Copenhagen has 37% of journeys made by bike

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by LS on February 23, 2012 at 13:29

http://theamazing39stonecyclist.wordpress.com/

Ian-C said:

the road will be littered with fat people like me having heart attacks from trying to cycle to work

 

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Permalink Reply by James Lee on February 23, 2012 at 13:37

You'll be surprised what motorists forget about when they get behind the wheel of motorcar.

You'll be surprised what psychological changes happen when non-cyclists get behind the wheel of a motorcar.

 

They become Jeremy Clarkson !

 

LS said:

If there were segregated paths motorists wouldn't forget we exist because their kids, wives, friends etc would all use them, as they would themselves making them much more aware and considerate of cyclists.

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Permalink Reply by Robert on February 23, 2012 at 13:57

They would have to go out of their way to miss all the bicycles in Holland, Denmark, Denmark, and Cambridge, all of which have favoured cycling infrastructure.   Cyclists are not very visible in Birmingham because so few people want to risk their necks on our car-centric infrastucture.

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Permalink Reply by James Lee on February 23, 2012 at 14:20

Have a read through the Highway Code Robert.

There are many references within rules which say there could be cyclists on the road.

The 'Overtaking' section, ( 162 - 169 ) is especially juicy. There's even a picture demonstrating the advised passing clearance when a car overtakes a cyclist.

 

What does this all mean?

It means cyclists can ride on the road !!

 

"risk their necks" is in YOUR imagination.

Come in Robert, the water's fine.

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Permalink Reply by Robert on February 23, 2012 at 14:48

So what?   By the way, since you've clearly forgotten I'll remind you I've cycled some of the largest, busiest trunk roads in Britain.   That, however, is utterly irrelevant because most people have neither done so nor want to, which is why most people in Britain don't cycle.   Perhaps it's time you returned to the rant thread that was created for you.

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Permalink Reply by Ian-C on February 23, 2012 at 15:56

I think its time for a reality check cars will change oil will run out methods of powering cars will change but cars will never disappear in the the atmosphere so anti car rhetoric wont change a thing. I agree more people should make more use of open spaces parks cycle routes and the likes and should actively be promoted. i used to spend 3 morning in the gym working out but there is only so much Jeremy Kyle one can watch before getting suicidal. I started walking 3 or 4km around kings norton then I decide I wanted to get further afield, so I got a bike now I have a better bike and can explore further. the one thing I have learnt is you cant force people to ride a bike but you can encourage it and promote it.maybe in the parks where people used to hire boats like in cannon hill they should try a bike hire scheme so people can explore the Rea Valley route and the park, its just an idea.

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Permalink Reply by Robert on February 23, 2012 at 17:26

I second that; where good cycling infrastructure has been provided it has got people out of their cars and on to bikes.   A cycle hire scheme based at Cannon Hill Park sounds like a good idea to me.

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Permalink Reply by James Lee on February 24, 2012 at 7:25

Ha.

I used to spend 5 hours on a bike machine in the gym simulating a 100 km Grimpeur. Maybe that's why I'm homicidal :-)

 

The No. 1 attraction in Birmingham is Cadbury World. Ask any Londoner. "Two hours in Cadbury World and half an hour seeing the rest." They'd rather go to Worcester after visiting CW.

Getting to CW by bike ( for the novice, nervous and the frightened ) is a nightmare. I sometimes have to use my brakes through the railway tunnel on Bournville Lane. :-)

 

As an example of 'Cycling infrastructure', there is a cycleroute along Lode Lane past Land Rover. The reason for its existance is the catchment area for Lode Heath School changed and pupils traveling by bike ( yes, they still do ) were provided an 'off highway' route.

The number of cyclists riding to and from Land Rover has increased significantly with the C2W scheme success. I would estimate 2 of every two dozen C2W riders use the 'off highway' path, due to their homes being east of Lode Lane and they have no reason to cross to the west side. The other 22 riders ride across the traffic signals with the cars. Some ride along Dovehouse Lane, some ride along the main roadway of Lode Lane and the ones who ride toward Solihull use the main roadway. They do this because there are Peds and dogs on the cycleroute.

So in conclusion. On a stretch of road with a suitable cycleroute alongside, the majority of cyclists use the main roadway.

 

I can remember that junction from the sixties and seventies when the Rover Car Company were there with LR. There was no cycleroute. There were many more cyclists, in proportion to the workforce and there was the 'fuel crisis' of the seventies.

Were any cyclists struck by cars? I can't remember any incidents. The last incident at that junction was a motorscooter rider who was struck by a car. The car crossed a red light.

 

When I was a schoolboy at Lode Heath, the lads who rode bikes to school were the enthusiastic ones with 'tracker' bikes. There were NO 'off highway' cycling facilities.

Today, the lads who ride bikes to Lode Heath are the enthusiastic ones with BMX or MTBs. The presence of an 'off road' cycleroute has made it easier for them IF their home is on the east side of Lode Lane. The cycleroute has NOT expanded the cycling demograph at the school.

 

All in all, that cycleroute alongside Lode Lane is hardly used.

It is just one section of cycleroute from The Wheatsheaf to Shirley via Solihull. In my estimation, volume of cyclists in Solihull has not increased with the creation of this cycleroute. Volume of cyclists has increased since Red Kite have been in business. And they are predominantly racebikes which can be seen at Brueton Gardens at 9:00 on Sunday Mornings. :-)

 

 

 

Ian-C said:

I think its time for a reality check cars will change oil will run out methods of powering cars will change but cars will never disappear in the the atmosphere so anti car rhetoric wont change a thing. I agree more people should make more use of open spaces parks cycle routes and the likes and should actively be promoted. i used to spend 3 morning in the gym working out but there is only so much Jeremy Kyle one can watch before getting suicidal. I started walking 3 or 4km around kings norton then I decide I wanted to get further afield, so I got a bike now I have a better bike and can explore further. the one thing I have learnt is you cant force people to ride a bike but you can encourage it and promote it.maybe in the parks where people used to hire boats like in cannon hill they should try a bike hire scheme so people can explore the Rea Valley route and the park, its just an idea.

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Permalink Reply by John KIRK on February 24, 2012 at 7:42

Problem is that since James was a lad the number of vehicles on the UK's roads has increased by about 500%.Does that increase or diminish the danger to cyclists ?
James Lee said:

Ha.

I used to spend 5 hours on a bike machine in the gym simulating a 100 km Grimpeur. Maybe that's why I'm homicidal :-)

 

The No. 1 attraction in Birmingham is Cadbury World. Ask any Londoner. "Two hours in Cadbury World and half an hour seeing the rest." They'd rather go to Worcester after visiting CW.

Getting to CW by bike ( for the novice, nervous and the frightened ) is a nightmare. I sometimes have to use my brakes through the railway tunnel on Bournville Lane. :-)

 

As an example of 'Cycling infrastructure', there is a cycleroute along Lode Lane past Land Rover. The reason for its existance is the catchment area for Lode Heath School changed and pupils traveling by bike ( yes, they still do ) were provided an 'off highway' route.

The number of cyclists riding to and from Land Rover has increased significantly with the C2W scheme success. I would estimate 2 of every two dozen C2W riders use the 'off highway' path, due to their homes being east of Lode Lane and they have no reason to cross to the west side. The other 22 riders ride across the traffic signals with the cars. Some ride along Dovehouse Lane, some ride along the main roadway of Lode Lane and the ones who ride toward Solihull use the main roadway. They do this because there are Peds and dogs on the cycleroute.

So in conclusion. On a stretch of road with a suitable cycleroute alongside, the majority of cyclists use the main roadway.

 

I can remember that junction from the sixties and seventies when the Rover Car Company were there with LR. There was no cycleroute. There were many more cyclists, in proportion to the workforce and there was the 'fuel crisis' of the seventies.

Were any cyclists struck by cars? I can't remember any incidents. The last incident at that junction was a motorscooter rider who was struck by a car. The car crossed a red light.

 

When I was a schoolboy at Lode Heath, the lads who rode bikes to school were the enthusiastic ones with 'tracker' bikes. There were NO 'off highway' cycling facilities.

Today, the lads who ride bikes to Lode Heath are the enthusiastic ones with BMX or MTBs. The presence of an 'off road' cycleroute has made it easier for them IF their home is on the east side of Lode Lane. The cycleroute has NOT expanded the cycling demograph at the school.

 

All in all, that cycleroute alongside Lode Lane is hardly used.

It is just one section of cycleroute from The Wheatsheaf to Shirley via Solihull. In my estimation, volume of cyclists in Solihull has not increased with the creation of this cycleroute. Volume of cyclists has increased since Red Kite have been in business. And they are predominantly racebikes which can be seen at Brueton Gardens at 9:00 on Sunday Mornings. :-)

 

 

 

Ian-C said:

I think its time for a reality check cars will change oil will run out methods of powering cars will change but cars will never disappear in the the atmosphere so anti car rhetoric wont change a thing. I agree more people should make more use of open spaces parks cycle routes and the likes and should actively be promoted. i used to spend 3 morning in the gym working out but there is only so much Jeremy Kyle one can watch before getting suicidal. I started walking 3 or 4km around kings norton then I decide I wanted to get further afield, so I got a bike now I have a better bike and can explore further. the one thing I have learnt is you cant force people to ride a bike but you can encourage it and promote it.maybe in the parks where people used to hire boats like in cannon hill they should try a bike hire scheme so people can explore the Rea Valley route and the park, its just an idea.

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Permalink Reply by James Lee on February 24, 2012 at 8:15

Since James Lee was a lad, motorcars were invented :-)

 

There's an interesting statistic from Ford Motor Company which says 'Volume of traffic and driver awareness are proportional'.

This can be proven by looking at the statistics of RTAs in rural areas vs urban areas.

ie Motorists are naturally more attentative when there is more traffic.

This is why I prefer an urban commute to Castle Bromwich over a rural commute to Warwick.

 

The speed limit on Lode Lane has always been 30. In the sixties, the cars drove at 30 but were further apart and drivers less attentative trying to tune the crappy radio. NOW, they drive at 30, are closer together and drivers more attentative because the radio tunes itself.

From my perspective, I'd prefer TODAY'S situation.

John KIRK said:

Problem is that since James was a lad the number of vehicles on the UK's roads has increased by about 500%.Does that increase or diminish the danger to cyclists ?
James Lee said:

Ha.

I used to spend 5 hours on a bike machine in the gym simulating a 100 km Grimpeur. Maybe that's why I'm homicidal :-)

 

The No. 1 attraction in Birmingham is Cadbury World. Ask any Londoner. "Two hours in Cadbury World and half an hour seeing the rest." They'd rather go to Worcester after visiting CW.

Getting to CW by bike ( for the novice, nervous and the frightened ) is a nightmare. I sometimes have to use my brakes through the railway tunnel on Bournville Lane. :-)

 

As an example of 'Cycling infrastructure', there is a cycleroute along Lode Lane past Land Rover. The reason for its existance is the catchment area for Lode Heath School changed and pupils traveling by bike ( yes, they still do ) were provided an 'off highway' route.

The number of cyclists riding to and from Land Rover has increased significantly with the C2W scheme success. I would estimate 2 of every two dozen C2W riders use the 'off highway' path, due to their homes being east of Lode Lane and they have no reason to cross to the west side. The other 22 riders ride across the traffic signals with the cars. Some ride along Dovehouse Lane, some ride along the main roadway of Lode Lane and the ones who ride toward Solihull use the main roadway. They do this because there are Peds and dogs on the cycleroute.

So in conclusion. On a stretch of road with a suitable cycleroute alongside, the majority of cyclists use the main roadway.

 

I can remember that junction from the sixties and seventies when the Rover Car Company were there with LR. There was no cycleroute. There were many more cyclists, in proportion to the workforce and there was the 'fuel crisis' of the seventies.

Were any cyclists struck by cars? I can't remember any incidents. The last incident at that junction was a motorscooter rider who was struck by a car. The car crossed a red light.

 

When I was a schoolboy at Lode Heath, the lads who rode bikes to school were the enthusiastic ones with 'tracker' bikes. There were NO 'off highway' cycling facilities.

Today, the lads who ride bikes to Lode Heath are the enthusiastic ones with BMX or MTBs. The presence of an 'off road' cycleroute has made it easier for them IF their home is on the east side of Lode Lane. The cycleroute has NOT expanded the cycling demograph at the school.

 

All in all, that cycleroute alongside Lode Lane is hardly used.

It is just one section of cycleroute from The Wheatsheaf to Shirley via Solihull. In my estimation, volume of cyclists in Solihull has not increased with the creation of this cycleroute. Volume of cyclists has increased since Red Kite have been in business. And they are predominantly racebikes which can be seen at Brueton Gardens at 9:00 on Sunday Mornings. :-)

 

 

 

Ian-C said:

I think its time for a reality check cars will change oil will run out methods of powering cars will change but cars will never disappear in the the atmosphere so anti car rhetoric wont change a thing. I agree more people should make more use of open spaces parks cycle routes and the likes and should actively be promoted. i used to spend 3 morning in the gym working out but there is only so much Jeremy Kyle one can watch before getting suicidal. I started walking 3 or 4km around kings norton then I decide I wanted to get further afield, so I got a bike now I have a better bike and can explore further. the one thing I have learnt is you cant force people to ride a bike but you can encourage it and promote it.maybe in the parks where people used to hire boats like in cannon hill they should try a bike hire scheme so people can explore the Rea Valley route and the park, its just an idea.

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