TFL cycling website testing / feedback

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Dunno anything about this other than I said I'd stick it on the forum. Apparently you'll be helping shape a new TFL cycling website:

"I'm running an online card sort for the TfL cycling project and I need your help: [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I want you to do the sort yourself, and ask your friends to do it too. [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Anyone can do it; an interest in cycling is not important (although cyclists are very welcome). [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]It's quick (about 10 mins), it's fun, and it's a chance to help shape the new cycling site.
[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman]
[/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Instructions are here:

http://www.paperst.co.uk/data/TPFL_cycling/cs_instructions.htm

You'll need Java installed for it to work"[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]
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Wtfl?

it worked o.k for me.

TFL. so do you work for WCRS then?

Just did.

A good idea that market research stuff, some websites are hell to find things on, so actually asking for a concensus on how to organise it all makes sense.

Though the most obvious thing might just be to add a search box that works.

Doesn't work for me. I can see the first page, but when I click on the link to start sorting a java applet loads and then nothing

TFL. so do you work for WCRS then?
Nope just helping a mate who's building the site. But I know someone at WCRS who is a keen cyclist and really into skateboarding - an odd combination of interests, but one that I share.

Just got an email today about the revamped TFL cycling site, just playing with the journey planner - seems vaguely useful

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/11598.aspx

yeah I just got that, anyone know of anything decent happening on bike week? The midsommer ride sounds good - but don't we do that normally?

^that routing is funny. my commute looks like a stock exchange quotation and should take 1h 10min - i make my route in 35min and can actually rememeber most street names. i think it's more of use for the odd idea for recreational riding rather than fining fast ways through the maze.
just my 2p really.

Oh yes, its one of those route planners that uses bike paths specifically, but I think it's still useful for finding quiet road alternatives to your usual route, and as you say that recreational ride to the river with the friend who's a bit scared of the road and you want them to gain some more confidence.
All good I say, those paper maps are good - but rather unwieldy.

These things are often targetted at the less confident and less experienced riders. Those who have no problems riding down fast, busy major roads and know where they're going aren't really expected to want or need a lot of assistance.

What really annoys me about this is that very often the more experienced and confident riders, who are seen as an authority by others often rubbish such sites because they wouldn't use them. Less experienced riders listen to them and try to navigate using the A-Z or similar and end up getting put off cycling because they perceive an area to be less accessible and more dangerous than it actually is.

There is a page of links and you can rate them. Give a thumbs up for this one and a thumbs down for Bikeradar.

...
All good I say, those paper maps are good - but rather unwieldy.

Yees they are, aren't they! *giggle Still they're worth a look for the very same reason + you have em with u + they come free ;)

@The Seldom Killer: I think you got a point there! So a routing paradigm needs to be available in a drop down menu for:
Lazy,slow Wobbler
Beginner (save)
Beginner (suicidal)
Intermediate (< ?)
Fit and fast
For The Bendix only
...

...
Full suspended pothole junky
...

Oh ffs... just spent 10 minutes doing that card sort thing before clocking the date on the original post. Bloody thread bumps.

Use cyclestreets.net. Still in beta mode, I think, but much better. Made by Cambridge Cycling Campaign.

yeah I just got that, anyone know of anything decent happening on bike week? The midsommer ride sounds good - but don't we do that normally?

Come on my Hackney Bike the Bounds ride on Saturday 13th. Ride all the way around the London Borough of Hackney. NB this is a slow ride--cyclists of all abilities accommodated.

These things are often targetted at the less confident and less experienced riders. Those who have no problems riding down fast, busy major roads and know where they're going aren't really expected to want or need a lot of assistance.

I dunno, when I put in Bethnal green to West Ken, it told me to go down oxford street and then for the last, down the west cromwell road. I cycle both these options but only if there's a road closure elsewhrere, both the suggested roads are pretty fast with lots of danger/fun.

See what you mean about West Cromwell, but it sent me down New Cavendish not Oxford.

Use cyclestreets.net. Still in beta mode, I think, but much better. Made by Cambridge Cycling Campaign.

Nice one Oliver, thats much better than the TFL one!

Nice one Oliver, thats much better than the TFL one!

Yes, this area of work has always been done better by volunteers than by TfL. Even before TfL, and way before CycleStreets, there was Quil Forbes' now sadly-defunct Cyclemaps site (it never made much money and he couldn't afford to keep it up). TfL's JP tries to do too many things, and its main purpose is still public transport journey planning.

Among TfL products, stick to the TfL Cycle Guides--developed jointly by the LCC and TfL, with most of the local knowledge coming from our members. Millions handed out advertising cycling and counting.

maps.camdencyclists.org.uk is also well worth a look. More and more information keeps getting added. (Not a journey planner in its own right, BTW--it has CycleStreets functionality built in, 'coz CCC-cum-CCC can collaborate copiously.)

TfL's JP tries to do too many things, and its main purpose is still public transport journey planning.

I've found the Tfl public transport planner comes up with pretty nuts suggestions the majority of the time...

I am too lazy/uninterested to start a thread about this but TfL are now selling cycle clothing in their shop for all your hideous knitwear needs

http://shop.tfl.gov.uk/Clothing-and-accessories/bspoke-cycling-clothing-collection.html

Argh, it's starting to infest other threads now.