Is the pandemic cycling craze here to stay?

[Ming the Merciless]

Audax UK's new motto?

Audax - Anti Social Distancing is our mantra

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

I wonder by how much the cycling boom has actually cut car use? The new enthusiasts on their expensive bikes still use their cars for shopping, commuting and family trips and the bike riding merely takes the place of sofa surfing or other leisure pursuits.

As for cycle commuters, we would need to know how many left their cars at home in favour of the bike compared to how many cycle instead of taking public transport.

I wonder also how many of the cyclists chuck their bike in or on their car, then drive some considerable distance from home to the area in which they want to do their riding? It's obvious a lot of MTB'ers do this, just from observing bikes on the roofs of cars. Maybe a little less with roadies, but I've seen plenty of those car-borne too.
You could even argue that if more cycling is resulting in more driving to access the cycling, then increasing cycling actually adds to, not reduces congestion!
The only type of cycling that cuts congestion is where it displaces any form of motorised road passenger transport, and even then it won't improve anything if cycling facilities reduce road space for motorised traffic and cause that to be more congested even after you subtract the number of journeys transferred from motors to bikes.
We live in an overcrowded country, and people no longer have predominantly local lifestyles where they live, work and shop within an area that is small enough to be easily accessible without using motorised transport. Fundamentally, it's not a transport problem, but one of employment patterns and land use. The more you rationalise and centralise everything at a smaller number of locations, including public services and workplaces, the more travel it generates per head of population.

 

[screenman]

No crowds in these parts, I cannot figure why anyone who dislikes crowds lives in a crowded area.

 

[Rusty Nails]

No crowds in these parts, I cannot figure why anyone who dislikes crowds lives in a crowded area.

So they have something to moan about.

 

[BoldonLad]

We seem to have got into a rut of discussing reducing congestion and emissions? These are of course laudable aims, but, there are other benefits to increased cycling, eg: increased fitness; improved health (mental and physical), plus, if more vehicle drivers are also cyclists, perhaps (I only said perhaps), they will show more empathy with cyclists.

 

[mjr]

even then it won't improve anything if cycling facilities reduce road space for motorised traffic and cause that to be more congested even after you subtract the number of journeys transferred from motors to bikes.

Surely it's still improved if there are some fewer vehicles and so less pollution and the road space reallocation means it is further away from people walking or the doors/windows of houses on that road?

 

[itboffin]

I noticed whilst out for a walk today a lot more non roadie roadies out like lock down 1 also a lot more walkers and everyone saying hello again, i really hope this stays post COVID

 

[Solocle]

I wonder also how many of the cyclists chuck their bike in or on their car, then drive some considerable distance from home to the area in which they want to do their riding? It's obvious a lot of MTB'ers do this, just from observing bikes on the roofs of cars. Maybe a little less with roadies, but I've seen plenty of those car-borne too.
You could even argue that if more cycling is resulting in more driving to access the cycling, then increasing cycling actually adds to, not reduces congestion!
The only type of cycling that cuts congestion is where it displaces any form of motorised road passenger transport, and even then it won't improve anything if cycling facilities reduce road space for motorised traffic and cause that to be more congested even after you subtract the number of journeys transferred from motors to bikes.
We live in an overcrowded country, and people no longer have predominantly local lifestyles where they live, work and shop within an area that is small enough to be easily accessible without using motorised transport. Fundamentally, it's not a transport problem, but one of employment patterns and land use. The more you rationalise and centralise everything at a smaller number of locations, including public services and workplaces, the more travel it generates per head of population.

I've done that, especially when trying to join up my two veloviewer clusters. I actually have a shot of the support car passing me from one of those rides (driven by my parents)...

But I've never driven to an audax - it's invariably been the train. I mean, I've only done 3 audaxes, and was a student, but still...

Events are special, and don't account for much road riding.

 

[rogerzilla]

Figures show cycling is currently about 60% of "normal". It was often over 300% in lockdown 1. The weather's pants and we're not allowed to visit a cafe in the next county, so it's hardly surprising.

 

[slowmotion]

There are still lots of people on bikes in west London. During the first lockdown, when traffic was really light, I saw a very happy family of five cycling down Cromwell Road which is normally six lanes of insanely busy and fast traffic. In the middle of the group was a small girl, no more than five years old, on a pink bike with a huge grin on her face. None of them looked like they would forget the fun. Like most people who cycle, they'll probably do it less in wet and cold weather, but I'm pretty sure they'll be back, and if they don't continue, that's their choice.
It isn't compulsory to go out in a blizzard just wearing a thong to prove you're "a proper cyclist".

 

[mustang1]

A small percentage of new cyclists will continue but that does not constitute a boom. Just like with the last cycling boom came to an end, so will this one; cars are just too convenient. The advent of electric cars will make this more so - they are so easy to use even for short trips with no requirement to warm the engine up and very few serviceable parts.

I doubt there will be a huge government initiative to really shake things up.

 

[rogerzilla]

The advent of electric cars will make this more so - they are so easy to use even for short trips with no requirement to warm the engine up

I'd thought that too. There is a penalty in winter if the owner chooses to pre-heat the interior using mains power, but otherwise there is no disincentive to very short trips. It's the same with PHEVs. Mind you, the low mpg and extra pollution don't seem to put people off driving a couple of hundred yards in a petrol car.

 

[MontyVeda]

Is there a pandemic cycling craze? I've not noticed any significant change up here.

I was just thinking the very same thing.

 

[Cycleops]

A small percentage of new cyclists will continue but that does not constitute a boom. Just like with the last cycling boom came to an end, so will this one; cars are just too convenient. The advent of electric cars will make this more so - they are so easy to use even for short trips with no requirement to warm the engine up and very few serviceable parts.

I doubt there will be a huge government initiative to really shake things up.

You need to remember that the majority on here are also car owners and for some that live in remote communities a car is pretty much a necessity.
The government has banned the sale of fossil fuel cars from 2030. What else could they do? And do you mean an initiative to promote cycling or to discourage the use of cars and how could they do that?

 

[sheddy]

^ By adopting European best practice on planning for transport and housing