Search found 770 matches

by Tom Richardson
15 Nov 2016, 4:23pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Hi-vis? Pah.
Replies: 51
Views: 5636

Re: Hi-vis? Pah.

pwa wrote:can only speak for my own reactions as a car driver, but I prefer to see cyclists as soon as possible so that I can begin assessing where on the road I am going to reach them, adjusting my speed to time things so that I am more likely to reach them at a good point for passing.


Interesting point. I don't think it makes any difference to me what cyclists are wearing when I'm driving. There are so many other things to look out for that don't wear high viz like children, wind blown wheelie bins, stray dogs, loose farm animals etc., that it doesn't make any difference for me. I can't ever remember being caught out by not seeing someone on a bicycle soon enough.

On the other hand I have been driven into twice by motorists while I've been wearing a bright yellow reflective top in broad daylight. It's never worked for me.
by Tom Richardson
12 Nov 2016, 4:28pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: How to get up a 20% slope ?
Replies: 19
Views: 3821

Re: How to get up a 20% slope ?

Lowest gear on my tourer is about 20inches (24 x 32 teeth). 20% is a significant incline but I can manage it ok with that gearing. Stay seated, weight forward to keep the front wheel down and spin. Possibly quicker to get off and walk though.
by Tom Richardson
7 Nov 2016, 12:57pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Speeding convictions up on "smart motorways"
Replies: 62
Views: 10116

Re: Speeding convictions up on "smart motorways"

661-Pete wrote: what's to stop us having them on our ordinary roads too?


The backlash from speeding motorists will stop us having them on ordinary roads too. The BBC quotes 'Nottingham based motoring lawyer Paul Wright saying that 'a cynic might say that it is another way of getting money out of the motorist, over and above what we're paying already'. Its a tired and worn argument that will almost certainly be resurrected along with many similar. (Maybe imprisonment is a better option so's to sidestep it!).
by Tom Richardson
5 Nov 2016, 10:05am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: A blend of enforcement and education ..
Replies: 10
Views: 2866

Re: A blend of enforcement and education ..

I cant see how education works in relation to phone use while driving. As if driving without using a hand held mobile phone is a special skill that needs to be taught.

The education thing seems to be a favorite answer to dangerous driving because it gives a response without doing anything positive that might create a backlash.
by Tom Richardson
2 Nov 2016, 8:04pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution
Replies: 598
Views: 83081

Re: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution

Question on political strategy rather than a conspiracy theory,

since the laws that have been broken are set by the European Union doesn't the Government just needs to 'kick the can down the road' for a couple of years and then get rid of the laws that have been broken (laws otherwise known as red tape)?
by Tom Richardson
1 Nov 2016, 8:43pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: A pair of badgers in the garden
Replies: 16
Views: 2293

Re: A pair of badgers in the garden

I met a badger on the street in West Wickham after it climbed out of someones bin. It gave me a very dirty look, stood its ground and seemed well up for a fight. I backed away slowly.

Just before that someone local here had their dog attacked by a badger so I was a bit wary. Its a lurcher type dog and I guess it had chased after the badger. It hadn't chased it far by the look of it tho, the dog had stitches in patches all over it where it had been bitten (probably needed antibiotics for TB as well!).

Badgers might be timid but from what I've seen of them they're vicious things. They can run surprisingly fast too.
by Tom Richardson
25 Oct 2016, 1:45pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Gatwick or Heathrow?
Replies: 96
Views: 12091

Re: Gatwick or Heathrow?

The lobbyists pushing the Government for expansion of Heathrow are lined up for multi million pound payouts now theyve got it through so that's got to be the way to go. Most of the dosh will no doubt disappear into offshore tax avoidance schemes but some will be spent in the sandwich shops and car factories of Great Britain so we all stand to benefit(!)
by Tom Richardson
15 Oct 2016, 4:36pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: London Bus Deliberate Collision?
Replies: 76
Views: 9878

Re: London Bus Deliberate Collision?

Makk11 wrote: I saved his life ........ I was turning right in a bus, ..I stopped to allow the bicycle through.



Interesting viewpoint!
by Tom Richardson
21 Sep 2016, 6:07pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Texting driver kills cyclist ...
Replies: 204
Views: 11908

Re: Texting driver kills cyclist ...

Speeding, along with mobile phone use and other forms of bad driving makes roads hostile to cycling and walking. They might seem minor issues to the people doing it but its a massive discouragement to me cycling and causes me exceptional hardship because I have to put up with the cost of running a car instead as well as all the problems and risks that motoring brings. I've often read that fear of the risk is the main reason that people give for not cycling so I guess its the same for a lot of other people as well.
by Tom Richardson
17 Sep 2016, 4:22pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Project EDWARD - whistful thinking?
Replies: 9
Views: 957

Re: Project EDWARD - whistful thinking?

They need to go and do a bit more research and review this bit of victim blaming:
'But it’s not just drivers who are at fault. Many cyclists and pedestrians increase their risk levels by choosing to ignore the rules or look for risky short cuts.'
by Tom Richardson
14 Sep 2016, 8:17am
Forum: On the road
Topic: 2 Abreast cycling is not safe.
Replies: 46
Views: 4183

Re: 2 Abreast cycling is not safe.

The utility cyclist wrote:Maybe you have a differing viewpoint on what is reasonable regarding road safety v convenience as myself, I know which one I choose every single time.


thats a judgement that most people make - and conclude that the convenience of cycling isn't worth it because of the safety risk (risk imposed by motor traffic rather than of cycling).
by Tom Richardson
9 Sep 2016, 5:37pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: 2 Abreast cycling is not safe.
Replies: 46
Views: 4183

Re: 2 Abreast cycling is not safe.

I was summarising the commonly expressed presumptions of many road users. The title of the thread is 'cycling two abreast is not safe'. I can cycle alongside someone all day without any risk at all. It's only when someone comes along in a six foot wide car that I become dangerous.

The thread should be retitled 'failing to compensate for motorists behaviour (and comply with their presumptions) isn't safe'. Or more accurately: motoring isn't safe.
by Tom Richardson
9 Sep 2016, 4:19pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: 2 Abreast cycling is not safe.
Replies: 46
Views: 4183

Re: 2 Abreast cycling is not safe.

As always:

it's the act of cycling two abreast that isn't safe and not the act of overtaking cyclists who are riding two abreast,

And the two people cycling side by side that are causing the obstruction and not the one person taking up even more road width in a motor vehicle,

And the poor beleaguered motorist seeking to correct the problems that other people cause them.
by Tom Richardson
12 Aug 2016, 11:10am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Spent today being grumpy about other cyclists
Replies: 132
Views: 6100

Re: Spent today being grumpy about other cyclists

The main problem on the roads is other people.
There's nothing that can't be solved with a bit of patience but why bother when it's someone else's fault?!
by Tom Richardson
9 Aug 2016, 2:03pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: London cycle 'superhighway'
Replies: 9
Views: 971

Re: London cycle 'superhighway'

I suspect that it's not true that cycling isn't a practical option for Lawson. More that he doesn't want to cycle - or maybe doesn't want to be seen cycling.