Winter commuting

[jonny jeez]

I can't help but notice that the rate of incidents/"accidents" has risen dramatically over the last two weeks.

I was wondering (from those with years of winter commutes under their belts), is this common?......or is it a blip?

More to the point, are those with fairly long commute's gambling with the averages a little too much?

 

[palinurus]

I always think so, December and early January always seem to be the worst times. I don't record these sort of things anywhere so I've no data.

 

[gaz]

Averages? as in speed?

TBH i couldn't care less what my average speed is, and how long it takes me per ride. It is intresting to look at the average per month of my speed but not on a daily basis.

But i do feel i have a different mind set to some riders, i don't often filter to the front of the lights and i will never go up the inside of a big vehicle etc.. Each ride for me is different, with different weather, traffic and conditions, so when it's dark i do like to take extra care.

 

[jonny jeez]

Averages? as in speed?

.

Sorry, Poorly worded on my part.

No what I mean is, if the chances of a coming a cropper increase over these dark months, then these odd's must be compounded if you spend longer on the bike each day.

There are a number of members who's commute is upwards of 40 miles a day.

 

[patheticshark]

What kind of idiot would do a commute like that?

 

[irc]

Sorry, Poorly worded on my part.

No what I mean is, if the chances of a coming a cropper increase over these dark months, then these odd's must be compounded if you spend longer on the bike each day.

There are a number of members who's commute is upwards of 40 miles a day.

I would agree that the more miles you do the greater the chances of an accident are. That's only one factor though. Route choice riding style and experience are just as important. At the risk of jinxing myself I've never had a commuting accident in more than 25 years.

I would put my clear (so far) record down to route choice (I avoid a couple of roads I feel are too dangerous though I see other cyclists using them), using safe off road alternates where they exist usually canal banks, and good traffic awareness on the on road sections. Possibly the fact I've usually been travelling off peak helps as well.

In fact the closest I've come to being injured on my comute was when I've had incidents with drunken neds running on to the road towards me late at night in the east end and north of Glasgow.

 

[bad boy]

Averages? as in speed?

TBH i couldn't care less what my average speed is, and how long it takes me per ride. It is intresting to look at the average per month of my speed but not on a daily basis.

But i do feel i have a different mind set to some riders, i don't often filter to the front of the lights and i will never go up the inside of a big vehicle etc.. Each ride for me is different, with different weather, traffic and conditions, so when it's dark i do like to take extra care.

I agree totally Gaz im never that desperate to filter right the way through to the front of the lights especially if there is some great big van or truck in the way ill stop up behind so im visible in their mirrors.

 

[davidg]

the traffic in London at the moment is horrendous

 

[HJ]

I can't help but notice that the rate of incidents/"accidents" has risen dramatically over the last two weeks.

I was wondering (from those with years of winter commutes under their belts), is this common?......or is it a blip?

More to the point, are those with fairly long commute's gambling with the averages a little too much?

Sorry but noticed where Jonny? Is this something you have seen on the roads, in the paper, reported on this forum?

I haven't any seasonal data, but anecdotally I haven't noticed any real seasonal difference over the years... [shrug]

 

[fossyant]

It does get worse, especially the run to Christmas, as I found out last year. Too many folk in a hurry to shop, get home etc...

 

[Chamfus Flange]

People love stats, but most people don't understand love. Toss a coin as many times as you like and the chance of getting a head is still 50% (slightly more if you believe QI). The same with travelling down a busy road. No matter how many cars pass you the likelihood of an incident with the next is the same as the previous one.
I agree with those who take less risky roots to reduce risk, but time has no effect.

 

[trio25]

I wonder if part of the problem is more people commuting in cars due to the weather/darkness?

 

[potsy]

This is my 1st year on the bike so have no previous experience of winter riding,so all I am doing is upgrading my lights(Hope Vision1) + Cateye on flash mode,2 rear lights 1flashing,1 constant,and wearing my yellow high-vis jacket.
Hopefully this will get me 'seen' by the motorists,as long as I then do everything I can to anticipate incidents,and make sure my riding is safe then all should be well.
The 'cyclists' who have no lights/high-viz etc are taking a hell of a risk,but hey it's their life so why should I worry.

 

[GrasB]

In town things are getting worse, as things get more congested driver behaviour worsens & cyclist are seen more & more as the enemy because we can make much better progress. However my longer commute routes, as they're out of town, are now more safe for me. It's easier to spot any cyclist with decent lights (3 lights front & back with a high lumen light at both ends of the bike, loads of hi-vis & I can see cars much much further off!), drivers are more tolerant of riding in primary & give more space on the country roads.

 

[gbb]

For sure towns get busier at this time of year and drivers patience gets stretched, but i (touchwood) havnt seen any significant increase in incidents this year...nor any previous year.
What i do find is once in a while, you get hooked up in incidents one after the other for a week or so. You never know when its coming, and in the past its peed me off that much i wonder why i'm bothering.
Thankfully it only happens one in a while....summer, winter, light or dark, it just happens now and again.