Cars 0 - Me 304

[benborp]

I've had an odd feeling about my commute a couple of days ago and I just realized what it was that made it a bit different. I wasn't overtaken once during my commute by a car. Once I twigged I looked at the video and got a bit nerdy and counted how many vehicles I passed - 304 in eight miles.

It's made me happy and it's made me wonder again, why would anyone drive if they had the choice?

 

[MadoneRider1991]

because they dont like the exercise

 

[hackbike 666]

Did you commute yesterday then?

Last night on the return back last night it was like a war zone.

Hopefully today's commute will be quieter.(Commute 4)

 

[Ian Johnson]

Cars are becoming the slowest means of transport now in towns and cities. They are only useful for travelling long distances between major towns and even then only when its not peak times,otherwise you are still liable to get stuck in traffic. They are ok for shopping for heavy items or shipping family about,but thats about it.I actually used to enjoy driving but its a frustrating experience now,its more satisfying breezing along at 20 odd mph past all the cars.I found this guy ranting on youtube,actually he should be thanking cyclists for taking more cars off the road,if he wants to bann cyclists where do they go?? that would mean a lot will get into cars and make the roads even slower,what a burke he is .
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcAI8WFPIRI&feature=PlayList&p=5458EAC55B5DD5F2&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=60

 

[thomas]

Cars are becoming the slowest means of transport now in towns and cities.

Cars definitely have their place. I've not driven in rush hour for over 6 months now and it's not something I'd really want to do in the future. There are times I'd rather be sitting in a car though than have to cycle. Your trip sounds a bit like this stretch of a commute I had. I didn't count how many though I got overtaken once though, by some silly must get past again girl.

 

[Losidan]

Cars definitely have their place. I've not driven in rush hour for over 6 months now and it's not something I'd really want to do in the future. There are times I'd rather be sitting in a car though than have to cycle. Your trip sounds a bit like this stretch of a commute I had. I didn't count how many though I got overtaken once though, by some silly must get past again girl.

crikey thomas that was almost a solid queue for your whole ride...I bet you were just riding along pissing yourself laughing....It would of been quicker to walk that drive

 

[downfader]

crikey thomas that was almost a solid queue for your whole ride...I bet you were just riding along pissing yourself laughing....It would of been quicker to walk that drive

Bitterne road and Winchester road in southampton get like that. Often drivers leave their cars at really annoying angles so you cant filter through (they do it to block motorbikes, I've read the letters in the local paper about it ). I just get off and jog past the lot, you can see their faces get quite enranged that someone on foot is beating them.

I also walked down Portsmouth road here too a while back. Road works had bunged the road right up and I was coming back from a shop. No bike that time but it was EXTREMELY funny to see a sales rep type in a massive saloon watching me and revving. A gap opened up of about 5 feet and he floored it. Was someone else going to pop in there instead? Took me 10 minutes to walk that and the drivers were all stuck there for ages.

 

[thomas]

crikey thomas that was almost a solid queue for your whole ride...I bet you were just riding along pissing yourself laughing....It would of been quicker to walk that drive

It annoyed me actually. My average dropped from about 18mph home to 16mph . Nah, it did make me laugh. It's either like that, or I'm holding everything up . It's funny if people get annoyed with me doing about 18-20mph average along there, when the alternative is them sitting there and me still making good progress.

Often drivers leave their cars at really annoying angles so you cant filter through (they do it to block motorbikes, I've read the letters in the local paper about it )

They do that along that strech of road too - well kind of, no one pulls into the kerb. I'd pointed towards the kerb for a few people and then they will go in after about 5 minutes, but no one tries to make it easy for you. The lorries and vans are annoying along the road as they basically stop you from progressing.

 

[theboytaylor]

Cars are becoming the slowest means of transport now in towns and cities. They are only useful for travelling long distances between major towns and even then only when its not peak times,otherwise you are still liable to get stuck in traffic.

As a not very scientific comparison, I happened to ride a substantial part of my normal weekday commute this morning. The roads were fairly quiet, being early Sunday morning, but I don't think I rode it much quicker than I do in rush hour. Obviously there were less occasions when I needed to hang back to assess the road, etc, but I didn't gain much time overall. I also kept up with the other traffic and would get to and stop at several sets of lights in succession with the same car(s).

What I'm trying to say (not very well!) is that I can travel a fixed 7ish mile route in a fairly certain time window regardless of the day or the traffic volume. I expect that a car can only match or better my journey time in "off-peak" hours. Yet Monday morning, the motons will still be queuing from Deptford Creek to Bermondsey. I'll smile as I glide past

 

[benborp]

Did you commute yesterday then?

Last night on the return back last night it was like a war zone.

Hopefully today's commute will be quieter.(Commute 4)

I managed to leave work well before eleven so it hadn't all kicked off. Looked like it was set for a standard Saturday night in South London.

 

[Wigsie]

My commute is 18.4 miles and if driving its 16.5 miles on a motorway so driving takes 15 mins during rush hours and cycling takes me 1hr 15mins there and 50 minutes home, I do it because its fun rather than easier and there are only a couple of junctions that I can get to overtake on if I am lucky I will pass 2-5 cars and then be overtaken by them 100yards down the road and passed by hundreds upon hundreds of more cars.

Although I did overtake an old man in a car the other week driving at 25mph through town he was a little shocked.

 

[thomas]

Although I did overtake an old man in a car the other week driving at 25mph through town he was a little shocked.

Haha...I was once bombing around duel carriageway around Woking town centre and was keeping up with an old man in some small car on my right. His wife looked out and started laughing

 

[HJ]

Never quite understood why people think it is faster to drive across town than to cycle...