What you have is the same problem that beset the high bicycle,
fine when you are on it, but it looks very dangerous…a long way to fall.
There was no solution, but the riders who were attracted to the machine did not
really want one. I’d suggest that many confident urban and A-road cyclists
rather enjoy their elite do-or-die status and are not that worried about
increasing the numbers.
Nicholas Oddy
From: Cycling and Society
Research Group discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Tim Jones
Sent: 31 January 2012 10:46
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A request for help[Scanned-Clean]
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
Oxford OX3 0BP
Tel +44 (0)1865 483436
[log in to unmask]
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/about/faculties/tde
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