Why do so few people cycle?

Mids_Costcutter

thriftymanc wrote: »

I'd love to cycle to work. It'd save me so much money. But it's not practical for me sadly - the roads I'd need to use are far too busy and I'm not a confident enough cyclist, I'd probably get run over within a week! Plus I don't actually think there's anywhere to put bikes at my work, and as I live in a city centre apartment block there's nowhere to put a bike at home either unless I want it sat in my bedroom or something. As I say not particularly practical all round sadly.

Thriftymanc, these barriers can all be overcome!

• Roads too busy? - find off-road / less-trafficked routes using your local cycle map or speak to a regular cyclist
• Don't feel so confident cycling on-road? - adult cycle training will help
• No cycle parking at work? - get on to your employer: there's always a solution and cycle parking doesn't cost very much, plus the cost is tax deductible and there are usually grants available from the local council
• No cycle parking at home? - if the car park is secure e.g. underground is there an unused space where a Sheffield stand or two could be installed? Wouldn't cost the landlord more than £300 to install 2 stands. Otherwise in the flat would a cycle hoist work in the hallway (simple pulley system which lifts the bike out of the way with hooks)?

If you do live in Manchester-area (going on your username) then the Cycle Greater Manchester web site would be a good place to start (includes online cycle route mapping):

http://www.cyclegm.org/

dannymccann

I dont cycle because
a) the weather is crap
b) I havent got the money to spend £00's on a decent road bike, and my mountain bike is too knackering for the road to keep up a decent pace
c) Work is 7 miles away down a dual carriageway
d) Whenever you eventually get to wherever you are going you are either soaked with rain or sweat, neither or which is appreciated by the people you are going to see / your colleagues
e) I have a motorbike

Chomeur

PasturesNew wrote: »

Also, you can't cycle to work because you'd arrive all hot and sweaty and smelly.

Maybe you've never worked in London, but millions of people here take the tube every day and as a result get to work hot and sweaty and smelly.

covmutley

Because it is much less convenient than taking my car. thats all.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

dannymccann wrote: »

I dont cycle because
a) the weather is crap
b) I havent got the money to spend £00's on a decent road bike, and my mountain bike is too knackering for the road to keep up a decent pace
c) Work is 7 miles away down a dual carriageway
d) Whenever you eventually get to wherever you are going you are either soaked with rain or sweat, neither or which is appreciated by the people you are going to see / your colleagues
e) I have a motorbike

£100 will get you a perfectly good second-hand road bike. You don't have to use the dual carriageway, and 10 miles can be completed in no more than 45 minutes. The thing about sweat is a myth, it dries in minutes and you do not smell. You look like a power ranger on your motorbike.

goldspanners

i used to cycle to college when i was a skint apprentice, it was an 8 mile cycle it took me about 25 -30 minutes.
to drive it, it took me 20 minutes.
to get the 2 buses i neede it took an hour.

perplexed.com

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

£100 will get you a perfectly good second-hand road bike. You don't have to use the dual carriageway, and 10 miles can be completed in no more than 45 minutes. The thing about sweat is a myth, it dries in minutes and you do not smell. You look like a power ranger on your motorbike.

The alternative to me not using a busy,narrow road is to cycle through fields! I also found that when I tried to cycle it wasn't the sweat that bothered me but the oil I always ended up with on my clothes, that and the fact that I couldn't seem to wear a skirt without it trying to kill me by winding itself around my wheels. Also, it's all very well talking about cyclecraft but it's not me who needs the tuition, it's the car drivers.

As a driver I have been aggressively tailgated by other drivers for not overtaking a cyclist when I would have brushed past them with centimetres to spare.

sebdangerfield

All rubbish excuses! Just MTFU and cycle to work! :j:beer:

I save hundreds each month and keep fit in the process, who cares if I get wet! My commute is 12 miles and most of it's dual carrageway. I have another option when the mood takes which is 17 miles along the canal, much nicer than the road I'll admit.

Seriously though, most of the excuses above are crap! hundreds of thousands commute to work every day along wet, busy, dual carrageways and have no problem at all. I even get there faster on my bike! From where I live in pattingham to Birmingham is 12 miles through Wolverhampton and Brum. In the car it takes 40-60 mins depending on traffic. On the bike it always takes 35 mins no matter what. I even managed to get 40 something percent off a new bike through the cycle sceme.

Rolandtheroadie

scotsman4th wrote: »

Add to that the fact that I'm a bit of a lazy !!!!!!!, full of excuses, overweight and lack motivation, no, I dont cycle.

I refer the honourable gentleman to the response I gave some days ago.

HOWEVER. If cycling was quicker, it would probably become an option. Perhaps another feeble excuse but.......

cheesecake0117

When I used to cycle to work I just put my work clothes in a backpack. Takes 30 seconds to change when I get there.

I have since lost that job and can no longer cycle beacuse I now work as a field engineer so have a tool box and all the other equipment to carry.