Dear Chris and all

Interesting use of the word 'objectively'. Subjective is 'real' enough to the 'subjects'. Of course people on this list will step forward and state, "that is really not my experience of cycling in London..." with implication that folk really just ought to get over it and try cycling to overcome their fears (and cycle training can help prepare for this!).

I read an interesting analogy by Blogger Cyclinginfo (an adept racing and commuter cyclist) http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/ this morning paraphrasing Michael Hutchinson writing in Cycling Weekly a couple of weeks ago: "Cycle around Kings Cross, London, and you can feel like a Lancaster bomber on a low flying mission across occupied Europe – trying to remain unmoved by all the flack coming from every angle. It’s not a surprise American and London cyclists are the most likely to wear a helmet, fluorescent jacket et al. , even if the effect is purely psychological, you feel like you need some kind of protection."

As our Understanding Walking and Cycling research based on extensive in-depth research across four cities outside of London made clear, we are kidding ourselves if we think that a democratic landscape of cycling will emerge out of the current transport system without radical overhaul. The key is to eradicate the war not to encourage the trembling troops to train to go into battle.

Tim Jones

On 31 January 2012 10:00, Chris Peck <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

“This really is not my experience of cycling in London (UK), I'd suggest London (UK) is one of the more benign areas to cycle in in Britain hence some areas of the inner city with 10% modal share of cycling and rising. Cycling on rural A4 roads in Britain outwith built up areas can be far more intimidating.”

… and objectively more risky as well:

* 313 deaths per billion kms cycled on rural A-roads last year.

* 11 deaths per billion kms cycled on minor urban roads.

(see: http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/Campaigns/1110_CTC_Transcom_RSS-con-final.pdf, from RAS30018)

 

From: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of gary cummins
Sent: 31 January 2012 09:40
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A request for help

 

John Meudell said:
 

On that particular point, I’d suggest making a clear distinction between the UK and Europe.  My experience is that, if you can cycle confidently cycle around London without getting intimidated, run off the road or killed, you can survive anywhere!


 

This really is not my experience of cycling in London (UK), I'd suggest London (UK) is one of the more benign areas to cycle in in Britain hence some areas of the inner city with 10% modal share of cycling and rising. Cycling on rural A4 roads in Britain outwith built up areas can be far more intimidating.

Gary Cummins


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--
Research Fellow
Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development
& Department of Planning
Faculty of Technology Design and Environment
Oxford Brookes University
Gipsy Lane Campus
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Tel +44 (0)1865 483436
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EPSRC Understanding Walking and Cycling summary findings now available for download:
http://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/items/17bb3ed2-1209-b3e9-5357-614f329af72e/1/


Quote: "“A society which measures man’s [sic] worth in terms of volume of publications accumulated is no less sick than one which measures his worth in terms of dollars amassed” (Stea 1969:1)."

Stea D (1969) Positions, purposes, pragmatics: A journal of radical geography. Antipode 1(1):1–2