http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Positive images of cycling, please can we have more? en Sun, 31 May 2026 09:24:57 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311&page=2#post-12406 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:25:43 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 12406@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Funnily enough I just had a wee walk out to the post office and saw four cyclists.</p> <p>Cyclist one - lady on an MTB, yellow jacket and helmet, with v good road positioning.</p> <p>Cyclist two - woman in jeans and summery top with child in kiddy seat on the top tube, doing a very good traffic management job and looking about well at the traffic.</p> <p>Cyclist three - uber-style-monkey bloke on a cool-as-bits (no sarcasm there, it was lovely) genuine-old singlespeed, sitting up, enjoying the sun.</p> <p>Cyclist four - girl in skirt and tights, subtle 'p***-pot' style helmet, suede jacket.</p> <p>What was noticeable is that all four looked utterly confident, and looked like they were enjoying being out on the bike in the sun. Lovely to see, and each and every one of them an advert for good cycling with perfect manners and control on the road. The car drivers, on the other hand... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311&page=2#post-12404 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:49:18 +0000 Kim 12404@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There do seem to be more people getting about on bikes these days, and more older people at that. As cycling become "normal" rather than something of a "counter culture" we are going to see all sorts of people on bikes, and that has to be a good thing :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311&page=2#post-12378 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:38:58 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 12378@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"So why worrry about the fact they can make cycling look stylish?<br /> The appearance of someone on a bike matters not, the fact they are appearing on a bike does"</p> <p>Because it looks good to <em>non</em>-cyclists.</p> <p>The tagline on citycycling was, from the beginning, and remains, "No matter what you ride, as long as you do", and there were offshoots like "No matter how fast you ride..." and "No matter what bike you ride..." etc etc etc. As far as I'm concerned that remains the case, and is why I don't particularly worry about what I wear on the bike - neither lycra, nor Copenhagenized. </p> <p>But I do still wear 'cycling' gear, and as soon as Joe Public thinks you've got to have special gear in order to cycle it can be off-putting (certainly from conversations I've had with lots of Joe Public in the course of producing Citycycling). Seeing someone 'stylish' (it's a bad way of putting it, but since it was me who put it that way I guess I have to carry on) is a much more positive view of cycling (the point of this thread) to those who don't cycle than I could ever imagine to be.</p> <p>I don't 'worry' about it, I just 'like' seeing it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311&page=2#post-12374 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:30:09 +0000 kaputnik 12374@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Is he likely to kill anyone? </em></p> <p>Himself. Or someone else in his group? (It was from a CM ride as seen on Flickr) Unlikely I know. Admittedly highly remote. </p> <p>First rule / bit of advice I was given about riding in a group - have your hands over the brakes at all times. If something's going to happen, it will happen so fast you probably wont have time to do anything other than squeeze.</p> <p>I just strikes me as giving unneccessary fuel to pour on the smouldering fires of other people's stereotypes of cyclists.</p> <p>Personally I find I need to concentrate on whats in front of me (i.e. potholes) at all times, particularly in the dark or when cycling in the gutterline and I need both ears free to listen out for approaching traffic. I also don't find trying to get a phone out, work it, then put it back into the pocket does anything for my stability. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311&page=2#post-12361 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:23:08 +0000 spitfire 12361@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So why worrry about the fact they can make cycling look stylish?<br /> The appearance of someone on a bike matters not, the fact they are appearing <em>on a bike</em> does </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12360 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:13:17 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 12360@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"people who worry about style worry me<br /> if I am unstylish do I get shunned?"</p> <p>Hell no. I ride unstylishly! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12359 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:55:08 +0000 SRD 12359@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cycling on a busy street in the dark, with a bag unbalancing handlebars and talking on a phone strikes me as stupid (and hence, not positive). Risky to oneself, and potentially also to other cyclists and drivers. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12358 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:35:48 +0000 spitfire 12358@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"they certainly can make cycling look stylish."</p> <p>people who worry about style worry me<br /> if I am unstylish do I get shunned? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12357 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:23:59 +0000 Kim 12357@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A cyclist running a red light is unlikely to kill anyone, but that doesn't mean it's right. Nor is it legal and there is a good reason for that. Driving holding a phone <em>is</em> illegal for a reason, sadly some people don't think about that, when they try start criticising cyclist for using phones. It is about the scale of harm and the potential harm to others.</p> <p>One of the good things about cycling is that reduces the risk of harm to others. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12356 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:16:52 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 12356@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"What is wrong with the cyclist on the phone? Is he likely to kill anyone?"</p> <p>Just one response, I'm not getting into an argument. A cyclist running a red light is unlikely to kill anyone, but that doesn't mean it's <em>right</em>.</p> <p>On the <em>positive</em> side of things, there are a lot of very dapper cyclists about now that the uni students are returning. Much as I hate them for their youth and exuberance and optimism, they certainly can make cycling look stylish. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12343 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:56:10 +0000 chdot 12343@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"What is wrong with the cyclist on the phone? Is he likely to kill anyone?"</p> <p>Let's not start on that one...</p> <p>P.s. I'm at an 'event' all day so no time to do heavy moderating...</p> <p>DON'T (all) take that as an invite!!! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12342 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:51:27 +0000 Kim 12342@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What is wrong with the cyclist on the phone? Is he likely to kill anyone? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12335 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:51:26 +0000 steveo 12335@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hey its normal, drivers do it all the time.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12330 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:14:20 +0000 kaputnik 12330@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2169/1765984362_95f418d0c2.jpg"><br /> Oh. Whoops. Might have misunderstood the word "positive". Cyclist on the right on phone with carrier back dangling off handles. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12325 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:47:13 +0000 chdot 12325@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/4951844023"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4951844023_379afb0dbd.jpg"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12062 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:02:14 +0000 spitfire 12062@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncanwallace/4565849881/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4565849881_5b5700e0be.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncanwallace/4565849881/">George Street</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/duncanwallace/">spytfyre</a>, on Flickr </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12061 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:54 +0000 chdot 12061@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Do gnomes live in glasshouses? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12060 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:59:37 +0000 steveo 12060@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Folk art, that is definitely a way of describing it... Odd is equally fitting. Though with the UK's gnome thing its probably a case of glass houses. :D </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12058 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:52:44 +0000 chdot 12058@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Must be a distinctively North American folk art"</p> <p>If you say so... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12057 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:50:23 +0000 SRD 12057@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Must be a distinctively North American folk art:<br /> <img src="http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/store/media/ccp0/prodsm/19-W1567tn.jpg"> Usually starring little girls/grannies with knickers/frilly drawers showing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12056 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:47:40 +0000 chdot 12056@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"'bendyover' garden decorations...."</p> <p>Fortunately I don't know to what you refer! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12055 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:46:43 +0000 chdot 12055@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"That last one's fab!"</p> <p>Ta</p> <p>Thanks to British Waterways putting a mooring pontoon in exactly the right place. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12054 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:45:19 +0000 SRD 12054@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That last one's fab! (the one in Waverly reminds me of those 'bendyover' garden decorations.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12053 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:43:20 +0000 chdot 12053@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/4798733929"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4798733929_062ecd9d94_z.jpg"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12052 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:41:32 +0000 chdot 12052@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/4850363132/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4850363132_9b30890034.jpg"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12051 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:39:07 +0000 chdot 12051@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4859314765_04c73b9224_o.jpg"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4859314765_4c8ac325d4.jpg"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12050 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:35:40 +0000 chdot 12050@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Is it the angle, or is the cyclist in the second of chdot's posts stopped randomly in the middle of Princes' street?"</p> <p>I assume you mean my first.</p> <p>Stopped - yes </p> <p>Randomly - sort of </p> <p>She is ahead of where people are 'supposed' to stop according to the somewhat curious markings just before Lothian Road.</p> <p>She's in the ASL that tie/CEC forget to paint... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12049 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:32:54 +0000 chdot 12049@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"chdot, do you have a still camera on your bars"</p> <p>no</p> <p>"or do you just hang around taking pictures"</p> <p>Not very often, they are usually taken when I'm cycling somewhere. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12048 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:30:52 +0000 chdot 12048@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/4865587411/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4865587411_4631e69a93.jpg"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1311#post-12047 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:30:32 +0000 SRD 12047@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Is it the angle, or is the cyclist in the second of chdot's posts stopped randomly in the middle of Princes' street? </p>