-
south london has less of a cycling culture
Be interested to hear how you came to this conclusion.
-
Perhaps there is a less developed cycling culture but it's still there. I've worked in Hackney for the last 4 or 5 years whilst always living south. We have loads of student cyclists as well as other casual daytime cyclists, but there's definitely fewer of them in south London.
I don't think the city commuters are 100℅ representative of people cycling. I've also observed that the 9-6 commuting brigade heading into the city tend to be helmet wearers, regardless of the origin of their journey.
I think you're right about the 'infrastructure' point; there are definitely fewer quiet routes forming a network across Southwark and Lewisham, for example. I'd say that by comparison Hackney and Islington are much better connected if you don't want to ride on the arterial roads. We have a couple of decent routes in the south east, but not many.
I don't think your third point really holds. Obviously Hackney is a fashionable place to live and there is a crossover with cycling, but all those 'types' are in South London too (for whatever reason). It's not uncommon to see the odd bakfiets, cargo bike, or ridiculous fixie skidder commuting in these parts, even during the day. It's not Hackney levels or cycling, but it's there.
You are reading a single comment by @BobbyBriggs and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
salmonchild
pastry_bot
@BobbyBriggs
(boring warning...)
My commute takes me from Leyton to Southwark via Hackney.
In the morning peaks, going through Hackney there's no more than 50% helmeted, but by the time I get there I'd say 80% of those riding north over blackfrairs bridge from the south wear helmets.
So it seems that south Londoners on bikes are more fond of helmets than east Londoners. I hypothesise that this is because:
All three are probably related to each other.
(sorry about boring musings)