I saw 10 cyclists between Burntisland and Inverkeithing yesterday morning.
I can't think of a time where I've seen that many in the morning. Usually don't start seeing cyclists until Inverkeithing.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
More of 'us' ?
(591 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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Sitting in Miller and Carter at lunchtime watching the ebb a flow of an assortment of bikes and riders.
Posted 9 years ago # -
More bikes than ever today on my way to work this morning, going to and from town. Most pleasing.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Encountered 13 cyclists (mainly individuals) on the Bridge on Tuesday Morning and could see another 3 ahead of me- that was a record for me.
Posted 9 years ago # -
meant to say as well there seem to be more Fife-bound commuters and hopefully the A90 improvements will also help that.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I thought the bridge seemed busy yesterday too. There were a number of kids cycling over when I passed.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I've seen a lot of un-helmeted, normally-dressed females on upright type bikes on the Pinkhill/Balgreen path recently.
Good 'indicator species'
Posted 9 years ago # -
@eddie_h
Me too. You may have spotted my wife at some point as she matches that description.
There's one lady I see frequently on what looks like a genuine Dutch bike (proper fully swept back handlebars, skirt guard etc). I feel distinctly inappropriately dressed when I pass her wearing my hi-vis.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Quite a few cyclists out on my long commute yesterday - including one going the same way as me (a lot more quickly...)
Posted 9 years ago # -
I went through the Meadows this morning at peak commuting time for the first time ever. There were loads of bikes - is it normally like this?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Good lot on the Innocent this morning, even quite early.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I've seen a lot of un-helmeted, normally-dressed females on upright type bikes on the Pinkhill/Balgreen path recently.
Good 'indicator species'
I saw three similar examples on Broughton Street this morning. I agree with your assessment - it made cycling look normal and safe. Brought a smile to my face.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I've seen a lot of un-helmeted, normally-dressed females on upright type bikes
Yes, I too have noted more of this lately round the city centre
* applause *
Amazing to think that what should be so commonplace has the appearance of a radical statement, due to the FEAR and victim blaming mindset relentlessly promoted by UK road culture
Posted 9 years ago # -
I remember a while ago a friend saying something along the lines of "I spotted you in Haymarket station the other day - I noticed you because you looked really smart and cyclists don't usually look smart and then I realised it was you!"
(She does cycle sometimes herself.)
Posted 9 years ago # -
"....cyclists don't usually look smart"
I was going to object, but then I looked down at my tatty jeans and muddy walking boots.
Tempted to wear a suit to PoP tomorrow now to make a point.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Travelling into town on the bus this morning at the tail end of rush hour (not something I do very often) I was struck by the number of bikes at the big junctions. Morningside, Kings' Theatre, Tollcross all had a good number of bikes waiting at the lights. It wasn't quite like London, but it was more like London than I've noticed before. Regrettably, most of them were still in road warrior gear, but there were a few elegant ladies and one stylish gent in a tweed baker boy hat on a bright blue bike.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Regrettably, most of them were still in road warrior gear
Please explain what is regrettable about someone wanting to be comfortable riding their bike.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@galaxy what's 'regrettable' about it is that it shows that cycling (despite being more popular) still is mainly about hi-viz, helmets and (to a lesser extent) lycra. While there were a few ladies in skirts and gents in jackets (and caps) yesterday, there weren't enough of them to suggest that cycling is yet a truly mainstream choice that anyone of any age can do particularly when they are making a short journey. It still looks like something you need to get 'dressed up' for.
To put this in context, I rode to work today in a technical top, fluorescent wind-breaking gilet, MTB shorts, padded undershorts, SPD shoes and silly orange cap. I did this because I wanted to be comfortable riding my bike for some distance and at the upper end of the speeds I'm capable of. To some extent, then, I'm riding for 'sport' as well as transport. It looked to me as if many of the people I saw yesterday were in the same category.
When I see more cyclists in high heels, suits and school uniform, I'll know that we are getting to where I think we need to be. At present their absence is regrettable.
Posted 9 years ago # -
To put Greenroofer's context into context, it's about breaking out of a clique, and being actively non-conformist until we reach the tipping point.
People you see riding motorscooters are all wearing tracksuits and trainers, or office clothes and dress shoes. You don't see them wearing full leather racesuits or enduro textiles, even though those options offer far more protection given similar typical speeds in an urban journey. You don't see stormtrooper style Alpinestars boots on someone riding a sports bike, and you don't see vented race boots on a big trailie rider. It's not just about protection, or clothes that make the journey more comfortable, it's part of the uniform.
I wear not-lycra when I want to look less 'cyclist', because a) lycra tends to be a bit revealing, and b) no-one else is wearing lycra, which isn't quite cricket if you're going shopping for curtains or going out for a meal. But when I wear not-lycra and I'm on the bike, I usually rue that choice from comfort and efficiency perspective. That's because of terrain and/or distance, when my level of comfort takes a much higher priority. If I never had to deal with hills and traffic, I might wear everyday clothes on the bike more often. Actually, I used to ride everywhere wearing jeans, and I was having to buy new jeans with alarming regularity.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@Greenroofer, have to disagree respectfully.
I welcome more people on bikes and do not judge them on their choice of clothing and in return expect people not to judge me.
Looking at those you see on bikes, you have no idea where they have come from (round the corner or 20 miles away), how they have got to where they are now (on/off road, on the flat or over a big hill etc.), how far they have to go and how they will feel when they get to their destination (could be hot, sweaty and covered in mud).
Their choice of clothes reflects the journey they are making and labelling their clothing choice as regrettable without knowing what drove that choice is regrettable itself.
Just celebrate that they are out there at all.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@paddyirish (and perhaps @galaxy too, although you were a bit less explicit in your disagreement) when I used 'regrettable', I didn't mean that the choices made by the people I could see were regrettable. I completely agree that all the people could have come a long way and could have been dressed for comfort and speed (as I do myself). I wasn't saying that they should have worn something different.
The 'regrettable' thing for me is that there weren't more people in high heels, suits or school uniforms because they blatantly wouldn't have come a long way and would just be normal people making short trips by bike (like you see in civilised countries). The 'regrettable' thing for me is that the environment on our roads still feels sufficiently hostile that we don't see lots of those kinds of people. It's still a bit the preserve of the fit and assertive.
So, I do celebrate that they were out there at all. There were lots of them, and it was great. What I regret (still) is the people who aren't out there yet, in their ordinary clothes.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"What I regret (still) is the people who aren't out there yet, in their ordinary clothes."
I agree with everybody (above).
One notably thing is that there is a 'divide' between commuting and other.
It's clear that there are a lot of people (particularly on here) commuting longish distances and/or for sport/fun/exercise and (presumably) make use of at-work changing/shower facilities.
Throughout the day - in central Ednburgh - there is a different profile of riders. There is definately a higher proportion of people in 'ordinary' clothes.
Some would probably not want to deal with 'rush' hour but others are just cycling more 'local' journeys.
Posted 9 years ago # -
You don't have to look at what people are wearing to figure that one out though, you only have to look at the roads.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I have been watching The Bridge on Netflix, and am annoying my wife by constantly pointing out the masses of bikes leaning all over the place on Copenhagen streets, and how ubiquitous bike travel seems - in the city centre.
in my mind thats when we will have it cracked - when lots more people drag a bike out to 'pop down the shops' rather than jump in the car.
On the subject of commute clothing,I simply couldnt afford to wear 'normal' clothes from Marchmont to Edinburgh Park and back in all weathers - suits would be wrecked in a week.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Think chdot made a valid point, those of us who commute to an out of town office don't see those who are cycling outside rush hour and vice versa.
With Edinburgh so compact I guess you'd find that a lot of people do their local trips on foot.
As a rule of thumb, I wouldn't use my bike for a journey I could do in 15 mins or less on foot- the hassle of getting it out of the garage, finding clips to protect my trousers, getting a lock to lock it somewhere (assuming there is omewhere suitable to lock it), I could be halfway to my destination on foot before I set off on the bike.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I fall into both categories, depending on the weather and how much time I have. If its grim I'll be wearing something that won't soak which I'll take off and change at destination. I need to factor this into my commute time.
This past couple of weeks I've been on my "ladies" bike with normal attire at a leisurely pace. I don't then need to change at work. I have to say I much prefer these days! It certainly feels more connected and, as @Arellcat said, you can hop on and off and pop into shops etc without shouting "cyclist."
I am not in anyway criticising the cyclist identity but it's just a mode of transport and shouldn't set you apart from the other human beings who got to their destinations by a different means.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Just spotted owner of newsagent in Lawnmarket locking up his shop and heading home on a smart hybrid bike. Mudguards and frame right size. I've seen it before but never realised it was his. Makes sense - good on him.
Posted 9 years ago # -
19 Strava flybys (and a lot more non Strava users) on the way home to Fife tonight. That is a record for me. Lots of cyclists on both the bridge and the new A90 path.
Counted 40-45 cyclists as I headed westbound along the canal just after 8 on Monday morning.
Posted 9 years ago # -
George Street almost busy yesterday
Posted 9 years ago # -
More cycling to work too
Posted 9 years ago #
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