Cycle campaigning

Many adults ride more and further after training
Old data on pdf here

Link fixed.

I've done a lot of Dr Bikes at Queen St during the evening rush hour and though I generally agree with you about the infrastructure there are also a great many cyclists there who cause problems for themselves and others simply by riding too fast for the circumstances. And that is putting it politely.
A bit like Goldsmiths Row in Hackney or, frankly, any other shared use space I have ever seen.

I'm always heading north at that time and most problems I see are a direct result of pedestrian and cycle traffic being at right-angles to each other, with the pedestrians not always expecting bikes to come off the road (which is fair enough really). If speed is an issue it's because people are trying to get away from the vehicles behind them and then keep some momentum going up the hill.
With the barriers it's worse because everyone is aiming for the same small gap and there's no margin for error, even at walking speeds.

Goldsmiths row works for me because it's not really shared (bikes on tarmac, peds on paving) and there's no cross-traffic to speak of.

That's all true, no doubt, and the run off the bridge heading north is a mess. I am not sure what those large concrete blocks are for - possibly a clumsy way to try and slow down cyclists heading south? Certainly too many of them speed across the pavement there, sometimes trying to race the amber light.

Anyone going to the LCC ride tonight?

6.30pm South bank protest ride to co-inside with get Britain cycling debate

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/02/cycling-protesters-surround-parliament-london

Saw a few forum caps when I was stopped at the lights for 25 mins on the Lambeth end of the bridge amongst a lot of irate beep happy drivers.

25 min???

track-standing like bosses?

Probably frozen still with fear at riding on those scary dangerous roads.

Was around 25 mins, I got there as the ride started to pass. Police stopped all traffic which just resulted in most drivers beeping their horns and shouting abuse. The numbers were impressive.

^ a bit unnecessary.

FLOATING CYCLE LANES!!

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/floating-bike-lanes-make-shortlist-for-100m-funding-8795908.html

I fully expect that to happen, I'd be amazed if the plans were quietly shelved after spunking thousands on surveys and plans.

Not sure if anyone has posted this but was forwarded to me by a colleague:

Challenging unfair fines given to cyclists

In August, Alex Paxton was issued with a fixed penalty notice (FPN) for failing to stop behind the Advanced Stop Line (ASL) at a set of traffic lights. He did not stop behind the line (i.e. in the cycle box) because a car was illegally positioned in the box. For his own safety he positioned himself ahead of the car, past the white line. A police officer witnessed this incident and radioed a colleague, who stopped Alex further down the road and gave him the FPN. This officer had not seen the alleged offence, so could not assess the greater risk Alex would have been in had he positioned himself behind the white line, and therefore did not accept Alex's justification of his actions.

The Highway Code encourages cyclists to 'use cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings unless at the time is it unsafe to do so'. Alex's adoption of a safer position is therefore entirely justified.

There have been several cases recently of cyclists being given on the spot fines for stopping in front of ASLs, despite there not being room in the box because a car has taken the space.

Alex wants to contest the FPN and CDF has decided to fund the legal challenge in a bid to create a precedent that will hopefully stop future spurious fines being given out by police officers.

Any funds raised in excess of the £2000 this challenge is expected to cost will be used to support other legal challenges that defend the rights of cyclists.

Thank you for your support.
http://www.justgiving.com/CDF-unfairfines

^Filtering is not compulsory and the ASL is not a target.

He did not stop behind the line (i.e. in the cycle box) because a car was illegally positioned in the box. For his own safety he positioned himself ahead of the car, past the white line.

The Highway Code encourages cyclists to 'use cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings unless at the time is it unsafe to do so'. Alex's adoption of a safer position is therefore entirely justified. [URL="http://www.justgiving.com/CDF-unfairfines"][/URL]

So the car was already waiting at the junction. He overtook it, crossing the stop line. Did I miss something?

Sounds like it. Guess the point is about consistency re fining cars and cyclists.

Ah I see. Sounds to me about the same as motorists whinging about getting speeding fines. Can you prove that the car had entered the ASL illegally?

^Filtering is not compulsory and the ASL is not a target.

This. its often a good idea to wait in the traffic stream
Don't think there is much of a case

"Not sure if anyone has posted this but was forwarded to me by a colleague:

Challenging unfair fines given to cyclists...

The Highway Code encourages cyclists to 'use cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings unless at the time is it unsafe to do so'. Alex's adoption of a safer position is therefore entirely justified..."

With not enough room and the car illegally positioned in the box, presumably the "right"decision would have been NOT to advance and stop in front of said vehicle... Just asking?

This. its often a good idea to wait in the traffic stream
Don't think there is much of a case

my preference is always to position myself ahead of car exhaust pipes, :-)

I've just come back from holiday in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

I'd like to say that I'm enthused about the idea of campaigning for segregated infrastructure, and in some ways I am. However I can't help but have reservations about it.

Most of my experience was in Norway as I spent the best part of two weeks there. In as much as they have quite a strong cycling culture I think they're doing really well and doing a lot in terms of supporting access to cycling as a means of transport.

What became clear is that in terms of utility cycling, segregation is a brilliant thing. It provides access to use of a bike for transport and daily movement to all able bodied people, regardless of whether they identify as a cyclist or not. It makes the bike appropriate for many scenarios, including in one instance that I saw of the movement of primary age children from school to a swimming pool. You can probably imagine my joy that it was to see from a very young age Norwegians understood cycling to be a basic part of daily life.

However, despite this mostly very good infrastructure dedicated solely to cycling along with a sense of equality enshrined in law, it did seem as if quite commonly segregated facilities kept cyclists in place as a second class citizen. You're given a space and expected to stay there. Whilst laws and conventions protect the movement of cyclists in these spaces, the inequity of size still persists and it doesn't take much for a motorist to impinge upon a cyclist in their space, almost with impunity. For the utility cyclist this doesn't seem to be much of an issue, by no means are they prohibited from getting from A to B and any infringements will often be short lived.

On the other hand, for the leisure and sporting cyclist this proves more of a problem. Higher speeds become anti-social, getting in a good long run while in an urban environment can be difficult and out of town maintenance of segregated lanes can be patch. Maybe not bad enough to trouble a utility cyclist but a skinny-tyred roadie can find them quite unenjoyable compared the perfectly good road running right next to it.

I feel a little nit-picky in raising this but I also think there's a valid concern here. The end result of this is that the system of segregation creates a two-tier structure of cyclists. Utility cyclists are mostly fine but leisure and sporting cyclists are put at a disadvantage of choosing between unsuitable facilities or choosing conflict with motorists on the road who aren't always happy that the official system isn't being respected. I'm sure that over time Norweigians have come accustomed to this way of cycling and there may have been much that I missed.

Now looking at how this translates to our own st up back here in England, I worry about the potential for segregation to cause problems. Here, all cyclists are on the same footing. It may not be a good footing but anyone on two wheels is effectively equal. It may or may not be because of that, but a high proportion of cycling in this country of leisure and sport cycling. Because of this it supports a high proportion of the bike industry and innovation that we have. I suppose my worries boil down to these things;
a) a radical shift to segregation may damage the industry we currently have. Any new business that come in to support a subsequent shift in cycling culture may not properly be able to support it and risk a premature end to the golden age we're currently experience.
b) with the current position of cyclists as effectively second class citizens, segregation could be an inadvertent catalyst to further entrench this. Not so much an issue for incoming people to cycling, but taking away that free flow around the roads enjoyed at the moment may be hard to stomach for existing riders.
c) diminishing the quality of facilities could have a detrimental effect on out current sporting culture in cycling. At a time when we are experiecing a boom in riders and races of all stripes, and acheiving an equal level as our European counterparts, it would be a poor move to throw another obstacle in the way.

I'm not saying an unequivocal no to segregation, I recognise the need for it in a fashion and have enjoyed a lot of my time on segregated facilities. However, I hope that our way forward is careful, well thought out and takes into consideration our cycling past, the legacy that it has given us, our current culture and the things that make cycling in England great.

Was completely overwhelmed and appreciative for the amount of segregated cycle lanes when I first moved Denmark; ideal for kids, granny group rides or modest speed commuters, stuff like that.

To cut a long story short I soon changed my mind and started riding on the road, which technically is illegal here I believe, when riding along a stretch with a dedicated cycle lane.

In my opinion segregation is not the answer, sooner or later we're just gonna have to bite the bullet and learn how to get along.

The damaging factor is that in Denmark, it's illegal to ride on the road if there's a cycle path nearby, whether in the UK, we're lucky to not have similar law.

I feel that the UK have the idea laws when it come to cyclists, if on some rare chances that we end up having similar infrastructure as the Dane, least we're still allowed to ride on the road as well as cycle path.

The only issue is education toward drivers whom are under the illusion it's technically illegal for cyclists to get off the cycle lane and berated them, or worse, put them in harm.

I feel that the UK have the idea laws when it come to cyclists, if on some rare chances that we end up having similar infrastructure as the Dane, least we're still allowed to ride on the road as well as cycle path.

completely agree, sure feels a little more spacious and free out in the road compared to what's often (at rush-hour at least!) a cycle queue!

...and, at least in theory, a hell of a lot safer.

^Filtering is not compulsory and the ASL is not a target.

http://road.cc/content/news/94166-londoner-challenge-red-light-fixed-penalty-notice-after-appeal-raises-%C2%A32300-legal

Not much sympathy in the comments. Two wrongs don't make a right.

I notice Dave Skydancer copping flack today from the Infrastructure campaigners on Twitter. Strikes me as a myopic single solution argument. The related space4cycling campaign petition in Manchester makes no mention of behavioural change by any party in the roads, just necessary separation (to the detriment of motorists no doubt, enhancing bad feeling towards cyclists).