Cycling Scotland

Cycling Scotland seems to have a positive agenda promoting cycling.

Goal 1

Let everyone know why cycling is healthier, greener, smarter and fairer.

Goal 2
Help create better, greener public spaces where people of all ages and abilities can cycle safely.

Goal 3
Show that cycling is a great way to get around, giving people from all walks of life better access in Scotland’s towns, cities and to the outdoors

Goal 4
Show that cycling is a safe, effective and economical transport option that’s better for the people of Scotland, and for their environment

Goal 5
Celebrate and promote that there is a type of cycling for everyone; leisure, travel, tourism, sport and play.

We are also fully committed to playing a central role in assisting the Scottish Government and its partners and stakeholders to achieve the vision set out in the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland

We could do with something like this in England (again)

can we get some contributions to this thread from anyone who actually rides in Scotland on a regular basis?

erm, I once rode to the shops and back......

Do many people in Scotland do that?

mmm, not many where I am because there is a shit load of freight on the roads

Their video "See Cyclist, Think Horse" was excellent as well.

Cycling Scotland : See cyclist. Think Horse. [Commercial 2013] - YouTube

Even Scotland is doing it better than London.

sorry but I dont do massive shit piles on the road,
marketing is marketing

Like this?

nah thats more like political blogging

Yes on paper the theory looks perfect, sadly cycling in Scotland is as bad as cycling the streets of London, or any other major city. Drivers don't give a shit for us, they try and squeeze us off the road, cut us up at junctions, chicanes traffic lights etc. It's a war out there and the driver having the weight and security of his car is more than happy to do whatever he/she can to get past, even if that means putting the life of oncoming traffic in danger...

As for me, I'm a professional driver, it's what I earn my living at, but my 'hobby' is cycling and I often think it's time to take up dominos

Thought Scotland was fine in ride in, are you speaking more of urban?

Though there are some stretch of road where people happily do 80mph and draft you stupidly close (Glen Coe come to mind).

Aye Glencoe's great for drafting up the hills behind the trucks, only the insane cycle that road

That me told then.

Still, the beauty of Scotland outweigh that fault.

Yes on paper the theory looks perfect, sadly cycling in Scotland is as bad as cycling the streets of London, or any other major city. Drivers don't give a shit for us, they try and squeeze us off the road, cut us up at junctions, chicanes traffic lights etc. It's a war out there and the driver having the weight and security of his car is more than happy to do whatever he/she can to get past, even if that means putting the life of oncoming traffic in danger...

As for me, I'm a professional driver, it's what I earn my living at, but my 'hobby' is cycling and I often think it's time to take up dominos

word

No denying the countryside is beautiful and when you do get out of the towns and cities there are some fantastic routes to be discovered. It doesn't take away the fact that the majority of vehicle drivers are single minded when it comes to cyclists. The laws need to be changed to give the cyclist more protection, the drivers need to be educated on the dangers they pose when cyclists are on the road.

Then again there's another side to the story, cyclists here also jump red lights, skip over pavements, draft vehicles, cut up the inside of stationary traffic and they too should be brought into the equation and equally require educating.

What's it like cycling in Edinburgh?

What's it like cycling in Edinburgh?

avoid the tramlines, same as everywhere else otherwise

sorry but I dont do massive shit piles on the road,
marketing is marketing

I was the 'horse' in the ad who did a shite. I can confirm that this is not a thing I regularly do on the streets.

Then again there's another side to the story, cyclists here also jump red lights, skip over pavements, draft vehicles, cut up the inside of stationary traffic and they too should be brought into the equation and equally require educating.

It's worth thinking about why they do this, they don't do it out of malice, but because of how society treat them.

Get off the road, stay close to the glutter, you don't pay road taxes etc.

Riding in Edinburgh is quite nice, some horrible short climbs, some slippery as fuck cobbles, some tramlines, some potholes and some dick drivers who stand out more because most drivers are more sensible but its actually quite nice, beautiful architecture to marvel at and a whole network of cycle paths if you really want to avoid roads.

seems like the excellent Cycling Scotland advert has caused the Advertising Standards Authority to make sure all future cyclists in adverts are portrayed wearing a helmet and riding in the gutter
http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/cyclists-must-ride-in-the-gutter-wear-helmets-ad-watchdog-rules/015951

Read about that on the BBC site.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25926572

Absolutely outrageous and clearly based on prejudice against cyclists rather than anything legitimate.

Is there any way for the public to complain against such a decision?

motor manufacturers lobbying no doubt

Read about that on the BBC site.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25926572

Absolutely outrageous and clearly based on prejudice against cyclists rather than anything legitimate.
Is there any way for the public to complain against such a decision?

This is from the Association of Bikeability Schemes in response to the ASA's ruling on riding position

A core principle of the National Standard guidance is about riding in a position where a
cyclist is most likely to be seen by drivers. This advice from the ASA contradicts the
Department for Transports own guidelines which state:
(Riders must) understand where to ride on roads being used: Trainees must understand the
primary and secondary positions. Trainees must position themselves where they can be seen and
should not cycle in the gutter. Where there is little other traffic and/or there is plenty of room to be
overtaken they may ride in the secondary position. Where the road is narrow and two-way traffic
would make it hazardous for the trainee to be overtaken by a following vehicle they must be observed
to ride in the primary position. If the trainee is riding at the speed of other traffic then they should do
so in the primary position.

only the insane cycle that road

Couldn't agree more.

I did a triathlon called 'city to summit' last june and the ride was from Queensferry to Glencoe. The ride on the A82 was scarily mental and i've ridden on a lot of A roads up and down the country. One big yellow tourist coach went past me and must have been doing 60mph and literally only gave me less than a foot. Scared the hell out of me. Plus all the other fuking caravans etc it was an absolute nightmare.

Still i'm signed up to go through it all again this year....