Bike 'convoys' into London begin

[Jake]

A series of "bicycle convoys" from the suburbs into central London have begun to tempt new cyclists into the saddle.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8200912.stm

 

[captainhastings]

Thats a great idea fair play

 

[beanzontoast]

A series of "bicycle convoys" from the suburbs into central London have begun to tempt new cyclists into the saddle.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8200912.stm

Hmm... it mentions cyle lanes, but will it all be in cycle lanes? The article isn't clear about that. If not, and they get volumes of cyclists, the motorists are just going to love this...

 

[Jake]

this is the thing, if there is a big convoy of bikes and its cut in half due to traffic lights, what happens, people are morely likely to go right through them. tHis happened when we drove/come across some chairty bike ride in fulham a few sundays back. none of them obeyed traffic laws and just traveled on mss. a bit like the CM thing on fridays,

 

[beanzontoast]

this is the thing, if there is a big convoy of bikes and its cut in half due to traffic lights, what happens, people are morely likely to go right through them. tHis happened when we drove/come across some chairty bike ride in fulham a few sundays back. none of them obeyed traffic laws and just traveled on mss. a bit like the CM thing on fridays,

The road to hell... etc.

 

[fossyant]

Sooo last year ! Catch up you lot......Manchester has been doing this for years. Was called critical commute, but it's been 'changed' to Bike Friday.

 

[Bristol Dave]

Whilst I'm sure it is not perfect it is certainly a positive step. I hope it is successful and grows.

BD

 

[tordis]

In theory, it seems to be a good idea. In practice, however, it might become a huge mess and an unpleasant experience for both cyclists and motorists. Hope the organizers manage to avoid chaos and get some more people in the saddle.

 

[Lizban]

Any one actually join one of these rides and give us the actual low down?

 

[Origamist]

I mentioned this scheme a while back. If it gets a more uncertain/nervous riders on the roads and gives them confidence, that's great.

They already do something similar in Manchester and it works well.

 

[Dan B]

this is the thing, if there is a big convoy of bikes and its cut in half due to traffic lights, what happens, people are morely likely to go right through them.

I can't recall where I read this, but it's my understanding that the number of cyclists with each group leader is likely to be no more than ten or so.

[ edit: I was wrng ]

 

[Origamist]

Hmm... it mentions cyle lanes, but will it all be in cycle lanes? The article isn't clear about that. If not, and they get volumes of cyclists, the motorists are just going to love this...

No, it won't be all along cycle lanes. It will be bus/cyce lanes, cycle lanes/routes and roads without cycling provision.

 

[Jake]

I can't recall where I read this, but it's my understanding that the number of cyclists with each group leader is likely to be no more than ten or so.

ah that's a good idea then

 

[Dan B]

However, looking at the pics it seems that I was wrong or my source was
http://twitpic.com/dtyfq
http://twitpic.com/dtydl

Still, even with largeish numbers it doesn't absolutely preclude stopping at lights: the fnrttc manages it quite well with up to 90.

 

[Origamist]

However, looking at the pics it seems that I was wrong or my source was
http://twitpic.com/dtyfq
http://twitpic.com/dtydl

Still, even with largeish numbers it doesn't absolutely preclude stopping at lights: the fnrttc manages it quite well with up to 90.

When they did Bike Tube, the numbers were up to about 20 IIRC - it looks similar on the twitpics. I can't imagine they would want groups to be much larger, unless they had more helpers.

I recognise the guy on the recumbent...