Does people commuting on a cycle really reduce traffic?

[DonnyDarko]

This poll demands great thought and consideration. Note, the question above the poll is not worded the same as the thread title.



The answer to the question above the poll must be NO, as people commuting to work cause an increase in traffic levels, regardless of mode of travel

Yeah you're probably right there mate. Let's call the poll null and void.

But either way, please help me with this future problem I may come across.

It has put me off riding to work in the past because of this sort of thing.

If I looked back when riding my bike and saw that bus, and looked back 5 mins later and still saw it, I'd KNOW for a fact that I'd be holding up far more than just those oldies and students on the bus. And if they were lucky enough to find a spot to over take me, or I was nice and pulled in for a second, I probably would catch half of them back up again due to the lights and would end up back in front of them AT the lights. So I'd be in the same boat again.

Many a time I've passed the same cyclist going my way more than 4 or 5 times.

Had a bit of a laugh with somebody I know who works near by once as we passed each other a number of times.

So just sort of worrying about what I'd say if some angry car driver got the hump one time. I'd rather explain as I'd fear commuting with them some other day in the future where perhaps he's not so kind as to just wind the window back up and drive on. (God! And what if I passed him again at this point?!?! lol)

The mind boggles.

 

[DonnyDarko]

Don't know about your route, but on mine the main thing that causes congestion (and means I am the fastest thing on the road) is the school runners in their 4x4s.

Yeah there's loads of that too lol

 

[DonnyDarko]

You don't have to tell them or justify anything. If anything tell them to mind their own bloody business.

When you sit on a bus you see a queue of slow moving cars holding you up. When you sit in a car you see a queue of cars with a bus at the front.

Both very fair points.

 

[Red Light]

Bit harsh aint it? I'm only asking.
<snip>

That's all I was after. Don't shoot the newbie now.

Maybe but your string of posts on cycling lanes, riding two abreast, commuting cyclists slowing cars......... have all the hallmarks of what is known as a troll i.e. a motorist come on here to have a go at/wind up cyclists with all the classic motorist whinges. If that's not you then I apologise but it certainly looked like that and I'm not the only one to have made that observation.

 

[Red Light]

Don't know about your route, but on mine the main thing that causes congestion (and means I am the fastest thing on the road) is the school runners in their 4x4s.

Actually the main thing that causes congestion is other motorists. They don't seem to mind being delayed by each other but sure as hell hate it if its a cyclist that occasionally delays them

 

[DonnyDarko]

No need to be coy.

Protective. Didn't meant to come across like that. But it's not the sort of area you'd like people knowing where you live around here. So have used Tesco's and a place near work rather than work to point out my route. That's all buddy.

 

[DonnyDarko]

Maybe but your string of posts on cycling lanes, riding two abreast, commuting cyclists slowing cars......... have all the hallmarks of what is known as a troll i.e. a motorist come on here to have a go at/wind up cyclists with all the classic motorist whinges. If that's not you then I apologise but it certainly looked like that and I'm not the only one to have made that observation.

No that wouldn't be the case here.

I am a motorist though, and whilst I bike off-road (not so much these days and don't have a bike now - hence the purchases) I never have on. So as a motorist, that is about to be a cyclist, I'm asking questions perhaps in the wrong way.

But I'm 100% going to do this whether I have issues in the first couple of months or not.

Seems the stance I need to take if I do have an issue (with the law or motorists - you'll see my questions are all about those angles of my commute/worries) is just to state the obvious. (And perhaps I need to get clued up on highway code - you're right there Red Light was it who said that? [edit: just realised it's Red Light i'm replying to! haha]).

Look, really sorry if I've come across the wrong way.

Basically Friday before knocking off somebody mentioned the cycle to work scheme. I've been bugged all summer by my XC buddy who I used to go out with to get a bike. Expense and time has always been the issue. So then this friday I thought sod it. I'm going to get a bike, but if it's in the cycle to work scheme, I want to use it for work too, it's only fair.

But then I suddenly had a shed load of questions. And it's still only Sunday and still all on my mind. So just been asking a lot that all.

But clearly in the wrong way so I do apologise for that to you all. I think some have taken me the right way though so I thank those.

As I said main point is the bike choices. Everything else no doubt I'll pick up over time but if I screw that purchase up I've got to live with it (and my buddy taking the pee every weekend) for a long time.

 

[Red Light]

Best advice if you are going to start cycling on the road is to buy a copy of Cyclecraft by John Franklin and give it a good read. Most of the trouble people have cycling on the road is through doing it wrong e.g. hugging the gutter rather than riding out in the road. Cyclecraft is the recommended text for National Standards cycle training.

 

[DonnyDarko]

Nice one Red Light.

Just been checking out Video's on Gaz's website too! A real eye opener!

I tell you what, in a forest I'm quite quick, tend to try to jump things, don't mind a bit of a race, etc etc. But on the road you just can't make a mistake one bit! And that's what I think I'm starting to realise.

Quite lucky that the Mrs will be riding with me so I'll be quite protective and whatnot but nowt can be stopped fully I guess. So I'll just have to ride normal and keep my eyes on more things than normal (the forests).

Wouldn't like to ride around London I don't think after looking at some of Gaz's videos. You certainly couldn't do it while your mind is on other things that's for sure.

 

[wheres_my_beard]

Best advice if you are going to start cycling on the road is to buy a copy of Cyclecraft by John Franklin and give it a good read. Most of the trouble people have cycling on the road is through doing it wrong e.g. hugging the gutter rather than riding out in the road. Cyclecraft is the recommended text for National Standards cycle training.

+1 It's a great book.

I've been cycling for years but cycle more confidently and safely now as a result of that book.

 

[DonnyDarko]

I'll get it now from Amazon. Personally I think I would have ended up winging it a bit on the road before coming to this forum and hearing you lot and I'm glad I asked what I did. Not just for me though but for the Mrs. She'll be commuting with me and I wouldn't be able to just wing it and dodge things every now and again I'll need to do everything to the T.

After seeing some of Gaz's videos I'm even starting to think I need a helmet cam on all the time for the sake of defending my side of a story should I come into some trouble with a motorist (or something else) on my comute.

ps. http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb...h-alias=aps&field-keywords=Cyclecraft&x=0&y=0

Which one do I need, one's showing as old as 1997? What's the most current one?

 

[Red Light]

Nice one Red Light.

Just been checking out Video's on Gaz's website too! A real eye opener!

I tell you what, in a forest I'm quite quick, tend to try to jump things, don't mind a bit of a race, etc etc. But on the road you just can't make a mistake one bit! And that's what I think I'm starting to realise.

Quite lucky that the Mrs will be riding with me so I'll be quite protective and whatnot but nowt can be stopped fully I guess. So I'll just have to ride normal and keep my eyes on more things than normal (the forests).

Wouldn't like to ride around London I don't think after looking at some of Gaz's videos. You certainly couldn't do it while your mind is on other things that's for sure.

The dangers you are concerned about are massively over-hyped. Taking for example London, which you say you wouldn't like to ride round, over 8 million journeys have been made by mainly inexperienced cyclists in Central London using Boris Bikes. There have been no serious injuries to date (and serious injuries class as anything where the hospital wants to keep you in overnight or where you have bad scrapes or cuts or a broken bone). It would take you tens of thousands of years to rack up 8 million journeys. So the reality is even in London even with inexperienced cyclists the actual danger, as opposed to the perceived danger, is very low. Nationally cycling on the road is somewhat safer per km than walking on the pavement.

 

[Hip Priest]

I'll get it now from Amazon. Personally I think I would have ended up winging it a bit on the road before coming to this forum and hearing you lot and I'm glad I asked what I did. Not just for me though but for the Mrs. She'll be commuting with me and I wouldn't be able to just wing it and dodge things every now and again I'll need to do everything to the T.

After seeing some of Gaz's videos I'm even starting to think I need a helmet cam on all the time for the sake of defending my side of a story should I come into some trouble with a motorist (or something else) on my comute.

ps. http://www.amazon.co...lecraft&x=0&y=0

Which one do I need, one's showing as old as 1997? What's the most current one?

Don't get a helmet cam. There's a 75% chance you'll turn into a self-righteous arse.

 

[DonnyDarko]

Don't get a helmet cam. There's a 75% chance you'll turn into a self-righteous arse.

lmao - fair enough haha

 

[DonnyDarko]

The dangers you are concerned about are massively over-hyped. Taking for example London, which you say you wouldn't like to ride round, over 8 million journeys have been made by mainly inexperienced cyclists in Central London using Boris Bikes. There have been no serious injuries to date (and serious injuries class as anything where the hospital wants to keep you in overnight or where you have bad scrapes or cuts or a broken bone). It would take you tens of thousands of years to rack up 8 million journeys. So the reality is even in London even with inexperienced cyclists the actual danger, as opposed to the perceived danger, is very low. Nationally cycling on the road is somewhat safer per km than walking on the pavement.

Jesus! you know some stats!
Fair play!

I read a blog (trying to find the link now, it was linked-to from another forum but might have been this one - you might spot the one I'm talking about?) that pointed out that you're more likely to get killed as a pedestrian, and also gardening, than cycling on the road. I think the blog post in I'm talking about was actually made to point out whether helmets controversially actually needed wearing. Might be wrong on the point but it was about helmets I think.

That made me feel a bit safer reading that to be honest.

I think I'm more worried about the Mrs than myself. She'll worry if she sees me fret. And I'll fret if I see her worry. And that'll be ongoing unless I show some confidence when somebody cuts me up or something.

So I think that's where I'm coming from over-all with my threads, that I think have been taken (perhaps rightly so?) in a way they were not intended.