Latest Q&A

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2. Does anybody know the latest policies on taking you bike on public transport these days, i.e. bus, train and tram? 3 answers

   Asked by _x_Rosey-Annie_x_ 28 days ago

   1. 
      Elmer_Craven

      Where do you live Rosey Annie? San Francisco was really good -- the buses had bike racks on the front, you could load your bike up, you could take your bike on BART off peak hours, and Cal-train had a bike carriage that could fit about 40 cycles. Dublin, where i live now , is waaay behind. No bikes allowed on DART, and there's a 10 Euro charge if you want to take the rothar on iarnrod eireann (the Irish national rail network). We're seriously behind. would be curious about other places.

   2. 
      _x_Rosey-Annie_x_

      Manchester!! I see, it is quite intriguing the Americans are aead of us lol. All this international networking available and still we have this inability to catch on to good ideas =O! So manchester(UK) guys, any clues?

   3. 
      SharpSharp

      Hi Rosey-Annie. Most trains around Manchester are run by Northern Rail and they actively encourage people to take bikes on trains and they don't require you to have a reservation. Most of the InterCity train companies require you to have a reservation for your bike, but reservations are free.
      National Express East Coast are the only train company in the UK that allows you to book a bike reservation online.

      Bikes aren't generally allowed on trams in the UK, and definitely not on Metrolink.

      However, folding bikes are OK on trains and trams with no need for a reservation.

      I came across bike-racks on the fronts of buses in Santa Barbara, CA when I was there over 10 years ago. I'd love to have them in the UK on inter-town bus services.

3. Is there an online Route Planner for your town? 6 answers

   Asked by Elmer_Craven about 1 month ago

   1. 
      Busybee

      What town are you interested in Elmer?

   2. 
      Elmer_Craven

      Here's one for where I live, Dublin, hosted by the Dublin Transport Office: http://www.dto-journeyplanner.ie/
      There's a calorie counter and Carbon saved feature. Burn those calories and save that carbon!!

   3. 
      Elmer_Craven

      I'm interested in every town Busybee! I live in Dublin and use the DTO planner (see my previous post) but am interested about route planners in other cities in case I find myself in a place and what better way to get to know it than cycling it.

   4. Scubasue

      Wow, Dublin is way ahead of Colchester. I just have maps or I can use a satnav/other online route planners but I'll pass the idea on and point them to Dublin's.

   5. 
      hubmedia

      I've not seen a specific route planner but I tend to use a mix of Sustran's route maps (http://www.sustrans.org.uk/) and Google Maps. Seeing as it's also National Bike Week (http://www.bikeweek.org.uk/), check out their route tracker tool

   6. 
      Busybee

      Just came across this site for NY cyclists http://www.ridethecity.com/index.php

4. Does your town need a Critical Mass? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass) 6 answers

   Asked by Elmer_Craven 2 months ago

   1. 
      elastik

      Yes!
      I just checked if there was anything about it in my town (Lodz, Poland), and actually found a web site in polish about it with a link to our own Critical Mass - Masa Krytyczna.
      Unfortunately the web site was dead. So my guess is - yes we need one here too!
      I gotta get another bike someday…

   2. 
      Elmer_Craven

      Critical Masses in Dublin, where I live, seem to be fairly infrequent events, though with the state of rush hour traffic in Dublin I'd be fearful of enraged motorist; someone was knocked down by one at a Critical Mass event a few years ago: http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/news/2002/critmassAPR.html
      My town could do with a decent Bike Coalition, San Francisco (http://www.sfbike.org/) have a really good model.

   3. 
      TandA

      Absolutely.

      I live in Red Deer, Canada. Home to oilfield trucks with lifted suspension and 4 wheel drive. I am not sure if there would be enough bicycle riders to mount a Critical Mass but it would be great to see.

   4. 
      BeePositive

      Critical Mass rocks! Such a great way to end a Friday evening.I can't wait to be in Toronto for the Cycle Messenger World Championships 2008! see www.cmwc2008.com
      And yes avoid the trucks!

   5. 
      _x_Rosey-Annie_x_

      What's a critical mass??? It sounds quite frightening haha.

   6. 
      Elmer_Craven

      Hi Rosey-Annie,
      Critical Mass is an organized bike ride that takes place in different cities last Friday of the month. The intention is for bikes to take over the streets, and remind city authorities about cyclist rights.
      More info in wikipedia:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass

      They're usually good fun but can get frightening -- a participant was knocked down at a critical mass event in Dublin a few years back -- http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/news/2002/critmassAP
      -- and other events have gotten confrontational with Police, particularly in San Francisco.

5. Ever been knocked down on your bike? 11 answers

   Asked by Elmer_Craven 2 months ago

   1. 
      Busybee

      Goes with the territory! But remember kids wear a helmet. But you know I don't mind taking a hit for the cause!

   2. 
      Elmer_Craven

      Answering my own question here, and the answer is a qualified "yes". I was cycling to work when a car hit me while going for a parking space that was between me and him... the doctor thought my left wrist was fractured, but that thankfully turned out to be a mis-diagnosis. This happenned 4 months ago, but I'm still very skittish on the bike (I don't own a car so have to cycle everywhere). While the guy was totally in the wrong, it was also partially my fault for not watching the traffic (I was rushing due to lateness) and also listening to my ipod. I've since given both up (rushing and listening to my ipod while cycling). In over a year of cycling in Dublin this is the only incident I've had, so not all that bad. I need to get over my nervousness on the bike though.

   3. Robeam

      Never !! Touch wood. But i do have a lid.

   4. honey

      Me neither = but I'm a relative newby to cycling.

   5. 
      elastik

      Read this and remember: NEVER.LISTEN.TO.ANYTHING.BUT.TRAFFIC!
      No kind of helmet is going to compensate this kind of plain folly.

      I used to cycle a lot through a dense city center for about 10 years. Never had an accident. Never listened to any music/mobile phone. Plus - eyes all around your head. Always.
      this should keep you pretty sefe.

   6. 
      Jesper

      I did years ago - pretty minor. Haven't had one in last ten years. I have no problem in hammering on the roof a guy's car who's hemming me in or about to knock me over. Scares shit out of them, and they can't really get out of their car to argue the point anyway.

   7. VMeldrew

      Twice, once when I was 10 and once when I was 11 (on the same date of the year). We did not wear any helmets in those days. Both times I ended up in hospital for a few weeks. Ireland needs cycling lanes, especially in the country.

   8. 
      Elmer_Craven

      I hear you elastik. What you describe is my usual M.O. on the bike, but not that one fateful morning and I payed the price... Just yesterday, when crossing Ranelagh bridge in Dublin on my way home, I instinctively slowed because of the car to my right, which proceeded to turn left cutting off my path... S/he may have been aware of me but I wasn't taking any chances. My lesson is give yourself plenty of time to get where your going, you don't want to be in a rush on the bike.

   9. 
      SharpSharp

      I haven't been knocked off my bike for over 20 years. But I am a confident cyclist and I'm not afraid to position myself on the road where I can be seen. My wife used to cycle as close to the kerb as possible, but I encouraged her to move out a little and once she got over the initial fear she was amazed at how much safer she felt as cars gave her more room when they passed and if they were too close she now had a bit of road space to move into. However, confident riding doesn't include going though red lights!

   10. 
       QUE-VA

       yes twice boo hoo still have the scars and the fear to prove it!......but I wasn't wearing a helmet so would have been OK if I was!.....still though tempted to get back out there in that summer sun!

   11. 
       Guilly

       Yesssss!:(
       I know its part of the risk of riding but still not nice when it happens.

       Riding home from work a guy getting out of his car opened his door on me, result: 6 weeks in a cast.

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