Does London commuting = suicide?

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Comments

  • miss_mystra
    miss_mystra Posts: 29
    richVSrich wrote:
    i love cycling to work (in london)!!

    often it is the best part of the day! :)

    don't be a d!ck on the roads (dont jump lights, etc), assume most people can be idiots, and remember you are on a bike and are still vulnerable ..

    enjoy yourself!

    ^^ this

    I've been commuting for just over a year on my bike and i love it!

    people say what i'm doing is 'suicidal' (usually the people who are zombiefied on the tube), i just say that i'd rather get soaked on a rainy day on my bike then take twice as long as catch god knows what form getting the tube/ bus etc

    now driving through London - that suicide!!! Done it a couple of times, often later in the night but bloody hell, scary!!
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Cycling to work is suicidal, on the basis of statistics (I'm sure I could dig some up to prove the point but you get the drift) if you cycle to work for the next 1000 years 5 days a week you'll have a better than even chance of dying, like playing russian roulette 6 times, so stop after just 100 years and you'll be fine!

    Simon
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • Applespider
    Applespider Posts: 506
    I was nervous about commuting when I first started and only expected to do it occasionally. I'd got a C2W bike so thought I should at least try it on sunny days. Now I do 100 miles a week quite happily and will cycle to work unless it's a true monsoon on the way there.

    The thing that gave me most confidence was doing the free (or subsidised) cycle training that the local councils offer (either where you work or where you live generally). It's 2 hours of one-on-one lesson where the instructor will tailor it to what you want. My instructor helped me find a route that worked for me, showed me the tricky junctions etc and just checked my road positioning etc. Nothing that I didn't already really know but just reinforced cycling assertively but defensively and gave me lots of confidence.
  • Andrew N
    Andrew N Posts: 119
    Nope it ain't sucide, as long as you are don't think your Mark Cavendish!!!
    www.goinggoingbike.com
    _____________________________
    online marketplace for all things bike
  • Clarion
    Clarion Posts: 223
    You're probably in more danger using any other form of transport.

    Just do it.

    OK, so London drivers are most likely to be without a licence, tax, insurance, MoT, a fecking clue etc, but riding sensibly reduces the risk.
    Riding on 531
  • clarkey cat
    clarkey cat Posts: 3,641
    cycling in London is utterly thrilling.
    Dolan Mythos
  • hstiles
    hstiles Posts: 414
    Travelling into town by other mode of transport, with the possible exception of motorbike, is utter hell and once people get over the initial 'you cycle how far every day?' shock, they're mostly envious.

    Depending on your route, it can be remarkably quiet. I've commuted into London by bike for nigh on three years. First few years into Putney and more recently, up to Holborn. Often, it's worth choosing a longer, more pleasant route rather than a less enjoyable, direct route. You probably won;t add that much longer to your journey either.
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    I'm a noob and love it. In fact the more traffic there is, the more interesting it becomes. Long straight roads are dull.
  • DF33
    DF33 Posts: 732
    MichaelW wrote:
    I
    Understand how various types of driver are trying to kill you so you can take precautions. Dont make it easy for them by eg riding up the inside of a left-turning HGV

    No HGV driver is trying to kill you by innocently driving forward indicating left to shortly turn left. If you try to pass it on the inside, the only person trying to kill anyone is yourself, and probably leaving behind a traumatised for life innocent driver after viewing your red squished body under their wheels. Just don't do it. Ever.

    Best commutes I had were 6 months of Esher to Chelsea bridge and back. loved the cut and thrust.
    you have to be confident to ride in London - not aggressively as many are now, that's the non thinking way, just confidently ride like a driver where needed and give space like a biker where safe.
    We've all had our moments on a bonnet etc but thankfully rare.

    Remember, it's not always the drivers at fault. Sometimes it blatently is.
    So ride accordingly, don't give any quarter where safety dictates and give every quarter where polite and 'nice' to do so.
    Then you'll love your commute.

    And finally, again, don't do the stuoid things like pass HGV's on the inside when moving near left turns.
    Peter

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