one-way commuting

C1234

Now that the nights are drawing in, I'm being 'banned' from my commute on safety concerns. I can take the train, and even cycle into work in daylight, and get home on the train in the dark, but the cost of a return journey is only 10p more than a single, and I resent paying this price every day for half a journey.

Given that the return journey is off-peak, how about a scheme where I could buy a booklet of off-peak 1-way tickets (with bike carriage?) for a similar price to half the return fare for each ticket? (ie - the same distance, same price, but for twice as many days in only one direction)

Obviously I think its a great idea, but what do you think? I can only see it increasing the number of people who take trains (if say the minimum number of tickets in a booklet is 10), and reducing the number of people that drive, so everyone wins?

How would you go about suggesting a scheme like this to the train companies?

BentMikey

It's true that accidents happen more at night than during the daytime, but when cycling is so safe, I wouldn't worry about dark commutes. Just get a good set of lights and go for it. Yes, cycling really is about as safe as walking is.

WyS

Tell the missus to shut it. and with the money you save you can buy her a new set of thumb screws.

el_presidente

C1234 wrote:

How would you go about suggesting a scheme like this to the train companies?

You might as well send it to them by carrier pigeon for all the good it will do

dondare

One-way commuting sounds like a peculiar sexual practice.

The most dangerous time to commute is the week after the clocks go back. The rest of winter is not as unsafe as the missus would believe, providing you have a really decent set of lights.

Tripple your life insurance and she won't worry about you at all.

squired

I have to admit that I wouldn't let anyone else dictate my cycling habits based on dangers they perceive.

Regarding your idea about train journeys, I think it is something that would fit with modern working practices, but one that train companies would be reticent to introduce for fear of losing revenues. These days people also work from home maybe once or twice a week. Maybe they want to only cycle once or twice a week, but the cost of three or four daily tickets is more than a weekly or monthly. I used to do a combination of these, and ended up having to keep a spreadsheet to track my spending on the train each month. Unfortunately, the cost of a monthly is far cheaper per day than a return - even more so in relation to singles.

el_presidente

squired wrote:

ended up having to keep a spreadsheet to track my spending on the train each month.

those long winter nights must just fly by

mea00csf

problem with that is your gonna end up with bikes .......on trains :shock: They can't cope with the odd leisure cyclist who wants to take their bike on a train how the hell could they cope with incentivised one way commuting :?

helz

What distance is your commute?

andrewgturnbull

Hi there.

Simple - move up here!

Scotrail do 10-journey tickets on all their popular routes - my commute takes 1hr 30 to 2 hours depending on the route I take, so I one-way commute most days.

Cheers, Andy

Aidocp

andrewgturnbull wrote:

Hi there.

Simple - move up here!

Scotrail do 10-journey tickets on all their popular routes - my commute takes 1hr 30 to 2 hours depending on the route I take, so I one-way commute most days.

Cheers, Andy

Before I moved into Edinburgh I used to get these too take the train in the morning and cycle home at night.

Cyclegent

Sorry, I don't quite follow - who is 'banning' you from cycling in the dark and on what 'safety concerns'?

C1234

helz wrote:

What distance is your commute?

about 25 miles each way

Cyclegent wrote:

Sorry, I don't quite follow - who is 'banning' you from cycling in the dark and on what 'safety concerns'?

wife, sister, mother.

I've got to say, I can sympathise with them somewhat. My journey is along the "13 bends of death" out of Reading which is dangerous enough in a car. There was a crash there just this morning. The alternative routes tend to be on less busy, but narrow and fast roads. I'm usually given enough space, but the overtakers bear no regard for oncoming traffic, especially on blind corners. They also completely misjudge your speed too. Its pretty hairy. Generally I'll get someone locking wheels and skidding during each journey, but luckily nothing more serious yet.

I've done it a few times in the dark, and it does change things a lot. People pulling out on me more, overtaking too close, overtaking into on coming traffic. I put it down to the fact that they are even less well equipped to judge your speed at night. They see the lights and vest, realise your a cyclist and estimate your speed to be walking pace rather than 20 mph.