D
.
I like it too, but a thick skin would be needed to ride it past the local secondary school at coming out time.
.
.
D
Deleted member 4366
Guest
Until they realise that at 14 years old, they can have one too. That would get a few Chelsea tractors off the road during the rush hours.
Your area must be very different from my London one. Hardly any secondary kids get picked up from school, that ends when they leave primary level. They either walk or use public transport which is free for them.
.
True Flecc. I do the school run to take my lad to Primary school. Well over half the kids are spitting distance to the primary school. The others are a 5 minute drive. This suits the parents. Once the kids are at secondAry they don't care how far the poor sods have to travel. They are on their own.
The secondary kids want it that way though, a sort of badge of progress. I overheard three of the last year local primary kids talking about this, one of them excitedly saying "I can go to school by myself next year", obviously proud of the fact.
The free public transport is a big factor though, they grow up riding it far more frequently than they would if they had to pay.
.
D
Deleted member 4366
Guest
I did my Teacher training at Thomas Telford School. There were rows an rows of bike racks there, all watched bu CCTV: Not a single bike in them. Outside is absolute mayhem. Many of the 6th form have they're own cars, which are parked in every available space for about 1/4 mile in every direction, which makes the road into a single lane, but it's not a one-way street. There's yellow lines to keep some areas clear, but the first to arrive sit in their cars there because there's nowhere else park, which then makes it impossible when two cars travelling in opposite directions meet each other, each with a queue of cars behind them.
Luckily, there's a cycle path adjacent to the footpath; however, there's only a white line that separates them. Nobody is looking for bicycles, so they crowd the cycle lane and jump out on you when they see the car they want.
I still regularly go past that school on my way to Sainsburys. I can truthfully say, that in 12 years, I've never seen one of those kids on a bike, though some do walk.
At my last school, out of 600 kids, I'd say that about 30 used bikes to get to school, and the greater proportion walked.
Luckily, there's a cycle path adjacent to the footpath; however, there's only a white line that separates them. Nobody is looking for bicycles, so they crowd the cycle lane and jump out on you when they see the car they want.
I still regularly go past that school on my way to Sainsburys. I can truthfully say, that in 12 years, I've never seen one of those kids on a bike, though some do walk.
At my last school, out of 600 kids, I'd say that about 30 used bikes to get to school, and the greater proportion walked.
The near non-existence of cycling to school is exactly the same here, but a major reason is that very few parents allow their kids to have a bike due to London traffic. Since so many have never learnt to ride they don't ride in their teens, and with free public transport they don't need to.
One thing very different from your area in recent years is the very large reduction in young people wanting cars, it's a phenomenon that's apparently happened in the USA too. Costs are the common factor, and of course why spend on a car or moped/e-bike when public transport has such good coverage as we have in Greater London and it's free up to 16 (18 if in full time education).
.
I'm not sure I want my lad risking his life on the roads around here.
I've lived here all my life. It's a shame but it's much more built up. more people and many more cars than when I was a lad in the 70s.
A road that we would actually play footbAll in. Is now so busy I can't even practice manoeuvres . It's never quiet. There's reduced vision and safety cos cArs are parked both sides on all but the major roads. I'm an old dad. He's 9. I'm 49. He's pretty much my life and I don't want some idiot ending his life. And I see them. Only last week some clown followed me into the school road . I gave way to oncoming 3 cars and he overtook me And then caused a standstill that I had to get out and deal with.
When I'm teaching crossings we will be stopped with handbrake on allowing someone to cross. And not one but 2 cars will sail through the other way. Usually with panic on their faces. If they can't see oncoming traffic that I've clearly given way to or a crossing that I've stopped At. They aren't going to see my boy on his bike.
I've lived here all my life. It's a shame but it's much more built up. more people and many more cars than when I was a lad in the 70s.
A road that we would actually play footbAll in. Is now so busy I can't even practice manoeuvres . It's never quiet. There's reduced vision and safety cos cArs are parked both sides on all but the major roads. I'm an old dad. He's 9. I'm 49. He's pretty much my life and I don't want some idiot ending his life. And I see them. Only last week some clown followed me into the school road . I gave way to oncoming 3 cars and he overtook me And then caused a standstill that I had to get out and deal with.
When I'm teaching crossings we will be stopped with handbrake on allowing someone to cross. And not one but 2 cars will sail through the other way. Usually with panic on their faces. If they can't see oncoming traffic that I've clearly given way to or a crossing that I've stopped At. They aren't going to see my boy on his bike.
Here in Milton Keynes we have a city wide network of traffic free cycle paths and I think because of that many more kids walk or cycle to school compared with elsewhere, certainly at the secondary schools. There are still far too many parents who drop their kids off in the car but I think the vast majority either walk or cycle.
I grew up here and me and all of my mates walked or cycled to school. I can't remember anyone in my year who was driven to school by their parents. I remember there being hundreds of bikes locked up at school so much so that there wasn't enough cycling parking. I'd often have to lock my bike up against the bike of a classmate. My parents had no worries about me cycling to school or anywhere for that matter as it was all on cycle paths. It just goes to show that good cycling infrastructure does make a difference.
I grew up here and me and all of my mates walked or cycled to school. I can't remember anyone in my year who was driven to school by their parents. I remember there being hundreds of bikes locked up at school so much so that there wasn't enough cycling parking. I'd often have to lock my bike up against the bike of a classmate. My parents had no worries about me cycling to school or anywhere for that matter as it was all on cycle paths. It just goes to show that good cycling infrastructure does make a difference.
Completely legal under pedelec rules (250 watts, 15.5 mph) since 6th April 2015, when the weight limits were removed and four wheels were allowed for the first time.
The lucky French can have them with an up to 4 kw motor, ok for up to 45 kph (28 mph), under their light quadricycle law. No driving licence necessary.
We also have the light quadricycle law but here they have to be type approved and be registered with number plate and insurance and driving licence necessary.
.
Last edited:
As I live down Brighton way this isn't an issue. Always blokes with twiryl moustaches riding penny farthings and Men in tight faux US army outfits rollerblading. It's home of the extrovert dresser be it hippy, goth, emo, hipster
You'd have to do better than a quirky set of wheels to get noticed!
True, I remember one guy there who took his two large dogs out to walk destinations in the back of a Brox Quad like this one.
.
Or you can go for the larger version with a custom sleeping pod conversion - great for touring:
https://www.dpdhl.com/en/media_relations/press_releases/2017/dhl_expands_green_urban_delivery_city_hub_cargo_bicycles.html
https://www.dpdhl.com/en/media_relations/press_releases/2017/dhl_expands_green_urban_delivery_city_hub_cargo_bicycles.html
Related Articles
-
MTF Enterprises announces acquisition of EMU Electric Bikes- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Wisper 806T folding bike wins Which? ‘Best Buy’- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Sustrans calls for protected cycle lanes- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Amazon launch their first UK e-cargo micromobility hub- Started by: Pedelecs
