Any cyclists out here?

[Woodchip]

and following on from this point, someones mention pedestrians (and yes I can walk as well) have you ever tried using the cycle lane on the seafront, its a joke, and if you run into one of the lardarses who gets the blame.


PS in answer to the orignial point, thats why those Cycle Boxes painted on the road have started appearing at traffic lights (you know, the ones cars drive into)

Those boxes are called Cycle Advance Areas (or something similar)

 

[perseus]

Yesterday I accidently inhaled some car fumes because of the traffic.

Today I have stinking sore throat. Its not good. Has this happend to you?

Bloody cars.

They say cycling is healthy for you

The fumes on all busy roads are above the national guidelines for healthiness. So it is unhealthy for both pedestrians and cyclists.

 

[Curious Orange]

...and ring at pedestrians to tell them to get out of their way.

Or it could be merely to let them know that they are there. I didn't used to have a bell on my bike, but a lot of the cycle paths in Guildford are also footpaths, and I found that a polite "excuse me please" just doesn't work when pedestrians are wandering about all over the place with little regard for other people, much safer to give them advance notice of my presence with a good bell and then thank them as I pass (assuming they've made some space) - doesn't work with iPod wearers of course, they are oblivious to absolutely everything!!

 

[sten_super]

Or it could be merely to let them know that they are there. I didn't used to have a bell on my bike, but a lot of the cycle paths in Guildford are also footpaths, and I found that a polite "excuse me please" just doesn't work when pedestrians are wandering about all over the place with little regard for other people, much safer to give them advance notice of my presence with a good bell and then thank them as I pass (assuming they've made some space) - doesn't work with iPod wearers of course, they are oblivious to absolutely everything!!

It could be, but it seems that in the majority of cases it isn't. It might be a Cambridge thing - because a lot of people go around on bikes, they seem to think that they have a divine right of passage.

You should only need to use the bell if, as you say, the pedestrians are wandering from side to side. Using it in any other situation is not called for and just gives pedestrians the impression (whether correct or not) that cyclists feel that everyone else should get out of their way.

Incidentally, yesterday when I was out jogging I was crossing at traffic lights, and a female cyclist completely ignored them and almost ran straight into me. She also probably didn't appreciate being told it was a f***ing red light.

 

[Seagull Stew]

Or it could be merely to let them know that they are there. I didn't used to have a bell on my bike, but a lot of the cycle paths in Guildford are also footpaths, and I found that a polite "excuse me please" just doesn't work when pedestrians are wandering about all over the place with little regard for other people, much safer to give them advance notice of my presence with a good bell and then thank them as I pass (assuming they've made some space) - doesn't work with iPod wearers of course, they are oblivious to absolutely everything!!

Surely you meant to say alot of footpaths are also cyclepaths.

Pedestrians should surely get priority and why should they have regard for cyclists and not just be able to just wander enjoying their ipod or whatever. That's why we have footpaths, so we can do that without worry of being run over!

If cyclists don't like it, get back on the road!

 

[perseus]

Or it could be merely to let them know that they are there. I didn't used to have a bell on my bike, but a lot of the cycle paths in Guildford are also footpaths, and I found that a polite "excuse me please" just doesn't work when pedestrians are wandering about all over the place with little regard for other people, much safer to give them advance notice of my presence with a good bell and then thank them as I pass (assuming they've made some space) - doesn't work with iPod wearers of course, they are oblivious to absolutely everything!!

I just shout "Ding ding" in the absence of a bell. A bell is best.

 

[sten_super]

I just shout "Ding ding" in the absence of a bell. A bell is best.

I thought it was illegal to have a bike without a bell?

 

[Woodchip]

I thought it was illegal to have a bike without a bell?

It's illegal to have a bike without an audible warning. Your voice is good enough in the eyes of the law. Especially as you can shout and still be in full control of the bike, unlike using a bell.

 

[Clothes Peg]

It's illegal to have a bike without an audible warning. Your voice is good enough in the eyes of the law. Especially as you can shout and still be in full control of the bike, unlike using a bell.

I didn't know that! Must add bell to my purchase list.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

I thought it was illegal to have a bike without a bell?

All new bike sales for the past couple of years have had to include a bell, however their is no law stopping you removing it once you get it home.

Many cylists use whistles, but I think it looks very agressive, voice and courtesy seems to work well for me.

 

[Woodchip]

All new bike sales for the past couple of years have had to include a bell, however their is no law stopping you removing it once you get it home.

Many cylists use whistles, but I think it looks very agressive, voice and courtesy seems to work well for me.

Voice, courtesy (nodding at hikers, other cyclists, horse riders, etc..) and slowing down when passing people (if your brakes work).

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Voice, courtesy (nodding at hikers, other cyclists, horse riders, etc..) and slowing down when passing people (if your brakes work).

Ah the joys of riding, I cycled out to the reserves last night along the sea front. What a great evening, nice ride along the beech, lots of cylists out enjoying the sea air, great goals, and a train ride home to watch the end of the office.

 

[Seagull Stew]

Voice, courtesy (nodding at hikers, other cyclists, horse riders, etc..) and slowing down when passing people (if your brakes work).

If only all cyclists had that attitude when on a footpath instead of that straight ahead look of "step aside I'm coming through" that I sometimes get along the Thames and by other waterways in London.

I have often been tempted to give them a quick bath but have so far resisted!

 

[Questions]

8th place - above Pompey with 12 bikes in hand

Researchers say they are disappearing at the rate of almost one every minute - a figure boosted by the popularity of cycling and the Government's cycle to work scheme.

Central London has been named as the theft hotspot, followed by Kingston in Surrey, Cambridge and Bristol.

Around 90 per cent of bikes are taken from a public place, with only one per cent stolen from an owner's home.

Vicky Emmott of Halifax Home Insurance said: "The increase in thefts is due to an upsurge in the popularity of cycling across Britain. With increasing numbers of employers taking up initiatives such as the Government's cycle to work scheme, opportunities for thieves will only increase.

"One bicycle theft occurring every 71 seconds is an astounding figure and should certainly make cyclists think more carefully about the level of security they use to keep their bike safe."

These were the cycle theft hotspots in 2006:

1. Central London

2. Kingston-upon-Thames

3. Cambridge

4. Bristol

5. York

6. Oxford

7. Richmond & Twickenham, south west London

8. Brighton

9. Portsmouth

10.Nottingham

 

[BIRCHYBOY27]

Steel them all and we wouldn't have to put up with them

 

[Cian]

Steel them all and we wouldn't have to put up with them

Christ you're an obsessive tosser aren't you

 

[Clothes Peg]

Steel them all and we wouldn't have to put up with them

Do people like you go around slashing bike tyres? Someone's been doing it in Cardiff, thankfully I've not been done yet.

 

[adammicheal]

Living in Worthing cyclists arent too bad i find they keep themselves to the cytcle lanes etc but mobility scooters thats a different matter, when the people are giving the license for those im sure they have brain cells removed, you walk down the pavement minding your own business when all of a sudden some old git runs into you and its your fault for being on the path!!

 

[Clothes Peg]

Living in Worthing cyclists arent too bad i find they keep themselves to the cytcle lanes etc but mobility scooters thats a different matter, when the people are giving the license for those im sure they have brain cells removed, you walk down the pavement minding your own business when all of a sudden some old git runs into you and its your fault for being on the path!!

There's no license for them. They shouldn't be on the pavement, nor should they be on the road, it's a grey area. Exemption is supposed to be got from the DVLA and they're supposed to be insured. In reality none of the official paperwork is ever done. I even heard of one in the Southwick tunnel!!

 

[Questions]

Living in Worthing cyclists arent too bad i find they keep themselves to the cytcle lanes etc but mobility scooters thats a different matter, when the people are giving the license for those im sure they have brain cells removed, you walk down the pavement minding your own business when all of a sudden some old git runs into you and its your fault for being on the path!!

Those spazies in motorised cars are a danger ain`t they. Mind you you should see the havoc they cause when defying gravity in space