Hi everyone
I started a new job this month which means I'm commuting from Putney into Marylebone and absolutely love it. My colleagues seem to be very surprised and I have to admit, quite impressed
, however I'm getting sick to death with everyone saying - "I wouldn't do it, cycling in London is dangerous!" On the other hand, lots of them would like to cycle to work, but because they see it as scary they wouldn't even try. I wonder if anyone here would help me out with statistics (or publications on cycle safety) , so I could back my claim that it's absolutely fine with some numbers.
I keep telling them that the percentage of cyclists being killed or injured is low in relation to how many people commute, also that in about 3 years of cycling in London I never had any incident. It's not helping that some cyclists themselves perpetuate the myth - I had a discussion with another colleague (what an ignorant, patronising p****) going on how dangerous it is and that you need your head examined to ride in London. Then he let it slip that he jumps red lights or rides on pavements if there is a traffic jam and seemed to find cyclists using hand signals amusing - how can you take someone like that seriously?! I also think that people focus on the moronic cyclists (and there far too many of them) and completely miss the ones that ride responsibly and abide by the highway code.
Anyway I thought that leading by example is the best way, so suggested to two of my colleagues that should they get a bike and wanted to ride to work, I'll go riding with them to show them the ropes.
I started a new job this month which means I'm commuting from Putney into Marylebone and absolutely love it. My colleagues seem to be very surprised and I have to admit, quite impressed
, however I'm getting sick to death with everyone saying - "I wouldn't do it, cycling in London is dangerous!" On the other hand, lots of them would like to cycle to work, but because they see it as scary they wouldn't even try. I wonder if anyone here would help me out with statistics (or publications on cycle safety) , so I could back my claim that it's absolutely fine with some numbers.I keep telling them that the percentage of cyclists being killed or injured is low in relation to how many people commute, also that in about 3 years of cycling in London I never had any incident. It's not helping that some cyclists themselves perpetuate the myth - I had a discussion with another colleague (what an ignorant, patronising p****) going on how dangerous it is and that you need your head examined to ride in London. Then he let it slip that he jumps red lights or rides on pavements if there is a traffic jam and seemed to find cyclists using hand signals amusing - how can you take someone like that seriously?! I also think that people focus on the moronic cyclists (and there far too many of them) and completely miss the ones that ride responsibly and abide by the highway code.
Anyway I thought that leading by example is the best way, so suggested to two of my colleagues that should they get a bike and wanted to ride to work, I'll go riding with them to show them the ropes.
