Cyclists welcome bike route survey

“"As a regular commuter and cycling campaigner in Plymouth, I was very bemused to read this article. Plymouth is the most UN-friendly cycling city I have come across (and I cycled for 7 years in London, much nicer in my opinion). It is slowly improving but has a long way to go to get anywhere close to cities like Cambridge, Exeter, Bristol, even London etc. I am surprised that the Yogis feel cycle theft is low in the city, that certainly hasn't been my experience. Perhaps their members are not leaving their precious wheels locked in the city centre? For example last year 4 of the 20 new cycles bought through the university's salary sacrifice scheme were stolen within 6 weeks of being purchased.

This report is a fabulous example of how one should never trust statistics without looking at how they have been compiled. Virgin Money (who should really know better) have taken the most simplistic of measures e.g. number of cycle thefts, deaths and serious injuries per 1000 of the GENERAL POPULATION, without taking into account the number of cyclists in the city. Of course a city like Plymouth is going to do well when so few people cycle. Thefts, injuries etc are bound to be lower per 1000 of the general population but the figures would look far different (and be more representative) if cycling participation levels had been taken into account.

What amazes me is that all the news channels and newspapers, including Plymouth Herald, the Independent, Sky News, Yahoo etc have just re-gurgitated this dross without looking critically at the report and thinking about whether the statistics have been compiled in a reliable and valid way. All these journalists should be ashamed of themselves, what happened to critical thinking? NEVER BELIEVE STATISTICS without looking at where they have come from!"
.”

“uknowImrite

Are you suggesting that the police shouldn't be disinterested if you make a complaint about dangerous driving meaning you believe they should take the side of the cylist irrespective of the circumstances?

As I'm sure you know 'disinterested' means impartial or unbiased (which the police should be), or perhaps it was a typing error and you meant 'uninterested' (couldn't care less or unconcerned) which might make more sense in the context of the broad thrust of your post.

I seek clarification as some cyclists seem to believe that the law isn't always something with which they should concern themselves as they ride on pavements or past traffic signals at red. Equally, many car drivers believe that they too are beyond the law: note the many who drive onto pavements to park their vehicle or drive in bus lanes or park in box junctions, which are but three examples.”

“If there is something specific that needs fixed, use FixMyStreet (http://tinyurl.com/22kyts) to report it. It has certainly helped get potholes fixed, bollards replaced, etc., around where I live.

http://tinyurl.com/22kyts”

“This report is utter tripe. There are far too few cycle tracks, and the existing ones are never swept or maintained. A perennial problem is motorists parking on our "national" cycle tracks with impunity - check out Cremyl St. and Durnford St. Apart from a useless council , the police are totally disinterested and dismissive if you report dangerous driving; I will not bore you with my many complaints to the police resulting in no action whatsoever. I used to work with German students who saw it as a normal part of life to cycle back home, but never ventured out in Plymouth. Verdict: too dangerous. Much, much more to be done, in this financial climate, unlikely.”

“You're right Johnny.
The one through Plympton past the fire station is more dangerous than the road.”

“This is surely a joke. I've lived in four cities, and Plymouth is the least cycle-friendly I know. The reason the accident numbers are low is that so few people cycle. Partly this is due to our topography - the hills are there and you can't move them - but the cycle paths in Plymouth are disgraceful. They end abruptly at random places, are poorly maintained, and don't seem to have been designed with any input from cyclists.
Another pet issue. Why are there so few places to actually park a bike? No bike racks outside libraries, the Council offices, doctors' surgeries etc. I'm forever looking for a railing rather than the expected row of bike racks.”

“What about some Boris bikes?
A "proper job" at the George Park and Ride?”

“Er - Herald - the UN again.

More people are on bikes as they cannot afford the same trip in the car. Others are refusing to ride bikes as they are too dangerous because of other road users.

The 'coastal path' for four years plus is broken outside Ocean View - yet despite promises nothing besides a barrier around it has been done to repair it. Speed bumps are still being laid - without the mandatory rising edge or drainage planning, road surfaces for all are potholed, and when filled in only last for about 5 weeks before requiring repair again, the filling material loose is left for passing vehicles to remove.

There should be a maintenance plan - else the asset is being wasted. Why not recruit the court 'community payback' teams to follow the pothole team to sweep up afterwards if the fillers are too lazy to do it! They could also follow the binmen on their rounds to clean up their 'spills' that are not being swept up afterwards as well.”