What Stops Commuters from cycling?

[growingvegetables]

Of the lads and lasses where I worked - three groups.

a) Drivers - who simply couldn't comprehend in any way, shape or form the idea of cycling anywhere, let alone to work.

b) Drivers - who'd seriously thought about cycling into work, but had seen far too many examples of execrable driving to even contemplate it.

c) And those who cycled - some in fine weather, some all year round.

Other drivers "seemed" to be the big sticking point?

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

What stops Joe Average from commuting by bike?

Idleness, to which they then try and find excuses to bolt on.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

Yep, I'd far rather be wet than battered by the wind

I'm now getting rather grumpy with the old bat in work who says " At least it's dry for you today!" on days when the lamposts are waving!

The same one who , after I got twatted off said " You should be wearing a ....." You know the rest!

 

[Peteaud]

For me, 70 mile round trip. If i worked closer to home the car would be gone.

 

[dawesome]

If your commute's less than about 6 or 7 miles I don't think you need a shower.

 

[BSRU]

Apart from what has already been mentioned, workplace facilities, or lack of, have some bearing.

As three bikes have been stolen from the works bike shed this year, many cyclists have decided it is not worth the risk.

 

[derrick]

For a lot of people it's just laziness, just to much effort, there does seem to be a lot of people who can't ride a bike, i have afew freinds who have never been taught how to ride, my wife was never allowed to have one when she was young, and only since we got together she has learned to ride, and she now enjoys cycling, so she was about 35 years old before she learned how to ride, i try to encourage a lot of our friends to ride, but i think most are just bone idle, i still love em all though.

 

[BlackPanther]

What stops Joe Average from commuting by bike?
With all the technical advances being made in most fields why hasn't anyone come up with a cheap solution to cycling in wet weather? Most of us don't have the luxury of showers or changing rooms at work and are unable to spend 150pounds on wet weather gear when a cheap cycle cape can be bought for #20pounds. There must be a solution to keep feet and legs dry and let you arrive at work in reasonable shape, not as a sweat ball.
Anyone any suggestions???
(Yes I know -go by bus)

Decent cycling gear is expensive. You need your summer lycra, thermal lycra, waterproofs, gloves, decent shoes, and when it gets really cold skull cap, neck-tube etc. In last years cold snap I even resorted to a balaclava and motorbike gloves.

The good news though is that by cycling, I save over £3,000 a year, so even though I've spent £400-£500 on the 'essential' riding gear, I'm still quids in. The gear I have now should last me a fair few years. A wise investment in my opinion.

Getting wet doesn't bother me, as I just change into my work gear which I carry in my panniers. I am lucky that our canteen has a nice boiler cupboard so my gear's dry for the home journey.

As for arriving at work in reasonable shape, the fact is that if you cycle in every day you'll get so fit that you won't sweat. I never break sweat on the way in (11 miles+) as I take it steady, but then I intentionally work up a sweat on the way home.

Changing rooms? Surely every office/factory etc has toilets where you can change?

 

[jonnysnorocket]

Don't mind the weather too much...It.s just getting out of bloody bed at 5-30am to be out for 6-00....which beggers the question...who has the earliest commute ?

 

[doog]

According to most surveys, it's fear of traffic.

This

and its correct. I dice with death every day on my commute. The fear of traffic should remain with us all.

 

[Red Light]

According to most surveys, it's fear of traffic.
Most non-cycle commuters don't think much about the rain, they think raincoats work fine for that.

Actually the research that has been done says its much more complex than that.

If you are interested try David Horton's Fear of Cycling summary on the Copenhagenize website and Link and Link

 

[Red Light]

What stops Joe Average from commuting by bike?
With all the technical advances being made in most fields why hasn't anyone come up with a cheap solution to cycling in wet weather?

Although weather is always cited and it depends a bit on where you are in the country I always remember-ish the Richards Bicycle Book statement that it only rains on six (or was it twelve) days a year during a typical commute. Which given we work about 220 days a year is not many.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

Although weather is always cited and it depends a bit on where you are in the country I always remember-ish the Richards Bicycle Book statement that it only rains on six (or was it twelve) days a year during a typical commute. Which given we work about 220 days a year is not many.

I thought it was Bollox the first time I read it!

 

[teletext45]

I started cycling into college every day- a 17 mile round trip each today which was great- regular miles etc.

But recently getting knocked off by a pedestrian ( Please don't laugh, it wasn't a very nice experience when i face planted the road :/ ) and getting more annoyed with people both drivers and pedestrians who just have no ability to deal with cyclists, getting verbally abused by drivers with comments like 'use the pavement you f**king cyclist' and finally other commuters who really need to learn some road skills.

Just this evening i turned into my street someone stepped out in front of be without looking, i was a car she would have been flattened.

I'd like to commute more then i do but I'm just genuinely worried about other drivers, my local authority just doesn't do enough for cyclists.

Sorry this really sounded like a rant.

if i did commute i'd save myself £24 a week in train fayres

andy

 

[Red Light]

I thought it was Bollox the first time I read it!

If that's what's stopping you from cycling I'd try a different saddle