Cycling motorists

[jonny jeez]

route.



As for car vs bike - It's about using the right tool for the job. People will take the car instead of walking a mile. They'll take the car into city centres and then gripe about becoming stuck in narrow streets & traffic. Most don't realise how easy it is to do three or four miles on a bike (provided one isn't physically infirm, or needing to carry something large and heavy).

Good point, although I would add that, I would LOVE to drop my car entirely and use the bike for every local journey (with my wife's car acting a spare motor for long haul)

However, I still dont "FEEL" that it is practical to do so, mainly as i cant trust the places where I would leave my bike for short "home" journeys (shops's , sports club's, pub, that sort of thing)

I never want to entrust my bike to these places. If we could only sort out some kind of loan bike scheme that actually worked in our town centres, we would be rolling...literally

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Brompton. Had mine 3 months and I never leave it outside. Shops, restaurants, movies... it comes in with me.

 

[BentMikey]

Now that is a username! From a kaaskop.

 

[dellzeqq]

I used to think that universal two-wheeled-first would be a good idea, but then I moved to London and observed that the pushiest, least tolerant, and most arrogant drivers on the roads were all ex-moped riders. So now I'm not so sure. Maybe they only do the Knowledge trips on dry days, or something: there were certainly loads of them out yesterday

Now that is one of life's most unfathomable mysteries. You see these chaps (usually chaps) with their clipboards and wonder what switch in their heads gets switched when they pass the Knowledge

 

[Arch]

As for car vs bike - It's about using the right tool for the job. People will take the car instead of walking a mile. They'll take the car into city centres and then gripe about becoming stuck in narrow streets & traffic. Most don't realise how easy it is to do three or four miles on a bike (provided one isn't physically infirm, or needing to carry something large and heavy).

And of course, with a little thought, and maybe a trailer, it's perfectly possible to carry all sorts of loads. And I know several people who might be classed as physically infirm, off a bike, but still capable of riding all sorts of distances. Even if a bike (or trike) needs a bit of modification....

So really, there is no excuse, unless you are blind (unless you count stoking a tandem), or very disabled. And the funny thing is, in my limited experience, that people with physical challenges are often very keen to get out and self mobile, it's those limited only by their lack of imagination who are truely stuck...

 

[BentMikey]

I rarely get bad treatment from black cabs. The drivers are mostly excellent, better and more aware than most private motorists.

 

[Dan B]

Hi Mike!

I rarely get bad treatment from black cabs. The drivers are mostly excellent, better and more aware than most private motorists.

I wouldn't disagree with that second sentence, but note merely that technical driving skill (including knowing to the nearest mm how big your vehicle is) doesn't stop them from being pushy, intolerant and arrogant. And when they see a potential fare at the side of the road, nothing can stand between them and it.

Mind you, I haven't even touched on minicabs. One of the best changes to happen to licensing of drivers for hire in recent years is the obligatory blue & white warning sticker in the rear window - saves a lot of time looking for the dented bodywork that previously identified them as private hire cars

 

[John Ponting]

What do you learn about road surfaces and wet weather on a motorbike that a pedal cycle doesn't teach?

How to handle 175bhp on wet white lines and drain covers? It really is a lot different to pedalling. How to brake without locking up? No comparison with a cycle and no chance to hop up on to footpath and try to look innocent.



ok last bit tongue in cheek.

 

[HJ]

How to handle 175bhp on wet white lines and drain covers? It really is a lot different to pedalling. How to brake without locking up? No comparison with a cycle and no chance to hop up on to footpath and try to look innocent.



ok last bit tongue in cheek.

What relevance is that to cycling or driving??

 

[purplepolly]

Apparently about 50% of motorists own a bicycle and two in five cycle regularly,

I find it hard to believe that 2 in 5 motorists cycle regularly, based on the people that I know. But then again what do they mean by regularly? I work regularly 5 days a week and we regularly celebrate Christmas once a year. Presumably they mean often, but how often?

 

[Origamist]

Mind you, I haven't even touched on minicabs. One of the best changes to happen to licensing of drivers for hire in recent years is the obligatory blue & white warning sticker in the rear window - saves a lot of time looking for the dented bodywork that previously identified them as private hire cars

Well let's hope Boris stands firm (he has so far) in the face of Addison Lee's continued and vociferous lobbying for the right to use TLRN bus lanes. Hackney carriages are bad enough, but imagine sharing bus lanes with 50000 minicabs.

 

[very-near]

What do you learn about road surfaces and wet weather on a motorbike that a pedal cycle doesn't teach?

I used to think that universal two-wheeled-first would be a good idea, but then I moved to London and observed that the pushiest, least tolerant, and most arrogant drivers on the roads were all ex-moped riders. So now I'm not so sure. Maybe they only do the Knowledge trips on dry days, or something: there were certainly loads of them out yesterday

If you had ever ridden one you would not need to ask this question kate!

How do you know that they are 'ex moped riders', and don't class these as motorcyclists - we don't. They don't have the training or experience to justify that title.

 

[just jim]

I find it hard to believe that 2 in 5 motorists cycle regularly, based on the people that I know. But then again what do they mean by regularly? I work regularly 5 days a week and we regularly celebrate Christmas once a year. Presumably they mean often, but how often?

Good point well put purplepolly!

Could be a case for more or less.

 

[J4CKO]

So really, there is no excuse, unless you are blind (unless you count stoking a tandem), or very disabled. And the funny thing is, in my limited experience, that people with physical challenges are often very keen to get out and self mobile, it's those limited only by their lack of imagination who are truely stuck...

Best comment I have read in a long time !

 

[purplepolly]

Good point well put purplepolly!

Could be a case for more or less.

I've just started listening to their podcasts