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How was your cycle commute?

Onket said:
It was the kidney stones bit I was frowning at and saying I didn't know about.
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I just meant that with adults generally getting a couple of colds a year you don't need to dose up all year - whereas children may bring you new colds - since they can have them all year.
Though I suppose it's because adults develop immunity ..
 
gentlegreen said:
I just meant that with adults generally getting a couple of colds a year you don't need to dose up all year - whereas children may bring you new colds - since they can have them all year.
Though I suppose it's because adults develop immunity ..
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Yes.
 
Placebo, then. :)

However, the latest survey, compiled results from 30 different studies around the world, concluded that only people who were exposed to exceptionally high levels of stress, such as marathon runners, skiers and soldiers on sub-arctic exercises, had fewer colds as a result of taking the vitamin. Among these, a daily supplement of vitamin C reduced the chances of catching a cold by half.
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pissflaps said:
i wouldn't wipe my arse with that RHA shit rag. Victim blaming cuntery that can get to fuck in every way.
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Still I had a big of a hangover today and fancied a bit of a grumble. Time for a ride now!


Dear Sir / Madam

I'd appreciate it if you could assure me that this email is passed on to the relevant person. Any responses will be gratefully received.

This email is in regard to your advice to cyclists given in this page http://www.rha.uk.net/campaigning/press_releases/content/16201/cycle_safe_truck_aware

I appreciate your efforts to make the roads safer. However I dispute your advice "Where provided, always use cycle paths instead of the road.".

This advice, although evidently meant in good spirit, shows a poor understanding of the realities of cycling and therefore discredits your 'Cycle safe, truck aware' message. It is my hope that this email can help further your goal of "promoting road safety and understanding between the haulage industry and cyclists". With a better understanding of the many faults of cycle paths I trust you'll change your advice accordingly.

Cycle paths are often of poor quality. In fact they are rarely helpful to a cyclist. If anyone wishes to listen I'll happily explain how using cycle paths often makes a journey less safe for a cyclist. Alternatively I suggest you consult with regular cyclists and / or any cycling organisation as to how your advice to use a cycle path is not realistic and potentially dangerous. I've also linked to two video which Illustrate this point.

I have much respect for professional drivers and I accept it's a very difficult job. I also accept that all road users, including cyclists, don't always show the necessary levels of care and respect towards other road users. However I have had first hand experience of HGV drivers who have shown aggression toward me as a result of cycling on the road adjacent to a cycle path. If the HGV driver understood why a cyclist would choose to use a road over a cycle path I'm sure they would show the necessary levels of care and caution required when passing a cyclist.

Please take a look at this short video from Chris Boardman. It illustrates how using a cycle path potentially makes cycling less safe for cyclists, and also for pedestrians who have to share pavements with poor quality cycle paths

This video is to illustrate how a specific HGV driver who doesn't understand why cyclists often choose to avoid cycle paths tries to 'teach this cyclist a lesson' for choosing not to use a cycle path

Finally should you be interested in learning at first hand why your advice to use a cycle path is misplaced I urge you to cycle using cycle paths where available. I'm sure any cycling organisation would be willing to take a representative from your body out on a ride. This will undoubtedly promote better understanding between the haulage industry and cyclists.

Best regards
 
I got a response:

Your point is noted with interest. Cycle paths should be suitable and free from obstacles, potholes etc, just as roads should be and we would support efforts to hold the local authority to account on that. It is not our intention to urge cyclists to use unsuitable paths. The point that is made by members’ drivers is that where there is an appropriate cycle path and cyclists still use the road, which in such circumstances can be quite narrow, an unnecessary risk to cyclists is created – as well as stress s to drivers, of course.

Kind regards,
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In the hope that the message really gets across:

Thanks from your quick response. It's much appreciated.

I accept that a driver who is unfamiliar with cycling will see a cycle path and from their point of view it may appear to be a perfectly good cycle path. If it was a perfectly good cycle path it would be used.

In these circumstances any unnecessary risk is created by impatient and stressed drivers. As they don't cycle they don't understand why the path is not being used. This frustration can lead to showing less care and respect to cyclists than they would normally. I used to share similar frustrations on encountering cyclists on the road when there was an adjacent cycle path, that was until I started to regularly cycle.

Promotion of understanding between your members drivers and cyclists has to be a two way process. If any of your members raise frustrations about 'inconsiderate cyclists not using perfectly good cycle paths' I urge you to remind the member that cycle paths which appear to be perfectly good from the seat of a car or a lorry may well be a danger to the cyclist and any pedestrians which cycle lanes are imposed onto. Perhaps you'd consider expanding your outreach program to arrange your professional drivers to go out for a ride with cycling groups you have contact with in organising events.

Poor understanding of why cyclist choose to use roads over cycle paths is particularly relevant this time of year. Cycle tracks are not maintained or swept. Wet fallen leaves are particularly slippery. In the colder months even a light frost is enough to slip on so a gritted road is preferable. Drivers struggle to see unlit cyclists, the same applies to cycle paths. Many paths are shared with pedestrians and even with powerful lights pedestrians on the cycle path can be missed.

For these reasons alone, although there are other reasons why cycle paths are not always suitable, I urge that any advice you give on the use of cycle paths should be directed towards your members and how they behave around cyclists, rather than to cyclists who are undoubtedly in the best position to be able to assess the usability of a cycle path.

Best regards
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That's quite enough green ink letters for a while!
 
I had a doppelganger this morning. I shoulder-checked at Kennington PPost Office junction and had to do a double-take.

Pretty much exactly the same bike as me, the same helmet as me, same top as me, same rear light as me AND going the same pace until I upped onto the pedals to get over Blackfriars Bridge. WEIRD.
 
plurker said:
I had a doppelganger this morning. I shoulder-checked at Kennington PPost Office junction and had to do a double-take.

Pretty much exactly the same bike as me, the same helmet as me, same top as me, same rear light as me AND going the same pace until I upped onto the pedals to get over Blackfriars Bridge. WEIRD.
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Are you sure you weren't riding next to one of these carrying a large mirror?

transitfraila.jpeg
 
I reckon it'll be Thursday before I get on my bike again - such a shame - it would have been a lovely ride home tonight...
 
fredfelt said:
However I have had first hand experience of HGV drivers who have shown aggression toward me as a result of cycling on the road adjacent to a cycle path. If the HGV driver understood why a cyclist would choose to use a road over a cycle path I'm sure they would show the necessary levels of care and caution required when passing a cyclist.
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My mum's partner sometimes drives a HGV as part of his work. Whilst I haven't heard it directly from him, some of his attitudes towards cyclists that I hear through my mum are quite frightening-stuff along the lines of not deserving to be on the road and, well, being culpible if they get squished. And that's coming from someone whose partner has a daughter and son in law who are commuter cyclists! I suspect he places us in some sort of "ok for cyclists" mental file. :hmm:

But it's very worrying as I imagine that he thinks like that as part of a HGV driver cultural thing, and whilst I don't think he'd be intentionally dangerous himself, I'm sure some of his peers would cross that line. Plus there's the question of what those views do subconsciously to your driving :(
 
Anyway, I had the dilemma today of wondering what method of commuting is worse when you're feeling a bit unwell-the physical exertion of cycling (in the cold), or taking the bus which might be full of other germs. I didn't cycle today, but still not sure correct decision...
 
My ex-GF's driving alone, with hindsight, was a key indicator of just how incompatible we were.
She's gone and bought herself a large motorcycle now so at least has shifted the risk back on herself - hopefully she's careful when she has her daughter on the back.
Perhaps riding a motorcycle will have made her think about excessive speed in built up areas.

I still instinctively have the greatest respect for professional drivers, but thinking about it, it may have been the insane overtake by a car transporter on a quiet suburban road that ultimately made me get a camera.

When a bus driver did the same thing in the same place, I had something to show his employer.
 
Foggy this morning. I even resorted to a high visibility gilet!

Not quite the done thing on a Pashley. :cool:

NB: can't we have a smiley wearing plus fours or a bowler hat?
 
This morning, a car passed me while I was in the middle of the road, passing some roadworks. Inches to spare. There was a red light only 200 yards in front, so even more unnecessary. I rapped on the window and the lady wound it down. I explained in a polite, but admittedly bossy voice (I work in a school) what she'd done and that rule 163 of the Highway Code blah blah blah. She apologised profusely and addressed me as officer! Was it the hi vis helmet and jacket or the voice? Who knows?
 
Orang Utan said:
This morning, a car passed me while I was in the middle of the road, passing some roadworks. Inches to spare. There was a red light only 200 yards in front, so even more unnecessary. I rapped on the window and the lady wound it down. I explained in a polite, but admittedly bossy voice (I work in a school) what she'd done and that rule 163 of the Highway Code blah blah blah. She apologised profusely and addressed me as officer! Was it the hi vis helmet and jacket or the voice? Who knows?
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:D x lots!
 
Just checking: is it out of order for a massive goods lorry to overtake me as I am approaching a roundabout, so that I have to apply the brakes, just as I get on the roundabout. Had to pull in a little bit too.
 
Overtaking on a roundabout.

I would say it was significantly worse than if it had done that on a straight road - given the extra hazards. You should never have to brake or change course when being overtaken. The highway code draws the line at deliberately accelerating to piss the other driver off.

I had an interesting exchange with the owner of a driving school recently after I posted a video of one of her instructors doing that (with no pupil).
And my incident was very mild in comparison.

It comes up a lot in cycling videos.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=overtake on roundabout&oq=overtake on roundabout&gs_l=youtube.3...1439.7918.0.8218.24.23.1.0.0.0.97.1264.23.23.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.pmVmsBgVrJM
 
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