Cycling instructor Eric instructs Fiona McAuslan how to perform an emergency stop in the safety of Greenwich Park © Natalie Pecht
In a weekly series Time Out's Fiona McAuslan looks into all things cycling, and shares some top tips
Cycling instructor Eric instructs Fiona McAuslan how to perform an emergency stop in the safety of Greenwich Park © Natalie Pecht
The right way is the wrong way
Should more local councils allow cyclists to travel the wrong way down residential streets?
Motorbikes in cycle lanes
Is Boris's first bit of road legislation a recipe for suicidal disaster for London's cyclists?
Tykes on bikes
Is exposing children to the perils of London's traffic too dangerous?
Evading kamikaze jaywalkers
How to kick absent-minded pedestrians back to the kerb
Feature continues
How cyclists can beat the elements
Surely when the heavens open, it's time to leave the bike at home?
Why we need more cycle lanes
The Olympic Development Authority will be pumping ‘multi millions’ into new cycle lanes – but does the capital really need them?
Why headphones are for headcases
Why you need all your senses on two-wheeled trips around the capital
How to beat bendy buses
Nothing strikes fear into the hearts of London's cyclists like Ken's bendy buses. Here's how to beat them
To helmet or not to helmet?
It's unlikely to save your life in a full-on collision – so why bother?
How to cycle under the influence
Should there be a legal limit for cyclists?
Should cyclists pay road tax?
The state of London roads is diabolical – so should two-wheelers contribute to their maintenance?
How to ride the tube with a bike
The folding bikes that won't cause fuss on the underground
Why bike cops need to get busy
Hot-wheeling fuzz: eco-friendly patrol or overgrown prefects in gym kit?
What to wear on your bike
With sweat-proof merino wool tops, stylish headgear and reflective ankle
cuffs, are London's cyclists trendier than ever?
When to jump red lights
Can running lights preserve a cyclist's safety?
Avoiding the couriers
Of the various cycle tribes in London, none are more wilfully offensive than cycle couriers. Learn their tricks
When to ride on the pavement
Cycling on the pavement in London is illegal, but with so few cycle lanes and increasingly aggressive motorists, why adhere to a law that endangers you?
Where to leave your bike
With too few bicycle racks for too many cyclists, isn't it time the capital's pedal pushers we're allowed to lock their bikes to London's many railings?
How to ride the canals
How to beat the drinkers, dealers and dog walkers on London's canal paths
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12 comments
what a poor article
My lord, i'm used to some negative stereo types when it comes to courier, but this is frankly amazing.
First off, it's been at least two years since anyone was drinking at the duke, thanks in part to camden changing it's drinking laws. I do seem to remember spending nearly 5 pounds for a pint there, which is nothing to an over paid journo but means several miles on a bike for me, so cans are really the only affordable option for a night of drinking, with maybe one purchased pint as a thanks to the duke for not calling the cops on us. Said offie also used to leave cardboard boxes for our empties, and I seem to recall most people using them.
Now! The riding bit.
A. It is not illegal to ride on the right of your lane. This is much safer than on the left in some places (like clerkenwell and old street) because the traffic is more consistant there. The bike lane tends to become the parking lane, the swerving to undertake a right turning car lane, or the "I want to turn left in two miles so I better move over now" lane.
B. Jumping lights has the advantage of not leaving you a sitting duck for left turning lorries, and also giving you a head start on traffic that may not have seen you on their left before.
c. are you really such a law abiding citizen that you won't go the wrong way down a deserted road? If so, you might want to give the policeman in your brain a raise and a gold star.
I may not be as fast as your "neighbor" (please tell me that either you are making him up as an example or if he is real he has spent the last month egging your house everyday for being such a muppet) but I am able to get through traffic with a minimum of accidents 10 hours a day, 4-5 days a week by using the same tactics that he is using.
Why don't you write an article about left turning HGV's or about the injustice of Emma Foa's court case instead of slagging off techniques that actually keep cyclists from getting killed?
This guide is not very useful to be honest. I hit my bollocks hard on the kerb because of it
Try spending 9 hours a day 5 days a week in London traffic trying to get from one side to the other of the city passing through oxford street and piccadilly circus at rush hour. I think you'll find the average "devil's delivery man/woman" knows what he's doing when it comes to risk assessment and traffic reading.
I am confident, Fiona, that should you need to get your work delivered to your publisher, you wouldn't be complaining when it crosses central London in less than 15 minutes even if it does mean jumping the occasional light and doing the odd one way system, its all to keep the "devil" happy!
ps. Pont is right, do not generalise by judging a whole group based on your experiences with one person (i seem to gather he is not even a friend) you seem very ill-informed (the statement that the Duke of York is the pub of choice is an immediate give-away!)
If you are going to bother writing a column criticising someone do your homework properly!!!!!!!
Is there a forum for responsible cycling even knowing to get across central london may involve going entirely down the wrong way one way streets and on the pavement?
Are there any statistcis to back up the "myth" that most badly
behaved cyclists are w*ite middle class & "neuveau" cyclists?
Has anyone noticed UK cities are designed for cars not cyclists
and the "highway code" urgently needs to be reformed to exempt cyclists from rules used for people in protected boxes and often 9ft off the ground?
Does anyone know if Glenda Jackson is sincere on cycling?
RE: 'Take on the devil’s own delivery men'
What utter horsepiss. Fiona, you are a liar and rude to. Couriers have far more experience riding in London than you will ever have, and as such are as a group considerably safer. Anyone who needs to practice 'emergency stops' in parks should probably get off the road. Do not judge a group by the actions of your neighbour. You are also misleading - if not a liar. Going 'the wrong way into Columbia road' - what, the 10 metres or so of an absurd one-way system? and 4 miles from clerkenwell rd to columbia rd - more like 1.5. Stop exagerating your crap cycling achievments.
'Why adhere to a law that endangers me?' (re illegal pavement cycling) The same stupid selfish comment could possibly be made about knife-carrying. Get off the pavement, you selfish git - even if people say nothing to you don't take it as tacit acceptance, it's probably because they're frightened. Read letters in the local press and reports of local community and police meetings - it's you and others like you who are making the pavements in London a no-go area for old, disabled and vulnerable people. What a stupid and irresponsible article for Time Out to endorse - I will not be purchasing it again.
I was with a cyclist who was catapulted off her bike in an accident last week. She landed on her head and shoulder. Result: Helmet severely dented, concussion, face had a nasty case of road rash, broken collar bone. Without a helmet I think it could have been much worse.
Re: amazing statistics - the trouble with accident statistics is it is impossible to measure all the accidents that don't happen...
Did the writer really mean;
'Anarchic behaviour under the guise of protest is selfish and self-defeating.'
Or perhaps;
Selfish behaviour under the guise of protest is self-defeating.
Or maybe;
Selfish behaviour under the guise of anarchy is self-defeating.
Clean up on the stereotypes mate.
I ride through that road system most days and, as I've found generally with cycling in London at all times of day and night, if you ride with your wits about you, it isn't a problem. A cycle lane past Central St. Martin's would be safer and there's loads of pavement but in the mean time the author should grow a pair and use the road.
LB 's Southwark and Lewisham provide free Adult Cycle Training for all those who live, work or study in the borough. Available via www.cyclinginstructor.com. Online Booking!
Statistics show that amazingly cyclists who wear helmets have more accidents than cyclists who don't. This is because, the study says, drivers of cars and other vehicles tend to take it "slightly easy" when they see a cyclist wearing a helmet as opposed to when a cyclist is unprotected. A model Catch-22 situation innit?