Is cycle commuting about to go MASSIVE?

[cyberknight]

Exactly the same problem as at my place. An "army wash" is fine for me, but the lack of 'facilities' does stop a few others commuting by bike, i'm sure of it. And I must admit, a warm shower would be nicer than the gents toilets at our place!

We have showers but i just squirt an aerosol , not that i am smelly but working in a weld shop of a car factory you can imagine the smell of welding robots going all day long mixed with a few hundred peoples sweat my "clean" sweat is not going to get noticed and gets overlaid fairly soon anyway

 

[downfader]

Exactly the same problem as at my place. An "army wash" is fine for me, but the lack of 'facilities' does stop a few others commuting by bike, i'm sure of it. And I must admit, a warm shower would be nicer than the gents toilets at our place!

Toilets?

La de dah!

We have buckets... all I have to say is dont mix up bucket A with bucket B

 

[her_welshness]

I've just recently started to commute into central London from Lewisham (a run which I have not done for over a year) and I have not seen that many cyclists before, and for a January too. It also helps when you have the Boris bikes joining the throng.

A shower is preferable but I agree that a brief ablution does freshen one up!

Before cycling becomes massive, there are several barriers which are preventing this and have to be overcome. The main factor being psychological. How many times have you heard your work colleagues say 'oh no I couldn't cycle because its too dangerous', '5 miles is such a long way' etc etc.

 

[beanzontoast]

No discernable increase in numbers around my city centre commute.

We've been here before with fuel prices increasing. I think this is more likely to motivate people to car share or use public transport where available rather than become commuter cyclists. Yes, IME increasing storage and other facilities does encourage more people to consider cycling - though as had been pointed out, this is mainly in the 6 months of reasonably warm, dry weather and with daylight in both directions.

For a great many people, because of reasons of distance, 'luggage' (tools, documents, materials etc) they have to carry to and from work - or maybe just because they prefer motoring to cycling and are willing/able to pay yhe associated costs - the car is and is likely to remain the number one choice for commuting for the forseeable future.

 

[Downward]

When it costs 20p just in petrol per mile to commute you can see why people are jumping onto bikes. Add the rising cost of Insurance and Tax and the increasing traffic on the road some people want a better way of life.

 

[brokenbetty]

Definitely increasing on my route, especially ladies. I don't think it's the price of petrol (Londoners wouldn't be commuting by car anyway), I think just more and more people know someone "normal" who cycles so they see it as something they might do as well. Of course fashion and culture are having a vintage moment right now and cycling fits the image so it'll be interesting to see if it sticks.

The Boris bikes have made a big difference - the rate of increase seemed to jump when they were launched. Maybe there's a psychological support in seeing that cycling is an officially sanctioned method of transport not just a tolerated one.

 

[germanicdogman]

not any more around my way and one of the lads at work is about to get his license
still got first bibs on his bike

 

[skupp]

I have noticed a few more cyclists on the commute from hither green into central london. Bike shed at work is getting more packed as well...

Wonder how it will be in a few months time when the sun is shining and the birds are singing...

 

[ianrauk]

I've just recently started to commute into central London from Lewisham (a run which I have not done for over a year) and I have not seen that many cyclists before, and for a January too. It also helps when you have the Boris bikes joining the throng.

A shower is preferable but I agree that a brief ablution does freshen one up!

Before cycling becomes massive, there are several barriers which are preventing this and have to be overcome. The main factor being psychological. How many times have you heard your work colleagues say 'oh no I couldn't cycle because its too dangerous', '5 miles is such a long way' etc etc.

Has it been that long?
Wondered why I haven't seen you for ages.

 

[Davidc]

Only doing an occasional commute trip I can't say, but I do use a bike for most journeys up to 10 miles, and I've noticed there's much less room on bike stands around town, outside businesses, at shops and so on, than there ever has been in December and January. Considering how vile the weather has been I think it's remarkable, and I'm wondering what's coming later in the year.

 

[pshore]

I can't say I've seen extra bikes on my commute but I have noticed that the queues of cars I would expect at this time of year have not materialised.

 

[Mad at urage]

Exactly the same problem as at my place. An "army wash" is fine for me, but the lack of 'facilities' does stop a few others commuting by bike, i'm sure of it. And I must admit, a warm shower would be nicer than the gents toilets at our place!

Toilets?

La de dah!

We have buckets... all I have to say is dont mix up bucket A with bucket B

Buckets? You don't know how lucky you are! We have to use the old puddles in the pot-holes to wash in!

On topic: Still plenty of cars queuing around N. Cardiff (but then I do cross the M4 j. A48, so there would be ). I don't know if there is any increase in commuter cycling here as I am only recently adding to the few.

 

[taxing]

The point I've got across to others is that you dont need a shower - "army wash" in the basin is fine. If its 10 miles of less I get away with this WITHOUT soap. Splash around some water with a flannel or by hand, rub some water into your face and just towel off. If you do it straight away you wont stink any. Change of clothes from cycle to "work" is usually fine, though I find if its under 4 miles I dont even need to change.

Do you ever cycle to the shops, pubs, etc., or just to work? I wouldn't even think of changing if I was going less than ten miles, maybe because I go slow. I use my bike to get everywhere, taking a change of clothes to a restaurant would be a bit awkward.

P.S. Yeah, I'm just being nosey.

 

[Davidc]

Went into town this lunchtime, temperature below freezing, and had to park my bike 4 bike stands away from where I was going, they were all full!

 

[summerdays]

Do you ever cycle to the shops, pubs, etc., or just to work? I wouldn't even think of changing if I was going less than ten miles, maybe because I go slow. I use my bike to get everywhere, taking a change of clothes to a restaurant would be a bit awkward.

P.S. Yeah, I'm just being nosey.

I don't change ... but have a set of clothes that I know I can cycle in, mostly trousers and shorts. Sometimes its a little bit hard in skirts ... I've been known to set off and then come back because I can't cycle or to roll the skirt up a little to make it easier to cycle in when I'm going to a restaurant etc - besides as you say, you just cycle a little slower.