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The Fear
I've been cycling now for about two years. I usually do about 50-100
miles a week. I really enjoy cycling and I would do a lot more if it wasn't for the fear element. I live in London and whenever/wherever I'm riding, it's always in the back of my mind that it just takes one idiot to do me a serious injury. I've had several small collisions which so far have not resulted in anything serious (fingers crossed) but I begin to go down that path of fear of "is it only a matter of time before a serious accident does happen?" I know this is negative thinking but it does cause me to be ultra cautious and defensive when I ride. Accident avoidance is far more important than being in the right but tasting tarmac. Normally, when I ride I try to hug the kerb as much as possible but when there is a parked car I have to veer out and while doing so I always turn my head to look at the driver - just to make it clear in their mind that I'm moving out. This seems to have a better effect and makes the driver slow down when they realise that I'm aware of them. I dream about the UK becoming like Holland and the Netherlands where cyclists ride with no fear. Anyway, sorry to be on a bit of a downer but I guess I just wanted to know how everybody else deals with it. Happy Riding! -- -------------------------- Posted via cyclingforums.com http://www.cyclingforums.com |
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#2
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The Fear
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#3
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The Fear
On 17 Aug 2003 04:43:58 +0950, dannyfrankszzz
wrote: I dream about the UK becoming like Holland and the Netherlands where cyclists ride with no fear. Well, it's funny you should say that because I was in Amsterdam the other day and that is a city I'd *never* wish to cycle in, they certainly do know no fear. Normally I'm very happy riding in traffic, in fact I relish fast, busy, city traffic but this was just manic. Before I arrived I was looking forward to seeing what I thought would be utopia for the city cyclist, what I encountered was more like a battlefield. Narrow streets with cars urgently pushing their way through double parked gaps with thousands of bikes buzzing about in all directions. Several times I thought someone was about to be killed, a few times I thought the taxi I was a passenger in was going to do the squishing. It was not pleasant at all. On the other hand, Switzerland really is a paradise on earth for us two wheelers. Polite, civilised drivers, excellent cycle paths that efficiently guide you to useful or beautiful places, buses and trains begging you to travel with your bicycle. At the train station near to where I work there is a dedicated ramped underground bike "car park" with oodles of space - it even has a compressed air line with dual head for inflating different kinds of bike tyres in case you should find yourself with a flat. I was tempted to puncture a tyre just so I could take advantage. All this and practically zero fear of having your bike stolen. The hotel where I stay is used a couple of times a week by local cycling clubs, they roll in during evening rides to have a leisurely beer and a chat before setting off again. They all leave their Campag Record equipped Colnagos leant up against the wall outside, out of sight, and unlocked. Ever seen that in the UK? No, me neither.... what a wonderful way to live your life. Bob -- Mail address is spam trapped To reply by email remove the beverage |
#4
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The Fear
Everyone else here is going to suggest the Cyclecraft book as a good
start, so I won't repeat what they say. They're right though. On 17 Aug 2003 04:43:58 +0950, dannyfrankszzz wrote: [...] the fear element. Might be overcome by gaining an understanding of the different causes of collision between cars and cyclists, and the relative likelihood of each type of accident. Helped for me, at least. Surprisingly perhaps, the major cause isn't being hit from behind in normal, flowing traffic. Does anyone have a good link for this? I know this is negative thinking but it does cause me to be ultra cautious and defensive when I ride. Accident avoidance is far more important than being in the right but tasting tarmac. Normally, when I ride I try to hug the kerb as much as possible This isn't necessarily the right thing to do at all times - it encourages silly overtaking from behind, and doesn't leave enough of a safety margin for you to move into if you need to take evasive action. Not to mention the fact that the gutters are full of glass, road chippings, potholes, gratings, dead badgers and other detritus. That said, being hit from behind is *not* one of the most common causes of injuries to adult cyclists. but when there is a parked car I have to veer out and while doing so I always turn my head to look at the driver - just to make it clear in their mind that I'm moving out. Darting in and out of parked cars is probably quite a bit less safe than taking a path that any following drivers can easily predict, but you seem to have the negotiation bit down pat. Being in the main traffic stream and keeping away from the parked cars' doors is most definitely the Right Thing to do in these circumstances, and if there's another block of parked cars within a few bike lengths ahead, then you probably want to stay where you are, even when passing the gap. It's just more predictable. You can get shifting a little if you feel you're holding anyone up, and if the gap is much bigger than 10 or so bike lengths, I'll sometimes shift into it in line with the parked cars' right-hand wheels (UK) in order to let a few pass. This seems to have a better effect and makes the driver slow down when they realise that I'm aware of them. Probably more to do with the psychological impact of direct eye contact and your asserting yourself more than anthing to do with them being deeply insightful into the needs of another road user. But hey, it works and you should make use of it. Remember that car drivers aren't really that aware of what's going on in the first place, what with their restricted vision and hearing inside that insulated tin box of theirs. Up until the point you started negotiating your way out they probably thought you were a piece of broken glass in the gutter or a road sign or a dead badger or something. Seriously though, some drivers *aren't* watching out for anything smaller than a motor car. I find that a good hard stare at traffic emerging from side roads tends to a) get me noticed a tiny bit quicker, and b) tells me that they're more likely to have actually noticed me than not. You can't always rely on that though. And as for being polite, assertive, and clear about your intentions, nothing beats it. A smile and a wave if they're being helpful helps spread the good vibes further. I dream about the UK becoming like Holland and the Netherlands where cyclists ride with no fear. There's a little article over at http://www.lesberries.co.uk/cycling/...on/heresy.html that mentions the comparative safety of the two countries. It's worth a read, perhaps. Anyway, sorry to be on a bit of a downer but I guess I just wanted to know how everybody else deals with it. By not letting it affect me too much if someone else does something silly on the road, and by trying to understand what the problems and causes that affect us as cyclists. It doesn't take much nerve really to cycle just as assertively as necessary - if it did, I wouldn't be doing it, natural coward that I am - and once you start, the confidence gained starts feeding back on itself positively. Then again, I'm in the unusual position of having started to cycle as an adult, which may mean that I had fewer ingrained fears to start with. Hope this is all helpful. (And that Cyclecraft book that everyone else is probably mentioning iin this thread right now was quite handy too) -- Andrew Chadwick And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see it's path |
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The Fear
dannyfrankszzz wrote:
I've been cycling now for about two years. I usually do about 50-100 miles a week. I really enjoy cycling and I would do a lot more if it wasn't for the fear element. I live in London and whenever/wherever I'm riding, it's always in the back of my mind that it just takes one idiot to do me a serious injury. Most accidents can be avoided by observant and skilfull cycling. That does leave the possibilty of freak incidents like being hit from behind when just cycling straight along normally - but these are very rare. Nearly always, trouble is caused by vehicles/people/things in front or to the side of you, or you making a bad move. All this you can nearly always prevent, avoid or mitigate because you can see what's going on and should be able to "read" what traffic is doing and is likely to do. I've had several small collisions which so far have not resulted in anything serious (fingers crossed) but I begin to go down that path of fear of "is it only a matter of time before a serious accident does happen?" I know this is negative thinking but it does cause me to be ultra cautious and defensive when I ride. Defensive is good, cautious is good - up to a point but don't be too hesitant or nervous. But being assertive is best of all - that is when you reckon everone around has seen you or can see you, and can figure out what you are doing. Accident avoidance is far more important than being in the right but tasting tarmac. Normally, when I ride I try to hug the kerb as much as possible That's often really bad practice - especially in London where you've got a lot of side turnings and a lot of pedestrians stepping off the kerb (plus all that broken glass in the gutter). Cycling further out gives you more of a chance in avoiding emerging vehicles/people (and the kerb) and can discourage or prevent vehicles behind overtaking you dangerously. In some situations, you should actually ride bang in the middle of the lane. This can be safe and safer. but when there is a parked car I have to veer out and while doing so I always turn my head to look at the driver - just to make it clear in their mind that I'm moving out. This seems to have a better effect and makes the driver slow down when they realise that I'm aware of them. I agree - but do it very early so you've lots of time and room to manourvre in advance. And it's often safer to stay out there rather than ducking back in when there's a gap between the parked cars. I dream about the UK becoming like Holland and the Netherlands where cyclists ride with no fear. I would miss riding on proper roads at decent speed. Anyway, sorry to be on a bit of a downer but I guess I just wanted to know how everybody else deals with it. I deal with it by enjoying it and continually getting better at it. ~PB, London |
#6
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The Fear
Like the men say, read Cyclecraft and the Highway Code, and remember that
you can ride as far out as you judge consistent with your safety. Hey! The woman said it too! Cheers, helen s ;-) ~~~~~~~~~~ This is sent from a redundant email Mail sent to it is dumped My correct one can be gleaned from h*$el***$$n*$d$ot$**s**i$$m*$m$**on**$s$@*$$a**$*o l*$*.*$$c$om*$ by getting rid of the overdependence on money and fame ~~~~~~~~~~ |
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#8
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The Fear
Welcome to paradise ;-) Well, Dutch traffic can be a bit busy from time to time, but car drivers are actually used to cyclists going in every conceivable direction. In all, "only" 1.150 people are killed in Dutch traffic each year - and this is taking all road users into account. The total number killed does not take into account the population or the number of journeys etc. The latest European Union Road Federation statistics for the year 2000 (http://erf-stage.forumone.com/conten...al/detail/2360) show very similar rates number of road fatalities per 1000 population for the Netherlands and the United Kingdom - in fact UK is slightly less. However, deaths per Km ridden are alleged to be approximately twice as great in the UK than in the Netherlands - although I've not managed to find any convincing stats on the Internet that relate to this. Trevor. |
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The Fear
I live in London
Do you know about the free bike maps that Transport for London put out? Get them from libraries, tube stations etc. or by phoning 020-7222-1234 (the tube map number). As well as official routes the maps also show the unofficial good quiet streets recommended by local cyclists. The final arbiter of what makes a good route was one Martin Whitfield, owner of Cycle City Guides. He apparently rode each and every route to see whether the route was good enough. Wow. There are a lot of streets in London His judgement seems pretty good. If an official bike route seems to be mysteriously left off the map, that is probably because he disapproved of it, and didn't want you to be lured on to it. His judgement was final, to the distress of a few of London's Cycling Officers. Jeremy Parker |
#10
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The Fear
"dannyfrankszzz" wrote in message
... Normally, when I ride I try to hug the kerb as much as possible but when there is a parked car I have to veer out and while doing so I always turn my head to look at the driver.... Never "veer" anywhere when on the bike! If I see a parked car I will be starting to gradually move out 200 - 300 yards before the parked car depending on the type of road, so when I get to the car there will be no need to "negotiate" road space as I will already be in the correct position to pass. |
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