How do people ride in Cities without getting killed?

[trustysteed]

is there a limit on when you can report an accident? i didn't want to hand anything into the police as i'd like to keep it informal and amicable at this stage.

 

[trustysteed]

@summerdays: chisipite is the name of the suburb i grew up in zimbabwe. it was also a juniorhigh school in that suburb although i didn't attend it.

 

[adds21]

I hazard a guess that the initial promises to pay for damage to you and your bike will evaporate and you will get nowhere.

Thank God most people in the world aren't quite so cynical.

 

[Davidc]

I know that as part of the Cycle City stuff, that staff from various departments had cycle training, one of my friends was involved. And lots of council staff cycle ... I can barely find a stand when I go into the office.

That's not really the point. The road system, junctions and layouts in central Bristol are not cycle friendly. Most are negotiable with care but they could be made very much better, and without making them worse for other road users.

It's not the staff from various departments who deal with road planning and layouts. It's the specialist staff in the Highways Department (unless it's changed name). Its them who should be given a bike to ride around Bristol. I'll suggest a route if they want one!

BTW do you know the legality of parking my car at the Long Ashton P&R and riding off on my bike instead of taking the bus? I was told (very politely) by a bus driver that I shouldn't be doing it!

 

[summerdays]

The Cycling City thing isn't really doing much about infrastructure from what I can tell.
If I had that kind of funding (£22.8 million) I would think about just resurfacing a huge amount of our roads as thats what ruins my commute. The potholes, deep manholes, patches and cracks on the roads I ride to work need a fixing.
Does the fill that hole website get results?

Edit: also @TrustSteed: That'll learn 'em!

Have you not been on any of the new/upgraded paths... I use the one via St Wergburgh's quite a bit and look forward to when they complete that link northwards. And I've used a couple of the other bits they have put in.

We don't need cycling infrastructure - in fact most of the cycle lanes I see in London need to be removed as they are an active hazard, and of negligent design.

More cycle parking, yes, and much more traffic enforcement would be good.

We've definitely got more cycle parking .. but still not enough in all places.

That's not really the point. The road system, junctions and layouts in central Bristol are not cycle friendly. Most are negotiable with care but they could be made very much better, and without making them worse for other road users.

It's not the staff from various departments who deal with road planning and layouts. It's the specialist staff in the Highways Department (unless it's changed name). Its them who should be given a bike to ride around Bristol. I'll suggest a route if they want one!

BTW do you know the legality of parking my car at the Long Ashton P&R and riding off on my bike instead of taking the bus? I was told (very politely) by a bus driver that I shouldn't be doing it!

As far as I know it was various departments that had an interest in the roads.

As for Long Ashton - I'm sure I read recently that you could do just that... found this on the Better by Bike website:
http://www.betterbybike.info/park-and-ride-your-bike-that-is
Doesn't look as if its as easy at Long Ashton as the other sites.

 

[adds21]

BTW do you know the legality of parking my car at the Long Ashton P&R and riding off on my bike instead of taking the bus? I was told (very politely) by a bus driver that I shouldn't be doing it!

I cycle though Long Ashton every morning, and there are several people who park on Long Ashton Road, just past the village, and get their bikes out the cars. So if there is a problem with the park and ride, you could always park there.

 

[Davidc]

I cycle though Long Ashton every morning, and there are several people who park on Long Ashton Road, just past the village, and get their bikes out the cars. So if there is a problem with the park and ride, you could always park there.

Good idea, would also avoid having to ride back and pick up the car if I'm staying after P&R closing time!

If I'm only going to clifton and higher, which is about half of my visits, I park in Ladies Mile on the downs, which is a good place to cycle from.

As far as I know it was various departments that had an interest in the roads.

But only one implements road construction. Each time they're changing anything they need to get experienced city cyclists to vet the plans and make sure they're cycle friendly.

As for Long Ashton - I'm sure I read recently that you could do just that... found this on the Better by Bike website:
http://www.betterbybike.info/park-and-ride-your-bike-that-is
Doesn't look as if its as easy at Long Ashton as the other sites.

It's quite easy - I've done it several times, but as I said got a polite objection from a bus driver recently.

I wouldn't object to paying the parking part of the charge, as in that link, for using it, it's a good car park in a sensible place, complete with loos, but that's not on offer.

I don't visit Bristol very often now, but find the bike by far the best way to get around, as it always has been - apart from the hills that is.

 

[hackbike 666]

Reading ahead is very important...it's almost like a chess game...only slightly faster.

 

[chap]

In London (Zones 1 - 2+), the congestion generally renders the traffic rather slow, although one still has to watch out for idiots (a mixture of frustration, unaccountability through anonymity, envy driven bravado, and different cultures (particularly from the continent) poor driving habits, all flung together with several traffic-lights, cramped lanes, and poorly sign-posted streets.)

In many newer cities, particularly resulting from the GLC, the local-culture plays a large part with recklessness, and the natural division caused by a poor transport facilities and concrete strewn landscape / segregation means that the cars can go that much quicker with abandon. Add to this a more homogeneous construct usually in line with the now typical Essex mentality, then there may be a bit of class-driven resentment added to the fact that many for similar reasons traditionally never dream of riding a bike 'cos it looks poor' and there you go.

I believe that elements of this are prevalent amongst more middle-class people too (particularly men) who would equate your average cyclist with a combination of both adult cyclist archetypes: the snotty condescending waif-thin ponce in skin-tight neon garb arrogantly riding a bike way above his needs; or the eco-maniac Green party voting stereotype similarly snooty, less arrogant, wasting time causing obstructions by using the road when he doesn't even pay road tax

This is why I generally find London (central) safer to cycle than places like Basingstoke, Milton-Keynes, or certain outer-boroughs of London.

 

[fossyant]

Luck mainly, and experience......

Experience and knowing how to fall saved me from big injuries in Dec 08..... just a fubar'ed shoulder.....not dead fortunately.......

 

[chap]

Luck mainly, and experience......

Experience and knowing how to fall saved me from big injuries in Dec 08..... just a fubar'ed shoulder.....not dead fortunately.......

Actually, couldn't put it better than that.

 

[decca234uk]

Confidence is the key along with experience. The secret is to become a part of the traffic and not try to hide from it by hugging the kerb. To ride assertively and concentrate. If you worried too much you'd never leave the house.

 

[brokenbetty]

There is a saying in investment "leave something for the next guy". It means don't try and hang on to the top of the market before selling, or the bottom of the market before buying. If you try and squeeze every drop out you run the risk that the market turns earlier than you expected and wipes you out.

IThat, roughly speaking, is my approach to city riding. I'm happy to hang behind a bus when there's just about room to filter, or wait it line at the lights even though there's just about time to get to the ASL. If the next guy wants to take the chance that's their call.

 

[fossyant]

There is a saying in investment "leave something for the next guy". It means don't try and hang on to the top of the market before selling, or the bottom of the market before buying. If you try and squeeze every drop out you run the risk that the market turns earlier than you expected and wipes you out.

+1...

Also Chap's response to my note... (luck..etc) this is how I ride (sometimes)...

Don't push the limits too far - i.e. hanging back when getting to the front will make bugger all difference to commute time - I see to many folk 'push' to the front when they are really slow......and then just end up annoying the 'other' traffic....

 

[slowmotion]

1)Look over your shoulder every twenty seconds as a matter of routine.
2) Indicate clearly
3) Look over your shoulder at every traffic light and see what is going to try and pass you when it goes green.
4) Make eye contact with the vehicles, especially at any junction, even if you have the right of way
5) Do not ride in the gutter, take a safe line, but do not risk your life on a question of principle.
6) Let the bad stuff go, and do not dwell on it. (Yep that is hard...but it makes you happier, perhaps)

Safe rides to all.