Congestion
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Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
People would rather sit in traffic jams in theirs cars and complain about the money wasted on empty cycle lanes - while being blind to their own idiocy and hypocrisy - rather than expend effort riding a bike.
Which is why I still get an evil pleasure in cycling along busy 'rush hour' congested roads and cocking the snook at all those motorists who are probably doing pretty much the same journey day, after day, after day...........
........and hating it.
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
Which is why I still get an evil pleasure in cycling along busy 'rush hour' congested roads and cocking the snook at all those motorists who are probably doing pretty much the same journey day, after day, after day...........
........and hating it.
I feel the same, and I recognise making the change is not simple, especially for people who are probably already at their breaking point.
Finding a bike, getting suitable clothing and enough fitness to start cycle commuting is probably just too much financially and emotionally.
It's an unpleasant trap.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
Part of the trap is thinking that special clothing and fitness are needed to cycle three miles from the suburbs to the town centre.
- Location
- Inside my skull
Which is a common misconception. You just have to start with the fitness and clothing you have. Everyone will have something they can wear in their wardrobe. I gave myself the target of no significant expense, no specialised cycle clothing, no expensive bike, till I’d been cycle commuting at least 3 days a week for 3 months. Only after that period and frequency did I consider splashing the cash, and even then just a little at a time. The savings from not driving to work soon add up to pay for the initial outlays.
Punkawallah
Über Member
50% fewer cars, or cars that are 50% smaller. Compare the size of the Ford Anglia or original Mini to modern vehicles.
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
Not even that far back. The 1984 Astra was 1.6m wide. Now it's almost 1.9m. That's about another foot of road width hogged, even ignoring the increasing market share of wide SUVs.
Electric_Andy
Heavy Metal Fan
- Location
- Plymouth
It's not really a misconception. You might be happy and able to jump on a bike in jeans and arrive at work. But I found I had to have proper cycle trousers, underlayers, a rucksack with waterproof cover, lights, locks etc. I soon found myself fitting a top box on my pannier which even then was only just big enough to take my work clothes and a towel. ok you can use the clothes you have but that's just the tip of the iceberg.
It is, for many, a lot of organising and quite frankly a faff to cycle to work daily. Especially in colder and wet weather like we have in the UK for 300 days a year. And if you live in a hilly area like Plymouth, there is no chance of pootling along a flat road and arriving at work clean and dry like they do in the movies. It needs a further 30 minutes to lock bike, shower, get changed, organise wet clothes if you even have anywhere to hang them etc etc. And that was me after commuting every day for 1 year. Imagine what it takes to encourage a newly ex-driver to ditch the car! I'm not saying it shouldn't be encouraged, just that (for me) it was a lot harder than simply jumping on a bike instead of into a car.
lazybloke
Considering a new username
- Location
- Leafy Surrey
mustang1
Legendary Member
- Location
- London, UK
My commute is 12 miles each way and unless it's raining, I always use the bike otherwise I'm on the train.
For LOCAL runs (going to the shops, kids activities, things like that), I always use the car because it is easy more efficient: no traffic jams locally, no parking problems etc.
The irony is I use the car for short runs and a bike for long runs. You'd expect it to be the other way round.
For LOCAL runs (going to the shops, kids activities, things like that), I always use the car because it is easy more efficient: no traffic jams locally, no parking problems etc.
The irony is I use the car for short runs and a bike for long runs. You'd expect it to be the other way round.
Alex321
Veteran
- Location
- South Wales
If it was only 2-3 miles on city roads with no big hills, I wouldn't think twice about riding in regular clothes.
For the 15 miles each way, with hills, that I do, I wouldn't dream of riding in anything but proper cycling gear. And wouldn't do it unless there was a shower at the office.
It all depends on distance and types of road/trail that you will be using.
And yes, facilities in the workplace also make a big difference. We not only have a shower, but also a tumble dryer so that I'm not putting wet kit on to go home. It still doesn't take me 30 minutes after reaching the office though. Maybe 15.
As we all know, a bike doesn't have to be pricey, unless you're image prone; same with clothing. I only wear more 'bike specific' kit when I'm out for a day's ride. Around town, it's everyday clobber & footwear.
When we arrived at the car park in Ely last Saturday, we had been preceded by a Ford Ranger type SUV / crew cab thing which reversed into a parking bay, then a few minutes later, drove out of the cark park again.
Sussed that once parked, the driver couldn't actually get out of his motor - !
The right attitude helps a lot, and getting gear organised in the evening for the next day. I could leave the house in full cycling gear at 7am and be at my desk, showered, changed and switched on at 8am after 9 miles and 32 sets of traffic lights. Best part of my day (unless there was a strong easterly blowing).
A friend, when asked what he missed about work after he retired, answered "my week-ends". I miss my commutes.
