Thoughts on Cambidge

[magnatom]

Wow! I had to pop down to Cambridge yesterday for a meeting at the university. I hadn't been to Cambridge before, and as I was getting there early I thought I'd have a wander around.

Wow, was my first thought as I stepped out of the train station. I wasn't amazed by the architecture, oh no. It was the sheer number and dominance of bikes!

I thought I'd woken up on a different planet. It didn't take me long to realise how completely different the situation is in Glasgow. This morning I saw 4 other bikes on the way to work, and that was a busy day for bikes in Glasgow!

I think this illustrates one of the reasons why some people think I have more incidents than others. The prevalence of cycling in Glasgow is very, very low. Drivers don't expect to see us and just don't know how to deal with us when they do. However, someone driving in Cambridge (or a similar town or city) knows as they step into their car, that they will be driving around/next to/in front of/behind lots of bikes.

Not everywhere is like Cambridge of course, but this illustrates how wide the differences can be from one place to another and why some people might have more incidents that others. I know if I was cycling in Cambridge that I would have no where near as many incidents as I have in Glasgow.

Some other observations:

The vast majority of cyclists were on the road, stopping at lights etc. Some did flout the laws, but most did not.

The cyclists were wearing normal clothes (I saw only one cyclist with lycra on). Very few cyclists do in Glasgow. I think the flat terrain makes a difference. There are some streets in Glasgow, that even cars have trouble getting up!

I saw the taxi that cut cab up the other day! It's registration is very distinct. I didn't not have a chance to shout at him and mention cyclecraft, however.....

I saw one helmet camera cyclist with an ATC 2000 on top of their blue helmet. They were cycling along Downing street at about 3:30 - 4:00pm ish. They had a yellowy green rucksack. Anyone on here?

 

[Tetedelacourse]

Wow! I had to pop down to Cambridge yesterday for a meeting at the university. I hadn't been to Cambridge before, and as I was getting there early I thought I'd have a wander around.

Wow, was my first thought as I stepped out of the train station. I wasn't amazed by the architecture, oh no. It was the sheer number and dominance of bikes!

I thought I'd woken up on a different planet. It didn't take me long to realise how completely different the situation is in Glasgow. This morning I saw 4 other bikes on the way to work, and that was a busy day for bikes in Glasgow!

I think this illustrates one of the reasons why some people think I have more incidents than others. The prevalence of cycling in Glasgow is very, very low. Drivers don't expect to see us and just don't know how to deal with us when they do. However, someone driving in Cambridge (or a similar town or city) knows as they step into their car, that they will be driving around/next to/in front of/behind lots of bikes.

Not everywhere is like Cambridge of course, but this illustrates how wide the differences can be from one place to another and why some people might have more incidents that others. I know if I was cycling in Cambridge that I would have no where near as many incidents as I have in Glasgow.

Some other observations:

The vast majority of cyclists were on the road, stopping at lights etc. Some did flout the laws, but most did not.

The cyclists were wearing normal clothes (I saw only one cyclist with lycra on). Very few cyclists do in Glasgow. I think the flat terrain makes a difference. There are some streets in Glasgow, that even cars have trouble getting up!

I saw the taxi that cut cab up the other day! It's registration is very distinct. I didn't not have a chance to shout at him and mention cyclecraft, however.....

I saw one helmet camera cyclist with an ATC 2000 on top of their blue helmet. They were cycling along Downing street at about 3:30 - 4:00pm ish. They had a yellowy green rucksack. Anyone on here?

Come off it Mag, how unfit are you? I used to zip up to Blytheswood Square from Cadogan Square on my way home from work, and no it wasn't anything to do with the ladies of the lanterne rouge!

Must admit I'd like to see Cambridge for the same reason though - Bruges was a real eye-opener when we had a break there last year. Shear volume first, and then how people obviously considered bikes to be a part of mainstream life and not a hobby or a separate activity. Made me realise how far away we are from the road culture on the continent.

Helmet cam spotting, now there's a new low.

 

[Yellow Fang]

Strange what you say about Glasgow. I was quite impressed by their cycle lanes when I was up there.

 

[magnatom]

Come off it Mag, how unfit are you? I used to zip up to Blytheswood Square from Cadogan Square on my way home from work, and no it wasn't anything to do with the ladies of the lanterne rouge!

Must admit I'd like to see Cambridge for the same reason though - Bruges was a real eye-opener when we had a break there last year. Shear volume first, and then how people obviously considered bikes to be a part of mainstream life and not a hobby or a separate activity. Made me realise how far away we are from the road culture on the continent.

Helmet cam spotting, now there's a new low.

How about Gardner Steet? would you at least break out in sweat?

In Cambridge I think bikes are regarded as mainstream. Every type of person was riding them, young girls in short skirts , young blokes, businessmen, mum with kids, older ladies and gents etc. Of course the weather yesterday was quite nice. Do all of these people still cycle in the rain and in the winter? The variety of bikes was an eyeopener as well.

 

[magnatom]

Strange what you say about Glasgow. I was quite impressed by their cycle lanes when I was up there.

Depends where you are. On my route, they are almost non-existent. Of course, I don't personally feel that that is a problem. However, the lack of infrastructure doesn't encourage new people onto their bikes.

In Glasgow, people think your a little mad if you cycle. That would not appear to be the case in Cambridge.

 

[Maz]

Do all of these people still cycle in the rain and in the winter?

Having driven to Cambridge more times than I care to recall, far too many cyclists there are without lights when riding at night, let alone reflectives.

 

[GrahamG]

Mate, I know the feeling - was exactly the same for me going to Oxford for the first time from Birmingham! I'm now at a half-way house, Bristol has lots of cyclists but nowhere near Oxford/Cambridge as it's very hilly.

 

[magnatom]

Mate, I know the feeling - was exactly the same for me going to Oxford for the first time from Birmingham! I'm now at a half-way house, Bristol has lots of cyclists but nowhere near Oxford/Cambridge as it's very hilly.

In some ways it depressed me. It just highlighted how far cities like Glasgow are from becoming a cycling city.

 

[Janeyb]

I commute through from Cambridge station to Addenbrooke's Hospital. If it's any consolation - yes there are lots of cyclists but unfortunately it doesn't stop drivers being ignorant. In fact, it sometimes makes things worse as some of the Cambridge cyclists ignore every rule of the road and hence annoy drivers - especially bus drivers unfortunately!

 

[magnatom]

I commute through from Cambridge station to Addenbrooke's Hospital. If it's any consolation - yes there are lots of cyclists but unfortunately it doesn't stop drivers being ignorant. In fact, it sometimes makes things worse as some of the Cambridge cyclists ignore every rule of the road and hence annoy drivers - especially bus drivers unfortunately!

There certainly were some cyclists who were being idiots. At least though, the law abiders are more visible than here in Glasgow. Also more of the drivers will have had experience on bike, that must be a good thing.

Of course you will get idiot drivers everywhere and I am sure Cambridge is no exception!

 

[dondare]

I used to live in Cambridge and cycled a lot. Then I moved to London and was appalled by the difference. Now London seems easy to me, but Glasgow sounds like hell.
I went to Cambridge a week ago and has a ride in a cycle-taxi. Very interesting, probably cost more than a minicab would have done, tho.

 

[magnatom]

I used to live in Cambridge and cycled a lot. Then I moved to London and was appalled by the difference. Now London seems easy to me, but Glasgow sounds like hell.
I went to Cambridge a week ago and has a ride in a cycle-taxi. Very interesting, probably cost more than a minicab would have done, tho.

I wouldn't say it was hell, it's just that we are so few that drivers just don't know how to drive around us. The numbers are increasing, so hopefully things will improve with time.

 

[John the Monkey]

.... it's just that we are so few that drivers just don't know how to drive around us.

...and therefore choose the option of whizzing past at high speed whilst shouting "gerronthecyclepath"?

That's the thing about drivers over here in general, I think, the default seems to be bang past as fast as you can and hate whatever's in the way of that limited objective. It'll be interesting to see whether larger numbers of cyclists *do* change attitudes in places like London - I get the feeling that there isn't much crossover between cyclists and drivers (yet) in the sense of people being members of one group one day, and the other the next.

 

[magnatom]

...and therefore choose the option of whizzing past at high speed whilst shouting "gerronthecyclepath"?

That's the thing about drivers over here in general, I think, the default seems to be bang past as fast as you can and hate whatever's in the way of that limited objective. It'll be interesting to see whether larger numbers of cyclists *do* change attitudes in places like London - I get the feeling that there isn't much crossover between cyclists and drivers (yet) in the sense of people being members of one group one day, and the other the next.

Actually, that's a good point JTM. I think crossover is important, and I get the sense that you get that in Cambridge. In Glasgow, if you drive to work, you drive to work. You wouldn't be seen dead on a bike.....

 

[CopperBrompton]

I get the feeling that there isn't much crossover between cyclists and drivers (yet) in the sense of people being members of one group one day, and the other the next.

The vast majority of cyclists are also drivers, and certainly virtually all the cyclists I know regularly drive cars too.

Ben