Bikes? Bikes? BIKES!?

[savoloysam]

Are they fucking kidding or what? While I appreciate more people shoukd bike more often and are provided a safe space to do so. Just when you are lookig for some positive news they tell you to get a bike and get on it. Are they taking the fuicking piss or what?

 

[SpookyFrank]

I can't argue with that.

Because I don't know what it is.

 

[souljacker]

 

[maomao]

If this is because public transport will only carry ten percent of previous capacity they're going to need a lot of bikes very quickly. I'd happily start riding to work (if I still have a job) but I don't have a bike. Millions of Londoners don't have bikes.

 

[Sprocket.]

Then you read this.

Teen injured after colliding with two cars while cycling in Streatham

A 16-year-old boy suffers life-threatening injuries in an apparent double hit-and-run, police say.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Then you read this.

Teen injured after colliding with two cars while cycling in Streatham

A 16-year-old boy suffers life-threatening injuries in an apparent double hit-and-run, police say.

www.bbc.co.uk

Always astonished to see how many utter cunts there are out there.

 

[SpookyFrank]

If this is because public transport will only carry ten percent of previous capacity they're going to need a lot of bikes very quickly. I'd happily start riding to work (if I still have a job) but I don't have a bike. Millions of Londoners don't have bikes.

The people I work(ed) for have been busy rounding up unwanted or defunct bikes, getting them in working order and giving them to key workers on a long term loan basis.

That's not in London though.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Then you read this.

Teen injured after colliding with two cars while cycling in Streatham

A 16-year-old boy suffers life-threatening injuries in an apparent double hit-and-run, police say.

www.bbc.co.uk

Someone will be a long in a minute to explain that cyclists are still worse.

 

[Orang Utan]

Are they fucking kidding or what? While I appreciate more people shoukd bike more often and are provided a safe space to do so. Just when you are lookig for some positive news they tell you to get a bike and get on it. Are they taking the fuicking piss or what?

What are you talking about?

 

[weepiper]

Every bike shop in Edinburgh has got more repair work than they know what to do with and you can't get any bike for less than £500 in the city because they've all been bought in the last month. People are queuing up in droves to get bikes here.

 

[Epona]

Watching the briefing today I honestly wondered whether I had slipped into some sort of alternate version of reality...

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I'd love to be able to cycle to work but it would take some serious changes before I would. It's nearly ten miles and right across central London and I'm not the most confident cyclist tbh. If they genuinely prioritised cyclists then I would but I can't see it.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I'd love to be able to cycle to work but it would take some serious changes before I would. It's nearly ten miles and right across central London and I'm not the most confident cyclist tbh. If they genuinely prioritised cyclists then I would but I can't see it.

10 miles is really not that far on a bike. My 5 year old can cover that in less than an hour.

The confidence bit I understand, but the more people get out there the easier it will be, and if the promised pop up lanes etc materialise it will be easier still.

Get down you local park, do a few miles, have some practice in a safe environment

 

[kropotkin]

I have three kids from 5 to 9 and all would struggle with 10miles in one go. I think that's a long way for someone who doesn't ride often.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I think that's a long way for someone who doesn't ride often.

The first time, yeah. But progress in cycling usually comes pretty quickly.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

10 miles is really not that far on a bike. My 5 year old can cover that in less than an hour.

Five years old.
10mph on a bike.
For an hour non-stop.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Five years old.
10mph on a bike.
For an hour non-stop.

Yep. He's blatantly gonna win the tour one day



(route was fairly flat, but, still...)

 

[stavros]

I can't argue with that.

Because I don't know what it is.

I suspect the OP is referring to this story, where Grant Shapps is going to encourage more walking and cycling, particularly for commuting. From what the story says, and from what I already know, a lot of the responsibility for delivering this will be devolved to local authorities. Those LAs have not really been blessed by successive Chancellors over the last ten years, and Westminster is the primary source of their funding.

 

[kebabking]

I have three kids from 5 to 9 and all would struggle with 10miles in one go. I think that's a long way for someone who doesn't ride often.

Do you regularly take your three children to work?

I've done more cycling since lockdown - doing a bit of shopping etc... It's been nice with so much less traffic. I won't be commuting to work because my commuting distances are 60 miles and 90 miles (each way), but that doesn't mean I can't use my bike for other stuff.

Just because it may not work for me, doesn't mean it can't work for anyone...

 

[ska invita]

So 10% of commuting capacity in the great reopening. And what happens when more than 10% of people are forced back to work?
Maybe they can eek that up to 15% with cyclists etc. An extra 5% would be massively successful.

Will be very interesting to see how it looks on the main London routes.
I love biking but its too far and too dangerous.


They;re putting off the inevitable: print money and pay people to stay home.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Have not ridden in London since being hit by a lorry, those things hurt.

Do ride around here, to go to shops, rather than 15 minutes each way walking, it’s 3 minutes on a bike. Also cycle to work if not walking BB2 to school (her new school in September she’ll cycle with me and then I’ll carry on to work).

Just given away a bike, a gravel/cyclecross job to a friend who will have to do three different school drop-offs come September. She gave me a case of wine as a thank you, which I am working my way through tonight

Also ride for pleasure on the many MTB trails around here. Cycling is good. But also enjoy cars and driving too. Life doesn’t need to be binary.

 

[editor]

Then you read this.

Teen injured after colliding with two cars while cycling in Streatham

A 16-year-old boy suffers life-threatening injuries in an apparent double hit-and-run, police say.

www.bbc.co.uk

That's fucking awful. But at least...

Police said two men were arrested at separate locations in the local area.

It is not thought the pair, both in their 20s, were known to each other.

They remain in custody as inquiries continue, police said.

Cunts.

 

[ska invita]

I'd love to be able to cycle to work but it would take some serious changes before I would. It's nearly ten miles and right across central London and I'm not the most confident cyclist tbh. If they genuinely prioritised cyclists then I would but I can't see it.

this post is London-centric>>>>:

Distance is an issue for sure - people live increasingly far out in London, as they've been priced out.

I just googlemapped my commute, door to door 2 hours a day by train, zone 4 to zone 1 - but thats only 12.5 miles by bike - I can do that, maybe up to 90 minute max bike ride each way.

But what does that ride include? Several large hills and lots and lots of dangerous roads - the entire length of the old kent road in my case. And lots more beside. And tbh 90% of roads are dangerous in London. And fuck biking in the rain. And turning up knackered and drenched in sweat after that. and riding in the dark. etc etc etc

It might work for a small percent of people not already commuting by bike before this situation - like i said 5% would be very impressive - but this transport issue is a hurdle I cant see any way for the state to jump

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

this post is London-centric:

Distance is an issue for sure - people live increasingly far out in London, as they've been priced out.

I just googlemapped my commute, door to door 2 hours a day by train, zone 4 to zone 1 - but thats only 12.5 miles by bike - I can do that, maybe up to 90 minute max bike ride each way.

But what does that ride include? Several large hills and lots and lots of dangerous roads - the entire length of the old kent road in my case. And lots more beside. And tbh 90% of roads are dangerous in London. And fuck biking in the rain. And turning up knackered and drenched in sweat after that. and riding in the dark. etc etc etc

It might work for a small percent of people not already commuting by bike before this situation - like i said 5% would be very impressive - but this transport issue is a hurdle I cant see any way for the state to jump

When I started riding to work my boss said he’ll give me six months before I get knocked off. It took four. But rather than a busy road it was on Great Peter Street, which is a very quiet place tucked away behind parliament.

Have a bloke in my Covent Garden office who cycles in each day from Richmond. We have showers and shit available so it is possible, but that seems like a schlep to me...

 

[Orang Utan]

When I started riding to work my boss said he’ll give me six months before I get knocked off. It took four. But rather than a busy road it was on Great Peter Street, which is a very quiet place tucked away behind parliament.

Have a bloke in my Covent Garden office who cycles in each day from Richmond. We have showers and shit available so it is possible, but that seems like a schlep to me...

I've got a mate who cycles into central from Leatherhead

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I've got a mate who cycles into central from Leatherhead

It's amazing how far some people manage. There's a guy in my club who does nearly 25 miles each way (guess that's about the same as your mate thinking about it), 5 days a week, in all weathers. Seriously impressive.

 

[Orang Utan]

It's amazing how far some people manage. There's a guy in my club who does nearly 25 miles each way (guess that's about the same as your mate thinking about it), 5 days a week, in all weathers. Seriously impressive.

it's easy enough if you feel you have no alternative - when i did my 8 mile each way, I did it whatever the weather, cos I didn't have any money for the train or the bus

 

[savoloysam]

I wonder how how many people (of those whose jobs allow it) are still not or are not being allowed to work from home.

 

[Buddy Bradley]

It's amazing how far some people manage. There's a guy in my club who does nearly 25 miles each way (guess that's about the same as your mate thinking about it), 5 days a week, in all weathers. Seriously impressive.

That's roughly how far I live from the office too. I would fancy giving it a go one day, but I doubt I'd make it a particularly regular thing.

 

[savoloysam]

It's amazing how far some people manage. There's a guy in my club who does nearly 25 miles each way (guess that's about the same as your mate thinking about it), 5 days a week, in all weathers. Seriously impressive.

One of my colleagues bikes a fair few miles everyday and he's just turned 60! He is ex army though so not much fazes him and he loves keeping himself active.