UK bike sales plummet
Discussion
President Merkin said:
Under used bike lanes come in regularly for criticism, usually from the anti cycling brigade. Reality is they're often as not dilapidated, potholed, strewn with glass & laid out illogically, ending in silly places. I can think of a dozen round here that run for 50 yards on main roads & just stop, hence no one uses them. The commitment to cycling infrastructure in the uK is like so much else, at best half hearted.
This.Bike lanes are often a joke.
They take the long way round, then end abruptly just where you need them.
Many of them seem to bring bikes into conflict with pedestrians and dog walkers.
Councils get grants for putting in x-miles of cycle lane, so they do that, with no regard for where people might usefully go by bike.
Some of the cycle lanes around here are stupid to the point of being dangerous.
One took you round a blind corner and into a signpost slap bang in the middle of the cycle lane.
I complained about it twice before it got moved.
The latest f
kwit idea is to put "kissing gate" style obstructions on popular cycleways, can't get a bike through and zero chance with a pushchair or wheelchair. Even a more rotund person would get stuck in one particular one.
I understand they need to keep illegal motorbikes away but a bit of joined up thinking wouldn't go amiss.
One took you round a blind corner and into a signpost slap bang in the middle of the cycle lane.
I complained about it twice before it got moved.
The latest f
kwit idea is to put "kissing gate" style obstructions on popular cycleways, can't get a bike through and zero chance with a pushchair or wheelchair. Even a more rotund person would get stuck in one particular one. I understand they need to keep illegal motorbikes away but a bit of joined up thinking wouldn't go amiss.
This just landed in my inbox from Orange and sounds a lot more positive!
Email from Orange said:
Thanks for sticking with us!
After restructuring of the business and its associated companies we are pleased to announce that Orange Bikes is set to continue under Ash Ball.
What does this mean?
In simple terms, we’ve strengthened our position to make us more stable, we have plans to move the entire team to its own bespoke location – from welding to marketing and everything in between we will be under one roof for the first time in our history.
As for where we go from here you can expect more awesome bikes, the same incredible customer support and the team at Orange Bikes doing things the way only we do.
Thank you for all the messages of support and sharing all your favourite Orange stories, it got us thinking about the last 35 years and some of our favourite bits, as well as getting the gears turning looking forward to the next 35 years. The MTB media even took a stroll down memory lane and reminded themselves about their Orange story.
After restructuring of the business and its associated companies we are pleased to announce that Orange Bikes is set to continue under Ash Ball.
What does this mean?
In simple terms, we’ve strengthened our position to make us more stable, we have plans to move the entire team to its own bespoke location – from welding to marketing and everything in between we will be under one roof for the first time in our history.
As for where we go from here you can expect more awesome bikes, the same incredible customer support and the team at Orange Bikes doing things the way only we do.
Thank you for all the messages of support and sharing all your favourite Orange stories, it got us thinking about the last 35 years and some of our favourite bits, as well as getting the gears turning looking forward to the next 35 years. The MTB media even took a stroll down memory lane and reminded themselves about their Orange story.
benny.c said:
This is my favourite local cycle lane, all 1.5m of it. Extra marks for the sign in the middle. To access it in the direction shown, you have to cross the road on a blind bend.
That reminded me a little of where I stayed in the Netherland.Edited by benny.c on Thursday 25th January 19:25
Housing estate roads were short cul-de-sacs for cars so largely motor traffic free, but linked for bikes and pedestrians.
It made he cars keep to the 'main' roads.
Yeah, cars used to drive up that road to bypass a nearby roundabout when it was busy so it was a good idea to make it a cul-de-sac. Unfortunately the blind bend makes the cycle path dangerous and a simple drop kerb would have done the job without the signage, bollards etc. I guess there’s probably some legal requirement for the signage though.
benny.c said:
Yeah, cars used to drive up that road to bypass a nearby roundabout when it was busy so it was a good idea to make it a cul-de-sac. Unfortunately the blind bend makes the cycle path dangerous and a simple drop kerb would have done the job without the signage, bollards etc. I guess there’s probably some legal requirement for the signage though.
If it's a residential street, probably with a 25kph limit (?), where the cars are expecting pedestrians, it should not be dangerous.dave123456 said:
vaud said:
Mutts said:
Went to their launch event at Leisure Lakes Southport back in the days, couldn't afford a Clockwork but bought a sweatshirt.
Sweatshirt is still going after 35yrs!!! Proper British engineering in a garment.
Be nice if they could join with Hope, unless trhey are in trouble
Is MBUK and MintSauce still a thing?Sweatshirt is still going after 35yrs!!! Proper British engineering in a garment.
Be nice if they could join with Hope, unless trhey are in trouble
troc said:
That's not entirely fair. Dutch road deaths in the 60's were horrific. So were the statistics in the UK. The Dutch approach did bring the numbers down - so did the UK approach. The Dutch system has many other benefits and we are still talking about two countries with some of the lowest road death numbers in the world.
Also, road deaths in Holland have risen significantly since all the old people bought e-bikes - which is a genuine problem as they are a bloody menace although the 14 year olds on derestricted ones delivering pizza are worse.
In general, the Netherlands is a vastly safer place to ride a bike and you are probably much less likely to have a serious injury during any particular journey. The issue becomes that more people ride more bike kilometers which makes them more susceptible to road traffic accidents - these are frequently bike v bike for example.
Plus the Dutch are, it has to be said, a menace on any form of wheeled transport!
Only a one-off sample but I cycled across NL a couple of years ago and it was an absolute pleasure! With a bit more planning I reckon I could have done virtually all of it on cycle lanes, the large majority of them physically separated from the road and all well maintained. The UK, in comparison, feels like a third World country.Also, road deaths in Holland have risen significantly since all the old people bought e-bikes - which is a genuine problem as they are a bloody menace although the 14 year olds on derestricted ones delivering pizza are worse.
In general, the Netherlands is a vastly safer place to ride a bike and you are probably much less likely to have a serious injury during any particular journey. The issue becomes that more people ride more bike kilometers which makes them more susceptible to road traffic accidents - these are frequently bike v bike for example.
Plus the Dutch are, it has to be said, a menace on any form of wheeled transport!
OutInTheShed said:
If it's a residential street, probably with a 25kph limit (?), where the cars are expecting pedestrians, it should not be dangerous.
It was 30mph until a few months back but now reduced to 20, although most cars don’t seem to have slowed down. It’s one of those corners that people seem to cut so if you’re on your bike crossing the corner to get to cycle path it's not ideal. It’s OK coming the other way though. 
This is my favourite of late. To turn right at the approaching T junction. Go left onto the pavement. Then give way to traffic on that road, and then cross onto the other pavement. Neither of these roads are especially difficult to navigate. But presumably it all adds up to the council being able to say "we installed a total of X kms of cycle way. 
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3810875,-0.33327...
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3810875,-0.33327...
272BHP said:
Ever been to one of the new towns like Stevenage?
Miles upon miles of safe wide segregated cycle paths and yet the cyclists and commuters still use the roads - quite odd really.
I'm calling BS on this. I've only ever seen cyclists on the cycle paths and never on the road when I have been to Stevenage. Although considering how good the provision is for cycle paths, I am surprised how little they are used.Miles upon miles of safe wide segregated cycle paths and yet the cyclists and commuters still use the roads - quite odd really.
272BHP said:
Ever been to one of the new towns like Stevenage?
Miles upon miles of safe wide segregated cycle paths and yet the cyclists and commuters still use the roads - quite odd really.
If they’re anything like the ones round here I’m not surprised.Miles upon miles of safe wide segregated cycle paths and yet the cyclists and commuters still use the roads - quite odd really.
One of the biggest problems with the cycling infrastructure I see getting installed is its purpose. It tends to be fine for bimbling along with the kids, somewhere between frustrating and useless for commuting.
Also as noted above, segregated cycle paths tend to be shared use. Children, dog walkers, joggers, all varying degrees of oblivious hazard.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff