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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that if there were more designated cycle routes that were safe then more people would cycle?

51 replies

theSuburbanDryad · 07/10/2008 09:11

Just got back off the nursery run, every morning I say, "I'm not doing it anymore, I'm going to walk!" and then every morning I'm too late to walk and we're in a massive so ds just gets bundled in the car. (I know, very eco-unfriendly and lazy but it's time, innit?)

There's an evangelical bicycle dad at the nursery who I'm on nodding terms with, and as I came steaming through the gates with ds, apoplectic with rage about yet more rude, pushy and aggressive drivers he says, serenely, "I'll never understand why you don't just cycle!"

AARRRGH! Perhaps it's because I have no wish to fear for my life every time I set off out the door? Perhaps it's because I'm more concerned for ds' safety on the back of my bike? Perhaps it's because I DON'T ACTUALLY OWN A FREAKIN BIKE?!?!

Last month we went on holiday to Holland, where I had no qualms about sticking ds in a bicycle seat and cycling all over the place. It was great. Ds loved it, I got a little bit fit, I had no fear for my life and I wasn't stressed out and angry behind the wheel of my car. I hate driving in the morning - the commuters and daily pile up outside the nursery (which is next to a primary school) have contributed to my blood pressure spike, I am sure!

BUT if there were more safe, designated bicycle routes - and I'm not just talking about lines painted on the road which everyone ignores anyway - would more people get out and cycle? I know I would. But the vitriol towards cyclists in this country really scares me - my IL's live in Surrey, near Box Hill which attracts a lot of mountain bikers, and they hate it. I think they see the road as for them only, as FIL drives his absurd Range Rover and they pay road tax, don't they?

Ok, rant over (cause I should go and do some work) but - AIBU?

OP posts:
shergar · 07/10/2008 10:02

Totally agree. I live in Herts and there is a really good network of off-road cycle paths which are very well used (I don't use them for the school run as school is a short walk away anyway). I was even thinking about changing my job so that I could work locally and use the cycle paths to commute instead of having to travel into London every day.

LittleBella · 07/10/2008 14:02

What, not one YOU ARE BEING UNREASONABLE?

Perhaps we should all print out this thread and send it to Highways Depts up and down the country...

The thing is, it's not enough to just have cycle lanes. You need the law changed so that in the event of an accident, the car driver is automatically presumed responsible unless s/he can demonstrate otherwise. Too many of our roads are simply too narrow to put cycle paths in and the space has to be shared between motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. The problem with shared space being, that legally and realistically, motorists are the ones with the most clout and the most danger to other space-sharers. Until the sheer power of the car is neutralised, space sharing will never really work and we'll all carry on reluctantly getting into our cars...

Mammina · 07/10/2008 14:16

agree. it annoys me so much that cyclists have to share their lane with buses, it just doesn't make sense to me - have the smallest thing on the road share the lane with the biggest thing on the road. Plus agree with you paddington, bus drivers HATE cyclists.

Upwind · 07/10/2008 14:20

also, cyclists travel at a rate more similar to cars than buses which continually stop and start

not to mention belching diesel fumes in the faces of the cyclists

shergar · 07/10/2008 22:32

Death rate for cyclists on the road is so scarey too. There's a piece in the London Evening Standard most weeks about some cyclist being crushed by a lorry, and these haunting memorials are starting to crop up here now: www.ghostbikes.org/london

Apparently female cyclists are disproportinately likely to be killed as we obey road rules more and that often places you in danger (e.g. where you're at lights alongside a lorry which is going to turn left - male cyclists more likely to just go, even if the light is red, and get out of the path of the lorry).

Simplysally · 07/10/2008 22:41

I'd never cycle to work as it would mean traversing a large roundabout which is bad enough in a car iyswim . I'd have to get off, wheel the bike on the pavement to cross on the pedestrian then get back onto the road to bypass the roundabout!!

I wouldn't be too happy about cycling home in the dark either let alone being all hot and sweaty in work (there are plenty of showers but they're in wards and the Trust would probably take a dim view of me using patient facilities). I do think the cycling provision is pretty poor in this country compared to other countries.

daysoftheweek · 07/10/2008 22:58

you could have a very trendy bike basket, several people round here have a lovely round black one clamped to the front they are always going too fast for me to see the name of it but I want one! (looks like it is made of fabric)
saw a Mum with one on the front and a double tag along the other day admired her courage!

paddingtonbear1 · 08/10/2008 08:58

yes another of my near misses was with a lorry - it passed me on a bridge with traffic coming the other way, and there wasn't enough room. I had to stop - it was about an inch away from me.
generally with lorries I assume they haven't seen me (esp. at lights), and either go first or wait behind. You can never anticipate everything though...
some of our roundabouts do have bike lanes and lights, but nowhere near enough.
You'd think I'd be put off.... but been cycling for years, as has my dad who is now 70. Many people think we're a bit daft!

lljkk · 08/10/2008 09:24

Places like Denmark, Germany and Holland had much LOWER cycling rates in the early 1970s than Britain did. So what happened? They made an active decision back then to mandate that road planners and town designers include cycle lanes and other provision for pedestrians in almost every new road layout/upgrade.

Result 35-40 years on: Cycling has plummeted in Britain which was late to pick up on planning for cyclists, and where all cycle lanes are really designed for children only. It would take at least 30 years of pro-active planning to get Britain to the point where Germany/Holland are now.

snickersnack · 08/10/2008 10:26

I think it depends on where you live. In central London, funnily enough, I think there are enough cyclists now that it's actually safer than ever. I don't think twice about cycling the children around on the back of my bike, and cycle into work most days (in the West End). I feel quite safe - I know what to look out for and drivers generally are fairly respectful of cyclists as there are just so many of them. I can see that wouldn't be the case everywhere, though.

What terrifies me is lorries - I am so scared of being crushed by lorries turning left that I've taken to stopping well behind a lorry at a junction, just in case the driver decides to swing left.

I agree with LittleBella that the presumption of guilt in an accident should lie with the driver, not the cyclist, without evidence to the contrary. That would make them drive more carefully.

The

Kathyis6incheshigh · 08/10/2008 13:29

"Places like Denmark, Germany and Holland had much LOWER cycling rates in the early 1970s than Britain did."

I had no idea.

I disagree about the presumption of guilt thing though - that's a very scary thought if you live in a place where there are loads of foreign students on rented bikes who totally disregard (probably don't have any idea of) the rules of the road, let alone lights etc.

Upwind · 08/10/2008 16:42

A friend works for sustrans and he proudly explained how they work to ensure that the designated cycle routes pass through the most deprived areas.

Unfortunately, he told me this a week after another friend had his head split open by a bottle thrown as he cycled through a rough estate. The paths where you are likely to be attacked are in reality unlikely to be used by anyone.

more · 08/10/2008 16:47

OP if however you started cycling that would mean there would be one less car on the road. One less car polluting. One less car thinking that they have more right to be on the road than the cyclists.

It would mean that you would get fitter. You could eat more chocolate in the evenings. Your would be more energetic after two weeks of doing it. It would mean that you are also doing a bit more for the environment. You stated yourself that your ds loved being on the back of a bike. It would set a good example to your family and friends.

Is it not quite simple though is it not? If you want to walk or cycle then set your alarm clock ten minutes earlier (or however long you need) so that you have time to do it.

Original poster
theSuburbanDryad · 09/10/2008 07:25

more - i'd need to buy a bike too!

I have made an active decision that I will cycle, but as I'm due dc2 at the end of Feb I'm not sure how long this will last. Also, our new house is halfway up a great big bloody hill which isn't conducive to me wanting to cycle!!

OP posts:
stitch · 09/10/2008 07:37

cycle routes are not enough. you also need things like shower facilities at work, as youare effectivvely going to work straight from a gym workout.
i love cycling. and if i feel unsafe on the road, i cycle on thepavement.

stitch · 09/10/2008 07:38

also, even keen cyclists dont like getting wet in the pouring rain. unlike walking, it is extremely difficult to stay dry under a raincoat and hood

liath · 09/10/2008 08:01

YANBU

2happy & I were ranting talking about this the other day. I'd happily cycle if there were seperate cycle lanes but am just not confident enough on a bike to tackle the Edinburgh streets.

RubberDuck · 09/10/2008 08:12

Round here, almost all of the pavements have a line through the middle - split between pedestrians and cyclists, it's really good. Not as ideal as having a completely separate cycle path (you have to be aware of pedestrians walking on the wrong side, or suddenly drifting across), but on the whole pedestrians are more aware of cyclists and cyclists are more aware of pedestrians and everyone is safe and away from traffic.

The only problem is, this is a new estate. If I want to get into town, I CANNOT do this - there are no cycle lanes, a very steep hill with a narrow road with lots of parked cars where the lorries and buses thunder up and down without really paying attention.

If I want to go on a safe route, I have to go RIGHT round the town by the canal (which is deserted during the day and goes through some slightly dodgy areas - as a woman on my own, I wouldn't do it) and come in from the other side which would take longer than walking in. Such a shame, as the cycling provision in the local area is excellent.

RubberDuck · 09/10/2008 08:12

Meant to say - the pavements are wider to allow for the dual purpose of bikes and pedestrians too - it's not just a line painted for the hell of it and then a free for all.

mawbroon · 09/10/2008 08:15

Yup, same here. If we had a network like they do in Holland then I would go and buy a bike immediately. I would probably also get a small bike attached to the back, or one of those wee trailers for ds.

I don't feel too guilty though because I sold my car a while back and got a bus pass which gives me unlimited bus travel. We are lucky enough here to have a pretty good bus service.

mawbroon · 09/10/2008 08:17

BTW, DH was partly brought up in Holland, and is very pro cycling, but wouldn't venture out on a bike here for fear of getting killed.

more · 09/10/2008 09:32

Then walk .
I biked in both pregnancies almost up until the delivery date. My sister cycled to hospital got induced cycled to friend where her contractions started so she had to cycle straight back to hospital where labour only took 4 hours.
Exercise in moderation is only good for you and your baby.
Good luck with it.

paddingtonbear1 · 09/10/2008 16:32

I am one of these weird cyclists who don't mind cycling to work in the rain...
better than sitting in a queue in my car
I cycled when pregnant as well, my boss used to joke that I was going to give birth on the bike!!

dingdong05 · 09/10/2008 17:00

My ds is getting too big to go in his seat behind me and is too small to go on one of those bikes you attach to the big bike... even if he wasn't I wouldn't feel happy with him so far behind me and so low down. Gutted actually, because as a non driver it was a real lifeline.
And the major dif between where I live and Holland is the pigging hills! Every city I've lived in is borderline mountainous ... I've gotten quite good at finding doable routes though

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 09/10/2008 17:09

Well DS1 was run over on the pavement today by a cyclist - even tho' there is a (wide) designated cycle path on the road right beside it. Cyclist just rode straight on, on the pavement.

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