to think cycling is the best mode of transport ever

[orangeshoebox]

for distances up to 5 miles?
so energy efficient. and just so pleasant compared to being stuck on a bus.
and cheap - no parking fees, no mandatory insurance, no fuel...

If we had dedicated separate cycling routes I would agree . I suggested once that farmers should be paid to have cycling routes and maintain them . Cycling on country roads in my area you are literally taking your life in your hands with motorists and pot holes.

i think your disclaimer makes all the difference. In these parts cycling is definitely not the best way to get about.

Also it very much depends on what you need transport for.

I used to cycle about 7 miles to work and I agree it was a good start to the day. Some shifts meant cycling in rush hour traffic, other shifts I had the road almost to myself.
It is a great way to commute or shop.

I agree. But then your disclaimer applies to me too: in the UK, but flat, cycle-friendly city with excellent cycle facilities at most of the major employers' buildings. Drivers largely accommodating of said cyclists!

It is certainly a very healthy mode of transport. I have a friend who regularly cycles with two teenage children, they all belong to a cycling club and love it.

I wish I could cycle, I did as a youngster but then lost my nerve. Never mind, not asking for sympathy. There are other things I can do.

I love cycling in the UK. Almost all of mine is commuting.

drivers being disciplined and accomodating and bad driving not tolerated is definitly a big plus.
cycling reduces my commute by 10min. (a big deal twice a day)
I'm fitter.

I find it really sad if dc don't learn to cycle.

Yes it works if you are just going around town and don’t need to haul a big load

loads of people here have bike trailers and carry dc and the weekly shop around.
with rack and backpack I can cycle home a substantial shop!

We have cycle lanes here but they are part of the road and every morning the school run parents park on them. so if DC had wanted to cycyle to school it wouldn't have been safe.

parking is thankfully heavily enforced. no one would dare parking on a cycle path, they would risk a scratched car with boot prints and a hefty fine.

We've got a cycle trailer that is rated to at least 50 kg. 50 kg is Kind of a big load, around as much as I see some folk unload at the tip.
I love cycling stuff to the tip using our trailer. Sailing past all the drivers queued up to get in...

Definitely! I know exactly how long it will take me, minimal waiting in traffic jams and usually park right where I want to be for free. Plus cycling has given my teens independence to get to school and activities since they were 11.

Cars make it far too dangerous. Some drivers are just too angry to be in charge of a motor vehicle and whilst most of their anger is vented at each other we become the innocent victims in the event of a collision.

The cycle ways are unfit for use where we live due to road crossings, speeding vehicles and shared pedestrian access.

We are much safer in our car.

A current issue where we live is cars parked all day on the roads for work. The frequent road rage, speeding, pavement parking, parking on corners and being driven at fast is ignored by the police, the highways, the councils and county.

It seems to me that this is a common issue everywhere now. Roads are designated as free car parks for workers and people that live in vans. They are not actually for driving on due to the frequent obstructions and hold ups.

I enjoy cycling but only off road.

The speed of the cars and how close they come really frighten me.

It would be great if the UK was more cycle friendly. Part of the annoyance from drivers comes from sharing roads with cyclists when it really is not safe - it's much better when there are proper bike lanes keeping cars and bikes separate. You get both good and bad cyclists and good and bad drivers, of course.

Although an incredibly rude woman shouted in my face yesterday when I was on a DUAL USE path. I know some cyclists can be dicks, but I think I was being as considerate as it is possible to be...
I was cycling slowly and pulled over onto the grass to let her pass. She had a sour look on her face so I smiled and nodded good morning... When she reached me she leaned into my face and bellowed "FOOTPATH!!!" Then stormed off. But is was a dual use path I had a right to use!
Dick.
Some people in the UK just really hate cyclists, no matter how considerate you try to be! Despised on the road, despised off the road...

Are you in the Netherlands? I'm amazed at how (apparently) everyone cycles everywhere with so little fuss and drama. Hardly any fancy bikes or lycra, just grab a helmet chuck your handbag in the basket and go. Proper separate lanes for pedestrians, cycling and cars. How do they make it so easy and we make it so hard?

I commute a 14 mile round trip by cycle every weekday. On a cycle path separate to any road. It's peaceful, it's cheap, I'm burning calories, no struggling to park, no traffic jams.

I have a cycle rucksack and also a pannier for bigger stuff. If it's raining I put waterproofs on.

If it's excessively windy I might drive or take the train but so far this year I've only had one day where I felt the weather was so bad I took the train.

Well, I thought it was great too till a speeding "boy racer" ran in to me, catapulting 6 foot it the air to land face first on the rear screen of a parked car. After that I was considerably less keen... I have slightly reduced neck movement permanently now, even after physio etc. My helmet had a big split in it which the doctor informed me would have been the fate of my head, had I not chosen to wear it. So I consider myself very fortunate to have only the neck issues after recovery from the back pain etc. I have never cycled on the roads again. For a while, even walking in traffic was traumatic, as the sound of skidding brakes could reduce me to a quivering mess.

I live in a (relatively) cycle-friendly UK city and I absolutely love being out on my bike. I don’t drive but only very rarely take taxis if I have a suitcase or something with me.

Otherwise boring journeys are a joy rather than a hassle. My everyday bike is an old Raleigh Solitaire - I’m quite petite so I prefer small-wheeled bikes and I love how nippy and nimble they are.

But that said, people aren’t wrong about a certain section of the population absolutely hating cyclists. Just being on a bike can make you a magnet for aggression from arseholes of every type. I don’t know why it is, but they seem to feel totally justified in it. There’s lots of new Dutch-style segregated bike lanes being built here at the moment, and I cannot wait til the main section on my route into town is finished.

I love my commute. Tourist city with walls so driving made twice as long. Just get to work do less stressed. Worse part is school run where I'm nearly ploughed into most days.
Me and Ds 9yr old have a tandem. In this city it is perfect and bus fares are beyond ourepair budget so we can get everywhere for free and affordable and ice lolly

No. Walking is better

Currently in Germany. I can cycle for miles without having to go on anything more dangerous than a residential side street... Anything bigger has a cycle lane. There is crossings on big roads for bikes. The children are taught road safety as standard by police officers at an age where they may be starting to venture off by themselves (they looked about 8? My kids are at a British school and don't get the lessons unfortunately). Pepe are tolerant of smaller children being a bit wobbly, my younger one got so much encouragement and understanding from people as she learnt. Poor thing had a tendency to fall off when she was overtaken by another cyclist, who would often stop and pick her up as I was running to keep up!)

I'm worried about moving back to the UK.