I had Catrike Musashi.. lovely bike. Had to get rid of it as it kept up buggering up my knee.
Wish I hadn't and kept it tbh
SPEED, does it effect safety in a city
- Thread starter Racing roadkill
- Start date
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I had Catrike Musashi.. lovely bike. Had to get rid of it as it kept up buggering up my knee.
Wish I hadn't and kept it tbh
Ganymede
Veteran
- Location
- Rural Kent
Nice. But you can strain your knees I hear. I don't think I ride far enough to hurt!
mr messy
Veteran
- Location
- Sunny? Glasgow, the friendly city...
I've found no matter what speed you're doing there will always be drivers trying to pass.
The number of times i've been sitting in middle of lane, a safe cars length behind , and nobbers trying to force there way through.
Same if you're already doing the speed limit, drivers will break that limit to pass even if approaching red lights or about to make a turn.
The number of times i've been sitting in middle of lane, a safe cars length behind , and nobbers trying to force there way through.
Same if you're already doing the speed limit, drivers will break that limit to pass even if approaching red lights or about to make a turn.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Where's the option for "Keep with the traffic flow"?
e-rider
Banned member
- Location
- South West
riding quicker nearly always feels safer, but an exception would be high speeds downhill when cars like to pull out of side roads in front of you - that is scary and it is much safer to keep the speed lower to enable more response time and more braking time
if cruising along with traffic, then faster feels safer
if cruising along with traffic, then faster feels safer
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
Hare
An acquaintance, who rides a (powerful) motorbike as well as a bicycle, has a story about being cut up by the driver of a clapped-out Corsa (or some such) who objected to him doing 30 in a 30 on the motorbike - a vehicle that was well capable of leaving the car for dead if the rider chose to do so. The point of the story being that some drivers are impatient @holes whatever you are in charge of... I've been hassled for doing 25-30 in a car...
I have a route which has a long steady downhill and I do feel I get more hassle on it in the (unusual) case that I get a headwind on it. We shouldn't have to sprint away from lights or power along at 20mph but I certainly feel more comfortable about controlling the lane if I'm going faster. (Though I have a brass neck and do it whatever speed I'm going at if I think I need to.) Does not always work, of course. Nothing is 100% always the case when It comes to road use!
I have a route which has a long steady downhill and I do feel I get more hassle on it in the (unusual) case that I get a headwind on it. We shouldn't have to sprint away from lights or power along at 20mph but I certainly feel more comfortable about controlling the lane if I'm going faster. (Though I have a brass neck and do it whatever speed I'm going at if I think I need to.) Does not always work, of course. Nothing is 100% always the case when It comes to road use!
swee'pea99
Legendary Member
Like Jonny I ride in London, ride fast, and very rarely have any problems.
I suspect other factors also play a part, such as whereabouts in London you ride (I find my Guardianista-heavy North London homeland noticeably less hairy than when I stray east or - horrors - go south of the river) and other aspects of the way you ride - particularly how good a feel you have for others' positions and perspectives. But yes, I'm sure that maintaining a fair speed helps.
(Think about passing a row of parked cars...if you're doing near-enough traffic speed, a quick glance back should let you slip easily into a gap, enabling you to pass those parked cars without impeding drivers....at a significantly slower speed, you're going to be moving out in such a way that drivers have to slow down to your speed and/or pass close enough to make you uncomfortable or force you to ride too close to those potentially-opening doors.)
I suspect other factors also play a part, such as whereabouts in London you ride (I find my Guardianista-heavy North London homeland noticeably less hairy than when I stray east or - horrors - go south of the river) and other aspects of the way you ride - particularly how good a feel you have for others' positions and perspectives. But yes, I'm sure that maintaining a fair speed helps.
(Think about passing a row of parked cars...if you're doing near-enough traffic speed, a quick glance back should let you slip easily into a gap, enabling you to pass those parked cars without impeding drivers....at a significantly slower speed, you're going to be moving out in such a way that drivers have to slow down to your speed and/or pass close enough to make you uncomfortable or force you to ride too close to those potentially-opening doors.)
Profpointy
Legendary Member
I've had that on a thousand cc motorcycle (in town). Apparently the speed limit wasn't appropriate.
Ganymede
Veteran
- Location
- Rural Kent
Yeah, but the speed limit is for everyone else, innit? /s
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
I'm really glad you posted this point.
The question at this stage isn't "is faster better" but "what speed is better".
The results could suggest that those who keep up with the flow are wrong to do so and should actually slow down.
Like I say maybe the next step would be to equate how often those that say they feel safe from riding a certain speed, actually experience threat and compare that to those who ride at the other speed.
I have an opinion based upon intuition...and some experience but am interested to see what pans out.
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
But so far you haven't clarified what is fast .... My fast would be someone else's slow, but you acceleration from stationary is fairly good.
andyfraser
Über Member
- Location
- Bristol
If I'm in traffic, more or less keeping up, then I'm out level with where a car driver would be. I feel more confident there, I act more confidently and no one tries to pass me.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
It's all subjective....whatever you feel fast or slow is, which makes you more comfortable.
My own thoughts are, whilst I Genuinley enjoy riding at a very slow, social pace with company, I prefer to keep pace with traffic in town.
So, to add my answer to my own poll...in town I feel safer riding at pace and think @swee'pea99 has hit my particular nail on the head with the comment about moving around parked cars, at speed this is a fluid, smooth movement.
- Location
- Glasgow
I voted tortoise because I thought in the same lines as above.
I do ride mainly traffic free paths on the commute, dogs, kids, joggers are a hazard, you need to be able to stop quickly.
I really don't like those cyclists that pass pedestrians (or me on a bike!) with an inch to spare: what if the pedestrian changes direction suddenly?
In a situation with lots of motorized traffic I am very conscious of being slow, this makes drivers want to pass me at all costs, proper road position does not deter them.
I think being swift on the bike makes you safer in traffic.
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