r/Glasgow Tools

Title
Author	smcsleazy
Comment	you're right and you should say it. honestly, you bought up a good point about how attentive you need to be when cycling and i feel this is honestly something a lot of motorists don't understand. you're not just riding in the middle of the road, you're making sure you don't get doored and/or you've got room if someone decides to pass too close. along with other things like watching the road surface (seriously, if you think a pothole is bad on a car, on a bike it can break both your arms..... i know) trying to maintain speed and constant blind spot checks. it's also worth mentioning modern cars have so much sound deadening that you don't even realise how much road noise there is and how much it can tire you out. i think a common thought in a lot of motorists minds is cyclists are all lycra clad roadie cyclists but honestly, i've found they are in the minority. most people who ride a bike in glasgow are just commuters trying to get to/from work safely. this is why cycle lanes are important, they give those people who aren't comfortable with road cycling but can't afford/choose not to drive every day a way of getting around. it's just a shame that so much of the infrastructure in glasgow is so half assed and disconnected. oh, and to anyone who's going to ask "well why cycle if it's dangerous? why not just buy a cheap car" ok, as someone who had a car in glasgow, total running costs per year were £3000. my 3 bicycles are £350 per year combined. parking my bike is easier and cheaper. from where i live to city center is only 12 mins on the bike where as the same trip in the car was 20 mins normally and 40 mins during rush hour. it's honestly more fun for the most part.
Reddit Link	https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/17w1mo1/drivers_please_be_more_careful_around_people_on/k9evo6j/
Created	Wed 15th Nov 2023 9:25pm
Status	normal ()

you're right and you should say it.

honestly, you bought up a good point about how attentive you need to be when cycling and i feel this is honestly something a lot of motorists don't understand. you're not just riding in the middle of the road, you're making sure you don't get doored and/or you've got room if someone decides to pass too close. along with other things like watching the road surface (seriously, if you think a pothole is bad on a car, on a bike it can break both your arms..... i know) trying to maintain speed and constant blind spot checks. it's also worth mentioning modern cars have so much sound deadening that you don't even realise how much road noise there is and how much it can tire you out.

i think a common thought in a lot of motorists minds is cyclists are all lycra clad roadie cyclists but honestly, i've found they are in the minority. most people who ride a bike in glasgow are just commuters trying to get to/from work safely. this is why cycle lanes are important, they give those people who aren't comfortable with road cycling but can't afford/choose not to drive every day a way of getting around. it's just a shame that so much of the infrastructure in glasgow is so half assed and disconnected.

oh, and to anyone who's going to ask "well why cycle if it's dangerous? why not just buy a cheap car" ok, as someone who had a car in glasgow, total running costs per year were £3000. my 3 bicycles are £350 per year combined. parking my bike is easier and cheaper. from where i live to city center is only 12 mins on the bike where as the same trip in the car was 20 mins normally and 40 mins during rush hour. it's honestly more fun for the most part.