Bristol named UK's 'cycling city'
cntl
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Bristol DOES have billions of cyclists, in part because the traffic's so bad I suspect. However, the irony is that it's not an especially cycle-friendly city to ride in: all the normal suspects - lots of impatient, frustrated drivers, poorly designed/non-existant cycle lanes etc etc. Add in a topography like the Alps and I'm often surprised why there's still so many of us on the roads.
Key thing for me would be to make a proper job of the cycle lanes on the key commuter routes in (all the way out to the suberbs if possible). In some ways, the city's road system is like spokes on a wheel, so in theory they could actually establish say 6-8 proper cycle routes in that could effectively cover all points of the compass.
No idea whether anything like that is actually on the cards though. Given how awful the traffic already is, it would take a brave city council to make the necessary changes... The danger would be lots of fluff and activtiy - and lots of schemes that look good on paper - but nothing very much that makes a real difference to cycle commuters,..
But on balance I think the scheme is a good idea. Proof of the pudding and all that, but for now I'm opitimistic.0 -
Sea_Green_Incorruptible wrote:Bristol DOES have billions of cyclists, ....
In a population of how many?
380615 as at 2001 CensusWant to know the Spen666 behind the posts?
Then read MY BLOG @ http://www.pebennett.com
Twittering @spen_6660 -
spen666 wrote:Sea_Green_Incorruptible wrote:Bristol DOES have billions of cyclists, ....
In a population of how many?
380615 as at 2001 Census
Billions I tells ya!0 -
Sea_Green_Incorruptible wrote:spen666 wrote:Sea_Green_Incorruptible wrote:Bristol DOES have billions of cyclists, ....
In a population of how many?
380615 as at 2001 Census
Billions I tells ya!
I've heard of double vission, but that must be 10,000 times vision
lolWant to know the Spen666 behind the posts?
Then read MY BLOG @ http://www.pebennett.com
Twittering @spen_6660 -
Bristol is the worst place I've ever cycled.This post contains traces of nuts.0
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The whole thing will fail as it is obvious that Bristol City Council will need be involved. if history is anything to go by they're about as much use as cheese bicycle. nice idea though.0
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Totally agree georgee. Useless bunch of er, people.
It is no surprise there are a number of cyclists in Bristol - the traffic is an absolute nightmare and for this very reason (oh and not to mention the crime of course) I hate living Bristol. HATE.
Fingers crossed the scheme works though, lets see how they blow 30 million!0 -
Hmmmm, that amount of money can go a looooooong way - cycle training should be an essential part of it, the quality of cycling here is absolutely appalling.
I'm just going to make sure that I get involved with as many consultations etc. as possible - might contact the council to see if they intend to have some kind of project steering group that members of the public can sit on.
I hope they include bus driver training similar to some of the work that Oxfordshire County Council trialled a couple of years back.0 -
Andy Whitehead is the person at Bristol City Council who is responsible for cycling.
I have been in touch with him several times about different aspects of the godawful planning in this city and despite his platitudes in Email, he has failed to respond AS PROMISED on 3 occasions now.
We need every cyclist possible to ramp up the pressure on these guys, the idea that Bristol is the UK's premier cycling city makes me weep!
One example, they close the popular footbridge from temple meads station to Old Market over the river. Cyclist taking a route in this direction have NO alternative but to join the dual carraigeway and major roundabout. The result? they cut over the river by going on the pavement. the result? John Law putting up posters telling cyclists they will be fined £30 (see my earlier post about this) no alternate provision, just a 'f**k you' get off and walk approach - yeah cycling city my arse.
Protest fellow cyclists, write, email, do whatever it takes, just don't let these idiots off the hook.better downhill0 -
Indeed. The opportunity is certainly there but the danger of all the money being frittered away on next to useless projects is very real - particularly if the people initiating them aren't actually cycle commuters themselves (and particulalry if they're BCC).
Re. Graeme's comments above, does anybody know if the Council (or anyone) are actually consulting commuters and/or cycling groups on this? I assume Sustrans must have some kind of a voice, but is there any way that the average Joe - who actually has to put up with the existing 'facilities' all year round - can have say as to what they actually need?0 -
I forgot to add - if they go on a recruitment drive for transport planners with cycling experience then I'll probably apply. Change from within being the best way and all that
One thing I will say in their defence - it's really bloody hard to push through decent cycle facilities when you get loads (and I mean 80%+) of members of the public, including many cyclists, who do nothing but demand 'cycle lanes' even in locations where it is entirely inappropriate. It's difficult for the council not to respond in some way to these kinds of demands. I've experienced it first hand on their side of the fence during public consultations - hellish frustrating to try and counter their arguments when there is such a basic lack of understanding as to what genuinely benefits cyclists.0 -
Sea_Green_Incorruptible wrote:...a topography like the Alps and I'm often surprised why there's still so many of us on the roads.
LOL :twisted:
Actually, it's more like the Himalayas. Except with more hills. Even the single speeders have triples...
It's just a hill. Get over it.0 -
Was back in Bristol yesterday and went to Ashton Court to walk the dog - cycling really has exploded there since we moved back to Cornwall (two years ago)!
Mind you, the weather was ideal for it.
I found it a pretty good City for cycling overall. MUCH better than Truro.0 -
Cambridge is the same. highest cycling rate in the UK. ~25% of journeys are made by bike.
Some of the facilities are world class, some suck big time. The idea of this money is to get an increase on that 25%. Get new cyclists on their bikes. Now some towns in the trials saw doubling of cycling rates, imagine that in Cambridge! or Bristol! I think they were both good choices.
Bristols plans seem sensible as well. City centre bike park, more school training, velibs, personal travel plans. All good stuff thats proven to work and easier to implement than numerous point traffic flow schemes.0 -
I commute in Brizzle - find it easy. Generally, my commute is around 50-60 miles a day - depends on route. I cycle from Redland near central bristol to Aztec West in North Bristol - in all reality it is a 6 mile commute up the A38, however, I go out on the portway to Avonmouth and up the back roads to the old severn bridge and Thornbury and then head south to Aztec West! There are not many cities where you can be in the coutry roads in 10 to 15 minutes of setting off. There are allot of cycle lanes (usually have cars in them), but you make your own way through.
I cycle everyday, commute during the working week and run errands around town and go to cribbs at the weekend - no problem with hills, they are not that bad in Bristol once you get used to them and never had any probs with traffic aside the odd idiot driver you get in every city!
It is fantastic news on the bbc website - hopefully more facilities will mean a cleaner and greener Brizzle.
You can also go mountain biking just off the city centre at Leigh woods and Ashton Court - how many places can boast that! Also the link to Bath and then follow the canal towpath into deepest darkest Wiltshire!
The only thing that lets cycling down in Brizzle is the kids that ride on pavements and on BMX's or Mountain bikes riding on the wrong side of the road or riding in heavy traffic! Same everywhere I guess! Bit of investment might cut it back and provide facilities for these guys and some more direct cycle paths to keep them off the road (and out of the way!).
Roll on Brizzle.0 -
Gtv - flippin 'eck - that's a hell of a daily cycle!
Problem number 2 with Bristol is the utterly hideous bike crime.
We worked off Queen Square for a while and I witnessed several bikes being nicked in broad daylight.
I used to keep my bike next to me in the office!0 -
gtvlusso wrote:I commute in Brizzle - find it easy. Generally, my commute is around 50-60 miles a day - depends on route. I cycle from Redland near central bristol to Aztec West in North Bristol - in all reality it is a 6 mile commute up the A38, however, I go out on the portway to Avonmouth and up the back roads to the old severn bridge and Thornbury and then head south to Aztec West! There are not many cities where you can be in the coutry roads in 10 to 15 minutes of setting off. There are allot of cycle lanes (usually have cars in them), but you make your own way through.
I cycle everyday, commute during the working week and run errands around town and go to cribbs at the weekend - no problem with hills, they are not that bad in Bristol once you get used to them and never had any probs with traffic aside the odd idiot driver you get in every city!
It is fantastic news on the bbc website - hopefully more facilities will mean a cleaner and greener Brizzle.
You can also go mountain biking just off the city centre at Leigh woods and Ashton Court - how many places can boast that! Also the link to Bath and then follow the canal towpath into deepest darkest Wiltshire!
The only thing that lets cycling down in Brizzle is the kids that ride on pavements and on BMX's or Mountain bikes riding on the wrong side of the road or riding in heavy traffic! Same everywhere I guess! Bit of investment might cut it back and provide facilities for these guys and some more direct cycle paths to keep them off the road (and out of the way!).
Roll on Brizzle.
Impressive commute, but you are clearly an experienced roadie who knows how to manage the traffic in our fair city.there are plenty of other less brave and committed cyclists out there who find Bristol a daunting prospect.
My view is yes, it's a good thing, but we are so far short of being even close where we ought to be in terms of provision, and the lack of coherent planning and management as exemplified by existing recent road schemes only leaves serious doubts in my mind about how effective this initiative is capable of being.better downhill0 -
Agree with Docsavage and surf-matt.
I am pretty experienced (I even pick my bike out of the three in the shed for the weather and how energetic I feel!) on the road. Anything that brings some cash in to help newbies, the not so confident and get people genrally cycling safely is a great thing. I just hope they spend the money wisely - sounds like the council can be difficult from previous mails, but I am sure that Sustrans will be on the case! I think there is a training scheme in Bristol to get new cyclists confident in traffic - seem to remember seeing it on Pints West.
Would be nice not to have to think about bike crime, but there will always be some toerag prepared to ruin your day, nick your steed and dump it in the canal.....anywhere in the UK, I don't think the risk can be minimised much! I use 2, sometimes 3 locks - at least it takes them longer to steal!
Now need a little power nap - all that commuting! Fair to say I spend half my life washing kit and sleeping....fit as a butchers dog though!
Now all we need is a congestion charge and a cyclepath to Aztec West!!0 -
Yay for Bristol.
I enjoy cycling there. Then again, I enjoy cycling most places.0
