http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: 2014 Commuting en Sat, 27 Jun 2026 21:02:19 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442&page=2#post-146691 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 23:33:12 +0000 gembo 146691@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I had several pairs of vegetarian doc marten boots and a pair of shoes. They were indestructible but the shoes never broke in at the heel and the boots made your feet quite sweaty. Fitted in with the rest of the vegan ism as suffering malarkey </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442&page=2#post-146665 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 18:52:27 +0000 wee folding bike 146665@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>No change in numbers here but I have been moving from the Lowe Alpine Mountain cap to the Kangol wool 504. Tropic Kangols are a few weeks away.</p> <p>Tilley is good against sun and rain but it's cotton with vents so not too cosy.</p> <p>Doc Marten shoes rather than boots for a couple of weeks already. I need new boots and see they are making Veggie Docs again.</p> <p>I've yet to see any of the other staff who got cycle to work bikes in June using them for getting to work. Mine has been there almost every day since August, used other bikes a few times. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442&page=2#post-146664 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 18:46:18 +0000 crowriver 146664@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWRATS, aye I saw that. Cycle commuting stuck at 2.8%, though higher in some places, lower in others. Only England &amp; Wales mentioned in the breakdown of figures. Presumably Scotland even lower than 2.8% average?</p> <p>Interesting snippets:</p> <p><em>The figures also bear out the concern that intimidating road conditions mean cycle commuting is primarily the preserve of younger men, seen as more happy to mingle with heavy, fast traffic. Men were significantly more likely to commute on a bike than women – 3.9% of the total as against 1.6% – and it was most common overall among people aged 30 to 34.</em></p> <p><em>However, there were massive geographical variances, even within cities. The number of people cycling to work in inner London rose by 144% over the decade, against a more modest 45% rise in the capital's outer suburbs.</p> <p>A number of other cities recorded notable rise in the number of bike commuters, with increases of 80% or more in Brighton, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield, and a 65% boost in Cardiff.</p> <p>However, in rural areas the picture proved very different, with some areas recording drops of up to 30%, albeit based on relatively low overall numbers. Across the board, the numbers cycling to work fell in 202 of the 348 local authorities over the decade.</em></p> <p><em>Only 31 areas in England and Wales – fewer than one in 10 of the total – could boast bike commuting rates of 5% or more.</em></p> <p>Only one area in Scotland? Edinburgh?</p> <p><em>Cambridge, traditionally a cycle-friendly place, topped the league for bike commuting, with almost 30% of workers choosing two wheels, followed by Oxford (17%) and the somewhat divergent pairing of the Isles of Scilly and Hackney, in east London, both at 14%.</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442&page=2#post-146635 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:22:09 +0000 kaputnik 146635@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There's a nice Graeme Obree quote about why he took up cycling, along the lines of "you can't just football down to the shops" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442&page=2#post-146630 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:05:49 +0000 I were right about that saddle 146630@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/26/commuter-cycling-fails-census-data-uk" rel="nofollow">http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/26/commuter-cycling-fails-census-data-uk</a></p> <p>'There were numerous predictions that a significant proportion of Britons would soon cycle to work, notably after the success of GB cyclists at the 2008 Olympics.'</p> <p>Eh? Presumably more people drive to work if Lewis Hamilton wins the F1 then? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146620 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 13:11:52 +0000 gembo 146620@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Always a big surge around the clocks going forward. Perhaps not so much dropping off each winter? Good to see numbers increasing. We have 150 racks underneath waverely court, pretty full by 9 am except on a Friday. </p> <p>I am not on the flexi system but I was observing some interesting behaviour by a couple of cyclists who appeared to be counting the time it took them to change into cycling gear, get lights switched on etc as being in company time, not swiping the card until the last minute. Presume they clock in and then get changed in the morning too. I am not saying this is wrong, just observing different approaches and perhaps these minutes accumulate over the piece. What do smokers do now? Is the fag break in their own time? When I started work several colleagues used to smoke at their desks, you could smoke on the bus, in the cinema etc. now they have to walk well away from the building. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146607 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 11:37:53 +0000 Slug 146607@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I doff my polystyrene bicycle hat to you."</p> <p>Thanks, but it's 'over' on the way into work, but normally 'around' on my way home, via Fairmilehead and Hillend. It's hard work on the way up, but worth the effort when you get to the top and see the views, (sometimes) including the near-static lines of cars on the 702 and the bypass. And from Allermuir, it's downhill all the way to Gorgie! :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146603 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 11:24:09 +0000 BenN 146603@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Last night at 5pm the NEPN was absolutely packed with cyclists. Joining it at the Roseburn slalom I found myself at the tail of a fairly substantial peleton, and on my journey to the Fiveways I passed 74 people cycling in the opposite direction (to put that in perspective, the most I have ever counted before in the height of summer was 52 people at 16:30. And yes, I can't help but count...)</p> <p>On the downside the new rumble strips are in at the Craigleith junction and they are truly, truly awful. But that's for a different thread. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146600 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 11:11:13 +0000 I were right about that saddle 146600@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@slug</p> <p>Actually over the summits of Castlelaw and Allermuir? Hell's teeth, that is some cycle commute. I run that way regularly, but don't actually think I'd be physically capable of cycling a bike up there. I've cyled over a few of the cleughs and even that would look a bit daunting at the end of a week's work. </p> <p>I doff my polystyrene bicycle hat to you. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146597 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 11:02:05 +0000 Slug 146597@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Is that a challenge??"</p> <p>Definitely not! I love the 'tranquil' part of my route... it's sort of the lull before the (human-mechanical) storm! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146595 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 10:51:53 +0000 chdot 146595@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I wonder how much longer that'll last?"</p> <p>Is that a challenge?? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146594 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 10:49:39 +0000 Slug 146594@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Notably more bikes on the last part of my commute from Dreghorn to Gorgie, but no change yet on the preceding part over Castlelaw and Allermuir... only me. :) I wonder how much longer that'll last? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146593 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 10:37:28 +0000 wingpig 146593@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was puttering through town at a non-commuting time yesterday morning and saw some of this everyday-business stuff, which appears the same as commuting but with fewer people wearing dayglo/team kit (even not in the immediate vicinity of a bit of a university) and fewer cars.</p> <p><blockquote><em>"how would/could your place of employment 'cope'?"</em></blockquote></p> <p>Racks are at about 80% occupancy at the moment (helped by the twenty-thirty extra spaces added a year or so ago), with some other-side-of-rack spaces blocked by things like helmets, tabards and coats hanging off handlebars. Even as late as late autumn last year there were frequently more bikes than official racks. Changing-room floorspace (but not shower-capacity) was doubled a couple of years ago but is still tight at peak times and way too tight on damp days when everyone wants to hang something somewhere. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146589 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 10:24:14 +0000 chdot 146589@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"even at 07:30 the bike racks are noticeably busier than they've been before"</p> <p>Following on from the Spokes meeting on Monday where it was said that cycling to work had doubled in 8 years (I think) and that it could/should/might double again by 2020 -</p> <p>how would/could your place of employment 'cope'?</p> <p>(A question for anyone on here). </p> <p>More racks? Showers? Space for stuff? Better management attitude etc. etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146588 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 10:16:39 +0000 MeepMeep 146588@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Back on topic (sorry to ruin the CCE tradition of leaving a thread to lapse into unconciousness in a state grossly diverged from its initial purpose)...</p> <p>Kaputnik - even at 07:30 the bike racks are noticeably busier than they've been before. Not all are brand new shiny C2W bikes either: a fair number of 'new' bikes I've noticed in the racks seem to indicate that people are perhaps dusting off bikes that have been kicking around and are commuting on what they've got.</p> <p>Unfortunately, out at the Gyle it is still far too easy to find somewhere to abandon your car for the day (no matter whether its a residential estate or a gated wasteground entry bay) so, along with patchy infrastructure across the estate, there's no real impetus for people to start commuting by bike.</p> <p>When I travel closer to the city centre, I'm always pleased to see a prevalence of everyday-Joes/Jos going about their day-to-day business, clearly just using bikes as a way of getting from A to B. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146575 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 02:42:36 +0000 Focus 146575@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Considering the protection you get from the rear of the garment, it's a bargain!:</p> <p><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n187/reggiedunlop77/misc/5p75juc7.jpg"></p> <p>(Personally, the claimed link between their design and armour seems pretty tenuous. It has a bit of a medieval look about it, but not one of armour) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146566 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 23:40:57 +0000 Nelly 146566@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Think this tweed is a bit pricey though ;-)</p> <p><a href="http://www.dashingtweeds.co.uk/shop/ready-to-wear/jackets/cycle-jacket.html">Dashing Tweeds</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146563 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 23:07:34 +0000 Claire 146563@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think I've seen the odd tweed-kitted rider around the Uni, but yet to spot one whizzing down the Roseburn path of a morning. Would make my day! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146534 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 17:14:43 +0000 wingpig 146534@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There was a tweed-clad human male on a folder sometimes spotted around Picardy Place of a morning several years ago... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146533 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 17:11:07 +0000 I were right about that saddle 146533@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"on", not "in"</p> <p>Well, I reckon it's just a matter of time....there you are balanced on a pair of wheels, bouncing over stray dog infested rough cobbles at fifteen miles an hour inches away from a waist-deep trough of barely-diluted freezing duck poop....if I make it through my year of commuting out here without a ducking I'll count myself lucky. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146529 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 16:22:35 +0000 Claire 146529@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What a legend! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146527 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 16:17:15 +0000 kaputnik 146527@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>At least two brand new Evans own-brand hybrids on the canal </em></p> <p>"on", not "in", I hope! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146524 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 16:01:37 +0000 I were right about that saddle 146524@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I haven't seen a gentleman in tweed doing his morning commute"</p> <p>There used to be a fully fledged Chap on a 1910 three-speed at Tollcross of a morning. Rod brakes with leather blocks, hub gears, sprung saddle, canvas tool roll and....oil lamps! He actually lit his bicycle lights with a match come sundown. I was in awe. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146523 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:46:35 +0000 Claire 146523@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@I were right - I am still very disappointed I haven't seen a gentleman in tweed doing his morning commute yet... :( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146520 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:17:54 +0000 Coxy 146520@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://road.cc/content/news/114799-two-million-new-cycle-commuters-about-take-roads-says-cyclescheme" rel="nofollow">http://road.cc/content/news/114799-two-million-new-cycle-commuters-about-take-roads-says-cyclescheme</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146519 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:17:10 +0000 I were right about that saddle 146519@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"we're usually desperately outnumbered by the blokes"</p> <p>By the blokes, perhaps. But not by the gentlemen. No gentleman would ever outnumber a lady. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146518 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:16:01 +0000 Greenroofer 146518@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Number of bikes in our work bike park over the winter 70-80. Number in at the start of last week 106. Number yesterday 97. 'Nuff said.</p> <p>There was a bit of dip in the rubbish weather last week, though... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146517 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:01:55 +0000 Claire 146517@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I always count the number of ladies on bikes on my commute in the morning as we're usually desperately outnumbered by the blokes. </p> <p>But definitely more folk on the paths and absolutely more women cycling. Must be the change in the weather :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146513 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 14:56:14 +0000 steveo 146513@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As good a chance of Debian replacing windows in every corporation in the UK. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12442#post-146509 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 14:45:35 +0000 chdot 146509@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12328#post-146439">15x20 then</a>? </p>