tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post1777624720745412313..comments2024-02-24T06:21:30.987+01:00Comments on A view from the cycle path: Cycling is "booming" in the UK ?David Hembrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-15377013671871743742010-05-12T10:04:54.615+02:002010-05-12T10:04:54.615+02:00Yes - I do realise what the video is showing. As y...Yes - I do realise what the video is showing. As you are no doubt aware, conditions in the Netherlands aren't always perfect and drivers aren't very well behaved.<br /><br />You summarised exactly the point I made in my previous comment. I repeat:<br /><br />"The best anyone could say is that cycling has stopped declining and may have slightly increased."<br /><br />There is farAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-23150839224646734032010-05-11T00:13:59.567+02:002010-05-11T00:13:59.567+02:00Anonymous: You may not have heard it, but many peo...Anonymous: You may not have heard it, but <a href="http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/radio-4-highlights-britains-booming-cycle-businesses-25694" rel="nofollow">many</a> <a href="http://www.practicaltriathlon.com/www/blog/default.asp?id=170" rel="nofollow">people</a> <a href="http://www.clickgreen.org.uk/research/data/12157-bike-sales-booming-as-recession-hit-travellers-turn-green.html" rel="David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-81141632822306427422010-05-10T20:45:38.745+02:002010-05-10T20:45:38.745+02:00As always, you are slightly misrepresenting the re...As always, you are slightly misrepresenting the real case.<br /><br />Firstly who says that cycling is 'booming'? I live in the UK and I've not heard anyone say that. The best anyone could say is that cycling has stopped declining and may have slightly increased.<br /><br />The data you cite is from the National Travel Survey. It shows that cycle trips remain at just 16 a year. A Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-23861057477106426582010-05-04T14:29:16.863+02:002010-05-04T14:29:16.863+02:00@billy - shared use in UK is almost always without...@billy - shared use in UK is almost always without priority. If you can change that, then that is significant and worthwhile.<br /><br />Changing the priority at junctions on a general basis would be a major step for the UK (and is something that National government would need to be involved in). If you can manage that, then I would think it well worth pursuing separation as well. <br /><br />Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11443493823465136241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-82332656628719089112010-05-03T23:28:01.235+02:002010-05-03T23:28:01.235+02:00Billy: I have to point out that the infrastructure...Billy: I have to point out that the infrastructure you saw in Germersheim looks very second rate compared with the Netherlands.<br /><br />Shared use is not the norm in NL <a href="http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2008/10/pedestrians-sharing-with-cyclists.html" rel="nofollow">because it doesn't work well</a>. It's extremely rare to find places where cyclists share with pedestrians in any David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-18948571242975266592010-05-03T22:11:22.608+02:002010-05-03T22:11:22.608+02:00Not so Neil. Shared use is not the worst provision...Not so Neil. Shared use is not the worst provision. it was working fine in Germany last weekend.<br />You don't have to lose priority at junctions. Plenty of the German junctions I saw had cyclist priority, and the cars slowed down and gave way. It was wonderful.<br />Imo, we should start with what we have, improve on that and then go for the pipe dreams. If cyclists want to ride in such a billynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-70148950101842400842010-05-03T13:11:39.468+02:002010-05-03T13:11:39.468+02:00@billy - Shared use is the worst cycle provision a...@billy - Shared use is the worst cycle provision and so generally the least preferred option. Except by those drivers who are just interested in removing cyclists from 'their' road and not caring who is inconvenienced.<br /><br />Shared use is completely unsuitable for the speed of many cyclists. <br /><br />By being on the pavement rather than on the road, you lose priority at junctions Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11443493823465136241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-11690021306867056732010-04-30T21:49:47.888+02:002010-04-30T21:49:47.888+02:00I went to the Spezi show last week and had my firs...I went to the Spezi show last week and had my first experience of cycling in Germany; it was wonderful.<br />I've cycled in London, York, Oxford and Cambridge and they are all, by and large, flat to flattish. The Nederlands, I have read, are also flattish. Ordinary folk are unlikely to cycle in hillier cities. imo.<br />With reference to walkers, they already have a separate to motor vehicleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-92058576964917028852010-04-29T16:43:32.266+02:002010-04-29T16:43:32.266+02:00Our local count seems to show fairly flat cycle nu...Our local count seems to show fairly flat cycle numbers, though puzzlingly I have seen a graph that shows the same numbers as an increase (and not from someone trying to distort the view).<br /><br />Worryingly - I think I am observing a large increase in helmet wearing. No figures for this yet though.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11443493823465136241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-13433441128940495812010-04-28T18:40:49.751+02:002010-04-28T18:40:49.751+02:00Hi David,
Like Townmouse, Freewheeler & Anon,...Hi David,<br /><br />Like Townmouse, Freewheeler & Anon, i'd agree that cycling is on the increase in the UK, albeit on a small scale. Although the numbers dropped off a little round here through the winter, enough carried on for the difference to be notable. Up in York, cycling is strong and according to a relative who lives nearby, continued unabashed.<br /><br />Slowly but surely, Isla...https://www.blogger.com/profile/09569097700652272494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-89625363269491679552010-04-27T16:37:10.308+02:002010-04-27T16:37:10.308+02:00Yes, I've seen somewhere else (not sure if it ...Yes, I've seen somewhere else (not sure if it was an opinion or proper study) that parking issues and prices has a greater affect on peoples behaviour than fuel prices etc. I can't remember what the speculated reasons where though.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11443493823465136241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-90180654213345430062010-04-27T14:26:49.830+02:002010-04-27T14:26:49.830+02:00I would say that cycling is on the increase in UK,...I would say that cycling is on the increase in UK, but I wouldn't use the word booming. <br />I have moved to a new office which has limited car parking and as a result we have seen an instant increase in the numbers of people walking, cycling, taking the bus and sharing cars. <br />The change is not entirely through use of the stick, the office has tidy covered cycle parking, reasonable Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-23688367100026480162010-04-26T22:05:16.183+02:002010-04-26T22:05:16.183+02:00Sadly, Freewheeler is right about the decline in c...Sadly, Freewheeler is right about the decline in children walking. These statistics were also published and I included them in <a href="http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2010/02/is-cycling-getting-safer-in-britain.html" rel="nofollow">a previous blog post</a>.<br /><br />To summarise, in 1989 62% of 5-10 year olds and 48% of 11-16 year olds in Britain walked to school. Both have seen a steady decline David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-37450208519843339312010-04-26T21:32:06.282+02:002010-04-26T21:32:06.282+02:00I think Kevin Love is wrong about walking. Nationa...I think Kevin Love is wrong about walking. Nationally it has declined as much as cycling. Children used to walk to school, now many get driven. Generally, local authorities have little interest in measuring walking. Britain is as hostile to walking as it is to cycling; the infrastructure favours driving.<br /><br />As for cycling in London. Look carefully at the statistics and you'll find freewheelerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16731932510033958017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-43443147480630726002010-04-26T17:57:28.580+02:002010-04-26T17:57:28.580+02:00Townmouse: I'd be very very happy to be able t...Townmouse: I'd be very very happy to be able to report that the tide really had turned.<br /><br />For those who've not seen the Daily Mail article in question, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1267554/Britains-barmiest-bike-lane-wide-rest-road.html" rel="nofollow">click here</a>. It's a very rare example of a cycle lane in the UK which has actually been built to the David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-48850254035758732652010-04-26T17:34:28.634+02:002010-04-26T17:34:28.634+02:00Well, I don't know about Nottingham, because I...Well, I don't know about Nottingham, because I've only been there once, but my observations (anecdotal I know) of London are based over the last five years or so, both living there, and now going back regularly, all through the year. Obviously nothing like the NL, of course. But given the anti-bike culture that exists in the lot of the UK (including the Daily Mail's current ranting townmousehttp://cityexile.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-15623664845619882812010-04-26T17:21:27.352+02:002010-04-26T17:21:27.352+02:00townmouse: Spring always brings more cyclists, so ...townmouse: Spring always brings more cyclists, so around this time of year it's quite normal for observations to be made about how popular cycling has become. This happens every year. However, if there really was an increase over last year it would show in the figures.<br /><br />Minor increases in one place are being offset by minor decreases elsewhere.<br /><br />"Full" and "David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-55253665083379178962010-04-26T12:30:12.655+02:002010-04-26T12:30:12.655+02:00The official figures may not show it yet, but ther...The official figures may not show it yet, but there definite increase in cycling in the UK. It's pretty marked in London, but I was noticing it in Nottingham too - full bike racks, bikes and bike signs and routes everywhere. If that's what's happened with the conditions on the road as they are, think what could be done if cyclists were provided for properly. Yet the only people reallytownmousehttp://cityexile.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-85220531434581619872010-04-26T03:47:16.679+02:002010-04-26T03:47:16.679+02:00A while back at Taipei Cycle, John Burke of Trek m...A while back at Taipei Cycle, John Burke of Trek made the strong case that if you simply build the infrastructure, people will use it. He gave the example of, I think it was, Louisville, which was hardly a bike-friendly place. Local gov sure turned that around. Real infrastructure built with real cyclists' input will produce real change.Sabinnahttp://www.satincesena.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-85446330181542259182010-04-26T01:14:32.690+02:002010-04-26T01:14:32.690+02:00One thing that I noticed was that the walking mode...One thing that I noticed was that the walking mode share was a respectable 22%. Cycling has declined in the last 40 years, but walking has not.<br /><br />One can even see this in popular culture. For example in the cartoon "Andy Capp." When I was young, Andy and his pals cycled everywhere. Now they walk. <br /><br />I wonder if art is imitating life here. In other words, a lot of Kevin Lovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13186428862833389619noreply@blogger.com