marinyork said:
As for cycling I'll be the only person here to say cycling in York is very bad. The driving standard is very poor, the local poplace are very anticycling, being a student you have the evil FTR that makes cycling dangerous on the university routes and the town centre is a complete nightmare best avoided with billions of tourists and drunks from Hen parties roaming the streets. The Vale of York though is fantastic for cycling.
Eh? Are you talking about the same city?
Driving standard is no worse than anywhere else I've cycled, and since a lot of people also cycle, they tend to drive around cyclists better.
Lots of people cycle. Therefore the populace is not very anticycling. Maybe, of course, I just know a lot of people who cycle - I work for a magazine based here, and have also worked for two separate organisations who promote cycling. I think, pretty much everyone I know cycles, either occasionally, or all the time. I often see 6 or 7 bikes in an ASL at a time at rush hour, a number I think many cities rarely see.
Yes, the FTR is stupid. It's stupid because it's long and bendy, and for all the reasons long bendy buses are hopeless in British cities. I just keep my distance from them, and prevent them form passing in narrow spots (or, get out of their way). By and large the bus drivers are no worse than elsewhere, and often better.
Yes, the city centre is crowded. Most of it is pedestrianised anyway during the day. Diddums, you have to walk some places. Otherwise, it's just a case of cycling appropriately. A little patience (which is all we ask from motorists, after all), some decent anticipation and some give and take is all you need.
Obviously,York isn't the Netherlands or any of the European havens for cycling. But it's certainly not bad at all, and if that's what you think, I guess your riding style must be a bit more aggressive and self important than mine.
