The 1950s...

[Audax67]

Well, about 1959/60 I was forced off the road by a black Morris 8. Nowadays it would be metallic grey.

Skinned knuckles sum total of damage.

[Mick F]

This photo is from 1940.

It's along Hall Lane in Wrightington, Lancs not far from where we lived as an 11 to 14 year old. I commuted along that road to school in the 60's.

[al_yrpal]

When I was 10 I lived in South West Essex. One day in the summer holidays my friend and I cycled to Southend and back. It was a total distance of about 70 miles. My bike had 24" wheels rod brakes and no gears. I can remember being very tired. I remember there were cycle paths along quite a lot of the Southend New road. I can't remember any concern from my mother. As a kid, my summer holidays were spent almost wholly in Epping Forest, on the banks of the River Roding or Connaught Water fishing. There was quite a bit of scratch cricket and football too. Later in the 50s, aeromodelling and cycling took over, mostly aeromodelling. All week designing and building it, flying on the weekend and then the inevitable repairs or rebuild. Experimenting with modifying engines, mixing more potent fuels, buying ether and amyl nitrate at the chemist. Then joining the Hainault road club and doing a little time trialing and racing. The CTC and my 100 in 8. My grandson is ways indoors glued to a games console, I have tried and tried to unglue him, but I am just an ancient old git.....Modern kids miss soooo much!

I am off to my shed now and perhaps a walk and blackberrying later..

Al

[geomannie]

Hi Rabbit

Google Frank Patterson for some pictures of a cycling idyll of a bygone age

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=frank ... 36&bih=710

Frank Patterson was a well known illustrator who specialised in cycling themes, usually of a romantic nature and usually of English landscapes.
http://www.headsetpress.co.uk/features/ ... lustrated/

His works are well work seeking out, either as prints, books or calendars, and if you are feeling flush, perhaps an original drawing at +/- £100.

Cheers

[nirakaro]

We might be wise to remember though, looking back at that idyllic time, that although there were far fewer cars on the road, they were killing three times as many people as they do today!

[531colin]

We might be wise to remember though, looking back at that idyllic time, that although there were far fewer cars on the road, they were killing three times as many people as they do today!

Isn't the reduction in road deaths due to the people inside the cars being protected from the consequences of the driver's actions, by seatbelts, airbags, collapsing steering columns, and all that paraphernalia.
I can't help thinking that all of us outside the cars would be a great deal safer if there was a 6" metal spike in the steering wheel, pointing at the driver's chest.

[thirdcrank]

We might be wise to remember though, looking back at that idyllic time, that although there were far fewer cars on the road, they were killing three times as many people as they do today!

And the ruthless pursuit of casualty reduction policies in the intervening period has done nothing to improve the lot of vulnerable users such as cyclists and pedestrians.

[jezer]

I'm sure you are correct. My first major crash on a bike was in 1959 when I went over the handlebars. I'm still not sure what happened, except I was carrying a tennis racket which may have got tangled up. I've taken no part in any sport since then except cycling Only two major crashes since. Is this a record

[Brucey]

re. road casualties, the stats appear to say;

in 1965, 11 motorists died per billion km travelled, and 78 cyclists died per billion km.

in 2007, ~2.2 motorists died per billion km, vs ~32 cyclists per billion km

So whilst cycling has (if you believe the stats) apparently become safer, it hasn't improved anything like as much as motoring has done, and it still appears riskier than motoring per mile or per hour by a considerable margin.

IIRC the evidence is that if there were no cars, about 80% of cycle casualties might be prevented.

numbers from here;

http://www.healthandtransportgroup.co.uk/research/Ch_2_Active_transport_Cycling.pdf

cheers

[Grandad]

My first major crash on a bike was in 1959 when I went over the handlebars. I'm still not sure what happened, except I was carrying a tennis racket which may have got tangled up. I've taken no part in any sport since then except cycling Only two major crashes since. Is this a record

I might regret saying this but over 350,000 miles since 1952 with no serious crashes and very few minor ones like "offs" on ice.

[Rabbit]

Everybody thanks so much for the reminiscences and observations, and I love that postcard of Hall Lane (or is it Road?) Wrightington - it's like something out of a film. Also the tales of roadside camping, arguments with Morris 8s and traffic free roads. It's no good falling into nostalgia for times that will never come back but there's no harm in reflecting that things haven't always been the way they are now. I take the point about statistics and road safety but experience and enjoyment are not statistically calculable - and often it's those moments of unfettered pleasure out on the open road - even now - which are the most rewarding. So, I'm just going to put on my cycle clips and head off to Hall Lane, Wrightington...