Thinking Bike

Too much of our cycle network finishes abruptly, often for no obvious reason, even in such as this one in Cambridgeshire.   

There are far too many "CYCLISTS DISMOUNT" signs.

     Drivers are not ordered to get out of their vehicles at road junctions or level-crossings, so why should cyclists have to dismount?

Cycling the ‘wrong way’ up a one-way street is generally very much frowned upon in the UK, yet that is extremely common practice in many Continental countries.

Einbahnstrasse = one-way street. 

 We could well have more one-way streets here, and make them two-way for cyclists; why not?

Some areas of this country are worse than others, but we do not have anything like enough provision for safe cycling, nor do we have enough good links between villages, or linking towns to villages.

But people here don’t ‘Think Bike’ , because if they did, then situations like this just would not happen:-

Cycle stands outside the Co-op in Kennington hidden by plants.

Vehicles standing on an Advanced-Stop Line in London.

The state of Country Lanes.

Cycling safety in a rural environment.

There seems to be strong pressure for cycling in our cities to be made safer.  But we mustn’t just limit improvements to some cities, the whole country needs a massive rethink.

Our countryside might seem to be inviting to a cyclist, but having left the fumes, and hazards of cycling in traffic of an urban environment, then, whilst the traffic might be less, the cyclist is faced with other hazards.

In my youth I cycled all over Kent, and the road surfaces I encountered then were good;  With Pot-holes being rare: it isn’t like that now.  So what has gone wrong?

A lane descends steeply down the face of the Downs in Kent; with the road edge broken away, and the centre of the road full of debris, the cyclists has about 30 cm clean space left to ride through.  

But we can forget about pot-holes, we all know what a pot-hole is, and we know only too well how many there are there out there, but in addition there is much more to worry about.

Our country lane network has been totally neglected for so long, that the cyclist really has to concentrate hard on the road ahead, or he will come a cropper.  Rest assured there are many more examples, and many more I have not photographed.

The crown of the many roads are full of loose debris, particularly dangerous to cyclists, but to motor-cyclists too.

Illustrating shear neglect.  It is not unusual for grass and weeds to have completely taken over the centre of the road.  That grass is well established, this is supposed to be a fully maintained road!

                                     What has happened to our once pristine country lanes? 

Cyclists must really concentrate in such circumstances, which are even worse in the dark.

Some Pot-holes are worth recording especially as these are (or were) on a National Cycle Network route, and along what is supposed to be a fully maintained road.

And, in each one of the above situations, we have what is in fact, a: “Shared-space” scenario; but in practice, the max speed in force is 60 mph!  Not 20. 

Reason for cycling

Cycling is much more than just a sport, it is:  a healthy leisure activity, a means of transport, family fun, and provided with much better facilities, we should see many more cyclists out and about.  It is a vehicle for tourism.  It doesn't pollute. 

Cycling allows us to explore our beautiful and varied countryside, with its delightful seasonal changes and enjoy its sounds, aromas, and sights like with no other means of transport, and it need not be expensive.

A cyclist gazes wistfully across the English Channel from a vantage point on the Leas at Folkestone, perhaps dreaming of cycling in France during the Summer.

Bicycles have brought these two women to the Leas to relax on a bench in the evening to soak in the sunshine, and enjoy the vista, and the fresh sea air, with no worries about parking.

Cycling along the Pilgrims-Way near Charing,

among the Autumn colours .

Then comes the Winter:-

And snow.

Ashford.

Unfortunately Snow and ice and cycling are incompatible, and the cyclist has to avoid  snow, slush, and ice.

Cycling can be enjoyed from a very early age,

And on until quite late in life.

Shared Space

Cyclination

The Blog for those who love Cycling 

Let’s start with something really simple:- .

“Shared-use”

 

Two signs for the same purpose

I am sure you can spot the difference.

The sign on the left indicates shared space, but pedestrians are shown at the top, to indicate that when 'push-comes-to-shove', pedestrians would have priority (which is only right).   That sign is a continental one, and one which has been around for many a long year, so when the English sign was introduced at a later date, why on earth did they decide to change (reverse) the orientation?   Was it a pig-headed desire to be different?

What this is sign saying is that pedestrians with their back to the cyclists should have right of way.  Which is fair enough, but sometimes a gentle tingle from your bell is likely to ease the situation, and often gains a degree of gratitude from them.   It is just common sense really.

What is needed is common sense, understanding and consideration for others.

‘Shared Use’ (motor vehicles, horses, bicycles, and pedestrians) extends out to the many thousands of miles of English country roads, and lanes, which do not have a pavement or footway, yet most of them have a speed limit of up to 60 mph, or (just imagine) that is 100 kph!   These highways are purely and simply SHARED USE; should they not be 20 mph?

 20 mph on the Continent is enough, but in actual fact it is 20 or 30 kph, and even 30kph  is 18 mph. 

 This sign, whilst not applicable to the shared use of cycleways with pedestrians, it does mean shared use of roads of motor vehicles with pedestrians, cyclists, and horses, all that is missing is a 20 mph speed limit.  

The attitude of councils and highway authorities has for long time been to regard cyclists as inferior beings.

No Dogs and no cycling allowed in this cemetery says Mr Hudson,  

Are cycles more likely to disturb the interned than a car?

There was a time (it may still be so) that cars were allowed through the gate into the stately home of Audley-End, in Essex, but not bicycles:  The reason given by the cashier at the ticket office was:  "There are pedestrians walking about there".     

We have to change our culture.

A bicycle is essentially a means of transport, and cycling is an activity which can also be a sport.