Busy Road

chromedome
chromedome Posts: 36
edited June 2007 in Commuting chat
Hi,just another quick question.I know probably alot of you commute in the city & have traffic to deal with,but my intended 5 mile route is a busy 'B' road,it is also a bus route & the vehicles travel quite fast.
Would this put you off or am i been a wimp?

Just want to be safe than sorry


Ian


I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face...

Comments

  • domtyler
    domtyler Posts: 2,648
    edited March 2011
    I go on busy B and A roads all the time, indeed most official time trials are conducted on fast stretches of dual carriageway. You will soon get used to it, being hit by a car from behind on an open road is extremely rare, the real danger points are junctions, this is where you need to be on high alert. If you don't believe me, go out in a car and wait until you come across a cyclist on a straight stretch of road. They are visible from a long way off.

    In short, you will be fine, you are being a wimp! [;)]

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Porridge not Petrol
    ________
    WORLD RALLY TEAM
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Porridge not Petrol
  • Gussio
    Gussio Posts: 2,452
    Am sure that you will soon get used to the road and traffic so no, you shouldn't let it put you off.

    Make yourself seen - use good lights front and back, high viz jacket / rucksack cover, etc.. This will become increasingly important when days become shorter and the weather closes in. Don't be tempted to ride *right* up against the kerb - you are a valid road user and being a metre or so away from the kerb discourages drivers from trying to squeeze past (also, driving in the gutter is the quickest way to get punctures).

    Bon chance!
  • chromedome
    chromedome Posts: 36
    Thanks for the advice,i'm really up for this & just didnt want to find out the traffic was too bad.Its not helping with all this rain either lol...
    I think i'm going to have a 1st attempt tomorrow morning

    I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face...


    I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face...
  • cupofteacp
    cupofteacp Posts: 578
    Many of cycle through area considered "busy" e.g Straford one-way system, bow flyover, the embankment.

    When you start it feels very intimidating, but as time progresses and your speed and confidence increases you'll wonder what you were worried about.

    You'll still get people who don't understand say "Oh cycling in .. Isn't that dangerous"

    One of my friend recently said that I was being irresponsible cycling as I have a family, I then pointed out that my family has a history of heart disease and I have high blood pressure and that without regular exercise I'm guaranteed to die early.

    Cycling is not that dangerous, I think if you look at the stats for risk per mile, walking is the most dangerous then cycling then cars.


    15 * 2 * 5
    * 46 = Happiness
    15 * 2 * 5
    * 46 = Happiness
  • chromedome
    chromedome Posts: 36
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by cupoftea</i>


    Cycling is not that dangerous, I think if you look at the stats for risk per mile, walking is the most dangerous then cycling then cars.
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    I better not get off my bike & push it then...[:D]



    Thanks again


    I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face...


    I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face...
  • dondare
    dondare Posts: 2,113
    There are some roads that are not suitable for cycling on. I don't know the one you mean, but perhaps there's a better route.

    "da sapienti et addetur ei sapientia doce iustum et festinabit accipere."
    This post contains traces of nuts.
  • Hackbike 6
    Hackbike 6 Posts: 3,116
    <font color="red">One of my friend recently said that I was being irresponsible cycling as I have a family, I then pointed out that my family has a history of heart disease and I have high blood pressure and that without regular exercise I'm guaranteed to die early. </font id="red">

    Some people have some funny ideas.

    <font color="green"><font size="1">Hackbike 8 Commuting Debut 09/09/2006</font id="green"></font id="size1"><font size="1"><font color="blue">Dawes Audax 2006</font id="blue"></font id="size1"><font size="1"><font color="green"> New 20/09/2006</font id="green"><font color="red"> </font id="red"></font id="size1">
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    <font size="1"><font color="red"> Cycle Commuting since 1981 </font id="red"></font id="blue"></font id="size1">
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    <font color="red"><font size="1">Ride to work part 3 of 8</font id="red"></font id="size1"><font size="1"> http://tinyurl.com/2jcldv </font id="size1">

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  • Brains
    Brains Posts: 1,732
    Cromedome - Are we talking London ?

    If so go to a cycle shop and get the FREE TFL cycle maps, they cover everything inside the M25 - also available by post from TFL website

    Go home and with a highlighter pen find the optimal route, no 'A' roads will be included and probaly few 'B' roads, but the route will wiggle about, but show you paths and backstrees you never knew existed.

    It will take you about 2 weeks to master the route, the first day you will get lost all over the place, but stick with it as you can spend the entire summer refining the route, so that you know which bit to take depending on conditions, time and what you feel like
  • chromedome
    chromedome Posts: 36
    Sorry Brains not London,up in Stoke on Trent (Crewe area to be honest)So country 'B' roads


    I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face...


    I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face...
  • domtyler
    domtyler Posts: 2,648
    edited March 2011
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Hackbike 6</i>

    Some people have some funny ideas.

    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    You should know! [;)]

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Porridge not Petrol
    ________
    ADVENTURER
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Porridge not Petrol
  • Hackbike 6
    Hackbike 6 Posts: 3,116
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by domtyler</i>

    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Hackbike 6</i>

    Some people have some funny ideas.

    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    You should know! [;)]

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Porridge not Petrol
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    I know you.[:X]

    <font color="green"><font size="1">Hackbike 8 Commuting Debut 09/09/2006</font id="green"></font id="size1"><font size="1"><font color="blue">Dawes Audax 2006</font id="blue"></font id="size1"><font size="1"><font color="green"> New 20/09/2006</font id="green"><font color="red"> </font id="red"></font id="size1">
    <font color="blue">
    <font size="1"><font color="red"> Cycle Commuting since 1981 </font id="red"></font id="blue"></font id="size1">
    <font color="blue">
    <font size="1">Cycling Proficiency Test 24 May 1977</font id="blue"><font color="red"><font size="1"> (30 years ago)</font id="size1"></font id="red"></font id="size1">

    <font size="1"><font color="red"> Ride to work part 1 of 8 http://tinyurl.com/ypjapc</font id="size1"></font id="red">
    <font color="red"><font size="1">Ride to work part 2 of 8 </font id="size1"></font id="red"><font size="1">http://tinyurl.com/2jfagu</font id="size1">
    <font color="red"><font size="1">Ride to work part 3 of 8</font id="red"></font id="size1"><font size="1"> http://tinyurl.com/2jcldv </font id="size1">

    <font size="1">Most Sickening Car Advert 2007</font id="size1"> <font size="1">http://tinyurl.com/36nq2e</font id="size1">
  • Chrome
    When I first started I tended to use the quiter backstreet feeling that these would be less dangerous - how wrong i was, loads of junction, side streets, parked cars speed bumps etc. Then decided to cycle on A roads and busy b roads and I feel much safer, it can be a bit unnerving at first but as you get used to your route you will learn where the danger areas are.
    Get a copy of cyclecraft (as recommeded by loads on this forum).


    Always Outnumbered, but Never Outgunned
    Always Outnumbered, but Never Outgunned
  • dondare
    dondare Posts: 2,113
    Albionrider, what is your commute?

    "da sapienti et addetur ei sapientia doce iustum et festinabit accipere."
    This post contains traces of nuts.
  • Brains
    Brains Posts: 1,732
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by ChromeDome</i>

    Sorry Brains not London,up in Stoke on Trent (Crewe area to be honest)So country 'B' roads

    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    I still think the same rules apply, just get hold of a good map and a highlighter pen. You can work out the optimal route that is all backroads, and then when you ride it you refine it - it will still take 2 weeks to work it out on the ground
  • nibblescp
    nibblescp Posts: 15
    Even better, use Google Earth to plan your route. Mind you I'm in a city so maybe we get better satellite coverage. Fantastic for working out your proposed route and finding roads you didn't know about.
  • chromedome
    chromedome Posts: 36
    Yeah i have looked on Google Earth,i think there is only one route.
    Well i tried it today,1st time coming into work on my bike,5.5miles took 26mins,i have my big knobbly tyres on & a bit unfit.Hardly any cars on the road so will have to wait till 1pm for the journey home for that pleasure.




    I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face...


    I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face...
  • <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by ChromeDome</i>

    Hi,just another quick question.I know probably alot of you commute in the city & have traffic to deal with,but my intended 5 mile route is a busy 'B' road,it is also a bus route & the vehicles travel quite fast.
    Would this put you off or am i been a wimp?

    Just want to be safe than sorry


    Ian
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    Make sure the cars etc. leave you enough room when they overtake. If you don't know how to do that, "Cyclecraft" tells you how. There's a new edition out.

    Newbies always ride too close to the kerb.

    Jeremy Parker
  • <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by nibbles</i>

    Even better, use Google Earth to plan your route. Mind you I'm in a city so maybe we get better satellite coverage. Fantastic for working out your proposed route and finding roads you didn't know about.

    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    Google Earth is fantastic in London, but not so good out in the country. Where Google Earth is not good, Microsoft's Virtual Earth is usually not too bsd, although the interface is clunkier

    Jeremy Parker
  • The Endorser
    The Endorser Posts: 191
    What a cracking good idea!

    <i><b>Eating baby elephants since 1969</b></i>
    <i><b>Commute - you might even enjoy it!</b></i>