Welcome to my blog. Cycling in the city has been set up to act as communication between myself and those who love (or hate) cycling in the city. Currently I am embarking on the final stage of my BA (hons) degree in 3d design at the University College Falmouth. For the final brief I thought long and hard about what I really love and what interests me...
I love cycling and spurred on by road accident between me, my bike and a car I researched into cycling as it seems to be a bike boom going on right now. Bristol has had over £20 million invested through becoming the nation's first Cycling City and London too has enjoyed a fruitful year with the beginnings of the Barclay's cycle hire scheme, 'super' highways and in general, more attention upon commuting. However what struck me, through reading the ever increasing amount of blogs, websites and news articles about cycling was that still, the number one factor that deters people from cycling altogether or is their biggest issue when cycling in the city is safety. Safety of themselves, of other other cyclists and other road users.
And so, here is the next stage in my design project; asking people what they think about cycling in the city and do they feel safe. I want to hear your opinions on this matter so please get involved and leave a comment. I will try to post an online version of the questionnaire I am currently distributing. (january 2011)
The result of the first stage of my project which was research based is now to produce a physical outcome, LNR> lycra not required. More info to follow (feb 2011)
The result of the first stage of my project which was research based is now to produce a physical outcome, LNR> lycra not required. More info to follow (feb 2011)
Concerns over safety while on your bike are not peculiar to cities! I live in the north west of England where roads are rarely straight and some are heavily used by commuter traffic.
ReplyDeleteCyclists take their lives in their hands daily and not always safely; I know of 2 brothers, experienced keen cyclists both, killed by a bus while returning from a ride in December.
Visibility has a lot to do with it but also driver education would make a difference - making drivers go out on a bike and letting them experience how vulnerable we are.
I wish you well with your project!
thank you for your post, I couldn't agree with you more about it not being specific to cities. I was knocked off pretty badly down the quietest, loveliest but windy road in Cornwall. For my project I was required to home in on one specific idea so I decided to choose city cycling.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your comments and am glad you also see it's more thn visibility and looking after cyclists, it's drivers who need a bit of educating soon. I find that in places where more people cycling I feel safer as it seems the drivers are more use and comfortable with sharing the road with cyclists rather than some cities where there is no infrastructure or help to support us poor cyclists!
Do you think though, in addition to educating drivers, it's about getting more people to cycling because this would mean more drivers would double up as cyclists and know what it's like. Plus more cycling you feel safer and this can only have more of a positive effect? I think small actions such as making it accessible for anyone to take up cycling and feel comfortable... such as making attractive everyday jackets!?