Riding around Bristol

[mark barker]

I had to go to Bristol yesterday afternoon, and returned home this morning. Instead of driving I went on the train and took my bike with me. What a revelation! It was so nice to ride around the city, even in "rush hour". Bikes everywhere (coming out of Templemeads station) and no problems with other road users... A few brief chats whilst waiting at lights and no mad rush when the lights turned green!

And I mustn't forget the lovely woman that got on the train in Bath with flowers on her handlebars (which she informed me sometimes get stolen, but it doesn't bother her as long as it makes their day a little better!)

I'm in London tomorrow... Is this brief experience of happy cycling in a city going to shattered?

 

[CharlieB]

I guess it depends on where you are and at what time of day, Mark.

In my experience of NW London, out of the rush hour it's fine and motorists are generally polite. However, in the rush hour, it's a different story. The WVMs are in such a hurry to get to the next job, they forget their manners and will cut anyone up and RLJ. Ditto the large German cars and the black cabs (whose direction indicators don't function, by the way).
There are also proportionately fewer cyclists than Bristol - those that are here I find quite chatty, generally.

How's Swindon in that respect?

 

[summerdays]

Glad you liked Bristol ... it will be interesting to see how you compare it to London... as someone who hasn't cycled that much in towns/cities other than Bristol I'm always interested to what impressions others have ... I must get around to cycling more in other places myself.

 

[Davidc]

I cycle in both, occasionally, and don't have many problems in either.

The central part of London is better than further out, to the south west anyway, in my experience. I used Boris bikes last time I arrived and left via Paddington - great idea - a bit heavy but a great way to get around without having to take your own bike on the train.

 

[mark barker]

I'll be heading from Paddington to Walthamstow via the Design museum, and I aim to get into London around 11ish. The journey back to the station is likely to be around 5ish, so I'm expecting the worst!

There are also proportionately fewer cyclists than Bristol - those that are here I find quite chatty, generally.

How's Swindon in that respect?

Most the cyclists I see in Swindon are on the cycle paths rather than the road (our routes tend to be shared pavements rather than assigned parts of the road). Because of this I rarely speak to other cyclists, and to be honest theres not that many around anyway!

 

[mark barker]

it will be interesting to see how you compare it to London...

London was.. an experience! It varied so much from one road to another. Around the Paddington station area wasn't too bad, busy but fine. As I got nearer the Design museum the traffic got heavier but again no problems. Then I headed east towards Walthamstow. OMG! The nearer I got the worst things got, and its got to be said the problem seemed to taxis! In fact I can narrow it down to a particular company, Addison Lee. Do their drivers get some kind of exemption from the driving test?
As for other cyclists, I didn't get much more than a hello from anyone. It just seemed that everyone was in a rush to be somewhere else, even those that were riding slower than me!

Its a shame really, as I was quite enjoying my visit to the big city (us Swindon folks don't get out much!) and in the main the riding was great, spoiled by a few muppets that really should've known better.

 

[Bornagaincyclist]

Hi There,

Glad you like cycling in Bristol. I could not beleve it when Bristol got an award(?) for being a cycle friendly city. So I got my bike out again and found that there are a lot of new cycle paths about. Some people would say that it is a good thing because of the standard of driving in Bristol leaves a lot to be desired. Try a cycle around the docks on a sunny afternoon if you can!

Regards Gordon

 

[mgarl10024]

Gordon!


Mark - like Summerdays, I've not cycled in many other cities. In fact anywhere other than Bristol and Bath. I watch a lot of the videos on here of people like Gaz zipping around at speed and think that it must be a very different type of riding in 'the big smoke' than I'm used to!
Bristol varies, IMO. Some routes are very well catered for and are improving all the time. Being a fan of cycle-paths myself (as I don't feel confident on the faster roads) I tend to look out for them. We're blessed by the Bristol-Bath path, and routes through places like Bradley Stoke are very well done (in fact, on parts of Bradley Stoke way there are shared paths on both sides of the road).
However, using sites like CycleStreets, I've found it more difficult to plot busy-road free routes towards the West of the city. I have family in Henleaze and Avonmouth, and trying to plot a route between them without going on busy roads I've found to be quite difficult. It may just be that I don't know those areas well enough.

 

[summerdays]

mgarl10024 ... I've posted a route I sometimes take between Henleaze and Avonmouth, though I more often go through WOT, but it seems relatively quiet to me - but then I'm used to these roads. If you want to avoid certain roads I could see if I could come up with a route avoiding them.

I've started this route at the bike shop, and cut across towards Stoke Bishop from there (if you aren't confident crossing Westbury Road then there is a zebra crossing at this point - I've been known to use it when its really busy and I'm failing to get a gap!!! - though its quite good at creating a gap for you to cross as well), and once you are on the Portway there is the cycle path ... I just cross the road with the traffic and cycle up onto it but there is a pedestrian crossing as well with that set of lights.

Or I might cut down through Sea Mills to get to the Portway ... just depends how I'm feeling that day. If you are trying to avoid Shirehampton Road then you could use Druid Stoke instead? Then down Sea Mills Lane and under the Portway to join it, though its a slightly longer route.

 

[marvin]

I commute to central Bristol every day and I love it. I would say we have a lower proportion of lunatic drivers than some other cities.

I go to London occasionally but it never occurred to me to take the bike on the train - I might try it next time. How hard can it be eh?

Anyway it's really good to hear a positive report from a visitor.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I've ridden through Bristol during the rush hour only a few times.It's okay, I would not avoid it. My favourite ever driver comment was made coming down Park Street. A fine summers morning but I had my AyUps on nonetheless and the the guy in the car in front said "Oi mate are you trying to melt my car?" in an full on Brizzle accent.

 

[campbellab]

Bristol > Swindon, never should have moved!

 

[Bornagaincyclist]

I'm not sure about this modern technology in bus/cycle lanes.
I was sat on the centre opposite the Hippodrome waiting for the lights to change for 5 minuets. No bus came up behind me and I was astonished that my vast weight was not enough to trip the sensor. Much to the amusement of several pedestrians, I had to get off my bike and walk around the crossing.
On the plus side, I have been informed that the fountains are good for washing your tyres off, but have not tried it yet.
Regards Gordon

 

[summerdays]

I'm not sure about this modern technology in bus/cycle lanes.
I was sat on the centre opposite the Hippodrome waiting for the lights to change for 5 minuets. No bus came up behind me and I was astonished that my vast weight was not enough to trip the sensor. Much to the amusement of several pedestrians, I had to get off my bike and walk around the crossing.

Those lights aren't triggered by bikes ... they are set to be triggered by the buses and it has been reported many times. If you can't trigger a light then the lights are deemed to be not working and you are legally allowed to go through on red. That set are well known for not working for cyclists ... just proceed with caution due to the number of pedestrians that cross at that point. Or do as I do and instead just cycle through the pedestrian area in the middle - which is all shared space and avoids 3 sets of traffic lights - I found that out when I had problems at that light years ago.

There are other sets of lights that are triggered by cyclists and I wish they wouldn't and I'd just sneak through the red, instead I end up stopping the traffic in the neighbouring lane (the set just beyond Evan's and the other set on Malago Road).

 

[Bornagaincyclist]

Thanks very much for that, I'll proceed with caution!

Regards Gordon