CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

Cyclists Quote of the Day

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  1. DaveC
    Member

    I was talking to one of the other cyclists in our kitchen this morning at work. He stated that his ride in was near hell.. the reason, so many cyclists. He said at one point he was nearly forced into the back of a bus as someone on a single speed over took him and at the last second and didn't leave room for him to pull out. He also says at some points on his commute in there are so many cyclists that on the down hill sections there is a large mele of motor vehicals and cyclists all traveling at the same speed, and when the cars come to a halt, all the cyclists sinkl through to the front making a mass of cyclists all over the place when lights turn green...

    So are we doing something right (in getting so many cyclists on the road) or something wrong in lack of disipline or respect for other road users, be them motor of self powered?

    (I think my collegue may be slightly selfish - but then we all are at some point)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    I'm in the selfish camp of quite liking having the road quiet of cyclists - I always feel slightly ill at ease with lots of cyclists, knowing a certain proportion will be lacking in 'roadcraft'. As such I tend to hang back, waiting for the perfect safe opportunity to pass, then make sure I get ahead and out of the way.

    And stops at lights and so on further on the route I try to position so that I won't end up behind the stramash again.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. wingpig
    Member

    Sounds like either Tollcross or North Bridge.
    When I find myself in a large mass of cyclists I do tend to try and discreetly extract myself as soon as possible. Some of them do look, check, signal, watch and so on but those that don't make the whole group appear chaotic.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. lionfish
    Member

    I quite like finding myself surrounded by other cyclists. (Although some do seem to struggle to cycle safely >_< )

    I especially feel happy when the 'missing demographic' are cycling - e.g. families with children, etc.

    Finally, I feel motorists really slow down and pay attention if there's a line of cyclists ahead of them!

    The contention between bikes and cars mixing you describe, especially around junctions, suggests it's really time for some better provision for cyclists, rather than expecting this constant mixing to work out.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. DaveC
    Member

    Lionfish said "The contention between bikes and cars mixing you describe, especially around junctions, suggests it's really time for some better provision for cyclists, rather than expecting this constant mixing to work out."

    ..and I entirly agree. I hope the new Edinburgh statement about increased spending on active travel is followed through and not ignored or voted out by the next council.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    "and not ignored or voted out by the next council"

    The political configuration of the next Council (May) is clearly unknown, but I can't see any parties wanting to take a line against active travel.

    A bigger unknown is how rapidly the 'change of emphasis' will filter through the relevant sections of CEC...

    I'm quite sure that all (brand new or re-elected) councillors will be getting various emails (etc.) reminding them of their party's commitments on walking/cycling and suggestions for what needs to be done...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    In addition I'm assuming that the local elections are back on a four year cycle.

    So 2016 and 2020 - ideal times to assess whether past pledges have been honoured and If future promises will be enough to make '15% of journeys by bike by 2020' probable/possible.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. spitters
    Member

    My quote of the day from a cyclist at my work that I meet in the changing room. I have taken remote control of his PC and am on the phone and ask "what building are you in?"
    His reply:
    "Same building as you. We get naked together in the morning"

    I rofld

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. Roibeard
    Member

    I always feel slightly ill at ease with lots of cyclists, knowing a certain proportion will be lacking in 'roadcraft'. As such I tend to hang back, waiting for the perfect safe opportunity to pass, then make sure I get ahead and out of the way.

    My commute is so short, and I'm so used to cycling slowly with the kids, that I don't mind slotting in behind the others until I get a lane's width to overtake.

    In fact, I usually end up behind and to the right, as I find others seem to cycle much further to the left than I do! I'm happy to protect them for a bit...

    Robert

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. lionfish
    Member

    I'm so used to cycling slowly with the kids, that I don't mind slotting in behind the others until I get a lane's width to overtake.

    I also don't mind cycling slowly - I like to be a bit chilled when cycling :) I say hello/thank you and good morning to half of Edinburgh every morning :)

    In fact, I usually end up behind and to the right, as I find others seem to cycle much further to the left than I do! I'm happy to protect them for a bit...

    I have the same feeling and am happy to stay behind people for a bit, but when they make the same turns I do, it starts to look like I'm following them :P

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. Min
    Member

    Yes I suspect it mostly just means getting used to it. After all, we are already used to drivers lack of roadcraft!

    It is not a problem I have ever encountered but I would like to.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. cb
    Member

    "
    "Same building as you. We get naked together in the morning"

    I rofld
    "

    Not at the same time?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. ruggtomcat
    Member

    I think its just culture shock. When I first rode in Holland I found it very disconcerting, but after a few days I was carving up traffic with the rest of them.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. ARobComp
    Member

    I don't really have an issue with most other cyclists apart from those who willfully endanger themselves! I also get a little peeved if someone overtakes me aggressively and then slows down. On the most part I treat them as I would cars. Give them space and let them have room to move around. I do get a little miffed when people go "seeking" for the front of a que of traffic through a tiny gap around various cars/lorries then poke out again in the left hand lane. I almost got taken out by a wee rapscallion doing that on Lothian road the other day.

    Also noticed an increasing number of people running the red light along clerk/nicholson st, at the crossroads where the blockbuster used to be.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Used to see that on club rides. Approaching a red light I'd hold primary and stop behind the last vehicle. Everyone else would overtake/undertake. Lights change, chaos at the junction as drivers and I wait for cyclists to clear junction. Lights change and I'm out for another solo ride.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    "I do get a little miffed when people go "seeking" for the front of a que of traffic through a tiny gap around various cars/lorries then poke out again in the left hand lane"

    Yep. Last night riding home I was in a queue moving at about 12mph, I was behind an ambulance, with just about enough space on the left to pass - but we were approaching a junction on the left, he could get a call at any moment etc etc etc. I slow, hold my position. Shortly after there's a squeal of brakes behind and a guy on a rattly MTB with the saddle way too low (but not a ned, looked like an office worker heading home) squeezes by me, then up the inside of the ambulance.

    We clear the junction, the road opens out, the traffic actually slows, I can safely filter and be on my way. 20 yards on I pass Mr MTB.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. Dave
    Member

    I can't say I've ever had any problems with other cyclists, obviously I'm not in the right parts of town.

    Curiously I did have to hold back the other day to let a cyclist pull out from behind a bus, I wonder if it was the chap mentioned in the OP (probably not, as I didn't pass him until he was alongside the bus - but amusingly similar - and my bike might look like a singlespeed to the untrained eye).

    At the end of the day there's never really going to be a similar scale problem from bikes because, to give one example, if somebody pulls out around a bus while you're overtaking them, the rear rider will come off much worse, so there's a huge incentive not to hit people that just doesn't exist for motorists.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. Uberuce
    Member

    Only mass experience of cyclists I can recall was after the protest, but I reckon there's a big ol' variable there in the form of everyone being their best behaviour. It was ace, mind.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  19. wingpig
    Member

    The bouncing swerving plonker wasn't on his best behaviour at all.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  20. Uberuce
    Member

    Ah, I did have to duck out very soon after the speeches, so I missed that apple.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  21. splitshift
    Member

    not a lot of other cyclists on my commutes but surely if we want other road users, the cars etc to treat us as cars, ie think of us as another road user then surely we should extend each other the same courtesy ?Just cause youre on a bike dosnt mean your not a raving loony with a wish to kill everyone else, but dont happen to have a car !
    I am mr paranoid !

    Posted 12 years ago #

  22. Dave
    Member

    I don't trust anyone, but I'm much less worried about a collision with a person on 15kg of metal than 1500kg or even 44,000kg... mainly because the other person has a huge incentive to pay attention, as they're likely to come off at least as badly as I do!

    Put it this way - the oncoming rider in this video is not riding safely AT ALL. But, I'm still here, wouldn't be if this was a car driving on the wrong side of the road:

    [+] Embed the video | Video DownloadGet the Flash Video

    Posted 12 years ago #

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