Short commute + harassment = worth giving up and saving the hassle?

[goo_mason]

I hate cycling to work too. What can you do, it's life, I don't think you are meant to enjoy it.

I love cycling to work. It's the work I have to do when I get there that I hate !!!

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I love cycling to work. It's the work I have to do when I get there that I hate !!!

+1 .. although I do actually quite like work, I just like the journey to and from better. 'ceptin when I have to take the car.

Yep, ditto, <snip>
Eyeball people, make proper eye contact.
<snip>
A little wave to a courteoud motorist works wonders, I think people get a buzz out of the acknowledgement of their generosity, its compelling, they will want it every time and so will behave better, not everyone as some are just self interested, fat, lazy pathetic examples of humanity.

Eye contact does seem to help: it's something I remember from my motorbike days. It reminds them you're a real person, but also means you can be - reasonably - sure they've seen you. If I can't get eye contact from someone waiting at a side-road or whatever, I'm extra super double special careful .. which is a bit more than my normal careful state of readiness.

Saying thanks is also a winner, defo. It shows that you appreciate what they've done so they're more likely to do it next time .. but if "next time" they get no acknowledgement they might go back to "who cares about effin bikes" mode.

I know some say it's a bit off "having" to say thanks to someone who's just obeying the law but it doesn't hurt and can have a hugely beneficial effect, so why not?

 

[BentMikey]

Saying thanks is very important - it spreads around good karma, and it makes drivers much more tolerant towards cyclists. Think not of yourself, but of the next few cyclists that driver meets.

Eye contact is part of good communication, but never ever use it to assume a driver has seen you, and even if they have done, that they won't then pull out. Look instead at the "body language" of the car, and still don't trust 'em.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Saying thanks is very important - it spreads around good karma, and it makes drivers much more tolerant towards cyclists. Think not of yourself, but of the next few cyclists that driver meets.

Eye contact is part of good communication, but never ever use it to assume a driver has seen you, and even if they have done, that they won't then pull out. Look instead at the "body language" of the car, and still don't trust 'em.

Absolutely. Sorry, re-reading my post above I've realised that I didn't really make that clear.

 

[cheadle hulme]

Mine is okay part of the way (past Bramhall park and the tennis club) pretty dismal another part of the way (involving crossing the A6 and the mountain of traffic that is bramhall to davenport...)

I do Cheadle Hulme > Davenport > A6 > Bredbury > Hattersley.

The roads round Bramhall/Davenport are pretty awful during school run time. Try experimenting with different routes, perhaps on a Sunday? If you cycle the roads you'd drive on, its not particulary nice round there.

 

[BentMikey]

Absolutely. Sorry, re-reading my post above I've realised that I didn't really make that clear.

I also assumed you meant it, but thought I should make it clear for anyone who hadn't thought of that.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Cheers, BM. I read your post and thought, "isn't that what I said?" and then re-read mine and realised that it was what I meant but hadn't really said it too well.

 

[pedaling]

I do Cheadle Hulme > Davenport > A6 > Bredbury > Hattersley.

The roads round Bramhall/Davenport are pretty awful during school run time. Try experimenting with different routes, perhaps on a Sunday? If you cycle the roads you'd drive on, its not particulary nice round there.

Sounds painful! I remember learning to drive round near Bredbury and how appalling the drivers were there (sounds like a generalisation but it's true.)
The roads are okay on Sundays, but it's not Sundays that I'm needing to cycle this route. Although it is a good idea re: trying different routes out.

Bramhall and Davenport annoys me especially... it stinks! So many fumes! So many cars carrying just one person! Sometimes I give up, and if the pavement is clear, just cycle on that. I get fed up of feeling like I'm going to be hit or have another near-miss due to drivers taking chances.

I've had the A-Z out and looked at more minor roads, but even those get clogged up. There doesn't seem any way to avoid Davenport, other than the A6 (which I don't really fancy.) Maybe just give in and use the pavements?

 

[pedaling]

Another local..... keep at it - I know about the traffic in the area - any other routes you could possibly use that run parallel ?

Only parallel route for the awful bit is the A6, which is a worse alternative (lots of big lorries on top of lots of 'get there quick' drivers.) I've had the A-Z out and studied carefully but given the distance, there doesn't seem any alternative that I can see. The cycling options are just crap, frankly.

 

[pedaling]

You mentioned panniers. People do say that drivers give you a wider berth when overtaking because the bike looks wider. Put it on the right hand side for maximum effect. Panniers would also be much better for carrying books than a rucksack. If money's tight, instead of getting a pannier you could do like my friend and just strap your rucksack to a rack. Have you checked whether your mountain bike can take a rack?

Don't worry about not having proper cycle clothing, although from my last experience of Manchester waterproofs are a must

I should really do panniers. Good idea about making drivers give you more space. I thought about getting one of those sticks on the side of my bike... Can it take a rack? I have no idea. I don't know much about bikes, other than knowing that I like cycling (when it's traffic-quiet.) I'll check with a friend's dad.

I've noticed my trousers seem to wear on the top of my thighs when I cycle more - wondering about any way of getting round this. Yes, waterproofs are a must. I currently have a 'waterresistant' jacket... and everyone knows what that means in Northern rain

 

[pedaling]

Don't let them get you down.

Ride assertively, out from the kerb. Ride in the middle to stop them even trying to get past if you have to.

Panniers -Ortlib are the boys, but they're expensive.

For a 4 mile commute I wouldn't worry about trousers being waterproof, as long as you can change at either end. I carry overtrousers, but I think I've used them on my 5 mile commute once in a couple of years. Go for something like Endura Hummvees (3/4 or full length) or some thick leggings for the winter.

Don't give up. One more cyclist on the roads is one more chance for drivers to get used to us.

Riding in the middle I get beeped/ sworn/ shouted at - even if I'm doing it where I judge it reasonable. I just don't know how to stop this. Drivers don't seem to understand that we too deserve space. I suppose, however, that simply budging over and compromising my safety isn't going to help. Too often though they just get ridiculously aggressive.

I don't ride right next to the kerb. So many of the roads are really shabby that you can't anyway because of unrepaired potholes etc.

I'm substituting riding (horse-riding!) trousers for cycling-leggings at the moment. They seem to do the job okay because they're built to cope with wear

I don't want to give up, I want more people to cycle, but I don't want the stress of it!

 

[BentMikey]

If you have to ride in the middle to protect yourself and you get beeped, take it as positive reinforcement. They've seen you and are saying hello!

 

[cheadle hulme]

You're limited as you need to cross the railway to get north from Bramhall. I guess you're using Bramhall Lane (A5102). There is another bridge which joins Chudleigh Close and Cromley Road. Might be worth a look? It would mean you could use the residential streets to head north. A bit tortuous, but definitely quieter.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&h...8057,-2.147661&spn=0.001395,0.005493&t=h&z=18

 

[pedaling]

Hi pedaling and welcome
Here's my advise:

• Get a rear rack and some panniers for the books.
• Go to Homebase and buy a 6 foot length of 8 by 4, a box of 12 inch nails, a big hammer and a bungee rope with hooks on each end.
• Use your imagination to fashion an improvised “overtake too close and your bodywork gets scratched” device to strap on top of the pannier rack.
• Strap device to mountain bike after filling panniers.
• Cycle too and from destination with a smile on your face.
• Don’t forget about improvised device when a, filtering; b, cycling along a narrow cycle path; or c, taking your bike inside the house!
• Finally – don’t let the buggers get you down – and relax in the knowledge that you’re not a complete and utter twat like the motorists you’re describing above…

I think my old horse-riding (how useful the riding gear can be!) whip could be used for the device you're describing above. So long as I attach something sharp/ capable of damage to it... a good device for those precious about their metal cages.

I find judging filtering difficult anyway - any advice? - the cars don't move over so there's rarely room to do it on the roads that I need to do it on! I will have a search to see if there's some threads here on filtering.

 

[pedaling]

You're limited as you need to cross the railway to get north from Bramhall. I guess you're using Bramhall Lane (A5102). There is another bridge which joins Chudleigh Close and Cromley Road. Might be worth a look? It would mean you could use the residential streets to head north. A bit tortuous, but definitely quieter.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&h...8057,-2.147661&spn=0.001395,0.005493&t=h&z=18

---

I'm actually in Cheadle Hulme, quite near to Bramhall Park Road (which I go up, then onto Bramhall Lane), so I'm approaching from the other direction. Probably wasn't clear enough about that!