Padded Shorts

Cycling is safe.

2009-11-10T17:26:00.000Z

Contrary to what you might hear. Unfortunately cycling has had a bad press of late, but not all cyclists jump red lights or cycle on pavements!

Just look at the number of people who cycle these days and how low the accident rates are. In cities like Copenhagen, for example, the number of people being injured each year is dropping year on year. The more people cycle, the safer it becomes!

"We use to have 120 cyclist killed in Copenhagen 12 years ago, now we have 12-15"

That's achieved through changing the road layout, sensible cycle lane design and people's attitudes to cycling.

See this video, Contested Streets - Copenhagen, about cycling in Copenhagen. After 30 years of city planning with cyclists in mind, they have made the roads safer and easier to use for the cyclist.

Think about the amount of miles that people cycle every day compared to how many that are hurt cycling.

"In fact, a bicycle user is seriously injured only once every 500,000 cycling kilometers - and a cycling death occurs only once every 17 million kilometers."
University of Birmingham, BIKE for your LIFE study.

With a little planning and will power from everyone any city in the world can become a great place to cycle in. Let's face the facts: most of our journeys could easily be done on bike. We don't need to drag out 2 tonnes of metal when going for a pint of milk.

And you can also help buy doing things yourself e.g. take some cycle training with any of the providers who does Bikeability. Honestly it does help I was sure that I was the "bees knees" before I became a Accredited Cycling Instructor. But I soon saw that I had learned many bad habits over the years, which didn't help me to keep safe on my daily commute.

Bicycleslut (even if the name scares you the site and article is quite harmless :) ) writes a brilliant article, I ride wide, about why you should be more assertively and take your space on the roads.

It is simply down to the 3 C's, remember them boys and girls ... 'To see;, To be seen' and Communicate. If you are in a position where you can see and can be seen and above all tell other road users where you are going, is probably the best road safety advice I can give to any cyclist.

Google cycling routes

2009-10-05T11:50:00.000+01:00

A request for Google to create maps for the best cycling routes in any particular area has been posted on their "Suggest It" page.

Let's try to make this a happen!

Here's how you can help:
A.
-Go to http://maps.google.com/support/bin/static.py?page=suggestions.cs
-Scroll down the list to the Route Information section
-Click the "Suggest It" button after the last choice
"Add bike trail information and biking directions".

B. Write to the discussion forums on Google

Some suggested talking points:

Bicycle Maps on Google will help locate safe and friendly streets for cyclists to plan their commutes.
More people will use the dedicated bike/ped facilities if they can map the in locations and connections.
Transit maps often indicate walking routes to and from terminals/stops - but not cycling routes, which vastly increases the range of travel for cyclists. Bicycle maps should be integrated with the transit maps.

This was taken from http://errcmagazine.com via touring.bikelist.org

London’s summer of cycling

2009-09-05T22:29:00.000+01:00

As part of London’s summer of cycling, an exhibition has been unveiled at City Hall exploring contemporary urban cycling culture in London and Copenhagen.

The exhibition Dreams on Wheels is organised by the GLA and the Embassy of Denmark, London, and is designed to share knowledge between the two cities where cycling is celebrated, and to encourage more people to try out two wheels.

The London incarnation, which will run from 1 September – 2 October, is part of the prologue to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen later this year, and other versions have been shown around the world.

Found this on Copenhagenize, a brilliant blog about cycling in the Danish Capital and elsewhere.

LINK : Dreams On Wheels rolls into City Hall
LINK : Dreams on wheels
LINK : London City Hall exhibitions

Cycling is healthy

2009-09-04T11:43:00.000+01:00

Cycling is healthy. It's one of the best all round workouts. It's also low impact, so therefore very good for your body. Lots of evidence suggests that cycling helps you look and feel 10 years younger. So, get on your bike! It is good for you and the environment.

Just in case the idea of this sort of outdoor fun doesn't convince you, maybe the following facts will:
* Cycling 4 miles per day halves the risk of heart disease and regular cyclists enjoy fitness equivalent to being 10 years younger.
* Cycling produces no greenhouse gases, and requires less road space than motor vehicles, reducing the need for new roads.
* Cycling burns 300 calories an hour.
* On a bicycle you can travel up to 1037 kilometers on the energy equivalent of a single liter of petrol.
* Twenty bicycles can be parked in the same space taken up by one car.
* Three quarters of all personal journeys are less than 5 miles long - that's half an hour on a bike.

Hey just look at me, I lost 5 stones getting back on my bike. I was "supporting" the local pub and had a company car, which is a great way to pile on the pounds, in my case stones. But after a job change I ditched the car and started to commute on my bicycle, 7 miles each way. Yes the first few months was hard work, got home at night and pretty much just fell asleep into my food. However after 2 years of riding I had lost my bulk and felt much better for it and can walk up a flight of stairs with out losing my breath.

So, what's stopping you from cycling more?

Here are a few useful links:
BIKE for your LIFE, Birmingham University
Physical activity and health, sustrans.org.uk
Cycling - the healthy option, ctc.org.uk

Prince of Wales Drive, SW11

2009-08-24T10:51:00.000+01:00

If you are cycling down Albert Bridge Road and want to turn into Prince of Wales Drive, you will find this little gem.

View Larger Map
As you can see that the cycle lane goes up and over the pavement and right now there is roadworks which isn't helping.
I don't know how Wandsworth can have such a great park (Battersea) for cycling and right outside such a bad cycling infrastructure.

1/ Very high kerbs to the both sides of the cycle lane and very narrow.
Which will not give you much space to maneuver safely, especially when you are coming at the cycle lane at an angle. And by the look of it the cycle lane turns into a pavement for a few yards, where you have to give way to the pedestrians.

2/ Pedestrians will be crossing cycle lane.
The pedestrians will think that the cycle lane is part of the pavement. And therefore only will be thinking about finding a gap in the traffic so that they can cross the road.

3/ The cycle lane joining back to the road.
As you can see on the photo, the cycle lane is joining the road right after the narrowing of the road. At that point cars will be speeding up as they have just come out of the narrowing, so you really need to be careful when joining.

Best way to use this facility is to stay in the line of the other road users. you will have plenty of space and don't have to use the "pavement". They will be able to see you and also not be able to over take you. Since less than 100 yard up Prince of Wales Drive you have a roundabout, where you would like to be seen.

oybike

2009-08-21T13:42:00.000+01:00

So in my attempt to show that this London Cycle Hire Scheme is on for a hard time. I went out today to find out what the other cycle hire scheme is called and have a look at how it works.
On my way to work today I saw that the local "docking station" that I knew of. Had its sole bicycle standing there ready to use, as I always see it, so I thought I'll get a picture on my way back.

Only to be proved wrong on my way home as it was rented out :)

I then found out who they were ... "The OYBike System is a street-based rental station network that allows you to hire and return a bicycle via your mobile phone."
Reading their website it sounds simple enough to hire, they got a fair good coverage in west London area, think Hammersmith and Fulham. And a few other places though I was sure I have seen more places around London, only daily riding about.

And the cost for the hire is good, the first 30min FREE, then around £2 per hour.

And the "docking station" I knew of near me is a parking place only according to the website, so why is there always a bicycle there. Though looking at the map of their locations I found out that there is 2 more quite close to me where I can rent bicycles from.

I also just found out, by looking at the map, that there are also locations in Reading and Cambridge, though I do not fancy riding that far on these bicycles.

I do hope that oybike have been contacted regarding the London Cycle Hire Scheme to either work together or be allowed run side by side.

UPDATE : Regarding the picture above. I went to one of the other "docking stations" this afternoon and found one bicycle, which was not locked to "docking station".

Ding Day 2009

2009-08-18T12:17:00.002+01:00

I have been blogging too much about the SillyCyclist and SillyCycleLanes as of late and forgot about the fun things.

For the second year running (AFAIK) there will be a Ding Day on the 9th of Sept. I forgot all about it last year and didn't Ding anyone. This I better put the date into my diary so I don't miss out, though I will be dinging in another country.

LINK : http://www.dingday.org

London Cycle Hire scheme

2009-08-17T23:53:00.006+01:00

Is looking like it is taking off just fine with getting a company to run it, who is already doing the same in Montreal and by the looks of it also Boston.
The London Cycle Hire Scheme will be a 44sq mile area covered with 400 "docking stations" to rent any of the 6000 bicycles there will be ready for you to ride. Price is still not set or told to us punters, there is talk about being able to use your oyster card, though I have read that is not the case. But for me that would be the most logical way to do it.
I just wonder how well it will take off, because the scheme that is all ready here (www.oybike.co.uk), can't be doing that well. Since I have never seen anyone on any of the bicycles and the few "stations" I know off are never empty. The only use I have seen for these bicycles is their baskets as bins.
I don't know if it is because the way you are renting them is too complicated, they are too expensive or there are too few stations around to rent or park a bicycle.

I really wonder if the Mayor of London is going to say the same as the then Mayor of New York, Giuliani said about the cycle rental scheme that was there at the time. As far as I can remember the speech went something like this...

"The cycle scheme is a great success we have people riding these bicycle all over New York from Harlem, Soho, Manhattan, the village and down town Tokyo."
I hope that the bicycles will be better than the ones I tried out in Copenhagen. Where you had to pedal to go down hill and the bicycle was heavier than a heavy thing. I never tried out the bicycles in Barcelona which at the time looked like it worked, though it is now 2 years later and I have heard nothing. The very publicised Velib in Paris took Paris by storm and everyone loves it. Though I do read about lots of thefts, vandalism and the general "I can ride a bike but don't need to think about my own and others safety".
So all the best for this and I do hope it is not just an extra thing to make London look good for the 2012 Olympics and then forgotten.

LINK : bixi.com
LINK : tfl.gov.uk

King Street, SW6

2009-08-15T17:00:00.000+01:00

Cycling from Chiswick into Hammersmith on King Street, Sw6. You will be led on to yet another contraflow cycle lane, which is again bad for you.

View Larger Map

On the one way bit of King Street starting from Hammersmith gyratory that goes all the way down to the junction of Nigel Playfair Avenue to your left and Studland Street on your right. There is a cycle lane running on the right hand side against the one way street flow.

I saw this cycle lane quite a few years ago and right away knew it would be a bad idea to use it. So over the years I have just gone the way that the traffic had been led around the Hammersmith gyratory system.

Though the other day I had to use one of the banks on King Street and decided to give it a go. Good thing that I was prepared for what would happen, three pedestrians walked out in front of me. And a car coming out of one of the side roads was quite surprised to see me where I was.

1/ Very high kerbs to the both sides of the cycle lane and very narrow.
Which will not give you much space to maneuver safely.

2/ Parked cars on your right all the way down the cycle lane.
When cars are parked next to the cycle lane the doors opens right out into the cycle lane, which makes your space even smaller. People getting in and out of these cars will think that they are next to the pavement. And therefore they will not be thinking about cyclist using the cycle lanes.

3/ Pedestrians will be crossing road at any point.
Just as the users of the parked cars, pedestrians will think that the cycle lane is part of the pavement. And therefore only will be thinking about finding a safe place for them to cross the road between the parked cars. And will not look out for cyclist coming down the road in the opposite direction of the cars.

4/ Four side road comes out onto King Street.
There are four side roads, joining or turning off King Street. Other road users will not always be ready for oncoming traffic when they are turning off King Street since the cycle lane will be hidden by parked cars, vans etc. The cars coming out onto King Street from the side roads will be looking out for pedestrians and other road users coming from their left, not the cycle lane going the opposite direction of the flow of traffic.

Cycle Fridays

2009-08-14T15:08:00.002+01:00

Transport for London has set up Cycle Fridays to help you got back your bike and start commuting.

You can choose from six routes, all heading to central London. They set off at 08:00 every Friday from 14 August to 2 October.

There even will be a few marshals from LCC to help you on your way and they will also give your bicycle a quick check over.

Yes I'm a bit late on this, but I just learned about it, but that is not an excuse for you not to get back on your bike :)

LINK : TfL Cycle Fridays

Bus pass for under 16s.

2009-08-14T12:23:00.002+01:00

The other day I was talking with a PE teacher, whom said that the free bus passes for under 16s is a very bad idea.

Simply because the kids would take the bus for just one stop. They would happily walk up to a bus stop, wait for the bus, then take the bus for a few stops, and then walk the last bit to where they are going.

Where walking directly to the location they wanted to get to, would be faster, since the bus would get stuck in traffic and the wait can also be quite long.

We need to get these kids walking or cycling, which will make general congestion in London much less.

Cutting congestion in London.

2009-08-13T11:44:00.001+01:00

If we really want to cut down on the congestion and pollution in a big city like London. We got to cut down on how many bus stops there are.

View Larger Map

Look at the map above, it is in Wandsworth and bus number 295 comes from Clapham Junction along, Plough Road and then turn onto York Road. In a distance of less than a half a mile there is five, yes count them five, bus stop.

1/ That will just make people lazy.
Instead of walking this very short distance, google says it would take around 9 minutes. People will get on the bus, which will create more pollution, congestion and an unfit/lazy population.

2/ Create more congestion.
Every time the bus have to stop and start it will cause other traffic to slow down which then will create a bottle neck.

3/ Create more pollution.
Every time the bus have to stop and start it will create more pollution. And will cause other road users to do the same, when they start and stop because of the bus. Can you see the nasty circle here.

On a short distance as this there should only be 2-3 bus stops not five!!

Walk it, ride it and if you really have to take the bus make it a journey, not just one stop. It will better for you in the long run.

SillyCyclist III

2009-08-12T03:17:00.003+01:00

While I was telling my trainee how to fit her helmet, I got some help by a fellow cyclist. As the cyclist zoomed past it was not hard for me to show my trainee what not to do.

The cyclist had put the helmet on back to front.

Over at safekids they have made a video on how to fit your helmet correctly. Even though this website is made for kids, fitting a helmet is the same for adult and kids.

Remember : An ill fitted helmet is as good as no helmet.

LINK : http://www.safekids.co.uk

Hugon Road, SW6

2009-08-11T11:27:00.011+01:00

If you are cycling along on Peterborough Road, you will see national cycling route 4 is turning down Hugon Road.

Which is a one way road coming onto Peterborough Road, with a contraflow cycling lane.

Please don't use it, as you can see ...

1/ Very high kerbs to the both sides of the cycle lane and very narrow.
Which will not give you much space to maneuver safely.

2/ There is a railing to your left on part of the cycle lane. And with the parked cars on your right all the way down the cycle lane.
When cars are parked next to the cycle lane the doors opens right out into the cycle lane, which makes your space even smaller. People getting in and out of these cars will think that they are next to the pavement. And therefore they will not be thinking about cyclist using the cycle lanes.

3/ Pedestrians will be crossing road at any point.
Just as the users of the parked cars, pedestrians will think that the cycle lane is part of the pavement. And therefore only will be thinking about finding a safe place for them to cross the road between the parked cars. And will not look out for cyclist coming down the road in the opposite direction of the cars.

4/ The cycle lane finishes out onto Hugon Road.
Other road users will becoming down Hugon Road, seeing that it will be touring into a one way street and that the road will be quite narrow. And not see that a cycling lane will finish right out unto the road, because it is hidden behind parked cars. Cyclist will have to do quite a bit of swerving to navigate the exit from the cycle lane unto Hugon Road, which will not give enough room for all road users.

BSOs please don't.

2009-08-07T13:17:00.006+01:00

Yes I know it is a bit old news but I just have to say it again.

Please don't go to a shop that "sells bicycles" but go to a "bicycle shop", see the different ?

A shop that sells bicycles, stacking them high selling them low, are only into selling the bicycle for profit. And quite often are selling other stuff which is not related to cycling at all, and therefore can't service the bike at all or have the experience with selling bicycles or the staff that has.

A Local Bicycle Shop (LBS), on the other hand, will be staffed by cyclist and will be interested in selling you a bicycle that you will enjoy to ride. And best of all they will remember you, when you come in and want to upgrade, which you will because you want more since you really enjoyed riding the bicycle they found for you.

The Guardian, have a great article/blog about the Bicycle Shaped Object (BSO) that a supermarket is trying to sell.

Yes it sounds like it's a deal, it's a steal, it's the sale of the *beep*ing Century, a bike for £39.99. But please don't, it will be heavier, harder to ride and before you get home have to go to your LBS to fix something. And that will cost you more than what you spend on the bike in the first place.

Please spend a bit of money on your bike, at least £250 (you can sometimes get a better deal from your LBS). Yes for some £250 or more, is a quite a bit for some, but look at it this way ...

A good quality bicycle and a bit of TLC will last you easy 10 years. Even with new tyres, brake pad etc., which will wear down (just like your shoes), it will be less than £500 over the next 10 years, so £50 a year.

How much does your travel card cost you a month ?

So to find your LBS, ask your friends, neighbors or the people you work with, because one of them will be cycling and know a good bicycle shop. Shop around, talk to the staff, tell them what you want and need. Don't just take the first LBS you find, find one you like, it could be 5 miles away or more, but the service you will get since you will be coming back, will be worth it. Then keep using it, they will come to know you and your needs and will take care of you.

Happy riding :)

LINK : Guardian, ASDA cheap bike
LINK : The cycling experts, the bicycle shaped object/
LINK : South coast bikes, NO BSO

SillyCyclist part II

2009-07-16T18:44:00.002+01:00

Gearing down while cycling up a hill will make your journey so much easier.

And therefore you don't have to stand up and strain yourself while doing so. And if your phone should ring while cycling up said hill, find a safe place to pull into and then answer.

Not try to dig it out off your pocket, while standing up on your bike while riding up a hill.

Because there is a good chance that you will drop the phone, ride over it and nearly come off the bike when you clip the kerb, which you duly did today.

Colne Grand Prix 2009

2009-07-15T19:20:00.002+01:00

Part of the Pendle cycle or bike Fest 2009 (they are not sure what to call it when you search the net for it) yesterday we saw the Colne Grand Prix 2009, circuit road race.

Part of of the cycle/bike fest they also had some fun for the kids. Though I never found out who the winner was (if there was one) and what said winner took home.

Most important they all looked like they had a great time.

Link: http://www.pendle.gov.uk/bikefest

SillyCyclist part I

2009-07-14T10:32:00.002+01:00

The "Look where you are going" and "Look and See" posts have now been joined under one header SillyCyclist. Because I see so many everyday, I want to let you know about them. I hope that you can see what you/they are doing wrong and therefore hopefully will learn from these mistakes.

Because you came zooming past me so very close, I could not but notice you and therefore kept an eye out for you.

And I got to see some really bad cycling.

1/ At a red light you nearly crashed into the cyclist right in front of you. Just because you were looking at the light, and was trying to go before it went green and not where you were going.

2/ At a different set of light you jumped up on the pavement and over took us again *). And just popped out in the gap between the railings and traffic lights, without looking. And you were very lucky to find a hole in the 10 or so cyclist who was setting from the lights.

*) only reason why you were over taken by us (again) was, you didn't use your gears or set your pedals and didn't look where you were going and ended up stuck behind other traffic. Which you tried your hardest to over take again, with a repeat of the last two points. Just waisting energy and is not getting 'there' any faster anyway.

3/ Then on the Embankment you were bombing along with you head down, right next to the kerb and not looking where you were going. Which of course ended up with you hitting the kerb, when the road narrowed. You just about stayed on the bike by doing two skips and a wobble past a lamp post, which you did clip with your shoulders.

Cycling around HGV's

2009-06-19T23:02:00.004+01:00

The other day I was doing a session about the issues surrounding sharing the road with HGV's.

We talked to cyclist and had vehicles to discuss and walk around, there was experienced drivers to talk and give them a view from the cab.

Most people was shocked that there was blind spots, and the ones who knew that there was blind spots, were surprised that there was so many and the size of them.

So if you do see a HGV or a bus in front of you at the red light, stay behind, let it do what it have to do. Always make sure that you can see the driver, either in the mirrors or directly, cause if you can't, the driver can't see you.

Cycling on the beat

2009-06-19T22:46:00.003+01:00

Today I saw 12 cycling police officers coming down New Kings Road.

2-3 of them was covering their brakes
1-2 of them looked back to check behind them
12 of them was cycling in the door zone

And 1 of them had to swerve around the wing mirror of the car they were passing.

Hmm, I think I should give them a call :)

Cycling in DK vs UK Part IV

2009-06-14T15:29:00.001+01:00

Other road users

When I learned to drive in Denmark, was told to pull right next to the kerb to block cyclist coming up on your inside into your blind spot.

Even on roundabouts the other road users gave way to us. We were on the cycle lane, and were overtaken with plenty of distance to the roundabout. The car entered the round about and stopped at the first exit, we then arrived at the roundabout. We were normally cautious, and entered the roundabout and wondered why the car was waiting there. Only to find out that the driver was giving way to us. This wouldn't happen in London.

In general other road users gave much more space to cyclists. Which is great, but that led to cyclists not looking much as they relied on others to give way.

Generally the other road users did give plenty of space.

Cycling in DK vs UK Part III

2009-06-14T15:26:00.002+01:00

Road positioning

When cycling on road where there is no cycle lane, the Danes are right in the gutter, even on outside of the road markings. Not giving yourself much space if the road is at a bad state, though that is not often.

When over taking parked cars, they are just about clearing the parked car, not many inches left between them and the car. Well inside the "door zone", it's like they don't have a problem with people getting in or out of the parked cars.

But you are not that easily seen, looks like you are stopping or look like street furniture not like that you are a road user and is going somewhere.

We tried to pull out and take the lane, so that could get into the middle of the road to do our left turn, so therefore only need to cross one lane when it was clear.

But we just got beeped, because it is not "how we do it". You, as a cyclist, have to pull into the side of the road and wait until both lanes are clear an then cross over.

Cycling in DK vs UK Part II

2009-06-14T15:10:00.003+01:00

The 3 C's

To see and To be seen and Communicate is probably the most important thing I can teach people who are learning to cycle.

While cycling around in Denmark, I did not see much looking back checking what is behind you.

Even when starting off, pretty much step out onto the cycle lane onto the bike and hope that the people who are cycling along behind you have seen you and have time enough to stop/slow down. No looking around at all.

When cycling down the cycle lane or shared road, pretty much none of the cyclists I saw looked back just to check what is going on around them. Even at junctions, pretty much relying on that the cars coming from behind and wanting to turn right, across the bike lane you are on, would stop and give way for you. Again, no looking around at all.

When turning any direction there are barely any signals to tell you where the person is going in front of you. If there were any signals it was more of a quick little wave near the hips, which you barely can see if you are right behind let alone if you are in a car out to the side of the cyclist. Again no looking around you before doing the turn.

The only signal I saw people use quite often was the stop sign, hand up in the air. But it was only often because I saw it more often than the left/right signals which still wasn't often or clear enough.

Cycling in DK vs UK Part I

2009-06-14T15:07:00.002+01:00

In Denmark the wind is our mountains.

Because it is so flat but the wind makes up for the hilly bits.

While cycling around in Denmark I noticed that most of the bikes people are commuting on are the "sit up and beg" types. These bicycles are not really aerodynamic, as you sit up and get the wind right in your face.

Tough if you are lucky enough to commute with the wind in your back, the "sit up and beg" position is a life saver :)

There is hope :)

2009-05-25T17:39:00.004+01:00

I was training a wee lad yesterday, he was clearly getting to big for the bike, just give it a week and he would be.

So I told his daddy that it would be a good time to spend some money and find a new bicycle for Jr.

And half way though telling the dad what he should look our for when getting a bike. He said well I'm looking at getting an IslaBike for Jr.

Result, Lucky kid :)

Yes, Islabikes are a expensive, but it is very good quality, your child will be able to lift it and therefore able to control it and it will not fall apart on you.

And best of all ...

We understand that your child is growing fast and it can be expensive keeping up! To help out we will buy back your Islabike when you buy a bigger one, as a part exchange, at a value dependant on its condition.

If you are wondering why it it worth spending a bit on a bike, just read this article, BSO, Please don't do it.

LINK : http://www.islabikes.co.uk
LINK : http://www.southcoastbikes.co.uk/