Traffic chaos in Sheffield - no wonder the drivers are up in arms about it...
(Sheffield City Council webcam still)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
It's Driving Me Crazeee!
Traffic chaos in Sheffield - no wonder the drivers are up in arms about it...
(Sheffield City Council webcam still)
Helmet crash shock horror
My helmet has already been in a crash and I should have
replaced it then, On Tuesday my bike fell over outside the Grouse (fear not, dear reader, I was safely ensconced inside)
- the helmet was hanging off the handlebars and broke in two. Good job I wasn't wearing it at the time!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Cycle routes, double standards
Some people have commented that I seem to contradict myself on the issue of what is necessary to encourage cycling. On the one hand I say that slower speeds and less traffic is what is required - on the other hand I am enthusiastic about cycle routes, on and off-road.
The answer is that I think you have to do what is appropriate in a particular location. Take the example of London. When I lived there and commuted from Camberwell to the City in the 80's,
the main problem was that you couldn't actually get along the streets becvause they were so jammed up with traffic. Then cycle and bus lanes started appearing, but the cycle lanes were frequently parked on and London buses are less than accommodating to cyclists. The problem was too big to be dealt with by enforcement so off-road cycle routes, as advocated by Camden Cycle Campaign, started to be built. These aren't ideal - often too narrow - but they do at least allow you to get around. That's an appropriate solution for that particular problem, given that congestion isn't going to disappear overnight, even with the congestion charge. Now that Boris is in charge congestion is going to get worse again.
I would still say that building a cycling culture is more important than infrastructure, but both are needed.
The answer is that I think you have to do what is appropriate in a particular location. Take the example of London. When I lived there and commuted from Camberwell to the City in the 80's,
the main problem was that you couldn't actually get along the streets becvause they were so jammed up with traffic. Then cycle and bus lanes started appearing, but the cycle lanes were frequently parked on and London buses are less than accommodating to cyclists. The problem was too big to be dealt with by enforcement so off-road cycle routes, as advocated by Camden Cycle Campaign, started to be built. These aren't ideal - often too narrow - but they do at least allow you to get around. That's an appropriate solution for that particular problem, given that congestion isn't going to disappear overnight, even with the congestion charge. Now that Boris is in charge congestion is going to get worse again.
I would still say that building a cycling culture is more important than infrastructure, but both are needed.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Boris reveals route for Freewheel cyclists
I would urge all cyclists to boycott this event. Boris is turning back the tide of sustainable transport in London. He is looking at removing the congestion charge from West London, to suit his Sloanie friends; he's cancelled the pedestrianisation of Parliament Square; he wants to break the unions and introduce low-wage, low-quality public transport.
Cycle campaigners know that you don't increase cycling, or walking and public transport use, through tokenistic one-off events, or even through introducing more cycle lanes, but by slowing down and reducing the amount of motor traffic on the streets. Boris doesn't get it. Let him and David "Wrong way" Cameron freewheel all by themselves.
Cycle campaigners know that you don't increase cycling, or walking and public transport use, through tokenistic one-off events, or even through introducing more cycle lanes, but by slowing down and reducing the amount of motor traffic on the streets. Boris doesn't get it. Let him and David "Wrong way" Cameron freewheel all by themselves.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Daily Mile
Some of us are using this to record our rides - seems quite good although a bit sport-oriented (when not commuting I ride for leisure personally) There are a South Yorkshire and Commuting groups to join.
It's still in beta at the moment so you need an invite to join. Leave a note in "comments" and I'll send you one.
It's still in beta at the moment so you need an invite to join. Leave a note in "comments" and I'll send you one.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Saxon Rd
Saxon Rd has been re-surfaced to Clyde Rd. Hooray! Couldn't decide whether to email blog or twitter this - isn't technology wonderful?
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
What's cool about Bike Week
What's cool about bike week isn't the events, the ride that half-a-dozen people go on, the breakfasts of instant coffee and bacon sandwiches that ordinarily you wouldn't go near in a million years. What's cool about about it is the 7 O'clock start, hauling a stall down to the Town Hall, or printing 250 leaflets on the sly while no-one's looking at work. It's the late night return after a brilliant night out with a waxing gibbous moon and a beautiful dark blue sky, close to midsummer.
It's the feeling after you've made the effort that it was worthwhile, that you showed someone how they could cycle that journey. that there was an alternative to life in a cage.
That's what cool about Bike Week, and that's why, even after all the effort and the pain I want to say, let's do it again next year!
It's the feeling after you've made the effort that it was worthwhile, that you showed someone how they could cycle that journey. that there was an alternative to life in a cage.
That's what cool about Bike Week, and that's why, even after all the effort and the pain I want to say, let's do it again next year!
Monday, June 02, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Journey's end
The Wetherspoons in Leicester-full of people who talk like Ian.Cambridge to Leicester in 9 excellent hours of cycling!
Friday, May 09, 2008
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Camping up
Just south of boston-not as far as I would have liked to have got but should still be OK to meet Andy in Ely at 3:30 tomorrow. It's a shit tent by the way-don't get one.
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