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Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 29 Oct 2015, 12:26pm
by pete75
We had a young guy staying with us recently who had cycled from Hong Kong to England via China, Nepal , Pakistan, Iran etc . I asked him where he thought the worst drivers were from a cyclists point of view and he said England and France.
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 29 Oct 2015, 5:17pm
by ANTONISH
I wonder if our experience of cycling in France is coloured by the cycling we experience in the UK.
I live in Kent and often even on small lanes one can encounter impatient and aggressive drivers.
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 30 Oct 2015, 11:49am
by ukdodger
ANTONISH wrote:I've been looking at a Belgian cycling magazine which makes reference to " le Barometre 2015 de la federation europeene des cyclistes " (apologies for the missing accents).
This ranks countries - best to worst - not surprisingly Denmark comes first followed by Holland- followed by Sweden, finland, Germany and Belgium.
What surprised me was that the UK - 11th was above France - 12th.
The Criteria were - the percentage of the population normally using a bicycle as their main means of transport, safety, the importance of cycle tourism, the sale of new bicycles and the presence of pro cycling activists.
I don't know how these criteria are weighted - I generally find that the experience of cycling in France is better than the UK and although Belgium has more cycling facilities I've not noticed a great difference when riding randonees in the North of France and Belgium - the routes often criss cross the border.
No it aint. In fact almost anywhere in Europe is better than the UK
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 30 Oct 2015, 12:12pm
by pwa
The answer to "which country is best?" depends on how you weight the different considerations. If safety is paramount, perhaps the Netherlands and Denmark will come top. But if the quality of the countryside is the main factor, along with an abundance of quiet lanes, France is top.
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 30 Oct 2015, 12:16pm
by ukdodger
pwa wrote:The answer to "which country is best?" depends on how you weight the different considerations. If safety is paramount, perhaps the Netherlands and Denmark will come top. But if the quality of the countryside is the main factor, along with an abundance of quiet lanes, France is top.
I would add the courtesy shown to cyclists to that.
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 30 Oct 2015, 1:19pm
by bikepacker
ukdodger wrote:I would add the courtesy shown to cyclists to that.
Having cycled over 1000 miles in France this year I cannot subscribe to that statement. See my previous post.
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 30 Oct 2015, 1:24pm
by ukdodger
bikepacker wrote:ukdodger wrote:I would add the courtesy shown to cyclists to that.
Having cycled over 1000 miles in France this year I cannot subscribe to that statement. See my previous post.
Strange. I've cycled many more than that and apart from Paris have never had a problem.
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 30 Oct 2015, 1:39pm
by bikepacker
Many cyclists we met up with and some on the EBE returning from France, commented on the change over recent years in the attitude of some French drivers. 'Catching the English decease of impatience' was one comment made by a passenger in the bus.
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 30 Oct 2015, 1:51pm
by ukdodger
bikepacker wrote:Many cyclists we met up with and some on the EBE returning from France, commented on the change over recent years in the attitude of some French drivers. 'Catching the English decease of impatience' was one comment made by a passenger in the bus.
Half if not most of the reason is the chronic overcrowding of UK roads. It always amazes me when I get to France. I wonder where everyone is.
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 30 Oct 2015, 4:53pm
by bigjim
Yes. I find most of France outside the larger towns to be deserted. Often a problem when looking for Lunch or accommadation. I've only once had a problem with motorists in the years I've been touring in France. That was on a busy roundabout in Biarritz when a nutter decided he should have right of way.
If you want suicidal roads try the west coast road in Portugal where you dice with death as Logging Trucks and Coaches attempt to run you down. I even had to bang on the side of one coach to get him to move over.
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 30 Oct 2015, 5:17pm
by tatanab
Typically I ride between 1000 and 1500 miles each year in France. Only once (touch wood) have I had a very very close shave with a tipper lorry that must pass right away. Almost noon, so on his way to lunch.
What I have noticed, especially in the last 10 years, is that the French seem to have a way of urban traffic calming that does not really suit cyclists. It seems to me that as soon as I cross a village/town limit sign then the condition of the road deteriorates rapidly.
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 30 Oct 2015, 5:33pm
by ANTONISH
We were riding a randonee in Belgium a month ago. We stayed in Roubaix which has plenty of traffic.
Rode to and from the start across Roubaix - didn't encounter any problems. I generally feel less threatened in France.
The only time I've experienced blaring horn hostility was when I took a main road (not a motorway) which was exclusively for motor vehicles.
I did however see an incident at this year's Semaine Federale between a motorist and some cyclists where the police had to intervene.
I think the motorist had right of way (traffic light controlled junction) but the hundreds of cyclists were just riding through the red.
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 30 Oct 2015, 5:53pm
by ukdodger
ANTONISH wrote:We were riding a randonee in Belgium a month ago. We stayed in Roubaix which has plenty of traffic.
Rode to and from the start across Roubaix - didn't encounter any problems. I generally feel less threatened in France.
The only time I've experienced blaring horn hostility was when I took a main road (not a motorway) which was exclusively for motor vehicles.
I did however see an incident at this year's Semaine Federale between a motorist and some cyclists where the police had to intervene.
I think the motorist had right of way (traffic light controlled junction) but the hundreds of cyclists were just riding through the red.
I cycled through Holland this year going on to Germany and on many (it may have been all and I failed to notice) junctions cyclists had the right to cross before vehicles could turn left or right. It totally floored me. I kept looking at the car next to me waiting for them to either go or wave me on. The look I got back was 'what are you staring at'. I never once saw a cyclist give a hand signal they just assumed priority.
This is Holland waiting for the up/down bridge to come down. Note the kids riding on the road.
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 30 Oct 2015, 11:15pm
by AJ101
For me the big draw of France was always the alps, not having long climbs like that and more importantly those sweeping long high speed descents.
Then I saw this video yesterday and watched the whole 12 minutes. Turns out I've got to hot foot up to Balmoral now to try it out myself. I had no idea there were descents like this in the UK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJXufHe1VsY
Re: UK better than France for cycling?
Posted: 30 Oct 2015, 11:53pm
by ukdodger
AJ101 wrote:For me the big draw of France was always the alps, not having long climbs like that and more importantly those sweeping long high speed descents.
Then I saw this video yesterday and watched the whole 12 minutes. Turns out I've got to hot foot up to Balmoral now to try it out myself. I had no idea there were descents like this in the UK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJXufHe1VsY
Very nice. Not too steep. Snag is you have to go up first.