Monday 30 April 2012

The Big (Wet) Ride

Regular readers of this blog might know that I like cycling. It is the cheapest, healthiest and most fun way to get about, or at least it would be if the British weather was better and London was more bike-friendly. This picture shows a bike box on Waterloo bridge - a space where cyclists can get ahead of traffic. But can you spot the bike LANE?


The bike lane is in the little dark space between those two buses. Imagine when the traffic roars away and you're between the canyon-like walls of buses and lorries. There have been fatalities.

So on Saturday T and I decided to go on the London Cycling Campaign's Big Ride. It's aimed at convincing London's mayoral candidates that London needs to be as safe for cyclists as Holland. .

The D-I-S-G-U-S-T-I-N-G, rainy freezing weather hadn't deterred several thousand people from gathering in Hyde Park with bikes of all shapes and sizes.


including some that were downright odd


Many people brought their hardy little kids. This little girl has a huge red butterfly painted on her face, I don't know why. Perhaps "going to the facepainter" was a bribe to persuade her to sit in her cycle cape for 3 hours waving her London Cycling Campaign flag..


The fashionable child below not only had matching suit and accessories but was well prepared with a pink parasol too.


This one looked a bit quizzical. He and his brother were being pedalled along by their dad. Daddy must have the strength of a lion, at least if he takes them anywhere with hills in that massive rig.


This one is attached onto her mum's bike, and Mum has also attached a zebra to keep the child happy.


Many people came in fancy dress. The gentleman below picks up the Dutch theme. (I do approve of Dutch attitudes to cycling, but ... *whisper whisper* you just try driving in Amsterdam at night, with all those crazy cyclists whizzing along with no lights - terrifying...)


The brolly hat shown below seemed colourful and elegant, yet practical. Well, practical anyway. Or maybe just colourful.


This cyclist brought along loads of balloons and made himself a striking hat. Here you see him offering me a tiny balloon the size of a plum.


This man is riding a tandem around Britain with a skeleton on the back. He's cycling to raise money for academic scholarships and has an interesting website here.

(Sorry for the lousy pictures by the way, they were taken on my phone since my camera doesn't like water. )

Some people looked very interesting. A classic bike club came along - I admired this 1920's cyclists's hat.




And this man totally looks the part of "cyclist"


Lots of people liked the bike glimpsed below - it's made of bamboo. And what about those tattoos? one on each calf, AND fab Goretex bootees - think I'll get some of those boots.



The ride was very slow at first, with a lot of waiting around to get through traffic lights - it took about five minutes of waiting at each light, and we were towards the front. Goodness knows what it was like at the back where the crowds had really built up.

We went round Hyde Park, along Piccadilly, past Fortnum and Mason's food emporium, beautifully decorated for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (I much prefer it to the Olympics, which are overshadowing it.) Those are the Queen's Beasts on Fortnum's facade. Click here if you want to know what the Queen's Beasts are)


We got wetter and wetter and wetter. These are my hands, going numb, cold water everywhere.



I snapped this patient, dripping little boy when we reached Trafalgar Square.
This participant had the inspiring slogan "Never Too Old" and a balloon to prove it.


The bobby on his bike kept a watchful eye on the proceedings. I've always thought it's a pity they don't issue them with policemen's cycle helmets, dark blue with a badge on the front.


There was a long fast run to Victoria embankment, the riders spread out and we ended up whizzing under an arch of red balloons, feeling glad we had made our point that the present system for bikes in London upsets and annoys everyone, and really needs to be changed.

We signed a petition ...

then T and I doubled back towards Waterloo Bridge (site of that awful cycle lane in my top picture).

We had to carry out bikes up four flights of stairs to get to the bridge, but it was worth it to get to the sanctuary of Somerset House with its excellent coffee shop. Below us on the Embankment, the cyclists streamed on towards the finish..

We decided to try and buy a teeshirt like this man's (below). In case you can't read it, it is modelled on a wartime poster which says KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON. The teeshirt designer has added one word, to make it say KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CYCLING.



Anyway, if you want to vote for the most cycle friendly candidates in the London elections, it's recommended to put Green first and Labour second on the ballot paper. Whether I can bring myself to vote for Ken Livingstone, is another matter though....


55 comments:

  1. I enjoyed the wonderful tour - - and I didn't even have to cycle to get there!
    Unfortunately, there are very few people brave enough to cycle here in West Texas. There's a big risk of collapsing from the intense heat, and an even bigger risk of getting pulverized by one of our many reckless and rude drivers.

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  2. Hello Jenny:
    We do so applaud your taking part in this cycle ride, and doubly so for continuing in the appalling weather conditions.

    It is quite beyond our understanding why London, and other such cities, do not make cycling a priority over other forms of traffic. After all, if there is a real concern for the environment, then this form of transport must surely be the greenest.

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  3. Oh, so nice. Love the different styles by all the cyclists. It isn't safe to cycle (or even walk, for that matter) here. Just like Jon said above, rude drivers rule the roads now.

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  4. Interesting post and interesting people! Cycling in Madrid is still so difficult... I wish it was like other cities of Spain that are much more cycle-fiendly. I live near Madrid and we have a good network of bike-lanes but I still miss many more places to leave the bike in front of public buildings, supermakets, etc, because how am i going to be able to use the bike not only for sport but as a means of transport if I can leave it nowhere? And how is it possible that our polititians have not thought about it? :)

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  5. This was delightful! I've never seen so many creative cyclists. I do hope it pays off and you get some safe places to cycle!

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  6. You and other cyclists must have had the patience of Job to ride the entire course! Well done and great photos of your adventure. :)

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  7. "Never too old and a balloon to prove it", how funny!
    Wow, what brave souls, this weather looks really rough.
    Never mind, I predict a great summer for England! See, if I am right.
    Love,
    Kay

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  8. Interesting photos! Bottom line,I think photography is about documentation and you've done a great job here. Hope the gathering made a difference!

    Ruby

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  9. You go girl!!!!! I don't think I could have done what you did that day. Rain and me doesn't mix well especially if it's cold. Our 'newer' roads have bike lanes along the sides. Problem is the 'newer' roads lead to 'older' roads with no bike lanes and no place to lock your bike when you aren't riding...

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  10. I totally enjoyed this ride . . . and with out frosty fingers and drips I might add. OMG . . . be safe on your rides . . . changes need to happen, Isend my signature for the petition!

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  11. Good for you, campaigning for this! Our city is not very bike friendly, either, although a law has been passed in the state saying cars must give bikes a minimum clearance of 3 feet when passing them. Let's hope "the powers that come to be" in London listen to all of you.

    At least the brolly hat would keep your hair dry, and make people smile.

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  12. Wonderful post. I hope it proves to make a difference. That bike lane must be the smallest I've ever seen.
    Eerie, 4th picture up from the end, buy on the left looks like my father, God rest his soul.

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  13. well done...I would love to cycle more in London but am terrified...when I've done the odd Boris Bike moment one of the worst things was the 'proper' cyclists whistling by at high speed, bums in the air, displaying their obvious contempt for my amateur cycling....!!

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  14. Good for you for going out on a miserable day to speak out for safety.

    Loved the pictures!

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  15. You are brave to bike in cold wet weather. DH is an avid biker, I'm not. Berkeley, CA is supposed to be a bike friendly city but the idea of riding along in auto traffic terrifies me.

    Darla

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  16. Enjoyed your photos. Biking looks like it requires too much gear, aside from the bike. I prefer walking and taking public transportation.

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  17. Okay, just let me put my bike down so I can comment! Gee that trip around town (especially) was just amazing! A nice cup of hot tea even sounds delightful! I know those bike lanes (often many drivers) could care less about, but you are taking life into the mad lane sometimes on the open road, and off trails. (The brightest of clothes often help!) Although, I've also heard hikers complain about bikers on the paths at time...and how they get scared when a biker come up so silently and screams, "On your left!" as they so often do, at the last moment before they ZOOM past! This was an exciting ride with you today, (I would have wanted to take a long visit inside Mason's though! Ha ha! Great photos once again, thanks so very much!

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  18. Well done you - and all those others who ventured out in such rotten weather. That cycle lane between the buses looks terrifying!

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  19. A fabulous way to demonstrate!So sorry it was raining. i like the t-shirt! :o) I'd like so much that we could ride bikes in city, with NO MORE cars! i must admit that I'm now to afraid to use a bike in towns.. :(

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  20. I think you are brilliant for going on this ride and rain certainly didn't put any of you good folks off from such a good cause. The photos of all the biking gear was fun to look at, and those bicycles too. I also enjoyed reading the link of the Queen's Beasts. Great read, thank you!

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  21. It may have been an inclement day, but it looks like such a mass of wonderful and interesting people!! Wow! I'd be terrified to be riding a bike in the center of two traffic lanes! If they want to change lanes and don't see you--you're toast! Awk! Thanks for bringing us along!! :)

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  22. Well done for braving weather and traffic to make this statement. I rather like that BBC logo of cyclists in the rain, but there is no other traffic on that particular island.
    The photos show some great eccentricity as well as bravery.

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  23. I think about buying a bike sometimes but Jenny promptly forbids me, saying it's far too dangerous! I must say cycling in the UK is pretty hazardous, as people have said because there are seldom dedicated cycle lanes separate from the roads and cyclists are expected to share the roads with reckless motorists who overtake them by inches or park in the cycle lanes. That cycle lane in the middle of the road is positively criminal, a serious accident waiting to happen. I gather that in other countries stand-alone cycle lanes are much more common which is why there are more cyclists.

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  24. How odd to have a bike lane in the middle of traffic. I don't bike much, so I don't have extensive experience, but I always see them on the side of the road here. I don't believe I've ever seen one in the middle.

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  25. Many thanks for stopping by - I feel exhausted after that bike ride. Are you a cycling expert? If you are you might be able to help me. I bought a bike last year but suffered really bad coxixt pain - Is there a special seat I can buy? The weather is really really foul and i have just about had enough of it! xxxxx

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  26. Cycling, except for recreation, is not as popular here in the US. There are way too may cars with aggressive drivers for me to feel safe. I can't imagine using the middle of the road as a bike lane. Even in New York City, the bike lanes are on the sides, and the bikes always have the right of way.

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  27. All those resilient children! I used to go on those rides where loads of cyclists met up to reclaim the streets-can't remember the name of them. I have not cycled for a long time now-until yesterday and today that is when I got back on my bike! I really enjoyed my little excursions and plan to try to have a little ride every day now. So maybe I will vote Green-have been wavering between them and Labour.
    Also thanks for sharing the hilarious cat video on the post below!

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  28. I think you are very courageous to cycle in London especially in those cycle lanes - what a silly place to put them! What a shame you had such awful weather, up here it was a lovely day.

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  29. Well done for going on such a rainy day! love that little girl's coordinated pink outfit. I wouldn't like to be wedged between those two buses either. Personally I'd have no trouble voting for Ken - I've heard him speak in Cardiff and found him charismatic.

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  30. My behind always tries to swallow the bike seat. It's never a good scene.

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  31. I enjoyed reading all the comments. Sometimes heavy traffic scares me Darla One answer is dedicated bike lanes, but they don't always go where you want.

    Three feet of clearance sounds reasonable, Mimi, although some of the streets here are pretty narrow and sometimes it's barely possible for a car to overtake a bike.

    Oh, Poet Whale, seeing an echo of a departed loved one can be a strange feeling. I hope the picture gave you happy thoughts.

    Young at Heart, you are so right about those insufferable "real" cyclists. I assure you that I wouldn't whizz past you! :) I don't like the boys who cycle at top speed on the pavements - they're usually drug dealing, I'm told. Luckily I don't encounter many of those.

    Thanks, Ruby, I felt a bit bad about the bad quality of the photos. I couldn't have taken the pictures at all with my "real" camera though. It can't handle rain.

    Kay, I have to say that the weather now probably isn't any predictor of the summer. We had such a warm, summery March!

    It is a good point, Valentina, about having places to leave the bike. I usually find a traffic sign or railing to lock my bike to, but it's not always easy.

    Jon, intense heat would put me off cycling more than rain and cold. I'm not good with hot weather.

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  32. Bicycles rule in Japan. Too much, I must add (risking frowns from all concerned), because here cyclists use pavements! It would've been OK if cyclists were less oblivious, but they really have atrocious road, sorry, pavement manners. It's my pet hate in Tokyo.

    Having said that, and being one of the 85% of people in Japan who own a bicycle, I readily admit that it's unpleasant to share roads with with buses, taxis, trucks and wannabe F1 drivers.

    Bike lanes? I don't see that ever happening in Tokyo with its limited space. Solution? I have no idea.

    Fun photos and interesting post!

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  33. Your post in London was lovely, a reminder of London, as I have only visited there a few times. But I agree about the lorries and busses..(and those busses have updated since I was there.) My best ever biking experiences were in The Netherlands. Wonderful. I'm new to this blogging, liking it more every day. Thanks for stopping by my post. I must also say here, I laughed laughed laughed at the cat, (last post), since we just acquired a lovely cat. Thanks. Mary

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  34. Your post in London was lovely, a reminder of London, as I have only visited there a few times. But I agree about the lorries and busses..(and those busses have updated since I was there.) My best ever biking experiences were in The Netherlands. Wonderful. I'm new to this blogging, liking it more every day. Thanks for stopping by my post. I must also say here, I laughed laughed laughed at the cat, (last post), since we just acquired a lovely cat. Thanks. Mary

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  35. Oh, my goodness, that bike lane is in a precarious location. It would be fairly confronting being out there amongst that traffic! Well done to those who do it.
    Jenny, I just adored looking at all the pics of the Big Ride people. Wow, everyone came it seems.
    Your pictures were fabulous too, especially under the conditions - frozen hands etc!! A beaut post.

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  36. Here, too, bicycling lanes are more an afterthought than a planned idea. It's true that it is just too hot and humid in Florida for any serious cycling, so people tend to give it little thought. Luckily, we have trails and paths for recreational cycling - but to get there, you have to load your bike in the car and drive.

    Your cause is a worthy cause and I enjoyed your collection of pictures. Hope you achieve your goal of more and better lanes and safe cycling!

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  37. nice...there are some cool looking bikes there...and def some interesting people...i would have been in heaven people watching..even in the rain...smiles...

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  38. Excellent post and your pictures really give the feeling of the determination of the cyclists -- the picture of your hands suddenly made mine feel not only cold, but wet too. I thoroughly agree that more effort should be put into encouraging biking in our cities, but how to get through to our politicians is the big question.

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  39. Lots of decorative bikes on your cycling campaign. I hope it got your point across. I am still trying to figure out where the bike lane is in your first photo. Aren't bike lanes normally on the side of the road closes to the sidewalk? Otherwise, it is just too dangerous!

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  40. Despite the terrible weather, the demonstration seemed successful. To see bikes with all shapes and sizes along with participants' various colorful outfits and rain gears is so interesting and fun.
    Here I am afraid there are no bike lanes only,as far as I know. Cyclists should run at the end of motor roads but usually they run on the sidewalk. Both pedestrians and cyclists have complaints about it. I hope this campaign of yours will lead to a successful result.

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  41. Wow that looks like quite a parade, in spite of the weather. I'd never dare cycle in that kind of traffic. (Actually I don't cycle at all now but that's another story.) Great post!

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  42. Great port! Really enjoyed that ride in the rain with my cup in my hand and my feet on the radiator! I must get down on to my bike again, when the rain stops....Greta post!

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  43. Yes, AVCr8teur, that bike lane is astonishingly dangerous. Seems like many people reading this blog agree - it's nice to have my thoughts confirmed about that. Most cyclists I read about are killed because they get too near large vehicles and the drivers don't always see them when they turn.

    Dedicated bike lanes are the answer, but as you say, Rourusha, there isn't always the space (I think London is perhaps less crowded than Tokyo but many of the streets are very old and narrow. One of the good things Ken Livingstone did was ensure that special cycle maps can be obtained free at Tube stations. By following those less busy routes, it's possible to get across most of the city with a minimum of scary experiences. And frankly when it is too busy I just get off and walk till it looks better.

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  44. What a brilliantly fun post! Although my cycling days are past, I was very keen and very active once. And I do agree with you about London - and not just London - being bike unfriendly. Many of us who had known the empty post-war roads eventually took to canoeing instead, But this post is wonderful. I have enjoyed it so much. Thank you. (I thought the bus lane was the (service?) road on the far side!)

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  45. What great pictures, Jenny - particularly the Never Too Old man with the balloon! Good luck to you all - cycling is so obviously the most sensible way to get around London, if only the smelly cars and busies and white vans would take second place (can we dream of MPs cycling to Westminster ... bike racks outside the theatres ... ).

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  46. Oh my God, don't even get me started on Boris versus Ken! I might end up spoiling my ballot in a tantrum.

    You are VERY brave to have been out cycling on Saturday! Yikes.

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  47. Ha Ha! Not exactly the Tour de France, is it? I laughed out loud at the sight of the little boy in his seat getting squished by his father's backpack! Pour kid. I can just imagine his tale back to his mum about the day he had.
    Ashley (backyardprovence)

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  48. Here we also have initiatives like the one you show us to solve the problem of traffic and cycling in our city council has ensured that cars traveling at 30 km per hour (well, there are miles). However yesterday a boy still died. It is sad. Years ago I went out on bike, but I got very scared of the car and myself. A hug and excellent post, a beautiful story.

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  49. wow...how eventful. I loved looking at all the fun and interesting pictures!

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  50. Goodness me - you did well to take all those photos in the rain!! Great post.

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  51. I love cycling too... unfortunately my bike got stolen in Hamburg. Never happened to me in London, although it is indeed not a bike friendly city at all. I loved riding my road cycle in Richmond Park, but even though you're not allowed to drive fast because of the deer, many people drive like lunatics...

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  52. How very brave to cycle in such weather! I enjoyed the post and thought the pictures VG. As an avid cyclist, would you not support Boris J. who introduced the "Boris Bike"?

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  53. Wow, good for you for not allowing the vile weather to put you off, and for sending a much-needed message to the city about cycling here. (And the photos were wonderful too!) I worry hugely for my friends who cycle in London as we sadly do not have the same cycling awareness as places like Denmark or the Netherland. Stay safe!

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  54. It takes courage to cycle in London with the weather we have had. Well done you!

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  55. Gosh. Is it really that long since I commented? In NZ cycling is big too and Napier has excellent facilities for the leisure rider and is much better than many places for the 'ordinary' rider. However there's the same sorts of controversies in Auckland and Wellington as there is in London. I used to cycle a lot until I moved into the country in NZ and the road into town is both windy and narrow and dangerous (and teeming with leisure cyclists nonetheless) and has a huge hill between the city and my home. So I rarely cycle now. I'm ashamed of myself. Must do better. Oh yes. Lewis. I have two bikes and it's always too windy or too wet so I never ride here either. I'm even more ashamed.

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