Manchester Death wish?

[Rachnewbie]

As someone who has not had her first commute yet, having read some of the stories on here I am questioning the sanity of this. Are the roads that bad that I am taking my life in my own hands so to speak, or is just the fact that this is the place to air your woes about bad drivers? I have enquired about some cycle training before I take to the road anyway but ... maybe looking on the site was not as clever as I first thought lol.

 

[ianrauk]

No the roads are not that bad. Far from it.
The bad experiences that you read on here are a tiny drop in the ocean out of many many thousands of good bicycle commutes.

 

[gaz]

Bad news travels 7 times faster than good times. It sticks in the mind and makes more of an impact when you tell it.

 

[HovR]

As someone who has not had her first commute yet, having read some of the stories on here I am questioning the sanity of this. Are the roads that bad that I am taking my life in my own hands so to speak, or is just the fact that this is the place to air your woes about bad drivers? I have enquired about some cycle training before I take to the road anyway but ... maybe looking on the site was not as clever as I first thought lol.

Don't worry about it - The roads aren't really that bad! With over 20,000 members, it's no surprise that there are a few posts of videos and accounts of bad experiences on the road.

And let's face it, it'd be a bit boring if everyone posted every time they had an uneventful safe ride.

 

[Rachnewbie]

My aunty has literally just begged me not to get a bike due to the chaos and danger on the roads, following which I look on here because I don't like football - not doing much for my argument hahah

 

[DCLane]

My aunty has literally just begged me not to get a bike due to the chaos and danger on the roads, following which I look on here because I don't like football - not doing much for my argument hahah

I'd suggest looking at the route and working it out beforehand. What route looks best? Where are the hills/junctions? Where could there be problems? That way you're able to respond to a situation quicker if it happens.

My wife and colleagues thought I was crazy when I said I'd commute the 10 miles each way last year, on dual-carriageways at 40 & 70. Yet I've done it, along with many others. There's lots of Manchester commuters on here (GB155, Potsy, Fossyant & others) who can advise on routes.

You show them wrong ...

 

[400bhp]

As someone who has not had her first commute yet, having read some of the stories on here I am questioning the sanity of this. Are the roads that bad that I am taking my life in my own hands so to speak, or is just the fact that this is the place to air your woes about bad drivers? I have enquired about some cycle training before I take to the road anyway but ... maybe looking on the site was not as clever as I first thought lol.

Most of it is the bit emboldened above.

You're in Manc? There's a few of us who commute in and around Manc and to be fair I would say bikes and cars get along reasonably well.

I do stay off the main roads (A roads) as much as possible and I commute in at 7am which avoids most of the heavy traffic. There's also a fair bit of off roads to commute on as well.

Where are you commuting from/to? The locals might be able to give you some specific advice.

 

[HovR]

You might want to read this if you have concerns, and haven't cycled on the road before. As long as you cycle safely, the roads are a safe place to be.

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/the-essential-guide-for-new-commuters.56622/

 

[Rachnewbie]

I will be commuting from Middleton to Harpurhey about 7am, 12noon Harpurhey to Mills Hill Train station (at least at first) for the 12:40 train then Rochdale Train Station to Rochdale Infirmary, and of course home to Middleton at about 5pm. The canal paths have already been suggested to me for the Rochdale bit but I'm cautious about personal safety with that suggestion.

Thanks DC, I think I will. I think I will be safer and putting less people at risk that if I were driving.

 

[400bhp]

I'm south Manc but I think we have one or two up that way.

 

[400bhp]

If you can, change the thread title so that the Mancs will pick it up.

 

[Rachnewbie]

Any idea how I would be able to do that? Other alternative would be to start another thread?

 

[ianrauk]

Any idea how I would be able to do that? Other alternative would be to start another thread?

what do you want added and I will do so for you.

 

[Rachnewbie]

Just put Manc (or Manchester) Death wish and I'm sure the locals will be interested. lol

 

[Rachnewbie]

HovR - thanks for the link, I'm reading it now.