tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post2100551907250136898..comments2024-03-18T23:52:31.939-04:00Comments on The Invisible Visible Man: A sobering email, writing about cycling - and why my rational choice brings me joyInvisible Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-13608273908312833942016-07-19T05:56:52.326-04:002016-07-19T05:56:52.326-04:00Beautifully written, makes one think again about p...Beautifully written, makes one think again about preconceived ideas. Thank you. Acton Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-14185339954385681252016-05-16T15:06:51.146-04:002016-05-16T15:06:51.146-04:00Roberto,
Thank you for your kind words. Enjoy rid...Roberto,<br /><br />Thank you for your kind words. Enjoy riding around in Trafford Park.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-14485877330038091482016-05-16T14:24:24.552-04:002016-05-16T14:24:24.552-04:00UK resident Rob M - I fully agree with your consta...UK resident Rob M - I fully agree with your constant comments that the road is not there solely for the use of people in motor vehicles. I shall continue to be on two wheels until I am no longer able. Although I now use the air horn sparingly and choose to instead listen to the music emanating from the speakers on my hybrid's handlebars. I am so lucky that 80% of my commute is on cycle paths through Trafford Park, Manchester. Yourself and NY Bike Snob are my favourite blogs to read. Keep on cycling.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02707368851838068944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-59293199088237337552016-05-16T09:40:21.994-04:002016-05-16T09:40:21.994-04:00Ollyer,
You can have little conception how happy ...Ollyer,<br /><br />You can have little conception how happy it makes me to hear this story. You're right it is fabulous fun to be out on a bike in a world-class city - and I'm glad some of the posts on here got that point across. It's certainly true that there's more work to be done to make it easier to cycle. But London has taken a great step forward with infrastructure like the Blackfriars Bridge cycle path and I hope that progress continues under the new mayor.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-42644759874245365482016-05-16T07:27:41.559-04:002016-05-16T07:27:41.559-04:00I started cycling in London again after I started ...I started cycling in London again after I started reading your blog, among others. You all seemed to be having so much fun. So I went and looked up the statistics, found it to be similar to walking, and bought a bike.<br /><br />Every day that I come over Blackfriars Bridge on the new cycle path, and see St Paul's and the Thames, I feel so lucky to be there. So thank you.<br /><br />There's a lot of campaigning still to do before it's that pleasant everywhere I want to go. A lot of experienced cyclists are baffled that (like most of the population) I'm not willing to brave the nastier bits.<br /><br />But even so, discovering how much of central London is less than half an hour's ride away has opened up cafés and museums and concerts and parks that I never would have visited before. I could get to them, but the travelling used to be part of the cost, not part of the fun. Now I go out for a bike ride, and the world-class attractions are a bonus.Ollyverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11296014043634320469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-48030744041552997072016-05-13T18:55:25.351-04:002016-05-13T18:55:25.351-04:00Steve,
Thanks as ever for the comment. I do indee...Steve,<br /><br />Thanks as ever for the comment. I do indeed try to guide motorists as to how to behave. But it doesn't always work.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-19733653568117785582016-05-13T18:46:52.169-04:002016-05-13T18:46:52.169-04:00"It is certainly true that the vast bulk of c..."It is certainly true that the vast bulk of crashes between drivers and cyclists are mainly the driver’s fault." That wise and true statement illustrates WHY one must act as a shepherd to help one's motoring flock to make wise choices, just as cowboys act to drive cattle who could certainly squish them to an unrecognizable pulp...Steve Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13650405341304401203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-89509195169508401072016-05-13T18:33:35.313-04:002016-05-13T18:33:35.313-04:00Chris,
Thanks for your comment. It's true tra...Chris,<br /><br />Thanks for your comment. It's true traffic in the DC area can be pretty bad, although it generally seems a little calmer than in New York City. I'm sorry people are cruel about your disability card. That's very disappointing.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-2002542446271521722016-05-13T18:16:36.376-04:002016-05-13T18:16:36.376-04:00Fiona,
Thank you so much for your kind words. I&#...Fiona,<br /><br />Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm really sorry to hear about the Meniere's disease. You're not the only cyclist I've known to have had to give up because of it and it is a truly horrible thing to have. I hope you manage to get some relief from it at some point.<br /><br />I do hope you enjoy your occasional turns in parks and so on, safe in the knowledge you're behaving rationally.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-90065162230140324852016-05-13T18:03:40.677-04:002016-05-13T18:03:40.677-04:00dr2chase,
Both the NYPD and taxi drivers are inde...dr2chase,<br /><br />Both the NYPD and taxi drivers are indeed a significant problem. But, unfortunately, there are a lot of vested interests in the city working hard to make sure things don't change too much.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-39101256817870289652016-05-13T17:59:55.439-04:002016-05-13T17:59:55.439-04:00Alan,
Thank you for the comment. I'm perhaps ...Alan,<br /><br />Thank you for the comment. I'm perhaps a little less gung-ho than you about the mixing it with the city traffic. But I agree it's enormously helpful to be assertive and clear in communicating with drivers. People are a little less prone to injuring people who have just looked them straight in the eye.<br /><br />As for Broadway, I'm guessing you don't mean riding down the rather poorly-designed cycle tracks down much of Broadway between 59th St and Union Square. Part of that rather miserable facility is in the second picture on the blogpost. But many of the avenues can be fun if one's in the mood.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-76501488607424487592016-05-13T17:56:23.590-04:002016-05-13T17:56:23.590-04:00Michael,
Thank you for your helpful comment.
All...Michael,<br /><br />Thank you for your helpful comment.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-49290464965022905032016-05-11T20:16:02.449-04:002016-05-11T20:16:02.449-04:00I don't live in NYC. I live in the DC-Metro r...I don't live in NYC. I live in the DC-Metro region. From numerous ranking/opinion polls. Traffic is worse here. I choose to ride my bike for transport. Because, I don't have to encounter the sneers and jeers. When I have to show my disability fare card on public transit. People can be so mean.Chris516https://www.blogger.com/profile/04069357716365083833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-70958418034740262162016-05-11T07:16:25.652-04:002016-05-11T07:16:25.652-04:00A wonderful column about the joy of cycling!! Sadl...A wonderful column about the joy of cycling!! Sadly, I've had to put away my Brompton for cycling in London, as I'm forbidden that joy on account of my deteriorating sense of balance (Meniere's disease - don't have it, is my advice) but I still occasionally get to do it in parks and other safe spaces. Hurrah for the Invisible Visible Man! FixxFiona Harveynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-36210152282901891452016-05-10T22:00:36.458-04:002016-05-10T22:00:36.458-04:00NYPD certainly doesn't come off as likely to b...NYPD certainly doesn't come off as likely to be fair to cyclists in the event anything goes wrong (according to what I read on the internet, so it must be true), and NYC's cab drivers are terrible (this, based on personal experience). I am frankly astonished that all the people in the city who don't regularly drive have not voted for a lot less space for cars and a lot more for people on foot, buses, and bikes.dr2chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16320828055999939449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-45272281491071529662016-05-10T17:55:39.532-04:002016-05-10T17:55:39.532-04:00I've found the streets of New York an exhilara...I've found the streets of New York an exhilarating place to ride a bicycle. <br /><br />Traffic is certainly more predictable than in my old home, Bristol in the UK (an official Cycling City, no less), and reacts well to confident, assertive cycling. Of course, it's true that the learning curve is steep. <br /><br />Most of my cycling strategies developed from a couple of advanced motor-cycling courses. Positioning and demanding eye-to-eye contact through a full face helmet were probably the most important skills I use on my bicycle. <br /><br />It's really a question of balance, to abuse a metaphor, between existing in a safe cocoon or living with with, and coping with, statistics.<br /><br />I feel far more exposed on the tracks that pass for roads in NJ than on the streets of NYC. <br /><br />Your friend really should try pedalling down Broadway. It's a blast.Alan E Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08814067373751548470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-43392734255285681552016-05-10T05:03:01.815-04:002016-05-10T05:03:01.815-04:00That's the thing, I don't think anyone doe...That's the thing, I don't think anyone does rational calculations of risk involving comparisons of Killed/Seriously Injured statistics per trip or distance travelled for different modes of transport. <br /><br />It is even worse for assessment of risk involving obesity or pollution as these generally mean the probability of shortening or reduced quality of life in the future so it is difficult to do a like for like comparison with a single life changing event like a collision.<br /><br />It all comes down to probabilities and people aren't very good at considering these.<br /><br />There was recent data published on pollution measurements in London and people in cars have more exposure than pedestrians and cyclists but I haven't seen calls for parents to stop transporting their kids around in cars because of this.<br /><br />Your point about the joy of cycling in cities resonated with me. I do regular recreational group rides in the country as well as commuting in London and a significant proportion of the recreational riders would never consider commuting in London by bike because of their perception of the risk.<br /><br />For me however, I can experience moments of joy both riding my bike down a deserted country lane and a crowded city street.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12826498172261997737noreply@blogger.com