CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: More of us

CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: More of us - Less of us http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: More of us - Less of us en Sun, 17 May 2026 20:23:18 +0000 acsimpson on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-354437 Wed, 08 Sep 2021 18:39:38 +0000 acsimpson 354437@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I wonder how much of the slump is caused by supply chain problems. Most bike shops seem to be struggling to stock many key items. crowriver on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-354422 Wed, 08 Sep 2021 13:43:49 +0000 crowriver 354422@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Cars back in vogue in the UK after a brief flirtation with bicycles last year. ---- The 26% slump in bicycle sales and related kit at Halfords comes after the retailer benefited from a bike boom last year as commuters and families switched to two wheels as a way to exercise and get about without using public transport. Halfords results marked a switch back to cars a year on from the UK-wide lockdown, with sales of motoring kit up 48% in stores, while the group’s 374 garages experienced a near 44% uptick in trade. Those figures contributed to an overall 10.5% rise in sales for the group. --- <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/sep/08/halfords-joins-list-of-firms-hit-by-supply-chain-problems-as-bike-sales-dive" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/sep/08/halfords-joins-list-of-firms-hit-by-supply-chain-problems-as-bike-sales-dive</a> Rosie on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-337750 Sat, 19 Sep 2020 19:12:44 +0000 Rosie 337750@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Edinburgh’s most influential citizen has been co-opted by the cycle lobby. <a href="https://twitter.com/NewTownFlaneur/status/1307354909642313730" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/NewTownFlaneur/status/1307354909642313730</a> Rosie on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-309935 Wed, 03 Jul 2019 09:07:02 +0000 Rosie 309935@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Cycling up 5% in London. "2018 saw the highest growth in kilometers cycled since monitoring began, increasing almost 5% from the previous year. This is according to new statistics revealed by Transport for London." <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2019/07/03/biggest-increase-in-cycling-in-london-since-records-began-reports-transport-for-london/#774db7d88aef" rel="nofollow">https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2019/07/03/biggest-increase-in-cycling-in-london-since-records-began-reports-transport-for-london/#774db7d88aef</a> the canuck on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-289827 Tue, 28 Aug 2018 20:04:51 +0000 the canuck 289827@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ i was in a group of 4 women this morning, crossing north bridge. all of us in a variety of get up. dessert rat on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-289798 Tue, 28 Aug 2018 11:07:38 +0000 dessert rat 289798@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ last Monday I encountered 61 pedalists from start to end of Innocent. A new record, previous high was 60 last summer. I was going to post it but got knocked off less than 60secs after leaving the bike path, so it slipped my mind. more, we need more. paulmilne on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-289797 Tue, 28 Aug 2018 10:21:29 +0000 paulmilne 289797@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ 42 encountered between Haymarket and Saughton House this morning, going on Quiet Route 8. That includes meeting and being overtaken (don't think I overtook anyone). wingpig on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-289796 Tue, 28 Aug 2018 10:09:06 +0000 wingpig 289796@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @alps There were six or seven (at least in my forward field of view) going from Haymarket Terrace to the West Maitland Street advanced stop box, but that was plenty to prevent any taxis trying to whoosh past to the red light. Unfortunately there was at least one racing-turnip who went onto the footway on Torphichen Street rather than wait a couple of seconds to get around a parked car on its right. alps on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-289793 Tue, 28 Aug 2018 09:27:55 +0000 alps 289793@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ The bike box for the right turn into Torpichen Place was full beyond capacity this morning, then I counted 11 cyclists (including me & I think only 2 from the original set at Torpichen) waiting for the red light at Morrison St / Lothian Road. Full spectrum from pootlers in office clothes to racers in lycra. Lovely! paddyirish on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-235381 Wed, 02 Nov 2016 15:05:20 +0000 paddyirish 235381@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "Depends how hardy the Fifers are. " It's the "Edinburgers" that I encounter - I overtake/am overtaken rarely on my commute, so no idea of actual "Fifer" numbers deckard112 on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-235376 Wed, 02 Nov 2016 14:46:52 +0000 deckard112 235376@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ To use a good Scottish word, I saw 'hunners' on my way in from Dunf this morning going in both directions along the whole route into Edinburgh. All different 'types' of rider too, not just the hardcore I usually see in the winter. Good to see the cold weather isn't putting folk off. chdot on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-235306 Wed, 02 Nov 2016 10:41:16 +0000 chdot 235306@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "If it holds up" Depends how hardy the Fifers are. (And how much they have suitable equipment and clothing.) <a href="https://cyclefridays.wordpress.com/clothes" rel="nofollow">https://cyclefridays.wordpress.com/clothes</a> <a href="https://cyclefridays.wordpress.com/weather" rel="nofollow">https://cyclefridays.wordpress.com/weather</a> paddyirish on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-235305 Wed, 02 Nov 2016 10:37:06 +0000 paddyirish 235305@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I was similarly heartened to encounter more cyclists in the dark as I went home to Fife on Monday night. Probably more than in the previous week. If it holds up it will be the busiest winter yet. Nelly on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-235287 Wed, 02 Nov 2016 09:49:49 +0000 Nelly 235287@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Lots and lots of cyclists going both ways on Broomhouse path last night. As busy as I can remember at this time of year. On the weather front, frost out toward Edinburgh Park this morning. Brrrrrrrr...... acsimpson on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-232979 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 23:49:39 +0000 acsimpson 232979@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Baldycyclist: "Minor includes falling off bike in kitchen" Care to elaborate? Nelly on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-232943 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 17:24:45 +0000 Nelly 232943@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ On crashes - there is one absolute truism for my commute, which is that every year, almost without fail, I will look at the weather and lazily decide I can do without the studded tyres for another week........inevitable consequence is a fall. My best one was MTB in the Cairngorms - overshot a corner and fell sideways into a bog - came out with everything except my left shoe :-) Roibeard on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-232930 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 15:46:21 +0000 Roibeard 232930@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @Wingpig - Collision with stationary object is recorded separately from non-collision injury, so I'm assuming that non-collision injuries are thus road rash, broken collar bone (classic fall onto an outstretched hand injury - "FOOSH" to the medics), etc. Hence the injury caused by colliding with (and sliding along) the ground! Robert (who has had his fair share of superman moments) wingpig on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-232922 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 15:19:49 +0000 wingpig 232922@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <blockquote>"(The pedant in me wants to point out that there will always be a collision, if only with the ground, otherwise where is the mechanism for injury?)"</blockquote> Having seen someone chin themselves on a metal goalpost (albeit on a small motorbike, not a pedal cycle) before landing without further injury on the soft, grassy ground I must request you re-phrase yourself. neddie on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-232920 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 15:09:07 +0000 neddie 232920@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Great. Can we go back to bragging about crashes now? Wilmington's Cow on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-232918 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 15:00:43 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 232918@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Which I'll happily agree on.... ;) Roibeard on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-232915 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 14:52:23 +0000 Roibeard 232915@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Going by the 70% of hospitalisations, coming from only 30% of the treatments (most of which are minor thus not requiring hospitalisation), it looks like non-collision incidents are huge, but survivable. (The pedant in me wants to point out that there will always be a collision, if only with the ground, otherwise where is the mechanism for injury?) A priori I'd be happy with the assumption that low energy impacts cause less severe injuries than high energy impacts, which brings me back to the "keep the dangerous heavy machinery away from squishy things" point... Robert Morningsider on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979&page=2#post-232914 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 14:50:41 +0000 Morningsider 232914@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ To put this in context, the British Medical Association state in its Healthy Transport = Healthy Lives report that “In spite of the harms cyclists face in terms of safety and exposure to air pollution, a number of studies have found that the health benefits of cycling, such as improved quality of life, weight control, and protecting against major chronic diseases, greatly outweigh these risks, by up to a factor of 20 to 1.” Wilmington's Cow on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979#post-232911 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 14:43:02 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 232911@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Well that's damned good work Roibeard - better than my research had managed to pull together. I did find one thing that suggested that while people did get seriously injured cycling, the rates of gardening incidents were much higher. So possibly non-collision incidents make up the majority (even if, in the case of Finland, by a small margin), but collision incidents are more severe? Roibeard on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979#post-232907 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 14:26:33 +0000 Roibeard 232907@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Finally, <a href="http://www.avon.nhs.uk/phnet/avonsafe/Cycling%20Injuries/September%202012%20-%20FINAL1112.pdf">English results</a> Non-collision injuries requiring a bed make up 70% of hospitalisations but only 30% of non collision incidents require treatment at all and presumably much of that 30% are treated without requiring a bed as "most injuries are relatively minor". The authors of this are confident that the primary issues are slippery road surfaces, contact with kerbs and rail lines and poor road surfaces (which matches the discussion). Given that we can't change the climate, we should probably give up cycling for the sake of our health and to reduce the burden on the NHS... Robert Roibeard on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979#post-232903 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 14:16:38 +0000 Roibeard 232903@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @WC What we need are stats for injuries admitted to hospital That's why I restricted my discussion to KSI, due to under-reporting of minor injuries. How about some Canadian hospitalisation (overnight stay) figures by cause? <a href="http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/11/e008052/T1.expansion.html" rel="nofollow">http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/11/e008052/T1.expansion.html</a> Comes with a nice breakdown between on-road and off-road, but mostly excludes deaths, so SI only. So, including off-road incidents, 19% were with motorised vehicles, 3% with pedestrians, animals or cyclists, and 68% involved no collision or collision with a stationary object. However 61% of the no collision incidents did not occur on a public road, so running the numbers just for on-road incidents returns 34% motorised, 4% squishy things (people, cyclists, animals) and 51% no collision (or stationary object). <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3242536/">Finnish results</a> from a single hospital are even worse, with 80% involving a cyclist alone. So looks like I'm wrong (for Canada and Finland at least)! Robert Coxy on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979#post-232900 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 13:57:38 +0000 Coxy 232900@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Have lost count of the number of times I have come off mountain biking. But commuting: SPD incident 1: Stopped on Porty Prom to look at seals. Forgot about new clipless pedals SPD incident 2: Looking for place to park bike at Western General and clipped curb. Innocent railway: wheelie fail! Fishwives causeway: not paying attention to road litter when riding without hands Ice: once, ending in cracked helmet (bike helmet) Only hit by motor vehicle once - that was a motor bike sliding across road after it had been hit by car coming out of a junction. No-one hurt. 86% my fault and no one else involved 14% another's fault (vehicle related) Wilmington's Cow on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979#post-232899 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 13:54:20 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 232899@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "One of the Dutch advocates on Twitter made a case to me after one incident that 'British' cyclists are unsafe due to our silly positions on road bikes, and the fact we use cleated pedals." Just noticed this. Yep, that's the view I got from speaking to folk in Denmark and being shown the video I mention above. Wilmington's Cow on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979#post-232898 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 13:53:18 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 232898@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @Roibeard I'm going to challenge those stats (mainly because I found them as well so had a chance to look). Those stats are for incidents reporting 'to the police'. "A considerable proportion of non-fatal accidents are not reported to the police. More information on this can be found in article 6 of Reported Road Casualties GB 2011" I would suspect the grand majority of 'hit by a car' incidents, especially involving injury, would be reported to the police; whereas the grand majority of 'fell off and broke something' incidents wouldn't be. Certainly when I cracked my head off the road and was briefly knocked out there was no police involvement. What we need are stats for injuries admitted to hospital... You're right though, we do have higher stats than countries with segregation, but might not be entirely down to not mixing with motor vehicles (some might be of course). There was a video did the rounds from Denmark a number of years ago about Copenhagen riders slipping on ice - because of the segregation there is more of a tendency to use upright 'comfortable' bikes, and if you skid on ice you're more upright, can get your feet down to hold yourself up. It was really enlightening, watching and realising that such a simple thing can have such an impact (pun intended) on not falling off. I remain to be convinced <returns grin> jdanielp on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979#post-232888 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 12:58:02 +0000 jdanielp 232888@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I have come off my bike on three occasions during the last 7+ years of regular commuting, all on the towpath: <ol type="1"><li>misjudging the robustness of overhanging vegetation near the Calder Road Bridge which yanked my handlebar around and led to me being deposited into the surprisingly comfortable and dry reedbed opposite;</li><li>colliding with a pedestrian who abruptly moved from one side of the path to the other after I rang my bell before passing - he half-caught me as I veered into a bush in an effort to avoid an unavoidable collision;</li><li>colliding almost head on with a cyclist who decided to pull out from behind her cycling partner despite the fact that I was in the process of passing him.</li></ol> I merely suffered minor scrapes and the chain falling off. I also had three offs on non-commutes during that time, again, all of which took place on off-road cycle paths: <ol type="1"><li>coming down a steep muddy slope soon after I had switched from MTB to hybrid tyres, but I had a very gentle landing, face-first into a patch of nettles;</li><li>attempting to take a sharp corner slowly on a layer of wet leaves - this put a hole in my winter jacket.</li><li>veering off an easy optional log balance obstacle at Glentress and falling back onto the gravel track, which is my most unpleasant injury on a bicycle to date...</li></ol> Those took place on my old hybrid-MTB commuter (apart from Glentress). The last two years on my Charge Grater have been fall-free. Baldcyclist on "More of us - Less of us" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16979#post-232886 Tue, 04 Oct 2016 12:43:53 +0000 Baldcyclist 232886@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Seems to be every 3 yaers for something serious, numerous minor incidents inbetween. Serious including: 3 broken ribs after collision with cyclist at blind bend on A8 cyclepath at RBS. Some bad road rash, and 'the fear' after being hit by a car on Scotstoun Ave in S Queensferry. Didn't cycle for 3 months after that. Hit sunken pothole at 20mph at Aberdour beach, gashed elbow and knee. Elbow still painfull at times after a year. All of above happened on cycle infrastructure, or 'quiet' cycle routes. Minor includes falling off bike in kitchen, ice stuff, some falling because of oil. I once fell off in front of a bus as the lights went green. Still don't actually know what happened, luckilly the bus driver managed to stop. One of the Dutch advocates on Twitter made a case to me after one incident that 'British' cyclists are unsafe due to our silly positions on road bikes, and the fact we use cleated pedals.