13th-22nd June 2014, Operation Transportation Participants Posts and Profiles

A GUIDE TO OPERATION TRANSPORTATION  2014:

This year’s “Operation Transportation” leaders included:

b Psychiatric Nurse:  Siobhán Ní Mhurchú ( click on the name to read all her posts!) originally from Millstreet, now living near Blarney.

b Cork City Cycling Couples:

b Michelle Walsh and Anthony Shine

b Margaret Linehan and husband John Mullins

b Two Ballincollig Based Friends, who had not cycled since their pre-teen years:

b Andrea Minnie and Maria Kalaitzake

1.     

Siobhán was the sportiest cyclist of the group. For her final two cycles she covered 35km and 60km respectively! Prior to “Operation Transportation” Siobhán had not been doing much cycling. 

     She introduced herself with the words:

    “After not being on the bike much over the past two years, I've decided to take part in the operation transportation, an excellent way to ease back into cycling, and hopefully develop a love for that feeling of hopping on the bike, taking in the scenery and getting fresh air into the lungs..”

By the end of the challenge she had agreed to attempt the Ring of Kerry Cycle- all 180kms of it    two weeks later (July5th)!

2.      Michelle and Anthony live on  the Southern Road in Douglas and their “Operation Transportation” diary posts touched on a lot of hot topics for cyclists like bicycle theft, cars parking in cycle lanes and angry beeps from motorists. 

     These posts sparked off some interesting research and were some of the most popular on blogger and Facebook.

3.      Margaret and John decided to undertake “Operation Transportation”  in order to raise funds for Pieta House . The couple live near a Pieta House centre and even visited the facility during “Operation Transportation” to see how any funds raised help to provide life saving services to people who are feeling suicidal or who are engaged in self-harm.

So Margaret and John, who only recently got around to buying bikes after several bike-free years, really made an all out effort to cycle  as much as possible, during the ten day cycle challenge. Most days they managed one long and two shorter cycles. Some days they went on two long cycles or one of them squeezed in 5 or 6 cycles. For the ten days of the challenge they seem to have done little else outside of work but cycle!

In the process, they discovered nearby amenities hitherto unknown to them and Margaret combined her re-discovered love of cycling, with her passion for good food. So readers were taken on mouth-watering cycle tours of Cork’s finest eateries, small food shops and market delights.

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4.        Andrea Minnie and Maria Kalaitzake are friends and neighbours from Ballincollig, who thought that they had forgotten how to cycle. So we rented two bikes for them to use during the challenge and enrolled them on the cycle safety skills course. They lapped it all up and surely aroused the curiosity of their neighbours with all their practice runs up and down the road. Their children were greatly impressed by the whole enterprise.

Andrea discovered that: “Bike riding is a great way of spending time with the kids outdoors, and it can be done pretty much all year.” 

One day she surprised her son at school “by collecting him, with the bikes in the back of the car. He was so excited to go for an after-school bike ride." 

All the way he was saying: “Wow, Mommy you’re getting so good at it!””

Andrea also found that cycling opened up “a new world of social opportunities.” 

While at a friend’s garden party she “was suddenly invited to come on bike rides all over Cork.”

Maria on the other hand was busy re-discovering her inner child. She took up the “Operation Transportation” challenge because she just wanted to “become one of those people who effortlessly use their bikes to get from A to... B (school, shops, park...)”, plus of course she read an e-card proclaiming that “riding a bicycle everyday makes you more awesome than the general population”.

However, even though she took up the challenge for practical reasons, she soon discovered how much fun it was and would happily run out the door bike in tow, when she got the chance because often her short cycle might be the only time “all day that I was ALONE- and all parents know what a treat that can be ...” 

Mostly though she discovered: “HOW good cycling actually feels…” After her first cycle she wrote: “I felt very... free... and youthful!”

22nd June 2014, Anthony shares some ideas to promote biking to work

Secure Bike Storage Could Make all the Difference to Commuters

Anthony writes:

I found that participating in Operation Transportation was a great way to discover areas around where I live that I wouldn't have bothered to go to.

 

Cycling opens out  the wonders of your world and provides new perspectives on life, as realised by Anthony and Calvin's father in the cartoon above from:
http://usjgreenriders.blogspot.ie/2011/10/cartoon-of-week_20.html

I’ve also just been given a key to the secure bike shed at work (in Arup) where they have been having meetings on how to encourage their workforce to cycle to work. A few minutes a day does make a difference to your overall cardio fitness I think. 

As bikes can be quite expensive these days it’s good to see companies making an effort to secure your bikes while you're at work rather than just providing a bike shelter.

There are many Bike Shelters to choose from some more secure than others..

Picture credits: Top left: http://thebulletin.ca/bike-lockers-offer-low-cost-waterfront-parking/ 

2nd down on Left:  http://www.leisurebuildings.com/acatalog/safestore-single-secure-locker-bike-shed.html

3rd down on Left: 

http://www.bikelocker.ie/  

4th down on Left:  http://www.themiamibikescene.com/2010/09/secure-bicycle-parking-university.html 

Bottom left: http://www.joemattleydesign.co.uk/work/wave-bicycle-parking-2/

 Underneath to the right: a runner up in London Cycling Campaigns best Cycling Facility Awards 2011, Lambeth Council's Vauxhall bike lockers: http://lcc.org.uk/pages/best-cycling-facility 

Second photo below on the right:  http://www.bikecare.co.uk/cycle_shelters.html

I'm afraid it’s too easy to cut a bike lock and steal the bike, so I hope that other companies may review the security of their bike storage areas and advertise it to their staff. 

If you have a bike that lingers uncycled in a shed
 for fear of bike theft elsewhere, why not ask your
employer or colleagues to invest in some secure
bike storage? Image from:
 http://blog.supersizedbikes.com/2010/12/bicycle-lore/bike-in-garage-cartoon/

I think this could make all the difference in people’s attitude to cycle commuting.

Anyway, I hope that Operation Transportation is just the start of a series of measures to promote cycling and not simply a one off.  

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK and keep us posted of any other events.

Regards, Anthony

Editorial Footnote:

Bike lockers are only as good as the lock that secures them. Some secure bicycle stores are locked electronically  like the bicycle parking facility in Lexington, Baltimore, where over 50 bicycles can be parked in a fenced area, accessible only with a keycard pass. 

Photo from: http://www.bmorebikes.com/category/parking/#sthash.RN1KBtso.dpuf 

However many of the lockers depicted in between Anthony's text, require padlocks -which may be broken with varying degrees of ease. The following video gives some advice on choosing the best padlock:

How to Choose the best Padlock

22nd June 2014, Michelle Concludes her Urban Biking Experiences

Biking Brings News of 

Baby Boy's Birth

Michelle writes: 

We’ve been having the busiest week ever. It seemed like there were not enough hours in the day for cycling . :(

However, the relatives we’ve been visiting by bike in Rochestown had a baby boy on Sunday morning: Daniel David. :)

 

The arrival of a baby boy succeeds cycle trips to relatives in Rochestown.
Image is taken from a webpage dedicated to cycling fowl: http://www.johnnypayphone.net/chvcken666/

I am completely new to cycling in urban areas, and have been disappointed at how motorists regard cyclists – I think there should be more focus on making motorists aware of our entitlement to be on the road as well.

The new cycle-lanes are generally great – though not too good along the South Douglas Road (across from the school) as cars are constantly parked there, blocking the cycle-lane.

 

Parking in Cycle lanes is a problem all over the world as the photos above from Scotland show. Source: http://drpetermatthews.blogspot.ie/2012/06/bike-to-work-week-what-my-council-is.html 

Thanks to everyone for organising Operation Transportation and helping with advice and tips etc.

Editorial Comment:

Do you have any bike tips or advice to share? If so please comment below.

Alternatively, if what you have to say is too much for a comment box. Please email wileywheeler@gmail.com and I will post your idea, according to your specifications!

20th June 2014, Michelle and Anthony cool down but the motorists don't!

Bliss By Bike But for the Beeps!

Michelle and Anthony write: 

On Friday Evening we went for a short cycle again to Rochestown, calling in to relatives and then stopping off at the Rochestown Inn for an iced-tea in the sun.

We encountered more angry motorists beeping at us – it seems to be the norm now.

Editor's Footnote:

"With 80% of cyclists holding a driving licence, and 1 in 5 drivers cycling at least once a month , they’re often the same people." That's the premise of the Think Campaign above. It also outlines some seemingly sensible advice to motorists and cyclists on how best to interact. Read all about it here: http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/6000/cycling/think-about-cyclists/ 

18th June 2014, Michelle and Andrew Cause a Stir

The Science and Legalities of the Driver, Cyclist Relationship..

MICHELLE & ANTHONY write:

On Wednesday night we went for a short cycle, from home (South Douglas Road) to relatives in Rochestown, so we were only cycling for 20 minutes.

The roads were quiet at 7.30 pm and even quieter on our way home at 9.15 pm. Normally we cycle single file, but when the roads are quiet like this at times we cycle two a breast. However, when we cycled two-abreast on Monday evening, an elderly motorist beeped at us and gave us the finger.

We were in an urban area with narrow streets, so whether we were in a single file or two abreast, the driver would have had to go to the opposite side of the road to pass us out.

From: UK Road Cycling Laws and Rules Explained

On narrow or windy roads its safest to command the lane, otherwise motorists will pass you out with millimetres to spare*. However, the regulations state that drivers should keep  a safe distance between the car and the cyclist when overtaking a cyclist. 
The cyclist’s own preservation is paramount since they are the more vulnerable road users and if a motorist wants to overtake them then they have to abide by the rules of the road.

Commanding the lane ( or assuming the “primary position in the centre of the lane) is particularly important at roundabouts/ junctions. If you don’t assert your position clearly in the centre, you get closely passed by and/or cut off by motor traffic.

If you command the centre of the lane you reduce the likelihood of a vehicle shaving past you, hence protecting yourself.
It appears that motorists need to know the rules of the road/show more respect for cyclists – a media campaign with a well known celebrity figure might raise awareness."

Editor's Footnote:

On Overtaking cyclists:
In some countries like Spain and parts of Australia motorists must leave a gap of 1 metre between the car and cyclist when overtaking. Cycle clubs and campaign groups all over the world are campaigning for an even greater gap of 1.5 metres to be made mandatory.

The 2013 Edition of the Rules of the Road makes the following statements about overtaking: 

"Never cut in front of cyclists or motorcyclists when overtaking them. Give them plenty of space. You should give extra space when overtaking a cyclist, as they may need to avoid uneven road surfaces and obstacles.

Do not overtake a cyclist as you approach a junction if you are turning left. The cyclist might be continuing straight ahead.

When turning right through a gap in oncoming traffic (for example at a yellow box junction), watch out for cyclists who might be moving up on the inside (at the centre of the road) or might be travelling in a cycle or bus lane running in the opposite direction at the far side of the road."

The National Cycle Manual gives some indication as to the appropriate overtaking gap:

How wide is a Cyclist?

An individual adult cyclist on a conventional bicycle is approximately 750 mm wide. A further 250 mm will normally permit the use of accessories such as child trailers, panniers etc..

Wobble Room

Cyclists always wobble or wander from side to side in order to keep balance, particularly at lower speeds. A provision of 250mm wobble room is normally sufficient.

Additional width should be considered where cyclists will be slower and wobbling more, e.g. approaching junctions, at bends, or on uphill sections.

This would seem to infer that  motor traffic should allow 375 mm+250 mm+250 mm =875 mm minimum. However the width calculator for cycle lane design suggests that an additional width of 250 mm is required for traffic at 50 kph bringing the total recommended gap to 1,125mm.

On Cycling Two-Abreast:

In Ireland, it is legal to cycle two-abreast; However, cyclists must be sensible about it. Cycling two abreast is not advised in heavy traffic. The  rules and guidance on the  matter are a bit open to interpretation.. Road users just have to be reasonable and fair about it.

The 2013 Edition of the Rules of the Road makes the following statements about cycling two abreast: 

“In the company of one or more cyclists you must have due regard to other users of the road, and you must take full account of prevailing road conditions. On occasion it may be safe to cycle two abreast, but you must not cycle in a manner likely to create an obstruction for other users.”

"The table below sets down particular road traffic rules on cycling which you must obey.

Do's	Don'ts
Do cycle in single file when overtaking.	Don't ever ride or attempt to ride a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Do allow extra space when overtaking parked vehicles as the doors may open suddenly.	Don't ever ride on or across a footpath, other than where a cycle track is provided on the footpath.
Do cycle on cycle tracks where they are provided.	Don't ever hold on to a moving vehicle.
Do cycle in single file if cycling beside another person would endanger, inconvenience or block other traffic or pedestrians.	Don't ever cycle side-by-side with more than one cyclist.
Do cycle in single file in heavy traffic.	Don't ever cycle against the flow of traffic on one-way streets.
Do give your name and address, if requested, to a Garda.	Don't ever cycle through red traffic lights or pedestrian lights.
Do obey signals given by a Garda or school warden.	Don't ever cycle on a motorway.
Do obey all rules applying to road traffic signs and road markings, including signs and signals at traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, pelican crossings, level crossings and zebra crossings.	Don't ever cycle in a contra-flow bus lane.
Do know the meaning of hand signals for cyclists and use them when cycling.	Don't ever cycle without appropriate lighting during hours of darkness.

On Cycling In the Middle of the Lane:

 The "Cycle Safety Skills courses" provided in Ireland and the UK follow the Bikeability Training model and the ideas set forth in John Franklin's book: Cyclecraft. This teaches cyclists about the benefits of getting into the "primary position".

Quotes from CycleCraft: 

"The Primary Riding Position is:

- in the centre of the left most moving traffic lane,

- in the direction in which you wish to travel."

The Primary Riding Position should be your normal riding position, when you can keep up with traffic, when you need to emphasise your presence to traffic ahead, or when you need to prevent following drivers from passing you safely.

The philosophy is neatly summed up the poster below from: http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/blog/6983/commuting/overtaking-cyclists/  

The logic seems to be, that motorists are less likely to overtake you, if you adopt this strategy. However, the Cycle Safety Skills trainers usually advocate kerbside ( secondary position) cycling in between junctions and primary position cycling at junctions.

But, I don't always do this myself when cycling through junctions, because sometimes it doesn't seem to make intuitive sense, or it just seems too difficult or dangerous to do.

So, I was keen to know what statistical evidence there is to support the idea that the primary position reduces the likelihood of being overtaken. Unfortunately, the two studies I came across suggest that in fact "taking the lane" seems to increase the likelihood of being hit by a motorist. The video below discusses the results of analysing the lane position of 3,235 cyclists in YouTube videos and then focusing on the videos in which cycle collisions occurred. In this sample the risk ratio for cyclists "taking the lane" in the primary position, was 9.19 compared to only 1.21 for cyclists travelling near the kerb.

Another study, which highlighted the risks of cycling too far out from the kerb was:

 "Drivers overtaking bicyclists: Objective data on the effects of riding position, helmet use, vehicle type and apparent gender" by Dr. Ian Walker and published in Accident Analysis and Prevention 39 (2007) 417–425 by Elsevier Ltd.

This study showed how the overtaking gap increased, the closer the cyclist got to the kerb.

Laura Laker gives a good overview of the topic here:
 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2011/aug/01/cyclist-take-the-lane
Another worth-a-look discussion can be found here:

http://aseasyasridingabike.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/the-primary-position-putting-uk-cyclists-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place/ 

Finally please share this video with all your motoring friends- especially  Bus drivers, HGV drivers and taxi drivers since they generally, seem to allow the least amount of room when overtaking cyclists!