Public Inquiry: Get Britain Cycling

I'm a realist, not a pessimist.

You won't get "fit for free" when you're hit by two ton+ of vehicle.

The use of the phrase 'when' seems to imply some sort of inevitability, like it will happen to us all one day.

Definitely pessimist rather than realist

Scottmac,

a realist whose forsaken the roads for singletrack?

You can spend time on any forum you wish, but I live in London, I have no idea where you live, I'm supposing someplace in the countryside, but if you hadn't noticed this forum is london fixed gear and single speed and I'm thinking a high proportion of people on it will live in london's sprawling mass, or some other high population area, so getting off the roads isn't an option, no matter how many times you tell us that it is for you..

Also since most of your posts involve you discussing how detrimental being hit by vehicles is, cars being dangerously driven by idiots, and how this has caused you to get off the roads until something is done, you can forgive me for seeing you as a pessimist.

I love riding in traffic, I enjoy the interaction with other road users, I fear not gyratories. I have no problem in wanting others to do the same. You've decided to let your fear of the roads and the vehicles therein limit what you want to do on your bike.

So be it.

But that is just your view and like a few here, you seem to feel that you need to witness this view to anyone and everyone whether they agree with you or not.

I'm saying maybe, just maybe, this forum is more than a place for you to tell everyone how you no longer ride on the roads. And I'm sure there are other more singletrack friendly forums where your point of view would gain more traction, or not as the case may be

well said.

I ride on the roads after being forced off dirt tracks by wombles.

Evil bastards.

I am Tapering at the moment so I am not cycling today or tomorrow..... I miss my bike soooo much already. Public transport is so slow.

You won't get "fit for free" when you're hit by two ton+ of vehicle.
As you were...

You don't seem to be aware of what happened to jmf last year.....he's still as fit as a fiddle, prob fitter, easy does it fella.

Even with all the risks due to legally blind car drivers...bad roads...per mile traveled cycling isn't any more dangerous than walking/driving. Even in the UK.

So while yes a shitload can be improve, in both safety and comfort, to stop cycling seems, to me, from a pure numbers POV, a bit much?

Disclaimer: I only nearly got sideswiped 3 times this year so far, and being honked at by somebody speeding up behind me. If you got the shit kicked out by a motorist or get injured, I can see how pure maths just doesn't do it anymore.

Scottmac,

a realist whose forsaken the roads for singletrack?

You can spend time on any forum you wish, but I live in London, I have no idea where you live, I'm supposing someplace in the countryside, but if you hadn't noticed this forum is london fixed gear and single speed and I'm thinking a high proportion of people on it will live in london's sprawling mass, or some other high population area, so getting off the roads isn't an option, no matter how many times you tell us that it is for you..

Also since most of your posts involve you discussing how detrimental being hit by vehicles is, cars being dangerously driven by idiots, and how this has caused you to get off the roads until something is done, you can forgive me for seeing you as a pessimist.

I love riding in traffic, I enjoy the interaction with other road users, I fear not gyratories. I have no problem in wanting others to do the same. You've decided to let your fear of the roads and the vehicles therein limit what you want to do on your bike.

So be it.

But that is just your view and like a few here, you seem to feel that you need to witness this view to anyone and everyone whether they agree with you or not.

I'm saying maybe, just maybe, this forum is more than a place for you to tell everyone how you no longer ride on the roads. And I'm sure there are other more singletrack friendly forums where your point of view would gain more traction, or not as the case may be

Re. a realist whose forsaken the roads for singletrack?

Yes - sorry, but I don't feel safe anymore after 34 years of cycling and the law isn't on my side if I'm hit.

Re. so getting off the roads isn't an option, no matter how many times you tell us that it is for you..

It's not really for me. I love cycling on the roads, but as I've said I don't feel safe. I cycle in France every year and don't get knobheads screaming at me when I'm cycling or blasting their horns when behind me, the list goes on.

Why am I subject to abuse here when I'm riding in a correct manner on British roads? I drive my car with care and respect to other road users, so why can't other drivers do the same?

Re. Also since most of your posts involve you discussing how detrimental being hit by vehicles is, cars being dangerously driven by idiots, and how this has caused you to get off the roads until something is done, you can forgive me for seeing you as a pessimist.

Ok then, fine. I'd rather be a pessimist than a dead optimist. If you ever have the misfortune to hold your mate's head in your arms when it's gushing blood thanks to a dickhead driver, I am sure your view would change.

Please God, I hope it never happens...

Re. You've decided to let your fear of the roads and the vehicles therein limit what you want to do on your bike.

Unfortunately, yes. It's good to see others fight for the right for cyclists to use the roads (I have written to several MP's on several occasions) but cyclists are still getting killed and maimed and the law is doing sweet FA about it. All I see are a minority of tree hugging liberals who seem to think they are making the world a better place by help creating another cycle path.

I live in West Sussex and I've ridden all over Britain and I've seen London from a Lorry's cab and on two wheels and I definitely will not ride in London on a bike, as for me it is too scary.

Stay safe.

Scottmac: Do you think things got worse in the UK as you stopped after 34 years?

As a Dutch person I noticed that yeah driving here is worse (in NL it's the cyclists that do the total shitheaded behavior though!) if you cycle but where I am it's predictably bad...not aggressive run you off the road stuff, just people being legally blind and not intending to hit you perse.

Scottmac: Do you think things got worse in the UK as you stopped after 34 years?

As a Dutch person I noticed that yeah driving here is worse (in NL it's the cyclists that do the total shitheaded behavior though!) if you cycle but where I am it's predictably bad...not aggressive run you off the road stuff, just people being legally blind and not intending to hit you perse.

I have noticed more incidents towards myself and other cyclists whilst on my travels. Hence I stopped cycling on roads.

I have also seen a growing number of MAMIL's on the road (thanks to sportives, I guess?) which is good, but a lot of them don't know shit about riding a bike in a proper manner.

Alas, motorists get pissed off at their four abreast antics which doesn't do proper club cyclists any favours due to the average Joe in a car thinking everyone on a bike (in lycra) is a threat to his/her space; which they are with such behaviour.

The outcome of this tragic case will be interesting: http://road.cc/content/news/81756-banned-driver-pleads-guilty-killing-bristol-tandem-couple as this will show what the Brit justice system thinks of being killed on two wheels by a couple of twats with no morals.

I don't think attitudes will change until such a law as they have on the continent comes into force here in Blighty:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3451896.ece

There a too many vote for this/vote for that campaigns to help safer cycling in this country. The Times campaign showed promise, but I bet it's on page whatever now and is falling from the public eye.

Of course, there will always be the pondlife whom doesn't give a shit when getting behind a wheel of a car. That can happen anywhere, but for the masses of licensed drivers it (hopefully) would act as a deterrent.

I don't think that every motorist in the UK is out to maim/kill cyclists and I guess a lot of collisions are caused by taking their eye off the road for a second incidents, but if the motorist or cyclist knew that they could be held at fault for their actions, I bet they would drive/ride more sensibly.

I don't want to be dictated to where I should have to go by a cycle path devised by a councillor whom rides a sit up and beg with a basket on the front, but until I move to France, I will have to.

Anyhow, I'll let you all get on with it. The next time I see a rider down whom ended up under a HGV/bus/whatever my heart will go out to them as it is not a natural death and the do-gooders can pontificate at the next AGM what a good job they're doing.

dutch style roundabouts in London next year?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22347184

^Looks such a mess

Why not just turn it into a simple junction?

Cos some people can't work out how to take a junction properly?

Not indicating, checking left mirror just turning left, randomly changing lanes...

...ow and facking trucks.

Roundabouts here are great fun both in a car and on a bike always a surprise who is going where ;)

You can sign up to take part in the testing of facilities:

http://www.trl.co.uk/transport_research_development/sustainability/sustainable_transport/cycling_facility_trials/participants.htm

Re. a realist whose forsaken the roads for singletrack?

It's not really for me. I love cycling on the roads, but as I've said I don't feel safe. I cycle in France every year and don't get knobheads screaming at me when I'm cycling or blasting their horns when behind me, the list goes on.

Stay safe.

France has twice the number of deaths on roads,
cyclists are far from imune from knobheads there,
more likely easy targets .

dutch style roundabouts in London next year?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22347184

Bloody hell, that looks 'exciting' :s

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Why not just turn it into a simple junction?

Somehow the British are quite allergic to a simple junction design that would've solved a lots of issue, instead they insist on building strange road infrastructure that's confusing even for drivers in vain attempt to 'smooth' motorised traffic flow (like Vauxhall).

http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/get-britain-cycling-to-be-debated-in-parliament-with-a-vote/015083
Parliamentary debate about getting Britain cycling with a vote.
Wonder what they will vote for?
Probably to adopt the recommendations in the Get Britain cycling report.

No doubt much time will be wasted by some MPs moaning about:
Red light Jumping
Pavement cycling danger
Cyclists getting insurance
Compulsory training and licensing
Helmets
More red light jumping...
...or am I too pessimistic?

nope - probably bang on...