George Conklin
2008-05-10 14:16:46 UTC
The bicycle backlash unfolds
By Claire Heald
BBC News
The bicycle. It's the model of green transport and sales of folding ones
that fit on trains are stepping up a gear. But as they multiply, so does
rush-hour resentment, as commuters and cyclists come to blows.
Dawn is breaking over one commuter-town train station as the daily grind of
travelling to work begins. A City type is easy to pick out at the far end of
the London-bound platform - he has forgone formal pinstripes for Lycra
shorts and a luminous top.
He collapses his bike into a spiral that is barely bigger than its 16in
(41cm) wheels.
Yes, you should try to protect the environment, but be sensitive to others
David Pyle
Commuter
A Brompton folding bicycle, it's the bowler hat of modern commuting -
compact, popular, a bit of a design classic.
Its owner is polite and considerate but hesitates to give his name. Glancing
sideways, he says he takes an earlier train to avoid the worst of the
rush-hour. For him, cycling "at both ends" - in the sticks and the city -
means he travels in an environmentally-friendly way.
So what's not to like here?
Plenty, say fellow commuters, aggrieved by the increasing number of folding
bikes vying for space on the train. Sales are up, and the crush inside the
carriages is on.
Sweaty menace?
"Here's one! Right here," pipes teacher David Pyle, as he opens the train
doors to reveal a folding bike strapped to a handrail on the 0628 BST from
Sevenoaks to Charing Cross.
Stepping inside, there are no seats left and he struggles to find a place to
stand and hold on.
He complains that bikes, even folding ones, take up too much room. And he
doubts their environmental credentials when some riders are dropped off at
the station in a 4x4
And there is wrath for the sweatier cyclists.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.
James Waller of Evans Cycles shows us how to fold and assemble a folding
bike.
"Yes, you should try to protect the environment, but you should be sensitive
to others," he says. "If putting your bike on the train obstructs other
people's standing space, it doesn't fulfil any ecological criteria."
Cramming into a busy train while under pressure of time - commuting is
hardly an experience that brings out the spirit of generosity in us. Take
father and son city-workers Nick and Tom Hester.
"For years we had a long standing thing about a little guy who we called
'cyclo git'," says Nick. "He had a row just about every day - the classic
'get his bike out of the boot at Sevenoaks station' man."
"They're so arrogant with their 'let me through, I'm a cyclist' attitude.
The trains are crowded enough, they should be banned during rush hour."
"The most annoying of the lot is the people who build their bike just as
everyone gets up to get off," adds Tom. "There's a perfectly large station -
why do it on the train?"
Sales shift gear
They've noticed the change as sales of "folders" are on the rise in the UK -
about 75,000 of the 3.5 million bikes sold last year. Market leader Dahon
says its sales are growing by about a third each year. UK-based Brompton
says it's unable to keep pace with demand.
Partly it's down to technical improvements - folding bikes have improved
both in the ride they give and how quick and easy they are to fold (7-15
seconds for a Brompton).
Other factors have also driven sales: the London congestion charge (and
similar plans in 10 other UK centres); growing awareness about exercise; and
the 7 July bombings which converted many to pedal power.
The city now boasts a high-profile cycling mayor and will this year host its
second folding bike race for commuters. Across the rail network, standard
bikes are either banned by train companies at peak times or must be
booked-in.
"Tick, tick, tick"
As rush hour rolls on, the steady tap of rain on the train windows hardens
to a more aggressive pelt. Mac-clad passengers squash onboard. Soggy
brollies dangle. Tempers begin fray.
But there is also the "tick, tick, tick" sound of folding bikes being
wheeled up to, and off of, trains.
You can see them looking at you in your shorts, thinking 'I haven't got a
seat, and yet he's got a bike'
Ercan Ozcelik
Cyclist commuter
City lawyer Roger Day is undeterred by the conditions; indeed they are
"liberating". "I always cycle in the morning, rain or shine," he beams.
He does four miles to the station, and a quick sprint in the city: "I used
to drive to and from Canary Wharf, and it was miserable. This journey takes
longer, but I would take it a million times - it's fantastic and helps keep
me healthy."
Other cyclists are keen to show how little room their bike occupies; how
easy it is to assemble: "It takes half a minute," says investment banker
Jamie MacLean, unfolding his bike at London Bridge.
The us-and-them aggravation in the dog-eat-dog world of the train doorway is
well known to some, however. Ercan Ozcelik has 22 years of taking the train
and cycling to work under his waterproof, high-visibility belt.
"Coming home, when there's no seats, you can see them looking at you in your
shorts, thinking 'I haven't got a seat, and yet he's got a bike'."
Blame game
But to place blame under the tyres of the bicycle is to miss the problem,
say cycling's proponents. It is train overcrowding and the demise of the
storage-giving guard's van that are at the root.
"Commuters have a problem with other commuters," says Tom Bogdanowicz of the
London Cycling Campaign. "The bottom line is they're complaining about
overcrowding on trains, not specific items."
The solution? Greater capacity for people and trains designed to take bikes.
Then everyone could fold up their bike at the station, and carry it on to
the train.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
I recently bought a folder after being admonished for bringing my bicycle on
the train. It is compact and so much easier to transport and store. The ride
is surprisingly smooth and it is great in the city.
Candace, New Jersey, US
You should have to buy a ticket for a bike.
Matt Whitby, Thatcham
My folding bike is smaller than the majority of bags, briefcases and
suitcases that almost all commuters carry. Overcrowding is the issue.
Naythan, Rushden, UK
The worst example of a selfish cyclist I've seen was on a rush-hour train.
The bike's owner had decided to create their own bike parking space by
locking their bike in front of three folding seats. Folding seats are
designed to fold-away when not in use to allow easy access down the train's
corridors. Not only did this bike prevent the use of three of the train's
seats, it also blocked the corridor in the process.
DS, Croydon, England
The fault lies entirely with the rail company as they are not providing
suitable facilities for their paying customers, whether they are cyclists or
pedestrians.
Ken, Glasgow
The really annoying ones are the cyclists who don't fold up their bike, prop
it across the doors, and then get annoyed when someone wants to use the door
to actually get off the train, and they have to move their precious bike.
Nona, London
I use the train-and-cycle combo to get to work from Hertfordshire to central
London. However, I get incredibly irritated by the cramming in of frankly
not-very-small folding bikes by other commuters - the bikes get in the way
and take up valuable space. My solution is easy - I leave my bicycle in the
cycle racks at the train station in London and don't take it on the train.
It's not a folding bike, so I get a faster, more comfortable ride too. And I
don't have to fight to get my 'luggage' onto trains in the rush hour. At the
home end, I'm fortunate to live close enough to the station to walk. I'm
about to move further away and am going to pull the same trick there -
leaving a second bike at the station. This may seem expensive, but Brompton
bikes start at over £300, and go up to £700 or so. My full-size bicycle cost
£130, has integral lights, a luggage rack, and is comfortable enough to do
the London-Brighton ride and over 6,000 miles so far. So buying two
full-size bikes is cheaper than one folding. Perhaps more people should
consider this rather neat way of commuting...
Ian Cowley, Royston and London
What about more bike parks at stations? Then cyclists could leave their
bikes at the rail stations and join the rest of us on the
tubes/buses/pavements for the last part of their commutes. That's for those
cyclists who don't already join pedestrians on the pavements obviously.
Ian, London, UK
I remember the days, not very long ago, when trains had a carriage for
bikes. Despite bikes being higher up the agenda than ever, profit comes
first and bike accommodation is now limited to a couple of
bike/pushchair/disabled bays. Given they barely accommodate for peak volumes
of passengers, I suppose this is all that can be expected; though it is a
little rough to put this lack of accommodation on the cyclist.
By Claire Heald
BBC News
The bicycle. It's the model of green transport and sales of folding ones
that fit on trains are stepping up a gear. But as they multiply, so does
rush-hour resentment, as commuters and cyclists come to blows.
Dawn is breaking over one commuter-town train station as the daily grind of
travelling to work begins. A City type is easy to pick out at the far end of
the London-bound platform - he has forgone formal pinstripes for Lycra
shorts and a luminous top.
He collapses his bike into a spiral that is barely bigger than its 16in
(41cm) wheels.
Yes, you should try to protect the environment, but be sensitive to others
David Pyle
Commuter
A Brompton folding bicycle, it's the bowler hat of modern commuting -
compact, popular, a bit of a design classic.
Its owner is polite and considerate but hesitates to give his name. Glancing
sideways, he says he takes an earlier train to avoid the worst of the
rush-hour. For him, cycling "at both ends" - in the sticks and the city -
means he travels in an environmentally-friendly way.
So what's not to like here?
Plenty, say fellow commuters, aggrieved by the increasing number of folding
bikes vying for space on the train. Sales are up, and the crush inside the
carriages is on.
Sweaty menace?
"Here's one! Right here," pipes teacher David Pyle, as he opens the train
doors to reveal a folding bike strapped to a handrail on the 0628 BST from
Sevenoaks to Charing Cross.
Stepping inside, there are no seats left and he struggles to find a place to
stand and hold on.
He complains that bikes, even folding ones, take up too much room. And he
doubts their environmental credentials when some riders are dropped off at
the station in a 4x4
And there is wrath for the sweatier cyclists.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.
James Waller of Evans Cycles shows us how to fold and assemble a folding
bike.
"Yes, you should try to protect the environment, but you should be sensitive
to others," he says. "If putting your bike on the train obstructs other
people's standing space, it doesn't fulfil any ecological criteria."
Cramming into a busy train while under pressure of time - commuting is
hardly an experience that brings out the spirit of generosity in us. Take
father and son city-workers Nick and Tom Hester.
"For years we had a long standing thing about a little guy who we called
'cyclo git'," says Nick. "He had a row just about every day - the classic
'get his bike out of the boot at Sevenoaks station' man."
"They're so arrogant with their 'let me through, I'm a cyclist' attitude.
The trains are crowded enough, they should be banned during rush hour."
"The most annoying of the lot is the people who build their bike just as
everyone gets up to get off," adds Tom. "There's a perfectly large station -
why do it on the train?"
Sales shift gear
They've noticed the change as sales of "folders" are on the rise in the UK -
about 75,000 of the 3.5 million bikes sold last year. Market leader Dahon
says its sales are growing by about a third each year. UK-based Brompton
says it's unable to keep pace with demand.
Partly it's down to technical improvements - folding bikes have improved
both in the ride they give and how quick and easy they are to fold (7-15
seconds for a Brompton).
Other factors have also driven sales: the London congestion charge (and
similar plans in 10 other UK centres); growing awareness about exercise; and
the 7 July bombings which converted many to pedal power.
The city now boasts a high-profile cycling mayor and will this year host its
second folding bike race for commuters. Across the rail network, standard
bikes are either banned by train companies at peak times or must be
booked-in.
"Tick, tick, tick"
As rush hour rolls on, the steady tap of rain on the train windows hardens
to a more aggressive pelt. Mac-clad passengers squash onboard. Soggy
brollies dangle. Tempers begin fray.
But there is also the "tick, tick, tick" sound of folding bikes being
wheeled up to, and off of, trains.
You can see them looking at you in your shorts, thinking 'I haven't got a
seat, and yet he's got a bike'
Ercan Ozcelik
Cyclist commuter
City lawyer Roger Day is undeterred by the conditions; indeed they are
"liberating". "I always cycle in the morning, rain or shine," he beams.
He does four miles to the station, and a quick sprint in the city: "I used
to drive to and from Canary Wharf, and it was miserable. This journey takes
longer, but I would take it a million times - it's fantastic and helps keep
me healthy."
Other cyclists are keen to show how little room their bike occupies; how
easy it is to assemble: "It takes half a minute," says investment banker
Jamie MacLean, unfolding his bike at London Bridge.
The us-and-them aggravation in the dog-eat-dog world of the train doorway is
well known to some, however. Ercan Ozcelik has 22 years of taking the train
and cycling to work under his waterproof, high-visibility belt.
"Coming home, when there's no seats, you can see them looking at you in your
shorts, thinking 'I haven't got a seat, and yet he's got a bike'."
Blame game
But to place blame under the tyres of the bicycle is to miss the problem,
say cycling's proponents. It is train overcrowding and the demise of the
storage-giving guard's van that are at the root.
"Commuters have a problem with other commuters," says Tom Bogdanowicz of the
London Cycling Campaign. "The bottom line is they're complaining about
overcrowding on trains, not specific items."
The solution? Greater capacity for people and trains designed to take bikes.
Then everyone could fold up their bike at the station, and carry it on to
the train.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
I recently bought a folder after being admonished for bringing my bicycle on
the train. It is compact and so much easier to transport and store. The ride
is surprisingly smooth and it is great in the city.
Candace, New Jersey, US
You should have to buy a ticket for a bike.
Matt Whitby, Thatcham
My folding bike is smaller than the majority of bags, briefcases and
suitcases that almost all commuters carry. Overcrowding is the issue.
Naythan, Rushden, UK
The worst example of a selfish cyclist I've seen was on a rush-hour train.
The bike's owner had decided to create their own bike parking space by
locking their bike in front of three folding seats. Folding seats are
designed to fold-away when not in use to allow easy access down the train's
corridors. Not only did this bike prevent the use of three of the train's
seats, it also blocked the corridor in the process.
DS, Croydon, England
The fault lies entirely with the rail company as they are not providing
suitable facilities for their paying customers, whether they are cyclists or
pedestrians.
Ken, Glasgow
The really annoying ones are the cyclists who don't fold up their bike, prop
it across the doors, and then get annoyed when someone wants to use the door
to actually get off the train, and they have to move their precious bike.
Nona, London
I use the train-and-cycle combo to get to work from Hertfordshire to central
London. However, I get incredibly irritated by the cramming in of frankly
not-very-small folding bikes by other commuters - the bikes get in the way
and take up valuable space. My solution is easy - I leave my bicycle in the
cycle racks at the train station in London and don't take it on the train.
It's not a folding bike, so I get a faster, more comfortable ride too. And I
don't have to fight to get my 'luggage' onto trains in the rush hour. At the
home end, I'm fortunate to live close enough to the station to walk. I'm
about to move further away and am going to pull the same trick there -
leaving a second bike at the station. This may seem expensive, but Brompton
bikes start at over £300, and go up to £700 or so. My full-size bicycle cost
£130, has integral lights, a luggage rack, and is comfortable enough to do
the London-Brighton ride and over 6,000 miles so far. So buying two
full-size bikes is cheaper than one folding. Perhaps more people should
consider this rather neat way of commuting...
Ian Cowley, Royston and London
What about more bike parks at stations? Then cyclists could leave their
bikes at the rail stations and join the rest of us on the
tubes/buses/pavements for the last part of their commutes. That's for those
cyclists who don't already join pedestrians on the pavements obviously.
Ian, London, UK
I remember the days, not very long ago, when trains had a carriage for
bikes. Despite bikes being higher up the agenda than ever, profit comes
first and bike accommodation is now limited to a couple of
bike/pushchair/disabled bays. Given they barely accommodate for peak volumes
of passengers, I suppose this is all that can be expected; though it is a
little rough to put this lack of accommodation on the cyclist.