Even rural Norfolk...

[Succorso]

Hi,

I sometimes take a keen interest in other road-users when I'm out for
the days ride. Here was todays tally, noted during what goes for the
rush-hour in mid-Norfolk:-

Drivers not in control of their vehicles because...

a). On the phone - 3
b). Shaving (!) - 1
c). Not looking out of the windscreen, for reasons unknown - 2

And rather depressingly...

Number of cyclists - 0
Number of walkers - 1

I live in a village of around 3,500. We have lots of areas to walk
(several of the local farmers are in the MAFF permissive access scheme)
and yet I only ever see the same few (ie, less than a dozen) faces when
I'm out and about.

Sigh...

--
Succorso

[Sky Fly]

"Succorso" > wrote in message
...

<snippage>

> And rather depressingly...
>
> Number of cyclists - 0
> Number of walkers - 1

Why does it matter to you whether there are other cyclists about
or not? Do you feel in sufficient danger from motorists not
being used to cyclists being out and about to wish that there
were more cyclists on the road, or is there some other reason?


--
Akin

aknak at aksoto dot idps dot co dot uk

[Jim Price]

Succorso wrote:

> I sometimes take a keen interest in other road-users when I'm out for
> the days ride. Here was todays tally, noted during what goes for the
> rush-hour in mid-Norfolk:-
>
> Drivers not in control of their vehicles because...
>
> a). On the phone - 3
> b). Shaving (!) - 1
> c). Not looking out of the windscreen, for reasons unknown - 2

I hope they weren't all in the police/press convoy taking Tony Martin
home. :)

Oh, it wasn't a caption competition. I'll get me bike.

--
Jim Price

http://www.jimprice.dsl.pipex.com

Conscientious objection is hard work in an economic war.

[graham]

"Succorso" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> I sometimes take a keen interest in other road-users when I'm out for
> the days ride. Here was todays tally, noted during what goes for the
> rush-hour in mid-Norfolk:-
>
> Drivers not in control of their vehicles because...
>
> a). On the phone - 3
> b). Shaving (!) - 1
> c). Not looking out of the windscreen, for reasons unknown - 2
>
> And rather depressingly...
>
> Number of cyclists - 0
> Number of walkers - 1
>
> I live in a village of around 3,500. We have lots of areas to walk
> (several of the local farmers are in the MAFF permissive access scheme)
> and yet I only ever see the same few (ie, less than a dozen) faces when
> I'm out and about.
>
Probably all down in Suffolk - a far more interesting county:-)
Graham

[Succorso]

Jim Price wrote:

> Succorso wrote:
>
>> I sometimes take a keen interest in other road-users when I'm out for
>> the days ride. Here was todays tally, noted during what goes for the
>> rush-hour in mid-Norfolk:-
>>
>> Drivers not in control of their vehicles because...
>>
>> a). On the phone - 3
>> b). Shaving (!) - 1
>> c). Not looking out of the windscreen, for reasons unknown - 2
>
>
> I hope they weren't all in the police/press convoy taking Tony Martin
> home. :)
>
> Oh, it wasn't a caption competition. I'll get me bike.
>

Shhh.... that's a touchy subject around here :-o

--
Succorso

[Sky Fly]

"Succorso" > wrote in message
...
> Sky Fly wrote:
> > "Succorso" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> > <snippage>
> >
> >>And rather depressingly...
> >>
> >>Number of cyclists - 0
> >>Number of walkers - 1
> >

> > Why does it matter to you whether there are other cyclists about
> > or not? Do you feel in sufficient danger from motorists not
> > being used to cyclists being out and about to wish that there
> > were more cyclists on the road, or is there some other reason?
> >
> >

> No, just rather sad that most people choose to drive, rather than cycle
> or walk to work - and then complain when they have an infarction at 49.

I guess the problem is that consequences of a decision are not
always obvious from the beginning. It would be interesting to
see whether people's behaviour would change if they could
see the change in the state of their blood vessels on an hourly
basis.

But it still shouldn't worry you.

--
Akin

aknak at aksoto dot idps dot co dot uk

[Stevie D]

Sky Fly wrote:

> Why does it matter to you whether there are other cyclists about or
> not? Do you feel in sufficient danger from motorists not being used to
> cyclists being out and about to wish that there were more cyclists on
> the road, or is there some other reason?

Firstly, it's sad that so few people will cycle - for their sake. They
are rushing around in cars; unfit, wasting money and not being able to
properly enjoy the wonders of the countryside. I'm sure at least some
of them would be able to cycle instead of drive without any great
change to their routine, and they would be better off for it.

Secondly, yes, drivers do act better around cyclists when there are
more cyclists. Here in Yorkshire, there are loads of cyclists - I saw
over a dozen in 2 hours riding round unpopulated country lanes this
afternoon - and drivers' attitudes are generally very good towards
cyclists. When I go to my parents' down south, there are far fewer
cyclists, and drivers are much less patient and careful around them.

I don't know how much of this is cause and effect, or related to the
general pace of life, but I'm sure that more people cycling is a good
thing™!

--
Stevie D
\\\\\ ///// Bringing dating agencies to the
\\\\\\\__X__/////// common hedgehog since 2001 - "HedgeHugs"
___\\\\\\\'/ \'///////_____________________________________________

[Stevie D]

Michael MacClancy wrote:

> Where I live, down South, I find drivers to be very considerate towards
> cyclists. Your theory might be true of the area around your parents'
> but I don't think it's valid to generalise it to a North-South thing.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to make it a north-south thing, maybe a Home
Counties / Provinces thing. Just pointing out that my parents live in
a different part of the country with different experience of cyclists.

--
Stevie D
\\\\\ ///// Bringing dating agencies to the
\\\\\\\__X__/////// common hedgehog since 2001 - "HedgeHugs"
___\\\\\\\'/ \'///////_____________________________________________

[Geoff Bowles]

Generally pretty good here in Bucks and Oxon too...

"Michael MacClancy" > wrote in message
...
> In message >, Stevie D
> > writes
> >Sorry, I wasn't trying to make it a north-south thing, maybe a Home
> >Counties / Provinces thing.
>
> Not even that. I live in the Home Counties. In the Royal County,
> indeed.
> --
> Michael MacClancy
>
> www.macclancy.demon.co.uk