How do we help inexperienced London cycle commuters?

There was a time when cycling proficiency was taught at most schools around the age of 10 or 11. I certainly remember doing it.

I wonder how much of the current attitude problem regarding cyclists (by cyclists and other road users) is due to almost all schools getting rid of cycling proficiency (won't someone think of the Health & Safety implications!) all those years ago.

Currently 50% of children in year 5 or 6 are offered cycle training, but that does not result in half of kids participating, some can't ride, some don't own a bike, limited places on courses etc etc.

There is a proposal to make cycle training part of the national curriculum and also part of the driving test.

At the current rate of training the best trained group of cyclists on the road will be lorry drivers who have done a Safe Urban Driving CPC!

Cycle training probably needs to be rebranded, people's egos are too fragile around admitting they could possibly do with training to improve their cycling.

Many people will say that they have been cycling for years and don't need training, and that they have been undertaking left turning vehicles for years and are ok. Their perception of risk vs the reality is often pretty poor.

National TV ads to explain good cycling practice to all road users would help. Many trainees find that when they do cycle in primary etc that other road users don't understand and get frustrated.

I have had other cyclists criticise me for looking around too much and for signalling too clearly!

^I sometimes get the impression that cyclists behind me think I'm racing them when I shoulder check regularly. Like somehow having a good idea of what's going on around me at any time other than when I'm about to make a manoeuvre is fiercely competitive.

Take a bike to school now it would get nicked..

Needs cycle locking proficiency training.

I get this paranoia about the shoulder check too! And then I worry that they think I'm a massive twat for being so racey because I cycle really slow and they soon shoot past. I need to stop worrying, of course, but that's another story.

As for helping out other inexperienced cyclists putting themselves in danger, would handing them a polite flyer with "top ten hints" help? With tips on safe maneuvering through traffic and advice on how to find cycle training, etc.

Probably a bit too passive aggressive/cutesy mind you.

Yeah I think that about the shoulder check too.

I think something like a flyer could work, certainly a way to make the information accessible to people who wouldn't actively look for advice or even think they're doing anything wrong.

I was a bit apprehensive about cycling here when I first moved here a couple of years ago, the bloke I bought my bike from has this on his website which was really helpful, then obviously I found my way onto this forum and haven't made a mistake since.

CTUK have a series top ten tips cards, for cyclists, for drivers and on bike maintenance.

^ new spoke card?

Writing is far too small for it to be legible to someone next to you at the traffic lights.

Before you can ride in London you need to spend 5 days or 100miles (whatever comes quickest) riding in Manila, that will sort the wheat from the chaff, part funded by TFL and our soon to be new overlords Wiggle..

I had an opportunity to 'educate' a Bromptonodder on the etiquette of cycling off from lights directly, and purposefully, into a pedestrian (me) but words failed.

He started off at speed a few feet from where I was crossing, bounced off my 18-stone bulk, stumbled, almost fell off his bike onto a van, then shouted 'BUT THE LIGHTS ARE GREEN!'

If that's the calibre of cyclist we're dealing with, I suggest letting Darwinian selection take its course.

I don't think anybody would survive that.

It is a attitude where a lot of people think anything over £100 for a bike (Toys R Us/Halfords etc) is ridiculous so its not surprising that they don't give cycling enough respect .

What do you think should be the minimum price of a bike to ensure those that don't take cycling seriously enough are excluded from the activity? £500? £1000?

National TV ads to explain good cycling practice to all road users would help. Many trainees find that when they do cycle in primary etc that other road users don't understand and get frustrated

This would be a big help, along with getting rid of well-intentioned 'safety campaigns' that stress the benefits of helmets and fluoro without mentioning that the best way of being seen is to take primary, to avoid getting on the left of turning vehicles, etc. 'Safety gear' isn't a magical force field, as anyone who as ever worked on construction CDM docs / RAMS will know. You'd think this would be obvious but what I see amongst the pillockton suggests otherwise.

I was reminded of this last night when riding behind a girl with a rear light of terrible, retina-withering brightness. It was however nearly invisible to drivers as it was attached to the seatpost obscured by the rear wheel. I actually saw one motorist brake and correct course after not noticing her till they were nearly level.

How do we help inexperienced London cycle commuters?

Kidney Punch

You do see a lot of riders wearing 'safety gear' in various states of hi viz which they possibly think is a substitute for their failing lights.
Was she riding primary and was the tail of her hi viz 'top' covering up the rear light ?

£500 !
You could get a decent set of golf clubs for that.

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Saw a wannaBroadie and a tarcky (probs on here - thin as a whippet, on a red very sparkly Samson with phils) who, turning up burbage road, as they cruised up Half Moon Lane, both failed to EVEN BLOODY LOOK OVER THIER SHOULDERS as they moved over to turn, with a White Van right on their tails. To be fair, the tarcky might have looked (one would hope so, what with them riding the tarck well enough to be going down on a Wednesday evening) but the wannaBroadie was in secondary, suddenly was signalling and swerving right over without so much as a little pretend look round.

Disgusted
Tunbridge Wells

I think bikes shouldn't necessarily cost a lot of money, however at the moment, the minimum spend on a bike that is road worthy and safe is around £300. Cheaper bikes are death traps.

Had a lady come in to get her Apollo junker fixed because the chain kept coming off. All I could do for her was either lock out a few gears to make it safer or educate her about safest way to use her rubbish gears (lock the gears by using persuasion)