Went to London at the weekend + Saw some cyclists!!!

JD_76

After reading posts on here about how dangerous it is to cycle in London I said to myself id never attempt it as I value my life too much.

However after witnessing the state of road use of a large number of cyclists im not scarred at all.
The general state of road use was shocking - weaving about all over the bus lanes instead of keeping a nice straight line, also whats clearly more important is getting infront of the next cyclist and not to look at the approaching traffic.
The number of people I saw changing lanes at speed without even looking was crazy, not even a glance over the shoulder - nada - nothing - zipo - nowt, you can only get away with that so many times.

Only about 10% had helmets on, I guess that look doesnt suit the single-speed community?

The way I see it is more people are killed on bikes in London because
A) There are more people riding bikes in the first place.
Lack of helmets due to fashion.
C) Riders think they have right of way over all other traffic.
D) Lack of basic lifesaver skills being used.

Obviously there are good and safe riders in London but you guys are in the minority from what I saw.
I was shocked to say the least.

Stewie Griffin

What part of London? Sounds like most of the cyclists you saw were actually riding on the road and not the pavement.

JD_76

Stewie Griffin wrote:

What part of London? Sounds like most of the cyclists you saw were actually riding on the road and not the pavement.

I was staying near to Old Street tube station, at a hotel called the Hoxton.
Nice hotel as it goes + great brekfast, would go again. 8)

iainf72

JD_76 wrote:

I was staying near to Old Street tube station, at a hotel called the Hoxton.
Nice hotel as it goes + great brekfast, would go again. 8)

Hoxton, the home the the single speed hipsters. What you'd see there wouldn't be indicative of London in general.

EKE_38BPM

Ah Hoxton. Full of hipsters that are too cool for school.
Does this remind you of your visit?

MrChuck

JD_76 wrote:

The way I see it is more people are killed on bikes in London because
A) There are more people riding bikes in the first place.
Lack of helmets due to fashion.
C) Riders think they have right of way over all other traffic.
D) Lack of basic lifesaver skills being used.

C and D might well be true, but I'd have to take issue with A and B. It's pretty widely accepted that more people on bikes = safer for everyone. And it'd generally being hit by cars and trucks that kills people- whether they wear helmets or not doesn't make that any more likely.

JD_76

MrChuck wrote:

JD_76 wrote:

The way I see it is more people are killed on bikes in London because
A) There are more people riding bikes in the first place.
Lack of helmets due to fashion.
C) Riders think they have right of way over all other traffic.
D) Lack of basic lifesaver skills being used.

C and D might well be true, but I'd have to take issue with A and B. It's pretty widely accepted that more people on bikes = safer for everyone. And it'd generally being hit by cars and trucks that kills people- whether they wear helmets or not doesn't make that any more likely.

Hmm, id say your right with A if the riders are in a group but not when on your own.

As with B its down to circumstance, if your hit hard enough your right it doesnt matter but if you say bump the back of your head lightly on the road or car bonnet a helmet could be the difference between your brain swelling up and killing you.

I guess its a case of too many variables to have a deffinitive answer, my point is why not remove the risk of death at the lower end of the spectrum impact wise.

Yossie

iainf72 wrote:

JD_76 wrote:

I was staying near to Old Street tube station, at a hotel called the Hoxton.
Nice hotel as it goes + great brekfast, would go again. 8)

Hoxton, the home the the single speed hipsters. What you'd see there wouldn't be indicative of London in general.

Hoxton isn't really indicative of the real world though ......... It ain't exactly like my part of Peckham, I can tell you that much for nothing ......

JD_76

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Ah Hoxton. Full of hipsters that are too cool for school.
Does this remind you of your visit?

Cant see the link at work, but there were lots of trendy peeps on singlespeeds as well as others. Loads of bikes everywhere.

Crispybug

JD_76 wrote:

Stewie Griffin wrote:

What part of London? Sounds like most of the cyclists you saw were actually riding on the road and not the pavement.

I was staying near to Old Street tube station, at a hotel called the Hoxton.
Nice hotel as it goes + great brekfast, would go again. 8)

If you do go there again, there is a cycling cafe on Old Street called 'Look Mum No Hands'.......good coffee and cakes.

Crispybug

JD_76 wrote:

Stewie Griffin wrote:

What part of London? Sounds like most of the cyclists you saw were actually riding on the road and not the pavement.

I was staying near to Old Street tube station, at a hotel called the Hoxton.
Nice hotel as it goes + great brekfast, would go again. 8)

If you do go there again, there is a cycling cafe on Old Street called 'Look Mum No Hands'.......good coffee and cakes.

Pretre

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Ah Hoxton. Full of hipsters that are too cool for school.
Does this remind you of your visit?

Brilliant vid - just reminds so much me why I refuse to go anywhere near Hoxton even though I work about 15 minutes away. Bunch of a*holes. :twisted:

OP - Hoxton is nothing like London. Yes, there are bad cyclists in London but with about 7m people you will get a few.

rjh299

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Ah Hoxton. Full of hipsters that are too cool for school.
Does this remind you of your visit?

Quality video. It's spreading though, few hipster down here even.

Ben6899

[sarcasm]

Yes that's correct. Everyone in Hoxton is an @rsehole.

[/sarcasm]

angry_bird

Riding in London is fun if you do it at the right times, evening rush hour is quite good, keeps you on your toes. I've only been knocked off twice in the past year, and told off by the police once