Just been to London...

[Danny]

Yep, though illegal most of the RLJing I saw wasn't inconsiderate. The cyclists didn't inconvenience any of the cars. Maybe with peds it was a little less considerate, weaving around them.

I wouldn't mind if they weaved around, its when the ride straight at pedestians and expect them to jump out of the way that I get cross

 

[Radius]

Most of the CM people are rent a mob who will turn up to anything where they can cause civil disobedience fight with police and smash a few windowshttp://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/gbr/gbteam_home.asp

Although I don't enjoy CM all that much, and generally deplore such hopelessly sensationalist activism as you describe, it's simply not true to state that 'most of the CM people are rent a mob....'. In actual fact, most of the 'CM people' are either fixie riders or fairly new / inexperienced cyclists looking for some excitement, on occasion having their ride stagnated by ill-placed protests on the part of a pitiable minority that serve more to tar the name of cycling than to make a stand for a worthwhile cause.

 

[Array]

Although I don't enjoy CM all that much, and generally deplore such hopelessly sensationalist activism as you describe, it's simply not true to state that 'most of the CM people are rent a mob....'. In actual fact, most of the 'CM people' are either fixie riders or fairly new / inexperienced cyclists looking for some excitement, on occasion having their ride stagnated by ill-placed protests on the part of a pitiable minority that serve more to tar the name of cycling than to make a stand for a worthwhile cause.

I'd agree that most people on CM are looking to enjoy their ride and have fun, but it's the few loud trouble stirrers that will always stand out, and sadly they're the ones the drivers will remember too. Not the happy content cyclists showing what an enjoyable experience cycling can be.

 

[dellzeqq]

No I don't agree. I got caught up in a CM a few years ago as a cyclist when I lived in and commuted in London. It was pretty scary. There were loads of anarchists around intimidating pedestrians and people who had got caught in their cars who looked literally terrified. Most of the CM people are rent a mob who will turn up to anything where they can cause civil disobedience fight with police and smash a few windows. The noise from their whistles was deafening . Nope these people do nothing but harm for the image of cycling.

which is why they're applauded by pedestrians.

Strange to say I've never seen a fight on CM (other than a taxi driver being arrested), or a window smashed. But it would be churlish to curtail this work of fiction. Any other 'relevations' you want to share with us? Or should we wait until a little after opening time?

Zimmers is right, of course. It has been, in the past, a simple celebration of cycling in a group. From time to time it gets sidetracked in to something worthy. At the moment it's kind of worthy, and kind of messenjah-stylee (not that I mind the latter). There are a few fruitcakes, as there are in any walk of life, and the 'talk' at the beginning of this month's ride by the idiot who has decided he is 'Mr. CM' was so tasteless and crass, that Mrs D didn't want to stay (we pass the place where Rebecca Goossen died on the way to work, and having her death trivialised was unbearable).

Next year it might return to being a social event. Time will tell.

 

[Bodhbh]

Well I went to London...I was watching the cyclists up there and the amount of red light jumpers is unbelievable! I swear 99 out of a 100 did.

It is nuts. I'm not particularly confident in heavy traffic so don't mind 'doing things by the book' and stopping at the lights to gather my thoughts a bit. However, most of time in London I seem to be in a minority of one sat there. You can only sit there feeling like a lemon for so long, before you think ah bollox and go off and join em.

 

[Greenbank]

I'm in two minds about CM. I agree with it in terms of generating awareness of cyclists and their right to be using the road, but I think that the attitude of a few people on the rides (with their own agenda) often just serves to widen the gap of understanding, sympathy and compassion between cyclists and drivers.

That's why I stopped going to it. In my oponion, with respect to attitudes towards cyclists in London, it's got to the point where it does more damage than good.

Ironically, the way to "solve" this is to motivate everyone who thinks the same (and has abandoned it) to come along again and, with much bigger numbers, just leave the slogan-chanting trusties to it. If 400 odd people just carry on past the BP building then what's going to happen?

 

[MacB]

having been in London for the first time in ages recently, and on a bike, I did notice one heck of a lot of traffic lights. Traffic also seemed to make very slow progress. Does anyone think there's an arguement for making it buses/taxis/bikes only?

 

[swee'pea99]

having been in London for the first time in ages recently, and on a bike, I did notice one heck of a lot of traffic lights. Traffic also seemed to make very slow progress.

I do sometimes wonder whether the breakdown between pro & anti-RLJ posters here largely maps onto London (or other big city) v non-big city based.

There are probably many places in the country where it really is the case that stopping at the lights 'only adds a few seconds to your journey'. But that's certainly not true of London. If you commute in London, you RLJ, unless you're 'on a mission'. If I didn't, it would waste a great deal of energy, and add probably 5-10 minutes to my daily commute.

For all but a few in London, the question is not whether you RLJ but how.

 

[zimzum42]

Agree on the last point, RLJ is pretty much normal in London, as long as it's done properly, it's all OK...

As for allowing only buses and taxis etc in, I think it would work for the central CC zone....

 

[Jake]

oh i wonder what all that was about. happily cycling home friday night and got to the iMax and all these cyclists going slow around the rtoundabout, cars tooting horns etc. I just cycled home and didnt join in. Did not see any posts on here advertising it

 

[thomas]

Does anyone think there's an arguement for making it buses/taxis/bikes only?

No. What about delivery lorrys and things? I think if you think about all the implications and knock on effects it would be a bad idea.

 

[Greenbank]

Depends on your route. On my 12km commute from Putney to Southbank there are about 25 sets of lights and I usually only get stopped by 4 or 5 of them on an average commute. The majority only go red for pedestrians wanting to cross, or traffic from a side road. Most of the time they are green to allow the traffic to flow freely towards London.

I don't RLJ.

The only lights that I lose signifcant time at are the ones on the North side of Vauxhall bridge. Come up to them just as they go red and you've got a 2 minute wait until the next green. Other than that it's generally only 20 seconds or so at 4 or 5 sets of lights, so well under 2 minutes.

Going North/South through central London is a completely different story.

 

[Amanda P]

I'm in two minds about CM. I agree with it in terms of generating awareness of cyclists and their right to be using the road, but I think that the attitude of a few people on the rides (with their own agenda) often just serves to widen the gap of understanding, sympathy and compassion between cyclists and drivers.

Most people are just out enjoying the ride, but it's the few trying to wind everyone up that always stand out, which is only going to make most drivers that want to dislike them hate cyclists even more.

I was going to post, but Array has said precisely what I wanted to say.

 

[hackbike 666]

Agree on the last point, RLJ is pretty much normal in London, as long as it's done properly, it's all OK...

Rubbish.

For all but a few in London, the question is not whether you RLJ but how.

Really sums it up doesn't it?

Must save time.Sod the law and everyone else.

Im really disapointed in some of the posting and general attitudes on here.

 

[Amanda P]

, it would ... add probably 5-10 minutes to my daily commute.

As much as that?

It's this sort of impatience that makes the roads the fraught place they are - especially in Loondump.

I can't help thinking life would be a little sweeter for everyone if you (and all the other RLJers, and all the other impatient, high-blood-pressure drivers) just got up 5-10 minutes earlier and took their time.