Another Cycling Question

[woodbloke]

Andrewm wrote -

Is this perhaps due to their exemplary railway system?

Very probably, yes. As the trains come into the station, the polish on the carriages is so high that you can see your face in them and all the trains and cog railways we went on were the same.
We were buying tickets for the Zermatt shuttle (Zermatt is car free and can only be accessed by train) and were advised by the ticket office to make sure we were not late as the train would leave on time. It did...to the second. I fancy the rail system in the UK has a lot to learn - Rob

 

[RogerS]

I fancy the rail system in the UK has a lot to learn - Rob

Quite possibly but I think that we too could have an exemplary rail system if we (a) had the same population as Switzerland and (b) ran as few trains per day as they do.

 

[MrJay]

A little, but somewhat inspiring, video about bicycle/pedestrian/people friendly town planning in Portland, USA. There are mini-documentaries on youtube and elsewhere about Copenhagen and Amsterdam if your get excited and want more more more. People can do pretty smart things when they engage their brains (and legs) \o/

 

[Terry Smart]

Wonder if anyone can tell me the logic/reason for those brown boxes that span the entire road width at some traffic lights. The ones with a cycle in.

They're so cyclists can turn right at a junction, not so they all line up abreast. Normally cyclists inhabit the left curb which isn't a good place to turn right from.

I'd always wondered about these too, based on the fact that many cyclists ingore the red lights anyway and this answer made a lot of sense and made me feel a lot better about it... until this weekend that is when (in Brighton, although I don't know if that has any bearing) I saw a lot of these boxes at traffic lights where there isn't a right turn!

 

[MrJay]

I can't comment on themthar specific junctions, but it wouldn't be a big surprise if bike lanes are badly conceived/implemented in a UK town.

 

[big]

I can't comment on themthar specific junctions, but it wouldn't be a big surprise if bike lanes are badly conceived/implemented in a UK town.

Aye.. In London, frinstance, you can bypass the Bayswater Road by using Hyde Park cycle lanes. Until, of course, you get to Kensington Gardens where you can't cycle. And if you do Police will chase you across the park in a van to ensure you get fined for it!
{this may no longer be true as I haven't lived in London for 5 years - a m8 of mine was fined £60 then!}

Nowadays I do most of my riding on pavements, well, to be more accurate bridleways, BOATs and RUPPs in our local forests. Who needs smelly old London!

 

[andrewm]

Nowadays I do most of my riding on pavements, well, to be more accurate bridleways, BOATs and RUPPs in our local forests. Who needs smelly old London!

Which is fine for a leisure cyclist but some people actually use their bikes as a means of transport. Therefore where they need to go dictates where they cycle. There are a lot more of those in London since the congestion charge was introduced.

Andrew

 

[exigetastic]

I've been truly lazy recently wrt to my bikes, but even so clocked up 1500 miles over the last year, mostly commuting.

The thing that gets me is the "integrated transport" nonsense we are seeing now.

I live on the outskirts of Nottignham, and they have put in a new bypass. However they can't call it a bypass as they aren't supposed to build them any more, so it's been dressed up as integrated transport scheme.

This means they have put in "bus plugs" (sets of red lights which only turn green for busses), and 10 metres of cycle path so us lycra clad ones don't jump the reds.

However as it means a 2 mile detour for local vehicle traffic that are supposed to use the new road, a large number of people now just ignore the red lights. The rest of the inspired scheme is painting white lines on the footpaths, with pictures of bikes on :roll:

I've so nearly come a croper of people reversing off driveways, I take my chances on the road.

This leads to minor road rage, as inevitably I'm passing stationary cars , that feel I should be on the pavement.

Si

 

[woodbloke]

Interestingly, there was a bit in the news last week about the cyclist who was jailed (I think) for cycling on the pavement and causing death to a pedestrian when he hit him.
I've accepted the inevitable now and cycle on the roads but I wear the full hi-viz daeglo cagoule so at least motorists can see me coming.
Didn't envy Hammond on his cycle ride across the Smoke on TG the other night :shock: ....least he beat Clarkeson this time - Rob

 

[mr]

Interestingly, there was a bit in the news last week about the cyclist who was jailed (I think) for cycling on the pavement and causing death to a pedestrian when he hit him.

12 months suspended and 300 hours community service I think, if we're talking about the same case.
If it has wheels and is a mode of transport it belongs on the road and should very probably be licensed as well - without licensing there is no form of sanction when required.

Cheers Mike

 

[big]

Didn't envy Hammond on his cycle ride across the Smoke on TG the other night :shock: ....least he beat Clarkeson this time - Rob

With practice it's very safe...
I was a cycle courier for a year in London, then I got a "proper" job with 26 mile each way commute (East Ham-Ealing). And in 17 years of cycling on London's roads I only fell off once, and that was due to ice not agreeing with my 20mm tyres!
The secret is to keep your speed up (I used to average around 20mph, more if there was no traffic), hold your position in the lane, and keep your eyes open. It's all very well being dead but in the right when a bus runs into you, tis much better to have anticipated the problem and avoided it..
Perhaps all other drivers should have a month on a pushbike before being allowed to take their tests? :twisted:

 

[RogerS]

The secret is to keep your speed up (I used to average around 20mph, more if there was no traffic),.......:

Given the number of traffic lights along that route, I have to confess that I'm struggling to work out how you could maintain that average speed and not jump red lights....but, as ever, open to be convinced that I'm wrong.

Maybe you've got calf muscles the size of Arnies' biceps :wink:

 

[big]

The secret is to keep your speed up (I used to average around 20mph, more if there was no traffic),.......:

Given the number of traffic lights along that route, I have to confess that I'm struggling to work out how you could maintain that average speed and not jump red lights....but, as ever, open to be convinced that I'm wrong.

Maybe you've got calf muscles the size of Arnies' biceps :wink:

My only means of transport for years was the bike - and the scret of keeping up good speeds is anticipation.. I also rarely rode in the gutter - I'd overtake cars on the right like a motorbike.
My record for Ealing to East Ham was 58 minutes, set on a Sunday morning at 7am.. And I never arrived anywhere not bathed completely in sweat!

 

[andrewm]

The secret is to keep your speed up (I used to average around 20mph, more if there was no traffic),.......:

Given the number of traffic lights along that route, I have to confess that I'm struggling to work out how you could maintain that average speed and not jump red lights....but, as ever, open to be convinced that I'm wrong.

Maybe you've got calf muscles the size of Arnies' biceps :wink:

I think Hammond is a keen cyclist anyway so probably quite capable at maintaining a good speed. You don't need 'calf muscles the size of Arnies' biceps' if you are small and fit and riding a very lightweight carbon-fibre bike. Was it ia Bianchi?

Andrew

 

[andrewm]

Interestingly, there was a bit in the news last week about the cyclist who was jailed (I think) for cycling on the pavement and causing death to a pedestrian when he hit him.

12 months suspended and 300 hours community service I think, if we're talking about the same case.
If it has wheels and is a mode of transport it belongs on the road and should very probably be licensed as well - without licensing there is no form of sanction when required.

Cheers Mike

I assume you would apply that to roller skates and pushchairs as well.

 

[mr]

Roller skates used by anything other than a small child- absolutely. Anything with wheels that allows an adult to move at a potentially dangerous velocity in the vicinity of pedestrians.

Cheers Mike

 

[andrewm]

Roller skates used by anything other than a small child- absolutely. Anything with wheels that allows an adult to move at a potentially dangerous velocity in the vicinity of pedestrians.

Cheers Mike

Ahhh, now you are changing the 'rules'. Define adult, define 'potentially dangerous velocity', define vicinity.

Andrew