© Belinda Lawley
Cycling never fails to generate strong opinions: we've got the pros and cons of two-wheeled London from battling Time Out editors, highlights from 30 years of readers' letters and leisure ideas from favourite routes to pedal-pushing nightlife, as well as fitness tips, buying guides and how to stay alive on the capital's roads
© Belinda Lawley
The great London cycling debate
It's galvanised the city, now the pro/con bike back-and-forth has driven an editorial fissure down the Time Out office. Derek Adams and Michael Hodges try and adopt the moral high ground on a bit of London pavement.
What Time Out readers have said
If there's one topic guaranteed to make Time Out's readers more articulate than 18 metres of blood-coloured Mercedes bendy bus, it's biking. Here are some postbag highlights from the last 30 years.
London cycling guide
From
when to ride on the pavement to where to park your bike, Time Out's
intrepid team of pedal-pushers tackle the many issues facing the
capital's cyclists.
'On a bike, it’s you who owns the city'
Novelist Deborah Moggach manages to be both even-handed and romantic about cycling in the capital.
Rollapaluza and bike polo
It was only going to be a matter of time before London's two-wheeled
obsession carried over into leisure activities a little bit more
leftfield than a Sunday bummel.
Family-friendly routes
A couple of leisurely routes in west and east London to remind you what's great about cycling in London.
London's secret cycle routes
Saddle up and discover hidden nature reserves, eccentric pubs and the history of ice cream with our canalside excursions.
City cyclists' survival guide
Reap the rewards of cycling without rewarding the Reaper in our comprehensive guide to getting kitted out, keeping your cool and, most importantly, staying safe on London's roads.
Cycle fitness | Meet London's cyclists | Cyclists vs motorists | Two-wheeled fascism | How to choose a bike | Where to buy a bike in London | Survey results
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18 comments
I hate cyclists who ride their bikes on pavements. They are a menace and a danger to pedestrians.
I am convinced that those who wear tight Lycra it restricts the flow of blood to their brains.
aa
There's nothing quite like being ridden around town
London is a superb city for cycling in, particularly compared to e.g 5 years ago On a busy road in rush hour - use the nice empty bus lane. Don't like busy roads - go for a meander around some of the quieter ones then.
Scared of motorised vehciles mowing you down cause they can't see you - wear hi vis!
Issues with pedestrains.....no need to be on the pavement!!
The truth is out there..
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread4996.html#post148903
Coming from the Netherlands it feels only normal to use your bicycle to get anywhere you want. The problem is most people on the road ( read pedestrians, cars, busses and other cyclist) are not used to cyclists. But to every week it feels like more and more people have discovered how great bikes are!!
So I am very positive about a more bike minded London. I think cyclist are here to stay and will become a bigger part of London traffic. Also if there were more cycle paths and indications that cyclist are on the road pedestrians will keep a better eye out for them. At the moment the bendy busses are my biggest annoyance as they block any passage for cyclist or squeeze you into other cars. Just horrible...
For me London is double deckers and who knows perhaps also cyclist in the future...
Grumpy Stumpy
The choice is:
stay in your car, sit on your lardy arse, and have a coronary.
or, quit moaning, leave your car behind and get on your bike - you'll feel much better for it!
- having to stop at pedestrian crossings!
this is why i HATE cyclists
keyword, pedestrian, another keyword for you = STOP
As a female cyclist I ABSOLUTELY LOVE cycling in London - it's the best way to travel. I love:
- the wind in my hair
- flying past streams of static traffic
- smooth roads
- finding cool cycling tips and inspiration from London Cycle Chic www.cyclechic.co.uk
- Bobbin Bicycles in Clerkenwell - vintage-style Dutch bikes www.bobbinbicycles.com
- doing a whole week's grocery shopping and taking it home in my panniers
- my bike, Mabel
I hate:
- cycling in drizzly rain and getting damp
- how often the only place to lock your bike is round a dark corner
- having to stop at pedestrian crossings!
- pedestrians who take no notice when I ring my bell
- it's a cliche, but white van drivers.
Love:
- Being in control of my journey to work
- Staying fit
- Not paying ridiculous amounts for public transport
- Not being treated like cattle
- Stopping off in the park on the way home on a summer's day for an ice cream
- Attention from wearing lycra (although not always good)
- Not contributing to greenhouse effect
- Polite black-cab drivers
- Time Out's unbiased cycling features
Hate:
- Any form of precipitation
- Head winds
- Drivers who swear at you for slowing them down for 5 seconds
- Drivers deliberately parked in the cycles only box at traffic lights
- Any 4x4
- Any mini-cab
- Any Merecedes driver
- Any BMW driver
- Cyclists who go through red lights
- Cyclists who don't signal
- Poor facilities for cyclists where I work
I for one won't be voting for Ken 'Adenoid' Livingstone. I live near you Kenny boy, but nothing's changed on the cycling front, has it? No lanes, nothing. You frittered away millions on stupid bloody buses that are always empty (bet me and my car emit less CO2 per person than your effing buses) and did nothing on the tube. Absolutely F all. Your road transport twit Hendy should be put in stocks for coming up with the idea of a bendy bus – in London! What a pillock. And then, just as an election becomes due you tell us you're going to spend a zillion squid on cycle lanes. What a sycophantic colostomy bag you've turned out to be. Go blow your nose you chisseling little fascist crook.
I love :
- knowing how long it takes me to get to work
-that it's the quickest way
-that I always get a seat
-that I've lost weight and gained muscle
-that I experience the weather
-that there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing
-that most Londoners are considerate to other road users whether they're in a motorised vehicle or not
-kevlar in tyres which makes punctures a thing of the past, and LED lights that run for ever on a rechargeable battery
-www.fillthathole.org.uk which makes it so easy to report potholes and that it often results in them getting filled
-being able to nip into Lidl and pick up a greenhouse on impulse, bungee it to my rack and take it home
-getting my weekly supermarket shop into my panniers
-being able to park practically anywhere
-not knowing how much a litre of petrol costs or how much vehicle excise duty or car insurance is
-that London Cycle Campaign and cycletraining.co.uk teach cycle maintenance (with some boroughs paying most of the cost)
-that I'm helping to protect the environment one revolution at a time
-chatting to another cyclist while we're waiting for the lights to change
-events like Freewheel and the Tour de France in London that celebrate cycling
-cycling across the Thames and taking in the view, being able to stop if I want to.
Sure, it takes a little time to build confidence, develop some stamina, discover the joy of having the saddle raised to just the right height, work out which clothing makes sense and which doesn't. But it doesn't take much time and the benefits are awesome.
Now that managers and authorities of parks and towpaths are allowing shared bike and pedestrian use there should be awareness raising of what a bell means when 'tinged' in advance of passing by. It is not a threat or instruiction to get out of the way, just a courtesy to allow people to prepare for a cyclist passing. The scheme, I believe, is being trialled along British Waterways' canals. It still needs to bne sorted re the hard of hearing though. Bells should be obligatory. The Green Party promotes sustainable transport.
I really want someone to design a brilliant 'cycle and rescue the environment' T-shirt campaign so all the lazy car drivers see it on my back as i whizz past on my bike and feel encouraged to do the same. I can't find anything anywhere to target peoples' conscience.
For all the Mountain Bike lovers out therefore I have just heard that Specialized are organising some great events around the country, have a look at www.specializedchallengeseries.co.uk.
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