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Cycle Fridays

AliAli
edited August 2009 in Local discussion
TfL are running escorted cycle comutes from Finsbury Park to St Pauls every Friday up until October. 8am start from Finsbury Park gates see http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/12293.aspx?lid=switcher
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  • DavidDavid
    edited 1:46AM
    Crap. There goes my nice empty street cruise to work on Fridays.
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  • tosscattosscat
    edited 1:46AM
    [sigh](http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/12293.aspx?lid=switcher)
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  • tosscattosscat
    edited 1:46AM
    I've never tried this route. It looks a bit circuitous, but I may give it a go.
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  • ShaunGShaunG
    edited 1:46AM
    That's the route I would take, as far as Rosebery Ave, but I'd definitely whizz down Farringdon after that.
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  • AliAli
    edited 1:46AM
    I guess that is because it is mainly keeping away from main roads and I guess on ways as well It is the same as the route to Holborn but don't turn left at Margery Street According to TfL Journey Planner it takes 21 mins by tube and 23 on a bike, you should hardly break sweat !
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  • tosscattosscat
    edited 1:46AM
    Tried it this morning - way too many speed bumps for me and yonks spent at traffic lights at Holloway Road and Pentonville Road.
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  • ShaunGShaunG
    edited 1:46AM
    Pentonville Rd, yes, and the long wait is made worse by watching tossers shoot on through. Holloway Rd, though, can be avoided by turning right one street early and joining Holloway Rd before the junction with the little baby cycle lights. Sorry no time to check street names etc, but it involves the street with a poncey looking bakery (le peche mignon?).
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  • DavidDavid
    edited 1:46AM
    Anyone see the cycle friday crew this morning? We caught up with them around the stadium, then passed on. Probably about 40 I'd say? Maybe less, not great at counting crowds. They were cruising slowly and chatting, it was almost like a mobile social club. Quite sweet really.
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  • bennyfromtheblokbennyfromtheblok
    edited 1:46AM
    I now have this image of a few of them on penny farthings wearing Union Jack blazers.
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  • DavidDavid
    edited 1:46AM
    Almost. I was hoping for a mobile stall selling cup cakes.
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  • bennyfromtheblokbennyfromtheblok
    edited 1:46AM
    Maybe that could be organised for next week. I'm thinking along the lines of what they do in the Tour de France with the bottles of Gatorade, but they could hand out milky tea and Swiss roll from the side of the road.
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  • DavidDavid
    edited 1:46AM
    Rather like cheesecake, I've always got time for Swiss roll.
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  • AliAli
    edited 1:46AM
    There must be quite a few people started to cycle to work after the Friday escorted ride into town. There was a very impressive set of people sticking there arms out to indicate where they are going ! It is a bit disappointing though of the number people who seem to cycle with out any high visibility jackets etc. It is almost like cycling in camouflage and must make it more dangerous for them and less easy for drivers to see
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  • DavidDavid
    edited 1:46AM
    Cycling sensibly rates far higher than helmet or jacket for me. While that stuff can limit damage nothing can save certain riders from their own stupidity. I was going to give examples but then realised there's far too many to list.
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  • neilfneilf
    edited 1:46AM
    > It is a bit disappointing though of the number people who seem to cycle with out any high visibility jackets etc. Or lights, in the dark. I almost bashed into a couple of people last night -- didn't notice them at all. I suppose now it's just starting to get dark earlier and people haven't bothered to put their lights on yet. The Cycle Friday route is almost the same as mine, as far as Pentonville Road, and it's a very nice route. Luckily I'm never up at anything like 8am, so will avoid the hordes.
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  • doctorlalloodoctorlalloo
    edited 1:46AM
    I used to hear similar moans from biker friends when I used to commute around london on a motorcycle (and scooter in winter), they'd always blame the other road users for causing/almost causing accidents.

    If you're going to ride like a tw*t then you WILL get into trouble.

    My philosophy is - if my actions will put another road user/ pedestrian in danger then it's not worth doing.
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  • ShaunGShaunG
    edited 1:46AM
    "If you're going to ride like a tw*t then you WILL get into trouble." Exactly. And the other even more obvious point is, if you are a person on a bike, and the other party is a lorry/ bus, we all know which one is going to come off worse, so it really doesn't matter who's to blame.
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  • DavidDavid
    edited August 2009
    I think the mere fact that lorry's now have stickers on the rear that say _"If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you."_ speaks volumes for how little some cyclists think about the road. Can't find the stats but think almost all cyclist deaths in London this year were with a lorry of some kind. On top of that, while its fast in London, I actually find most drivers considerate of cyclists. I cycled out to Essex the other day and as soon as you get out of say Zone 4 suddenly you feel far more vulnerable - motorists seem to not give a toss about you outside the city.
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