So why doesn't everybody (who is able to) do it?

[jonny jeez]

I think the truth of the matter is that in many (most) companies, people who choose to ride into work were seen as weirdo's for a long time. In London over the last 3-4 years this image has changed dramatically and its is now actually "cool" to cycle in...hence the newfound enthusiasm for all things cycle related...but in other parts of the world (some extremely close to London) it is not yet so.


I worked for a sales organisation some 15 years ago out in the regions, if I'd turned up on a bike each day I am sure I would have been marginalised as the team was very cut throat and more than a little cliquey/shitty. they were all about fast cars, big lunches, drugs and pub...I went along with all of that and saw little wrong with it at the time


I'm in the job I am in now I entertain a lot, 5 years ago this meant lots of beer and food...nowadays I'm lucky/unlucky to find anyone who drinks at all during the day.


times are changing, but those old stereotypes do linger and many people still wont dream of cycling to work.


perhaps it wont be until 2026 (Boris's target for 400% cycle increase) when everyone will be considering it as a genuine/legitimate travel choice

 

[ClichéGuevara]

The usual responses I get have "cycle security" and "risk of accident" high up the list as well as shopping/collecting kids type excuses.

In my opinion, the perceived risk one is a double problem because it puts people in a mind set of "I'd ride in a cycle path" which leads to the perception that all bikes are dangerous and should be on cycle paths which colours the way they drive near cyclists. (IMHO of course).

The same people will drive a mile to spend over an hour getting changed, showered etc to ride an exercise bike in the gym.


As someone else has mentioned, gym's trendy they go to gym, when cycling becomes more trendy, they'll cycle until the next fad takes over. The power of the media, the gullibility of the public or both?

 

[palinurus]

Where I work I suspect the main reason is that in order to afford a reasonable size property employees have to live quite a fair way north of the site, beyond the sort of distance most people would consider commuting (I am one of the few employees who lives south of the site- I live in a 400 sq. ft. flat). Although I would now consider a 15 mile commute I'm not sure I would have when I started work- luckily my first commute was only five miles and I've moved further away subsequently.

The station is some way from the site, I can get on the train- 5 minutes walk from my flat and the train journey takes only a few minutes. Getting from the station to the site on the bus can take 40-45 minutes or more. From many surrounding towns the train is not a realistic option since the journey would involve travelling into London to change.

 

[gentlegreen]

Someone posted a link somewhere to a social scientist's analysis - they found "dimensions" I hadn't even considered about exposure in public places - embarrassment due to initial lack of fitness etc ...

 

[crumpetman]

Someone posted a link somewhere to a social scientist's analysis - they found "dimensions" I hadn't even considered about exposure in public places - embarrassment due to initial lack of fitness etc ...

It took me a while to commute because of such a reason. I took the time to practice/exercise in the evenings and weekends as I knew I would not be able to do the commute just like that.

 

[locker]

All sorts of reasons. I feel a lot more could be done to empower people to be able to make that choice, improved attitude towards cycling on the roads, secure cycle parking, proper wash/change facilities, incentives for landlords and new housing build to provide safe and secure areas for storing bicycles, civillised working hours, and an acceptance from employers that once staff leave the place of work, what they do between then and the next time they show up is none of their business, or in other works enforced work/life balance. Not everyone is able to make those choices, either down to the conditions they work in or the conditions they live in or both.

When I applied for planning permission to convert one of my properties into 5 flats I had to include facilities for secure bicycle parking & 5 car parking spaces, the outcome financially was minimal & the space taken up for the bikes was also minimal & after being completed there are 5 cars parked in the courtyard, 3 on the road & no bikes, the bike shed now being used for storage, such a shame

I agree that everyone has a choice & not everyone even likes the idea of cycling

 

[John90]

For some it's a practical issue - having to do the school run for example - but, sad to say, most people I talk to at my work say they don't cycle because they are afraid of the roads.

 

[locker]

True add to that some people actually prefer to sit in a shitty box on four wheels and pay through the nose to do it. I get all the time when are you going to get a car

To some people their cars are their pride & joy as it is with some cyclists with their bikes, but I am questioned all the time why I don`t drive my perfectly nice car instead of the bike (electric assisted it may be but watch this space now I`m fit) but again its my choice, the less choices you have maybe the better, i.e. cars are restricted entering towns, petrol prices etc. bring less choices as people will hopefully take the cheaper choice

But as most people know sitting in a shiity box on four wheels & going nowhere in a traffic jam is great as you can look at the view of the silly cyclists passing you & then have a go at them in work as they are just finishing their 2nd cup of tea but you haven`t got time for one

 

[Cosmicned]

Just got rid of my car- so theres no going back now- the Missus still has hers but i intend to avoid using it at all costs... Literally ;-)

 

[Adasta]

Pride.

This is the main reason that people don't cycle and remains one of the most dangerous elements of humanity. Those that laugh at people who wear lycra do so because they imagine themsevles in that situationa and fear that a person will say exactly the same things that they are saying. To avoid this, they say the comment first and never indulge in wearing lycra shorts, or cycling at all, thereby "winning" this imaginary battle.

However, it's not all their fault. Lots of cyclists have pride issues, too. This is what drives the "all the gear and no idea" mentality. It is essential for this type to have an "inferior" set that they can beat, thereby reassuring themselves that they are better. These are the type of people that sneer at someone just starting out, who doesn't know gearing or cadence, and will show them little to no curteousy on the road.

I also think that people are scared about subverting the "Car is King" culture we have. They're not strong enough to suffer the slings and arrows they would receive from others because, as I mentioned initially, they are too "proud".

 

[jonny jeez]

It took me a while to commute because of such a reason. I took the time to practice/exercise in the evenings and weekends as I knew I would not be able to do the commute just like that.

This is a very good point.

We get a huge amounts of questions from people "thinking" about riding that focus on "how long should it take, how far do most people go, what sort of bike...etc"

much of this type of questioning could be put down to a general fear that they (or their equipment) are just not up to the job and they want to ensure they wont embarrass themselves.

In reality, you can commute on any bike, at any level of fitness.

How should we remove this fear and assure people that, so long as they can ride a bike, take onboard some basic safety, then they can ride to work at whatever speed and in whatever style suits them?

 

[nich]

Spent 7 years in my current job commuting by train. Not really sure what happened, but something went wrong and I started getting all claustrophobic and suffering from anxiety, and it really started to affect me, so at that point I began to look into cycling.

I've always loved bikes, but rarely cycled more than 30 miles a weekend, let alone considering 25 miles a day for commuting to work.

I browsed a few bike forums, and it was thanks to them that I got into it. I saw that people were commuting into the city from similar distances to me, looked at how long it took them, and looked at how much fun they were having.

From then on it was just a case of going through the motions - 'give it one try, and see how it goes'.

I imagine that even if people don't like cycling, they are going to be forced to look into alternative methods of getting to work.

Traffic is only going to get worse, and petrol prices are ridiculous for the mileage you get out of cars. Motorbikes/scooters are cool, but when I when I take the scooter I don't get to work any quicker as parking is a 10 min walk from office

 

[jonny jeez]

Spent 7 years in my current job commuting by train. Not really sure what happened, but something went wrong and I started getting all claustrophobic and suffering from anxiety,

I don't suffer anxiety but I did begin feel less comfortable riding the trains and tubes once we started to receive so many terrorist threats.

tubes especially

So, I started to motorcycle to work, cycling was a natural transition.

 

[al78]

Laziness;
Poor cycling infrastructure;
Low confidence of their own fitness;
Terrain;
Lack of shower facilities at their destination;
Dealing with autumn and winter;
Perception – danger from cars;
Perception – you cycle if you can’t afford a car;
Perception – cycling can only be enjoyed by kids

Also, their job may require them to have a car.

 

[Hip Priest]

I think a lot of people are doubtful of their own phyisical abilities. Often colleagues will ask me how far I've come. When I say 'about four and half miles' they invariably go 'Wow! You must be super fit'. Another woman in work was boasting of her active lifestyle, because she walks 10 minutes each day from the bus station to the office.