On ya bike

Got on my bike for the first time in a few months last night.  Got out of the habit of using it.  It was great to get the exercise and be carbon neutral and I am sure the journey was quicker than by car given the bad traffic (it was rush hour).   How about it?  Cycling is fun and safe as long as you have good lights and wear a helmet (took me a long time to convince myself this made sense, I always wore it off-road but didn't bother on the road until a friend had an accident off road and the helmet saved him -  now I do) and ideally a reflective top/tabbard. 

Comments

[Mel]

Hi Russell,

You are right, I read a paper that LCC wrote that said that journeys by bike of up to 8 miles take, on average, a third less time that on public transport, or in a car. In rush hour, the difference is even more marked.

Please do get a high vis strip or tabard. I know a few keen cyclists who are against this, as they say that drivers should be vigilant, but we know that they are not always, and I include all road users in that category. It makes me shudder when I see all these cyclists who wear no lights and dark clothes in winter. I figure that at least I am upping my chances of being seen with high vis, although it is still not a given.

Also, my high vis was the source of some amusement the other day. I went to my cousin's on my bike, and when I arrived his 4YO son said "Hey Mel, have you come as a policeman?" Bless, I wish my whole life really could be fancy dress!