that RosieH.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

It was my misfortune to catch the tail end of the bike rally yesterday. Who knew sitting in a cab would put one at a disadvantage with sight lines.

To the chap who was totally naked on a Boris Bike: eeeeeeeeeew. Sincerely hope you wiped the saddle.

[Laddy Muck]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew indeed. Not unlike one of those little suction thingies on the bottom of Garfield's paws.::o

[RosieH]

Personally, I found the naked cyclists edifying and delightful and I didn't perv in the least. Although I was witnessing from the front, rather than from the, ahem, rear.

LM, slightly delayed reaction due to being out of commission for a while, but welcome on the Breeze thing. I don't cycle in London myself - scares the bejesus out of me - but a good friend works for British Cycling and this is a big initiative they're trying to push. Apparently women are under-represented - seems that's not the case round here!

[Applespider]

Yeah... the ones on Boris bikes did make me wonder...

The thing that made me laugh was all the nakedness... and then clumpy shoes on the feet. Understandable but amusing none the less. One of the papers had an amazing photo of a woman who had a wheel painted onto her back to one side with a chain going across the other side of her back, around her waist and then with a chain ring painted around her breast. Stunning piece of work...

Rosie - should you ever want to try cycling in London, I'll happily figure a route and go along with you. This time last year, I was of exactly the same opinion... This year I cycle 100 miles a week on London roads. :)-D

[Proj London Health]

hey guys,

ECG doesn't do it naked, but the rides are varied. We did Farthing Downs on Sunday, then the longer riders headed off to Reigate.

If you want to ride, the cold days for some of those on the thread have long gone..... even the rain this Sunday had zero impact on the riders.

And the Reds keep cycling on!

PLH

[a bloke]

Any chance all you cyclists could make those longer rides even longer....and one way?

Just keep cycling and cycling til you drop of the white cliffs of Dover like a load of Lemmings.

Imagine how lovely the roads of London will be then for all us drivers. :)-D

[katie1997]

a bloke Wrote:

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> Any chance all you cyclists could make those

> longer rides even longer....and one way?

> Just keep cycling and cycling til you drop of the

> white cliffs of Dover like a load of Lemmings.

> Imagine how lovely the roads of London will be

> then for all us drivers. :)-D

1/10

Could do better for Friday afternoon.

[a bloke]

Whatever....

[LadyDeliah]

I can't wait until petrol costs a tenner a litre, then there will be loads of space on the roads for all us cyclists!

[katie1997]

Loads of space for us ... and those wonderful electric cars that we won't be able to hear coming :-S

[a bloke]

I can't wait til they introduce road tax for cyclists and compulsory cycling proficiency tests. Then the roads will be a white van man's paradise again...just like in the olden days. (tu)

['bout now]

And you accused someone else of "attention seeking"....

[Laddy Muck]

Proj London Health Wrote

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> And the Reds keep cycling on!

Red? Don't you mean purple?

[LadyDeliah]

a bloke Wrote:

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> I can't wait til they introduce road tax for

> cyclists and compulsory cycling proficiency tests.

> Then the roads will be a white van man's paradise

> again...just like in the olden days. (tu)

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the days of cheap oil are well and truly over, so the 'olden days' won't be coming back any time soon whether compulsory cycling proficiency tests and vehicle excise duty are introduced for bikes or not.

By the way, there is no such thing as road tax.

Roads are paid for by everyone from general taxation.

Vehicle excise duty is paid according to the size of your vehicle and level of CO2 pollution you produce.

As bikes emit no CO2 or other pollution I imagine any vehicle excise duty payable will be zero, just as it is for low/zero polluting cars.

[a bloke]

Thanks for clearing all that up. (tu)

[LadyDeliah]

You're welcome!

[Vilmos]

Why oh why don't cyclists make themselves more visible. The number of times I see cyclists wearing dark clothing which renders them barely visible, even when they are carrying children on their bikes for goodness sake.

There should be a law that makes it compulsory for cyclists to wear some kind of visibility aid such as a day glow bib, or a sash or anything that makes them visible. How on earth can they expect motorists to see them if they do not take precautions to make themselves seen.

There used to be an advert that encouraged people to 'Wear something light at night'. Cyclists should wear something that makes them more visible all the time they are riding their bikes.

I ride a cycle, and yes, I do wear a day glow sash and day glow cycle clips.

[Laddy Muck]

Vilmos Wrote:

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> Why oh why don't cyclists make themselves more

> visible. The number of times I see cyclists

> wearing dark clothing which renders them barely

> visible, even when they are carrying children on

> their bikes for goodness sake.

Personally, I put on high visibility clothing when cycling simply because, in my opinion, it makes me more noticeable to other roadusers and that this will, hopefully, lead to fewer collisions etc. However, not everyone shares the same view. A friend of mine says he doesn't bother with "special high viz" clothing on the basis that it has become ineffective, ironically, because of the high number of cyclists who actually do wear it. He also believes that, as "so many others" don such gear - even in daylight - such as street cleaners for example, that, for him anyway, wearers of such, no longer stand out. He may be right, I don't know. However, I certainly "feel" less vulnerable attired in my fluorescent jacket; in the same way as I "feel" safer wearing a helmet. However, I acknowledge that "feeling" and "being" less exposed to the perils of road use are two very different concepts.

[Loz]

A friend of mine says he doesn't bother with "special high viz" clothing on the basis that it has become ineffective, ironically, because of the high number of cyclists who actually do wear it.

So drivers shouldn't put their lights on in urban areas because everyone else does it?

This person sounds like a candidate for a Darwin award.

[david_carnell]

A reflective yellow vest guarantees high visibility, but who would wish to be seen in such a garment?

In Summer I think there is no need to wear such things. In winter I have lights. This is sufficient.

I never wear a helmet.

These are my choices and I take my chances as does everyone who crosses a road who has chosen not to don an American Football suit for protection.

Making laws on such things shows a contempt for individual liberty and an incessant appetite for clogging the parliamentary timetable with yet more unnecessary legislation.

I expect you to drive as carefully as I cycle; and as to how you can see me - use your eyes, like you do for every other road user. I shall do the same. Together we may, just may, get along famously.