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@user14265
I'm currently working on a little handbook for a friend who's about to start cycling in London.
I’m also doing an accompanying spoke card, an idea I entirely ripped off from the LFGSS ‘What to do in an Accident’ card. I couldn’t find a printable one on this site, so I decided to make my own. I intend to adapt it to credit card size too once I'm happy with it. Below is a link to what I've got so far. If anyone thinks there are things I’ve left off or things I’ve got wrong please tell me.
Download PDF
N.B. Fonts may not display perfectly on GoogleDocs view.
My friend hasn't done a driving test or any theory so isn't very familiar with the roads and is unlikely to search this stuff out for himself because he’s got a rather twee view of cycling. While I want to encourage him – indeed, it was partly me who inspired him to buy a bike – and I agree that cycling in its essence is extremely simple and generally perfectly safe, I also enjoy drinking with him and would hate to see him get injured or have his bike nicked only to be too discouraged to get back on another. He can be quite quick to sack things off if they’re not working out straight away so I want to put forward an image of cycling being something that gets better the longer you do it and that you don’t automatically become a member of any cycling tribes (MAMILs, messengers, nodders).
I’m going to suggest we both go on cycle training. I’ve been riding around London for a fair while and would say I’m now a fairly competent urban cyclist, so enrolling together should keep his pride from welling up. Also I reckon I could use it anyway, so we both gain.
Back to the handbook though, my main concerns are for it to be:
Informative – basically how to lock up, how to position yourself, lights, etiquette etc.
Encouraging – after information, the most important part
Truthful – not to skirt around issues or simplify issues that aren’t simple
London specific
Easy to read – clear, well worded and entertaining
Simply designed – but also nice to look at
Once I’m happy with it I’m going to post it up here for several reasons:
Corrections – I may have got things wrong
Omissions – anything you think London cyclists should know that I’ve left off
Sharing – since much of the information in it will have come from here, and indeed a few pictures as well (all will be credited) it’s only fair to share it
Does anyone think I’m barking up the wrong tree here?
And thank you if you read all this.