I have often wondered what it is in the British psyche that makes them anti-bicycle. Perhaps it had its origins in the earliest days when the rich young men - the only ones who could afford them - went hurtling around on their Oridinaries seemingly terrifying old ladies and animals. It is an attitude peculiar to GB.
Sweden I found to be a cycling heaven. Every town had its own dedicated, properly built and maintained cycle paths, they even had their own traffic lights. Once when we came to a pedestrianised area in a major city there was no provision for cyclists. You simply rode amongst the pedestrians, and no one turned a hair! As a properly brought up Brit I found it quite hard to cope with!! So simple. The rule seems to be that pedestrians and motor traffic are kept apart, and in this context cyclists seem to be pedestrians on wheels.
Out of town the dual carriageways were no problem, plenty of room for sensible overtaking by motor traffic. When we got on to single roads you could hear the big trucks coming down through the gears waiting for a suitable moment to come past. As the cab came alongside a thank you wave from me would be answered with a 'no problem' flick of the tail lights once he was safely past.
Now not every country was like this but even in countries where allegedly the motorists drive like lunatics we found that that they did not pass us dangerously close. In fact you soon know that when a car does, and especially if he has a caravan behind, that when he is past it will be a GB reg that you see.
Reading this forum I see that the pavement neurosis is still alive and well as is the problem of drivers who, even if you make eye contact, still do not see you.
In the years when I used to commute into work my morning ride was an idyllic trip along the sea wall from Hoylake to Wallasey, obviously no traffic of any kind, although there was (inevitably?) a 'No Cycling' notice. Then on to the Mersey Ferry to Liverpool. A bike ride and a boat ride. What a way to go to work. But in the evenings after the ferry I came back through Birkenhead along normal traffic laden roads. As they crawled along nose to tailbetween sets of lights some drivers would get upset as I, on my bicyle, went past them as they sat in their expensive 0 to 60 in 5 seconds, top speed of 145 mph machines. So you get used to the little ploys. As we come up to another set of lights they move over towards the kerb to try and stop you gettingpast, (although there is always the kerb to nip on to and so past jus the same) or, how about the one where he switches on the screen washers just as you come alongside...it's true. My favourite response: slap hard on the roof of the car with the flat of the hand. No damage done but what a shock that loud bang gives to the driver inside. A case for 'Sorry mate I didn't see you'?
Sweden I found to be a cycling heaven. Every town had its own dedicated, properly built and maintained cycle paths, they even had their own traffic lights. Once when we came to a pedestrianised area in a major city there was no provision for cyclists. You simply rode amongst the pedestrians, and no one turned a hair! As a properly brought up Brit I found it quite hard to cope with!! So simple. The rule seems to be that pedestrians and motor traffic are kept apart, and in this context cyclists seem to be pedestrians on wheels.
Out of town the dual carriageways were no problem, plenty of room for sensible overtaking by motor traffic. When we got on to single roads you could hear the big trucks coming down through the gears waiting for a suitable moment to come past. As the cab came alongside a thank you wave from me would be answered with a 'no problem' flick of the tail lights once he was safely past.
Now not every country was like this but even in countries where allegedly the motorists drive like lunatics we found that that they did not pass us dangerously close. In fact you soon know that when a car does, and especially if he has a caravan behind, that when he is past it will be a GB reg that you see.
Reading this forum I see that the pavement neurosis is still alive and well as is the problem of drivers who, even if you make eye contact, still do not see you.
In the years when I used to commute into work my morning ride was an idyllic trip along the sea wall from Hoylake to Wallasey, obviously no traffic of any kind, although there was (inevitably?) a 'No Cycling' notice. Then on to the Mersey Ferry to Liverpool. A bike ride and a boat ride. What a way to go to work. But in the evenings after the ferry I came back through Birkenhead along normal traffic laden roads. As they crawled along nose to tailbetween sets of lights some drivers would get upset as I, on my bicyle, went past them as they sat in their expensive 0 to 60 in 5 seconds, top speed of 145 mph machines. So you get used to the little ploys. As we come up to another set of lights they move over towards the kerb to try and stop you gettingpast, (although there is always the kerb to nip on to and so past jus the same) or, how about the one where he switches on the screen washers just as you come alongside...it's true. My favourite response: slap hard on the roof of the car with the flat of the hand. No damage done but what a shock that loud bang gives to the driver inside. A case for 'Sorry mate I didn't see you'?
