Monthly Archives: July 2013

The troubling attitude behind the “Nice Way Code”

Posted on July 30, 2013 by aseasyasriding

A few weeks ago the The Times covered the thoughts of Richard Allchin – Bradley Wiggins’s former manager has urged cyclists not to jump red lights and to respect the rules of the roads, adding that motorists will only stop … Continue reading →

Posted in Dangerous driving, Subjective safety | 34 Comments

Skyrides, and suppressed demand

Posted on July 29, 2013 by aseasyasriding

Going on a Skyride is a curious experience for someone interested in increasing the use of bicycles as a mode of transport; both uplifting and dispiriting in equal measure. It’s uplifting, because seeing thousands of ordinary people out on bikes … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure, Skyride, Subjective safety, The Netherlands | 26 Comments

They’re much better behaved on the continent, aren’t they?

Posted on July 23, 2013 by aseasyasriding

A common refrain from British cycling campaigners is that continental drivers respect and understand cyclists – that there is better behaviour towards people cycling, and general courtesy and civility amongst road users. This is either attributed to ‘culture’, or to … Continue reading →

Posted in Dangerous driving, Infrastructure, Subjective safety, The Netherlands | 21 Comments

Leon Daniels and ‘knee-jerk reactions’

Posted on July 18, 2013 by aseasyasriding

In the wake of the latest cycling death in London, the head of Transport for London’s Surface Transport, Leon Daniels, told BBC News I think it’s very important we don’t have too much of a knee jerk reaction. Of course, … Continue reading →

Posted in Go Dutch, Gyratories, Infrastructure, London, Subjective safety, The Netherlands, Transport for London | 43 Comments

Make the public wear stab-proof vests and chainmail, says Mr Loophole

Posted on July 15, 2013 by aseasyasriding

A lawyer famous for defending people who wave knives about dangerously in public has called for the the wearing of stab-proof vests and chainmail to be made compulsory. The lawyer, known as Mr Loophole – who has earned a reputation for … Continue reading →

Posted in Absurd transport solutions, Dangerous driving, Helmets | 9 Comments

‘It is not just my fault’

Posted on July 9, 2013 by aseasyasriding

The remarkable story of how a driver ‘lost control’, and careered the wrong way up a one-way system, injuring three people, because… someone on a bike shouted at him. A driver whose car mowed down pedestrians and smashed into a … Continue reading →

Posted in Dangerous driving | 4 Comments

Stop thinking about ‘cyclists’, start thinking about people on bikes

Posted on July 9, 2013 by aseasyasriding

I attended the City of London’s Cycling Forum last week, where the main items of discussion were the proposed plans for the Aldgate gyratory, and the City’s plans for cycle routes in the City of London. As it turned out, … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Gilligan, Boris Johnson, Cycle Superhighways, Cycling policy, Go Dutch, Gyratories, Helmets, Infrastructure, London, Subjective safety, Transport for London | 17 Comments

The issue of black crime

Posted on July 4, 2013 by aseasyasriding

Imagine if a black politician tweeted the following – We can be our own worse enemy. A black man on Kentish Town Road just robbed a shop. This tweet is then challenged by several followers, who point out that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Stereotyping | 47 Comments

Where are Britain’s practical bikes?

Posted on July 1, 2013 by aseasyasriding

One of the many impressions from my recent trip to the Netherlands is how everybody rides pretty much the same bike. This is the basic – and pretty indestructible – classic Dutch bike. It’s either single speed, or has hub … Continue reading →

Posted in Cycle sport, Cycling renaissance, Helmets, Infrastructure, Subjective safety, The Netherlands | 130 Comments