Manchester Death wish?

[400bhp]

You've just attracted the Moss Side Massive

 

[HLaB]

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.

No you'll be less safe, particularly healthwise and you will be putting more people at risk due to the negative externalities of driving, congestion, pollution etc.
I think the saying goes 'No News is Good News' people just report the negative because generally it attracts more publicity/attention/sells news papers etc but the truth of it these incidences are far outweighed by the positives. Also, you'll be travelling outside the busiest hours, give it a go sometimes and see how you actually feel about it, not sitting behind a keyboard thinking about the negatives which tend to fester.

 

[Rachnewbie]

HLaB - you inspire so much confidence - Chief Crash Test Dummy?!?

 

[Hip Priest]

As HovR says, read the guide for new commuters. It's brilliant, and if you follow the advice you'll be much safer. I've been commuting by bike for just over a year and I have fewer 'run-ins' with drivers than when I drove myself.

 

[HLaB]

HLaB - you inspire so much confidence - Chief Crash Test Dummy?!?

I'm still here

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

If you really want to improve your confidence, you can get free cycle training if you live and/or work in Greater Manchester. Have a look at: http://www.tfgm.com/cycling/training.cfm
This is Bikeability training, which is the national standard in cycle training.

 

[Rachnewbie]

I've done that this evening so I will be undertaking that before pursuing the commute. Thanks.Hopefully I won't be doing this ( I love these little emoticons hehe)

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Its been over thirty years since I came back to cycling after a ten year break, I've been commuting continually since, ninety nine percent of my commutes are totally routine and uneventful, as others have said some people use the forum to sound off an incident, some use the forum to get good advice after an incident and this gives a distorted picture of what goes on.

 

[dan_bo]

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.

How's about up moston lane up greengate then castleton and dale? Fairly steady route as it goes ( I grew up in moston)

 

[Rachnewbie]

I start in the centre of Midd but was thinking of going through Moston - even to get to Harpurhey. My first thought was avoiding the Blackley hills though (I'm not very fit - yet) Thanks for the advice.

 

[Ian Cooper]

I've cycled for 40 years on the roads of 15 different countries. Never had so much as a scratch. The fact is, you are safer on your bicycle than you are in a car. There is a moral panic at the moment regarding cycling, and the anti-cyclist argument is focused on pushing the idea that cycling is so dangerous that cyclists who choose the road are irresponsible and taking their lives in their hands. Sadly, many cyclists have bought into this argument, which is why so many of us are afraid to go out on the road.

 

[Andy_R]

One of the main things you'll find out, if you do get some training, is that communication is the key. Eye contact, signals, road positioning, negotiation. Think of it this way, when you are driving a car, and a cyclist in front of you looks behind at you, what is your normal reaction? This gives you an idea of what is going on with unspoken communication. Too often, bad cyclists just don't communicate, and bad drivers ignore information.

 

[Rachnewbie]

To be honest Ian I have just done some quick statistical research and according to statistics (which I know can be manipulated) I'm safer on a bike than as a pedestrian, which I am for 50% of my public transport journey. Glad to hear you've never had problems though.

 

[DCLane]

I'd echo Andy_R's comments; it's about being observant. Expect drivers/pedestrians/other cyclists to ignore you and watch for this.

 

[hillrep]

Welcome.

Lots of good advice already.

The book Cyclecraft (http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/ ) is full of good advice too and well worth a read, even if it is a little pedantic in places.

Most people keep commuting by bike because they soon start to enjoy it, I know I do.