http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Cycling with a confident child en Wed, 13 May 2026 04:55:34 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-220787 Tue, 24 May 2016 10:02:25 +0000 paddyirish 220787@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@SRD</p> <p>"5. Peer pressure is the best: Organize a ride with some friends and your kids will be amazed to find they've cycled 10 or 15 miles easily in a day. Seriously though, not only will they think if he can do it, so can I, but they'll also ride twice as fast with a friend their age as with you. "</p> <p>This.</p> <p>Example was on Sunday minipaddy went out with Dave C and his clan to Burntisland (micropaddy on the seat on the back and Mrs Paddy to keep an eye on all of us!) Did 15 miles without any real effort. Lots of stops for parks and bribes/ice cream etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-220765 Mon, 23 May 2016 22:21:12 +0000 chdot 220765@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"you lot"</p> <p>Charming. </p> <p>I'm sure some get suitable credit in</p> <p><a href="http://cyclefridays.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">http://cyclefridays.wordpress.com</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-220764 Mon, 23 May 2016 22:16:11 +0000 SRD 220764@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I really should be crediting you lot in more of my blogposts</p> <p><a href="http://deceasedcanine.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/5-things-you-need-to-know-before.html" rel="nofollow">http://deceasedcanine.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/5-things-you-need-to-know-before.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-151070 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 23:27:58 +0000 Snowy 151070@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nice confident commuting SRD, good pace! </p> <p>I admit the new racks in your still photo are very much appreciated. Mostly full most days - I must do a count and see how many bikes we get. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-151067 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 23:13:14 +0000 sallyhinch 151067@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I like the way she chooses her line to maximise the amount of time in the sunshine (I do that too!). How long will the POP manifesto last on her bike, I wonder? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-151061 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 21:59:34 +0000 Greenroofer 151061@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The <em>only</em> depressing thing about SRD's video is one of the related ones that YouTube put beside it, which shows how far we have to go...<br /> <a href="http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K_omtMbW48">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K_omtMbW48</a></p> <p>Apart from that, I think it's a great inspiration! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-151060 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 21:57:33 +0000 gembo 151060@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>School bike shed envy? The next nearest one is rolls Royce but then so are the sheds at tynecastle high and they don't really get used. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-151058 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 21:54:56 +0000 Instography 151058@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good job. She looked impressively quick. And the shed looks OK. It's covered and it has racks. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-151054 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 21:21:25 +0000 crowriver 151054@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The wee girl did very well. </p> <p>I'm amazed by how quiet the route is. One close pass by a van was a bit scary, but that was it.</p> <p>Also your school bike shed is fine, except for the car parked in one half? It has proper stands at least. Our school nigh on discourages cycling, but then the surrounding roads are an order of magnitude busier than the ones near yours. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-151051 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 21:02:12 +0000 SRD 151051@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Here's a more upbeat look at cycling with a confident child <a href="http://deceasedcanine.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/school-run-what-joy.html" rel="nofollow">http://deceasedcanine.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/school-run-what-joy.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-148976 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 21:18:48 +0000 SRD 148976@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes, since you ask, it does indeed worry me that chdot and I independently posted that same link at exactly the same moment in two different threads... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-148973 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 20:55:08 +0000 SRD 148973@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@greenroofer </p> <p>My thoughts exactly - from last year</p> <p><a href="http://deceasedcanine.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/why-we-need-to-pedal-on-parliament.html" rel="nofollow">http://deceasedcanine.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/why-we-need-to-pedal-on-parliament.html</a> </p> <p>That route is about to be improved though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-148970 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 20:46:45 +0000 Greenroofer 148970@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It was such a nice evening that I thought I'd head home via Harrison Park and video the proposed route of the HP feeder ride. This includes the right turn at the King's Theatre, which I've not used for ages. So this has bike lanes approaching it, and is (I assume) the official route to the Meadows. It took three cycles of the lights before I got into the ASZ. At the next cycle of the lights I had to shuffle the bike sideways out of the ASZ so that a Co-op lorry could make the left turn into Gilmore Place from Morningside Road: it couldn't get round without hitting me.</p> <p>So, say I want to take my child on a bike from Shandon to the Meadows. How am I expected to do it? The Kings Theatre junction is barely usable even for an experienced, trained and assertive cyclist like me. I wouldn't do it with my 9 year-old daughter.</p> <p>We have a long way to go. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-148920 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 13:49:20 +0000 crowriver 148920@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>On the other hand, because I knew the intersection, I knew we had time to get to the front of the queue from the bike lane.</em></p> <p>Knowledge which a visitor, or novice cyclist would not have. I know most of the central junctions and their light sequences (though not so much George IV bridge), and even then I get caught out sometimes.</p> <p>Generally though I now just don't go up the inside of HGVs at the lights. At all.<br /> Certainly wouldn't consider it with my son on the tandem. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-148913 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 13:21:10 +0000 SRD 148913@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@eddie_h - yeah, city-centre's pretty much a no go zone. NEPN's not that bad. try leamington walk down leamington terrace to canal, then straight down harrison road to russel rd. No dodgy turns (except to cross so as to enter NEPN - duh!). </p> <p>totally within a child's ability, as long as you're sure they will pay attention to you, and can ride in a reasonably straight line. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-148910 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 13:04:49 +0000 neddie 148910@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@SRD. That is exactly the sort of journey I would like to be able make with my family (i.e to town and beyond to the NEPN). Presently I feel I could not subject them to that. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-148905 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 12:40:53 +0000 lionfish 148905@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>(Hi all! Was nice to pop by Edinburgh last week!)</p> <p>@crowriver: I'd probably agree with you about what's best in hind-sight, but I think what the video shows really well is how high-stress, complicated and unpleasant cycling is on 'quality' 'family friendly' bike routes. I'd probably have hung-back, figuring the danger zone is closer to the corner: But the idea one wrong decision will lead to a horrible accident shouldn't be how we organise our roads!</p> <p>Most of the CCE forum are very confident cyclists and able to put out an extra burst of speed to deal with a conflict situation. Thanks SRD for the video: I think it illustrates well the problems faced by the slower cyclists among us :)</p> <p>I'll be sending a link to the video and this thread (if that's ok?), to my MSP/Councillors, to try to illustrate to them why a bit of paint on a pavement is useless and why parked cars on bike lanes is such a big deal, and in general how much work is needed.</p> <p>The earlier posts in the thread about punishment passes, using horns, etc, are really important: There are roads in the Netherlands where I had to share with cars (*gasp*) and the hire bikes we had were single speed and slow, it took me a long time to get used to the idea that the car/lorry behind me would wait patiently until it's safe to overtake!</p> <p>Anyway, ramble over :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-148903 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 12:35:51 +0000 SRD 148903@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"What this video also shows is that you really have to be very familiar with Edinburgh's roads and infrastructure to make the best use of it (eg. Waverley station ramp, Forrest Road filter, QBC at Missoni). Which makes it next to useless for visitors or novices" </p> <p>Yup. I thought I'd explained the Waverley Ramps to mr SRD, but even with that we wobbled about. Imagine if there'd been traffic on the road! </p> <p>On the other hand, because I knew the intersection, I knew we had time to get to the front of the queue from the bike lane. But agree, I would have swung in behind otherwise. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-148902 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 12:29:16 +0000 chdot 148902@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"See specifically Ernest Marples who was transport minister"</p> <p>Yes. </p> <p>Not excusing corruption/vested interests etc., but there is a context. </p> <p>Post-war Britain, with various cities bomb damaged, initially a landslide Labour Government promising (and achieving) a lot - houses in the sky, the NHS, a car borne/centric "modern" future for all. The latter based on a vision of emulating America - always more prosperous and not having to rebuild its infrastructure. </p> <p>Planners such as Abercrombie and Buchanan planning - roads on stilts through The Meadows, motorways on the canals through Glasgow etc. </p> <p>One happened, the other didn't...</p> <p>It was led by politicians with "visions" and (largely) public support "never had it so good" (prefaced by "most of our people have") wasn't just an election slogan. The same man also complained about 'selling off the family silver'. </p> <p>Now they are good reasons for reversing the idea of a 'car economy' and really making more walking/cycling possible/normal. </p> <p>We need politicians with a different "vision" - and leadership - though the sad thing is that on this the public may well be ahead of them... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-148900 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 12:20:47 +0000 crowriver 148900@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I believe we covered Marples in threads passim. </p> <p>Anyway, back to SRF's video. The sequence at George IV bridge with the HGVs was the worst. If I had beem 'ride leader' I would not have gone up the inside like that, I would have stayed behind the flat bed lorry. Though SRD was right to insist on going forward of the ASL given that otherwise you were all in blind spots: lots of gesticulating! Unfortunately this had the unforseeen consequence of the same flatbed lorry overtaking on the mound, which would not have occurred if everyone had hung back. Easy to say with hindsight of course. </p> <p>What this video also shows is that you really have to be very familiar with Edinburgh's roads and infrastructure to make the best use of it (eg. Waverley station ramp, Forrest Road filter, QBC at Missoni). Which makes it next to useless for visitors or novices. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-148899 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 12:00:27 +0000 gembo 148899@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>See specifically Ernest Marples who was transport minister in conservative govt when M1 was built and beeching cuts came in. Now the company building the M1 was Marples Ridgway. But that was OK as he gave up being managing director due to conflict of interest and his wife ran the company. Shocking but true. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441&page=2#post-148897 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 11:50:36 +0000 crowriver 148897@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>a Weberian status phenomenon about the individual over the community</em></p> <p>This was already happening before Thatcher, otherwise Weber couldn't have pbserved it all those years ago. You can trace the influence of a number of post-war Tory (and Labour) governments who helped the rise of what Thatcher dubbed "the great car economy". Like it or not, the Tories were part of a movement in society as a whole towards these ends, they just accelerated existing trends in a particular direction for their own benefit. Gradually, the alternatives were enfeebled. In the case of transport, the bicycle was the first to suffer in the 1950s as roads became busier with motor vehicles and motorway building began: over time reduced to a rumpo of sport, leisure, and children's plaything, pretty much where it is to this day. Next were the railways, savagely cut from the 1960s onwards as a result of the Beeching report. There was a brief hiatus during the oil crisis of the mid-1970s, but then the North Sea fields came on stream. Thatcher delivered the coup de grace with bus deregulation, and Major privatised the railways. </p> <p>So over 40 years transport policies stifled competition to the private motor vehicle. I daresay it will take another 40 years to change the situation. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441#post-148888 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 11:27:59 +0000 SRD 148888@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm not disagreeing with your analysis. Just that attributing it to 'thatcher' risks obscuring the real forces at work, of which she was just a figurehead - if an influential and powerful one. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441#post-148884 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 11:15:19 +0000 gembo 148884@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Maybe thatcher and her backers did believe privatisation and deregulation would be more efficient. She was elected almost as a backlash against closed shop type policies and demarcation of trades in heavy industry designed to protect workers but which were ultimately undercut in deregulated markets eg in India, China etc.</p> <p>However, the correct analysis (I.e. mine) is that every sell off including the latest with Royal Mail was designed to help those in control of stock exchange, aka Tory cronies and to appear to help the new class of middle income entrepreneurs who bought shares to make a quick buck but to their long term detriment if they want to receive a parcel (obviously sending letters rare now except by manny in modern family). This new class was created under Thatcherism. </p> <p>There is a dismantling of trade unionism under Thatcherism and a Weberian status phenomenon about the individual over the community. Thatcher is totemic and well worthy of opprobrium but of course a mouthpiece for vested interests. Only big business and other power elites actually benefit but a clever spin was created that destroying steel, ship building, manufacturing and coal and leaving Britain as a service economy would be of benefit to wider society. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441#post-148874 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 10:04:32 +0000 SRD 148874@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes, bus deregulation stymies so many good tings that Edinburgh could do. But my point is that it is not 'Thatcher'. nice and simple as it is to blame everything on one person, she would not have been able to do those things without all the people who voted for her, the party that enabled her to take control, and the belief that de-regulation would be more 'efficient' etc etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441#post-148873 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 10:03:48 +0000 chdot 148873@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"It's only in London that the bus service remained regulated - and only now that councils like Newcastle are attempting to unpick the damage deregulation caused."</p> <p>And Lothian/Edinburgh one of few (only?) that retained 'municipal ownership' <em>and</em> resisted/saw off competition! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441#post-148872 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 09:58:15 +0000 sallyhinch 148872@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>One thing she did definitely do is deregulate the buses. In many areas that did drive increased car ownership - Sheffield had very heavily subsidised bus services up until then, and very low rates of car ownership. When the council was forced to deregulate that all went out the window. It's only in London that the bus service remained regulated - and only now that councils like Newcastle are attempting to unpick the damage deregulation caused. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441#post-148869 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 09:42:03 +0000 SRD 148869@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Much as I dislike thatcher, I don't think it is good analysis to simplify it to one person. Surely she was just the channel of an already existing set of demands/expectations? She didn't create them, did she? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441#post-148864 Mon, 14 Apr 2014 09:12:51 +0000 gembo 148864@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@tulyar,interesting point about attitude to the kerbside. I grew up in rural Renfrewshire (before the move to Ayr). Our street was one of the better avenues on the council estate (pre thatcher so all houses all still rented from the local authority). Front garden and back garden. It was our house but we did not own it. As the bus service to Paisley was poor many households had one car. No household had two cars that would be ludicrous. The car could be parked outside your house, but there was never a question that this was or wasn't your space. The houses were big enough semidetached houses with big enough gaps between each building to ensure no one ever had any issue with parking. By 8.30am all cars had gone.</p> <p>In this instance the road outside the house did not belong to you (neither did the house) but then the number of cars was not excessive.</p> <p>so once again the origin of the problem is thatcher. Why is it always thatcher? She planted the seed of ownership, the seed of this is my small bit of land that no one else can use. Her husband was an oil executive (can't quite link this to two car families). She destroyed the mining industry etc. not that it was some kind of utopia before her but the rights of the individual taking precedent over the community became highly focused under Thatcherism. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12441#post-148856 Sun, 13 Apr 2014 22:21:34 +0000 wee folding bike 148856@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Usually I'm behind them and shouting where to go but on Thursday we were going through Kilpatrick, under the Erskine bridge, heading for the station. I told them to follow me for a right turn into a minor road but somehow they didn't quite get that I meant follow me to the middle of the road and they took up a position well to the left.</p> <p>Perhaps I should get them to read cycle craft. Might try again later in the week. </p>