Will Londoners get on their bike?

Originally Posted by Maggy J

I think Boris will biff the elf 'n' safety fairy square in the backside if they make a fuss.

unfortunately it won't be down to him when the operators of the scheme get sued because someone got injured ..and i'll bet a years wages it will happen in the first year of the scheme .People will use these bikes and if they fall off will sue on the grounds they weren't shown how to use them ,happens all the time .

Originally Posted by martyh

unfortunately it won't be down to him when the operators of the scheme get sued because someone got injured ..and i'll bet a years wages it will happen in the first year of the scheme .People will use these bikes and if they fall off will sue on the grounds they weren't shown how to use them ,happens all the time .

Oh I expect there is something they have to agree to BEFORE joining or activation.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Oh I expect there is something they have to agree to BEFORE joining or activation.

They have to read this

Police officers were ridiculed today after drawing up a step-by-step guide to riding a bicycle.

The 93-page full-colour guide, which comes in two volumes, gives advice on how to balance so officers do not fall off.

The book, titled the Police Cycle Training Doctrine, also covers key skills such as how to brake, turn and avoid the kerb.

Officers were told to eat and drink because they will get hungry and to wear padded shorts to protect their bottoms.

It also warned officers not to arrest suspects while in the saddle, or, in their words, "engaged with the cycle".

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...g-a-bicycle.do

[Rainman]

Why was the money not used to give FREE public transport or is that too simple

Originally Posted by Rainman

Why was the money not used to give FREE public transport or is that too simple

Yes it is too simple. Go compare the price of running the underground vs the cost it took to set up this scheme.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Well lets put it this way, l am fed up to the back teeth, with damn cyclists thinking they own the road, telling motorist to p*** off, when we toot the horn, In fact l would go as far to say, they should have insurance, so that if they hit my car, knock me down or brake a mirror, so that l can sue them for damages, just like us motorists.

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

They have to read this

Police officers were ridiculed today after drawing up a step-by-step guide to riding a bicycle.

The 93-page full-colour guide, which comes in two volumes, gives advice on how to balance so officers do not fall off.

The book, titled the Police Cycle Training Doctrine, also covers key skills such as how to brake, turn and avoid the kerb.

Officers were told to eat and drink because they will get hungry and to wear padded shorts to protect their bottoms.

It also warned officers not to arrest suspects while in the saddle, or, in their words, "engaged with the cycle".

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...g-a-bicycle.do

Not helping.If you think the scheme is ridiculous say so and why..

[danielf]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Officers were told to eat and drink because they will get hungry and to wear padded shorts to protect their bottoms.

Very sensible advice on longer rides. Hunger knock, bonking or hitting the wall is not pleasant at all. I doubt it applies to the beat on a bike though.

---------- Post added at 22:03 ---------- Previous post was at 22:02 ----------

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

Well lets put it this way, l am fed up to the back teeth, with damn cyclists thinking they own the road, telling motorist to p*** off, when we toot the horn, In fact l would go as far to say, they should have insurance, so that if they hit my car, knock me down or brake a mirror, so that l can sue them for damages, just like us motorists.

It sounds to me like you should give them a bit more space on the road and keep your bloody hands of the horn.

[Rainman]

Originally Posted by Damien

Yes it is too simple. Go compare the price of running the underground vs the cost it took to set up this scheme.

But the underground was and is already running so is the busses', it will cost £45 a year to regester to use the bikes on top of the millions it cost to set it up whats wrong with giving the people some thing back .Free public transport is it that some one won't be cashing in on it

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Rainman

But the underground was and is already running so is the busses', it will cost £45 a year to regester to use the bikes on top of the millions it cost to set it up whats wrong with giving the people some thing back .Free public transport is it that some one won't be cashing in on it

I think asking for an initial outlay isn't asking too much. It'll encourage responsible behaviour and ensure bikes will be returned (hopefully). Just plunking a couple of bikes for public use on the street isn't going to work.

Originally Posted by Rainman

But the underground was and is already running so is the busses', it will cost £45 a year to regester to use the bikes on top of the millions it cost to set it up whats wrong with giving the people some thing back .Free public transport is it that some one won't be cashing in on it

I think you missed the point.Public transport or private it get very congested and crowded and journeys are long.A bike can go places that vehicles cannot and is quicker..Also there are parts of London not served by the underground.

If I were a Londoner and knew the back routes and the ways that aren't open to vehicles I might embrace the idea especially if I lived in a flat with nowhere to store my own bike.

I remember my sister-in-law has three bikes stolen in the same number of years despite her taking great care to secure them.Indeed on one occasion they came right into the front hall and took the bike..This system could keep londoners very fit and healthy and ultimately it may get cheaper as the system expands

[BBKing]

Anyone here think this will work?

Yes, although for a strictly limited set of people. However, London's got a lot of people.

Also there are parts of London not served by the underground.

Not generally in the cycle hire areas, though, which is strictly the very inner bit which by definition has most of the tubes - my nearest hire station is at Kensington Olympia, 50 minutes on public transport (the one at Vauxhall is quicker to get to, there being a direct train, but I might as well stay on the train).

It's basically useful if you're able-bodied, aged 14+ and have business that takes you to two places in inner London on the same day. If you've got kids, aren't able bodied or are coming in from outside Zone 1 it's not really for you.

The book, titled the Police Cycle Training Doctrine, also covers key skills such as how to brake, turn and avoid the kerb.

The police have long had a Roadcraft Manual, so I fail to see the difference. Surely if anyone ought to know the right way to behave on the road it's the rozzers?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roadcraft-Gr.../dp/0113408587

telling motorist to p*** off, when we toot the horn

Because obviously you never shout anything rude at other motorists from the safety of your own vehicle? Come off the grass, this is *London* we're talking about.

[Kymmy]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

Well lets put it this way, l am fed up to the back teeth, with damn cyclists thinking they own the road, telling motorist to p*** off, when we toot the horn, In fact l would go as far to say, they should have insurance, so that if they hit my car, knock me down or brake a mirror, so that l can sue them for damages, just like us motorists.

And I know lots of motorcyclists who try to filter through in the mornings but end up stuck behind some inconsiderate car driver who won't move off the white line all becuase they can't fit through the same gap as the motorcyclists

What about the car drivers who see a gap in their mirror in the lane to their right and don;t bother doing a safety check to see if the gap is actually a gap and end up hitting a motorcyclist with the side of their car (has happened to me more than once and only just avoided on the motorway a few times)

We all have a right to use the road, try being considerate to others and perhaps you might get some back

[Taf]

Boris Johnson launches 60ft-long bendy bike



http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2010/08/0...ng-bendy-bike/

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Kymmy

And I know lots of motorcyclists who try to filter through in the mornings but end up stuck behind some inconsiderate car driver who won't move off the white line all becuase they can't fit through the same gap as the motorcyclists

What about the car drivers who see a gap in their mirror in the lane to their right and don;t bother doing a safety check to see if the gap is actually a gap and end up hitting a motorcyclist with the side of their car (has happened to me more than once and only just avoided on the motorway a few times)

We all have a right to use the road, try being considerate to others and perhaps you might get some back

In fairness, I think Arthur isn't moaning about motorcyclists, more those on bicycles. I've seen a lot of cyclists who seem to think they are the only person with any right to be on the road (or on the payment, ignoring the nice cycle lane, which winds me up as a pedestrian), and take stupid risks in the name of saving 30 seconds.