29th July 2014

I hear that the Post Office is phasing out the use of bicycles in order to be more competitive. I'm not sure this is a good idea in London. Certainly it is the quickest way to travel around however, comfort is another matter due to the weather and breakdowns. I do about 500miles a month and what with tyres ( I buy Vredesteins as they puncture less than others I have used ), break pads, general maintenance etc, I get through about £200 a year. Surely this has to be less than the cost of a van or car or even motorcycle. I assume undervaluing the Post Office business by a billion or so, may have something to do with phasing out cycles. ( large capital expenditure and running costs ) What do you think?
LCO

28th July 2014

Thinking about it the last few weeks have been much quieter from a traffic perspective and it has been reported that Boris Bikes have had record use, it is assumed due to the weather. I state assumed because there are school holidays and it is also Ramadan. Cycling home this evening, the traffic was noticeably busier. Is it that children on holiday have been using the Boris Bikes as entertainment ( I have seen a few doing 'wheelies' ) or that Muslims account for a large amount of traffic in London?
LCO

25th July 2014

Cycling, as I have done so, for quite a few years now, it takes something special to surprise me and yet  here it was on a sunny Friday morning. Whilst drawing closer to traffic I was aware of a small car pulling out from the opposite side of the road to join the back of a queue where two lanes of traffic had stopped. The traffic was longer on the right hand side as this was to go straight on at the light and the left hand side was much shorter as this was for traffic turning left. The small car wanted to go left so was about to move across to the left hand lane when all of a sudden I caught sight of a cyclist who decided that not only did the lights not apply to him, but also that cycling between cars pointing in the other direction was a good idea. Better still, cycling at speed!


The inevitable happened resulting in an ambulance being called, a damaged car as well as shaken drivers and a broken bike. The cyclist appeared concussed and had blood pouring from his head and elbows as he ranted about bad drivers.


Are all cyclists getting a bad name because of the 'few', or is the 'few' now becoming the majority?
LCO

July 24th 2014

The fine that was not a fine part 1


 In the latter part of 2012, I was stopped on my cycle by a Community Police Officer ( hereinafter CPO ). I had followed a cycle route directional arrows and markings from a main road that took me across two shared pedestrian traffic lights ( Toucan crossing ) and onto a footway that had numerous cycle parking frames. I had been following an elderly lady who appeared to know the area as I was unfamiliar territory. As the lady pulled over to chain her bicycle I went on two cycle frames further and it was then that I was stopped. I had not seen any signage telling me it was purely a pedestrian area. Given the time of the day there were not many pedestrians. The CPO then proceeded to issue me with a ticket and a fine of £30. I stated that there isn't any signage advising and he said "I know."
LCO

July 23rd 2014

Clunkers - those cyclists who rarely cycle and when they do, it will likely be in known weather. The cycle they have may be an old Raleigh or Pashley with a chain guard. The act of pedalling 'clunks' the crank against the ill-fitting chain guard, resulting in a constant metronomic 'clunk'. Hence 'Clunkers'.
How many 'Clunkers' will you spot this week?
LCO

July 22nd 2014

Earphones. Although there are times when cycling to music is a pleasant experience away from traffic, cycling in the rush hour with earphones in traffic, has to be considered a bit daft. You miss so much information. It would be of interest if any of the spat of recent cycling deaths in London could be attributed partially, to someone wearing earphones.
I wonder where you would find this information?
LCO

July 21st 2014

Back to work today after a leave of absence and I notice that the concerts have been completed in Hyde Park and the clean up begins. Hopefully the hoarding will start coming down soon and I imagine there will be a period between August and early November when the ground can recover.
It is good to be amongst the head-bobbers, swervers, lycra bikers, plodders, clatterers, clunkers and the over enthusiastic biking types again. The ground is noticeably more parched that when I last cycled this route. Is it the heat wave or the park getting more use?

July 10th 2014

Cycling from Bloomsbury Road, Theobalds Road to Clerkenwell Road the other day. I found my self having to constantly swerve because of ruts, furrows, holes, ridges, gaps, sunken drain covers, protruding drain covers, Boris Bikers, Lycra Bikers, furrows, proud road markings, eradicated road markings, scree, rubbish and slipped kerbs.
I am aware the government intends to put more money into the roads following a series of difficult winters and maintenance underspend but the above mentioned route would be suggested as a priority.
Other bad roads that I believe should be a priority for repair in London are New Oxford Street, Lowndes Street and Tottenham Court Road.
What would be your priorities for repair?
LCO

July 11th 2014

Rain today and the roads are busy however, because there are fewer cyclists on the road, the whole cycling to work exercise seems much safer. Parked my bike in the rack and I was the only one where normally there would be five or six as a minimum.
We seem to be getting to the stage, that in the summer months ( except for rainy days ) we have reached a saturation point for cycling traffic.
Last week, I was waiting in a large queue of cycles to go through the lights from Hyde Park across Knightsbridge. The lights changed to red before I got to the lights and I found myself near the front of a longer queue which led to overspill outside the designated cycle path, and ultimately a free-for-all across the road.
Has it got to the stage where cycle route widths need to be increased do to rush hour volumes?
LCO

July 9th 2014

I stopped behind a red van today in traffic and on the rear, written in dirt, was a string of abuse towards cyclists. Mostly the language was foul and in some instances physically impossible however, in summary the comments were advising cyclists to keep clear and stop colliding into the van's wing mirrors.
As with any disagreements there are problems and solutions. Why do cyclists keep hitting the wing mirrors of the van? I suggest the following could be a selection of answers:

1. The wing mirrors are too big
2. The red van stops at junctions or in traffic without consideration of cycling flow - deliberately or otherwise
3. The van is too big
4. The driver is inadequate
5. The roads are too narrow
6. The cyclists or the van is in too much of a hurry
7. The cyclists think they own the road
8. A bad hair day for the cyclist or van driver

Any others?
LCO

July 8th 2014

Back through Hyde Park this morning. I noted that a police van had parked up next to the 7/7 memorial following last nights vandalism. I'm not sure what that achieved apart from perhaps a further distancing between Muslims and the general population that finds any desecration of memorials, monuments or gravestones, abhorrent.
Still, the overnight population, usually seen at this time of the year ( see post July 3rd 2014 ), seemed lacking. There used to regular patrols by the Parks Constabulary but security was handed over to the Metropolitan Police years ago.
Are we getting to a stage where a permanent Police presence in Hyde Park should be reconsidered?
LCO

July 7th 2014

Well the Tour De France comes to London and I'm off to the City today for a meeting.
There are diversions in place from around Buckingham Palace in preparation and halfway up the Mall all cyclists ( no cars allowed today ) are diverted past St James Palace towards Pall Mall. Lot's of cyclists today probably because of the event and a few seem to be completely ignoring signals and traffic ( more so than usual ).
I wonder if those cyclists think they own the road today?
LCO

July 4th 2014

Head bobbers - I have noticed whilst cycling that there are distinct head movements according to experience. The more experienced cyclists heads stay still whereas, the less experienced or indeed, most Boris bikers, have a side to side bobbing head.


I am unsure of the psychology behind this, or is it just down to poor cycle set up or lack of understanding of the mechanics of a cycle.


Have a look next time you are out. Am I right?


LCO

July 3rd 2014

What a lovely day! The sun is out and it is warm at 0800hrs. Cycling through Hyde Park this morning, I notice a number of dark objects in the sun and on the grass.


It seems that there are people who stay in the park overnight at this time of the year, whether they be rough sleepers, party animals or economic migrants from the European union or other parts of the UK, it seems that Hotel Hyde Park is the place to stay. Perhaps the park should think about opening the lavatories earlier for the overnight crowd?


LCO

July 2nd 2014

The winter has been hard and the tourists are aplenty. The white markings in Hyde Park have worn so much that the cycle route designations are unclear.


Add regular cyclists, throw in a few unaware tourists and maybe chuck in a few tourists on Boris bikes and bingo!


An accident waiting to happen?


LCO

July 1st 2014

Cycling through Hyde Park this morning, I notice that the area between speakers corner and the Serpentine is closed off again for another concert. Green hoarding completely spoils the view I enjoy across the park.


Thinking about it, from early November 2013 the area noted above, has not been accessible for a while. Initially due to Winter Wonderland, then a long period rectifying the damage caused, followed by seeding and preparation. This work only finished in early June, when it was completely open to all. A week later it closed again in order to commence preparation for the impending concerts.


Assuming the maintenance staff will take a few months to repair the damage caused by the concerts the area should be in a suitable condition just in time to cover it up again with the Winter Wonderland placement.


Is this this the equivalent of painting the Forth Bridge but without the amenity?


LCO