Skyride hits London

[scouserinlondon]

I went along as a ped as my trip to Birmingham became an overnighter, looked like fun.

 

[Alan Whicker]

It was a great day - seemed to bring out the best in folk. The bikes were so dense we were amazed we didn't see any collisions.

 

[ChrisKH]

It was a great day - seemed to bring out the best in folk. The bikes were so dense we were amazed we didn't see any collisions.

I saw a couple in quick succession under the bridge on the Embankment immediately after the tunnel at about 4.00 pm. First wasn't a collision, but a youngster fell out of his bike seat and looks like he broke his arm (quite a few sleeping ones I noticed) and there was a mass collision going East on the hill going down towards the tunnel. A couple of kids with minor injuries I think.

 

[jonny jeez]

Wow.... Skyride.... showing cyclists at their best!!!! A collection of arrogant, self righteous people ever to exist on two wheels!!! From the very moment we headed towards central London, my daughters and I witnessed from the bus endless cyclists flouting the the law by running red lights, one-way streets the wrong way to name a few offenses. But that was only the cyclists that used the roads.... why use a road when there's a lovely pavement??? Never mind the pedestrians... it's fun whizzing through around those annoying obstacles. The abuse I got when I pointed out that there was there was a lovely road just there!!! Even when you also point out that there's a cycle path that cyclists have crying out for!!!


How fantastic it must be to achieve the status of being a cyclist.... always being in the right. What a wonderful place the world would be. Making the country a greener place by doing away with the need for any traffic lights. Playing games with pedestrians by 'trying' to dodge them. Ohhh... the Southbank Thames path, cyclists appear to be under the illusion that it's a cycle path and the pedestrians are using THEIR right of way on THEIR cycle path!!!


How can a parent put so little value on their off-spring to strap their love ones to those god awful chairs on the back of their bikes... even with crash helmets!!! Then to have gall to run red lights with these children strapped to the back of these contraptions. This cycling breed could well be a dying breed... carry on with this attitude and they will be.

Hi Sophie, and let me be the first to welcome you.


It's always good to hear an opinion form many different views...so thanks for that.

You may be surprised to know that we (collectively) share many of the views and opinions that you mentioned and that is one of the reasons that we all join...and add to.... this forum. Perhaps you can invest a little time reading some of the threads to appreciate this first hand, so to speak......and also add some value to our forum.

I am, however a little perplexed by some other comments that you made.

The free ride day (now skyride) is organised as a way to allow cyclist around the country to enjoy the total freedom of a very limited part of their beloved cities. Most of theses people are regular users of the city streets and are therefore extremely excited to be able to cycle in safety, comfort and without the risk of traffic and other road users.

I would question what you expected to find as you seem surprised that the few streets that were closed off to bikes, were indeed occupied by said bikes.

It almost feels to me as if you were, metaphorically, the only non swimmer in the pool….so I wonder….why did you make the effort to go, surely not just so that you could criticise those who made the same effort to enjoy this unusual and very popular day of freedom.

I cant imagine for one moment that you had nothing better to do with your life than travel into London, during the London leg of the Skyride, then walk to the closed part of London (out of the many thousands of streets that were not closed), then stay there and shout at the cyclist’s that were inevitably going to also be there, then come home and search on line for a cycle community, then go to the effort to join that community and finally post your views.


…... just so that you could have a good old moan.



I am sure that this is not what you did at all…..you are clearly far to intelligent, cosmopolitan and understanding a person to do that...and not some sad, beligerant old scrouge who dosent know how to join in with the rest of the fun.

Out of interest Sophie, what bike do you ride? Are you a London commuter? Perhaps we will have the pleasure of meeting up whilst we try our best to ensure that cars, busses, taxis motorbike and uncaring, small minded pedestrians don't try to end our lives each day.

Thanks for coming.

Jonny

 

[garrilla]

Sophie, love, were you on the Thames path taking a sTROLL?

 

[Alan Whicker]

"Sophie" = James Martin

 

[BentMikey]

"Sophie" = James Martin

ITYM James Blunt?

 

[Alan Whicker]

ITYM James Blunt?

Only if that's rhyming slang...

 

[CotterPin]

Did you shout "we've got ourselves a convoy"???

Actually, I did when some friends joined en route. This is the third time I have led one of these mass rides and I have to say this time they was appreciably less aggro from other road users. Maybe there was more publicity so people expected it (except for Sophie ) or we were more assertive about taking our space on the road (although, of course, would have wound our new friend up mightily)

 

[Brains]

If Sophie is listening, we were instructed by the Marshals to go through the red lights.

When cycling to London the Marshals blocked the road, as instructed by TFL, to allow the majority of the traffic (the cyclists) through in a single block

When on the Freeride circuit itself, likewise the TFL supplied marshals were overriding the lights with their stop/go boards

To be totally honest as a daily commuter I saw a lot less illegal red light jumping yesterday with 100,000 (mostly inexperienced) cyclists than I see on a daily basis from the regular cycling commuters

Sofphie - We are interested in your opinions, are you interested in ours ?

 

[Sittingduck]

Hi Sophie, and let me be the first to welcome you.


It's always good to hear an opinion form many different views...so thanks for that.

You may be surprised to know that we (collectively) share many of the views and opinions that you mentioned and that is one of the reasons that we all join...and add to.... this forum. Perhaps you can invest a little time reading some of the threads to appreciate this first hand, so to speak......and also add some value to our forum.

I am, however a little perplexed by some other comments that you made.

The free ride day (now skyride) is organised as a way to allow cyclist around the country to enjoy the total freedom of a very limited part of their beloved cities. Most of theses people are regular users of the city streets and are therefore extremely excited to be able to cycle in safety, comfort and without the risk of traffic and other road users.

I would question what you expected to find as you seem surprised that the few streets that were closed off to bikes, were indeed occupied by said bikes.

It almost feels to me as if you were, metaphorically, the only non swimmer in the pool….so I wonder….why did you make the effort to go, surely not just so that you could criticise those who made the same effort to enjoy this unusual and very popular day of freedom.

I cant imagine for one moment that you had nothing better to do with your life than travel into London, during the London leg of the Skyride, then walk to the closed part of London (out of the many thousands of streets that were not closed), then stay there and shout at the cyclist’s that were inevitably going to also be there, then come home and search on line for a cycle community, then go to the effort to join that community and finally post your views.


…... just so that you could have a good old moan.



I am sure that this is not what you did at all…..you are clearly far to intelligent, cosmopolitan and understanding a person to do that...and not some sad, beligerant old scrouge who dosent know how to join in with the rest of the fun.

Out of interest Sophie, what bike do you ride? Are you a London commuter? Perhaps we will have the pleasure of meeting up whilst we try our best to ensure that cars, busses, taxis motorbike and uncaring, small minded pedestrians don't try to end our lives each day.

Thanks for coming.

Jonny

Priceless reply Jonny

 

[garrilla]

opinions, are you interested in ours ?

pay road tax, get opinions

simples

 

[mr_cellophane]

If Sophie is listening, we were instructed by the Marshals to go through the red lights.

When cycling to London the Marshals blocked the road, as instructed by TFL, to allow the majority of the traffic (the cyclists) through in a single block

Odd as on the briefing I went to we were told not to do that. Unlike last year, when we were told that we shouldn't really, but it was better if we did.

 

[mr_cellophane]

And I see that, once again, the official photographer took most photos of the women showing the most cleavage.