Cyclists soon more important than car drivers

[flecc]

Reported yesterday in the BBC London News that the huge growth in cycle commuting in London means cyclists are now near to parity with car drivers. Within two years it's believed there will be more cyclists than car drivers commuting.

Little wonder the authorities are cracking on with providing more cycling facilities now, such as segregated cycle routes and special lower eye level traffic lights for cyclists. These and the latest improvement in safety should encourage even more to cycle.

All this started with the Congestion Charge in 2003, making car commuting too expensive, and that coupled to high public transport costs and severe overcrowding, plus the start of introducing cycling facilities prompted many to return to the cycling of their youth. How sad it is that Manchester turned down the chance to have a congestion charge, depriving them of a similar gain. Maybe they and other cities should now think again.

An image of day commuting in London

An image of night commuting in London
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[JuicyBike]

And in China, where a similar time ago cyclists outnumbered drivers massively, now cities are filling up with cars - hopefully the brakes on that trend will be applied, well before they learn the same lesson.

 

[anotherkiwi]

And in China, where a similar time ago cyclists outnumbered drivers massively, now cities are filling up with cars - hopefully the brakes on that trend will be applied, well before they learn the same lesson.

Chicken and egg situation: air pollution is driving off the roads, more cars = more air pollution. With my lungs I would probably die within a week in some Chinese cities...

 

[JuicyBike]

Growth of cars in China comes with a growth in general affluence (it's always good to see people taken out of poverty). However I think we're all, globally, beginning to appreciate cleaner air and lungs over fancy cars and jams (traffic jams, that is).

 

[mike killay]

Looking at Google Earth street view of some Dutch towns, the planners seem to have taken the view that 'If you want to drive a car here, technically you can, but you will have to put up with an awful lot of inconvenience.'

 

[flecc]

Looking at Google Earth street view of some Dutch towns, the planners seem to have taken the view that 'If you want to drive a car here, technically you can, but you will have to put up with an awful lot of inconvenience.'

Very true Mike. London's heavily built up and enclosed nature has made it very difficult to exactly follow their example, but the Congestion Charge has been a great alternative for our circumstances. £11.50 a day, nearly £60 a week plus heavy congestion are real deterrents to bringing in a car.

Adding the cycling improvements is now swinging the balance even more in favour of the bike by taking away car space so increasing motor vehicle congestion. Being thirty years behind the Dutch in doing this we've a long way to go, but at least we are firmly in the right direction now.
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[mike killay]

Once planners get it into their heads that motor vehicle congestion is NOT a bad thing to be avoided at all costs, we can make progress.

 

[oldtom]

Looking at Google Earth street view of some Dutch towns, the planners seem to have taken the view that 'If you want to drive a car here, technically you can, but you will have to put up with an awful lot of inconvenience.'

It's about the mindset and culture of the people - with not a little help from topography! Parts of Germany and much of Denmark are blessed by the same benefits, making cycling far more pleasurable than in most of the UK.

Some law enforcement on our roads, both urban and rural, would go a long way to improving the cycling experience, indeed the whole road usage experience.

Tom

 

[flecc]

Some law enforcement on our roads, both urban and rural, would go a long way to improving the cycling experience, indeed the whole road usage experience.

Tom

I think the police have largely given up on this in many areas, and it's the first area of cutback when budgets are slashed, saving on both salaries and vehicles.

The origins of this rot though are very long ago when the responsibility for parking control was removed from the police. That then led to them passing on control of traffic at junctions to traffic wardens and privatisatiuon of associated areas.

As a result most police officers have now largely been given the impression that traffic is little or nothing to do with them.
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[Mac_user82]

The one thing that annoys me about people in cars is some people are only driving 3 miles max to work but they still get in
car and drive to work.

Anyone could cycle 3 mile to work and back no problem at all
and no struggle and it would improve their fitness.

i know someone that lives not even a mile away from a school
but she still gets in her car and drives to the school to drop the
kids off for school i just look at people and shake my head

Even through i live in a small town it that congested at 8.50
it mad you cannot move for a least 10 to 15 mins because it
that congested and thing is most of these people i know and
i know where they live roughly and i think just walk why waste
your fuel.

The days of walking your kids to school are now gone it drive
them to school in your big 4x4

Its these kind of people that are taken up the road and coarsing the problems on the road their is no need for them to drive at all really it just bone lazy that all it is.

The other morning i had to go to my next town "30 miles" too a appointment and it was that congested it took a good 10 mins to get through all the traffic and get on the main road

if i had a spare battery i would of biked to my appointment i wouldn't of bothered getting in the car i would much prefer to
get out in the fresh air and enjoy the ride plus it doesn't cost
hardly nothing to bike to places

i really hate getting in the car going places i really don't like it at all i would much prefer to go on my bike and get their

if someone did a survey on how far people are commuting you would be shocked how little distance they are doing to go to that place

 

[D C]

Anyone could cycle 3 mile to work and back no problem at all
and no struggle

That's really not correct, those of us fortunate enough to be able to do so need to respect the difficulties of those not so fortunate, several who use this forum
Dave.

 

[Mac_user82]

That's really not correct, those of us fortunate enough to be able to do so need to respect the difficulties of those not so fortunate, several who use this forum
Dave.

i dont think you understand what i was saying i am pointing g the finger at the people that are able to cycle but are just to lazy to do so and they would much prefer to jump in their car because it easier and it doesn't consist of any effort at all.

i understand their is some people that cannot cycle for health reasons i am not knocking them kind of people i am just knocking the people that are to lazy to do so.

Do you think the able people should get in their car and drive mile down the road to take their kids to school or do you think they should jump in their car and take the kids or do you think the walk or the cycling would do them more good.

 

[oldtom]

That's really not correct, those of us fortunate enough to be able to do so need to respect the difficulties of those not so fortunate, several who use this forum
Dave.

Thank you for that Dave. I'm not sure how many, if any, registered disabled other than myself, use this site. As I'm unable to walk much beyond my garden gate, cycling is the best exercise I can get. That little bit of assistance is really a godsend so it's good that you have reminded readers of those who cannot any more do those things which are easy for the able-bodied.

I reckon using my EAPC is the only thing keeping me out of a mobility scooter.

Tom

 

[flecc]

their is no need for them to drive at all really it just bone lazy that all it is.

Laziness is far from being the sole factor though.

Our lousy British weather is a very big factor, for example this morning here with pouring rain and a howling gale. I ask you, with a car just outside or in the garage alongside, who wouldn't prefer the car then, even for a very short trip?

For the last couple of months, almost every morning when I look outside it's wet and/or windy and/or cold or any combination of yuckiness. These all make cycling unattractive even to those of us who do cycle. The chance of those who usually don't cycle being attracted into doing it is minimal in these weather conditions.

Every year over two million bikes are bought in the UK, most of them not seen again after some initial use. Ask the dealers and they'll tell you that all those sales are in nice weather in the middle of the year, and it's the weather that is the biggest factor in them soon dropping out of use. Cars are just so damn comfortable!
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[Artstu]

I reckon using my EAPC is the only thing keeping me out of a mobility scooter.

I came to the conclusion that I needed a mobility scooter, and whilst researching them came across pedelecs, I chose the pedelec, which I believe was a pivotal point in my life.

I still walk to maintain that function. It is just staggering how many perfectly healthy people around me drive such short distances, ferrying their kids to and from school, one school is just a 5 minute walk away.

Adding to Flecc's comment about the weather, I used to work a mile away from home, and in a 10 year period only drove to work once. Very few people have such a sadistic view though.

 

[EddieH]

Thank you for that Dave. I'm not sure how many, if any, registered disabled other than myself, use this site. As I'm unable to walk much beyond my garden gate, cycling is the best exercise I can get. That little bit of assistance is really a godsend so it's good that you have reminded readers of those who cannot any more do those things which are easy for the able-bodied.

I reckon using my EAPC is the only thing keeping me out of a mobility scooter.

Tom

Same here Tom, I am registered disabled but would far rather use my bike than my car for getting around town (this also means I can have one or several sherberts).