This seemingly small change is well supported by organisations such as the London Cycling Campaign. It’s not just the benefit of getting to your destination faster but it is also part of making cycling safer. The LCC see it as part of their campaign to make places more permeable to cyclists thus making cycling more attractive.

The bad news is, this kind of positive change to the law is slow to implement. All the Mayor really has the power to do is go up to the Department for Transport and request they review it. They then have to run a trial to see if it works before starting to make plans to change the law countrywide. That is if they feel it is even worth considering in the first instance.

David Love, founder of the 3 Feet Please campaign, said “It is a good idea however, measures to change driver behaviour would have greater overall impact on cyclist safety and could be brought in earlier and at a considerably lower cost”.

Turning right on red is the law in America where they drive on the other side of the road. A red light is instead treated as a stop sign. Both drivers and cyclists are allowed to make a safe judgement and proceed accordingly. This is not the only example of allowing road users to exercise their common sense. In some cities in Germany traffic lights are switched off late at night when traffic dies down. Drivers are expected to check at the traffic light rather than proceeding without giving it any thought.

Do you think cyclists should be allowed to turn left at red?

See also:

• What cyclists can be fined for
• How much time do you waste waiting at traffic lights?
• What is your traffic light strategy?

Green light, pedal down, I start powering my way in the direction of Hyde Park. Draft a bus (I can’t make resolutions to end all my bad cycling habits) and then get caught up at another dreaded red light. 10 seconds pass, 20 seconds. I’m getting nervous. We’re off again only to get caught by another red light 0.1 of a mile away. Now I’m really sure I’m going to be late.

Can you relate to this experience? It got me thinking about how much of our time we, as cyclists, waste waiting at red lights. So I ran a little experiment using the Edge 705 I’m borrowing off the nice people at Garmin for a couple of months. Every time I would arrive at a red light I would tap the lap button and then as I set off again I would tap the lap button again.

So here is what I found..

The shocking result of my unscientific experiment…

17% of my time was spent at a traffic light. A total of 9 minutes 57 seconds out of 56 minutes of cycling.

I must admit it feels like a lot more. But maybe I’m just the impatient sort of person that wants everything now. The sort of person that could benefit from a more Zen Habits approach to life.

So what can you do while spending 17% of your journey waiting at a red light?

1. Practise your track standing.
2. Give evils (official term: establish eye contact) with all the drivers behind you so they realise your position on the road.
3. Or you could think about how long you could survive chained to a bed with a Velociraptor?
4. Or perhaps you could dream up a world where traffic lights were never invented?
5. Spark up a conversation with the cyclist next to you?

I’ll see you at the red lights. I’m the one who swears each time the light turns red…

See also:

• What is your traffic light strategy?
• Would you like a fine or a safety course for jumping that red light?
• Who are the least courteous drivers in London?

I’ve covered all the things you need to turn your mobile phone into the perfect cycling computer before:

• iPhone bike mounts
• Cycling apps for the iPhone
• iPhone bike apps
• Using GPS coordinates for cycling
• Android cycling apps

The great thing is that compared to spending £300+ on a Garmin GPS you get most of the functionality (minus heart rate monitor) for around £40. Which is the cost of a good bike mount. I know I mostly talk about the iPhone as that is the only device I have but you can replicate most of these techniques on any phone. Unfortunately Nokia devices and so forth have been a little slow to catch on to the application market so your best bet if you don’t have an iPhone is an Android.

If you are interested in some kind of iPhone cover or the iPhone charger shown in the video it costs just under £40 and is available from Mobile Fun.

Have you thought about doing this? Is there anything holding you back? Or do you just not really not care about tracking your cycling!? Leave a comment…

Cycling down Swiss Cottage high street in North London and ticking off various errands as I’ve done so many times before I pondered a question. How hard could it be to get my local council to install some new bicycle parking here? I’m sure lots of London Cyclists have pondered this question. Perhaps, it’s outside your office where you can only find a lamppost to attach your bike to or near your favourite pub in Soho. I’m always annoyed that there is nowhere to secure a bike near Ain’t Nothing But (careful, video automatically plays on this link).

Surely, all the council have to do is; inspect the site, make sure there are no cables running under the ground where the bicycle stand would go and then plonk it in. Hey presto, you’ve got an extra two bicycle parking spaces for years to come at a minimum cost.

With this question occupying my thoughts I hatched a crazy experiment. I want to see how on earth I can get the council to take this seemingly easy piece of action. After all, our councillors are always telling us they work for us. Plus, the experiment is likely to benefit fellow London Cyclist’s who may have identified similar situations where there seems to be a lack of bicycle parking.

Now, I’m not 100% sure how to proceed. If I was in New York all I would have to do is go online and suggest a new location. This facility doesn’t exist in London. So I guess my first point of call is the local council.

The location I’ve identified looks like this:

Which is roundabout here:

Swiss Cottage high street is generally a car friendly area with little provision for pedestrians or cyclists. As you can see it’s not the most appealing high street in Britain to walk around and crossing to other side involves crossing a busy A road.

The area has provision for car parking at the expense of a quicker bus journey and a safer cycling route:

Above we can also see the last attempt of a new bicycle parking location which is looking rather drab.

The A41 which runs through Swiss Cottage would theoretically be a good place to add a cycle superhighway. However, at the moment this is not being considered.

There is obviously a need for some additional cycle parking as the next nearest racks are some distance away and full. Cyclist are leaving their bikes on other street furniture:

I’ll let you know how my little Swiss Cottage experiment goes. Perhaps it will be quick and easy or perhaps 6 months from now we will still be waiting for a new bike rack.

Got any tips for me or think this is a good / stupid idea – leave a comment!

See also:

• Crowdsourcing bike rack building in NY
• Does your office have these three cyclist facilities?
• Unconventional ways of preventing your bike from being stolen
• What I know about Swiss Cottage

As soon as my delayed Easyjet flight landed in London around 1am and I got my very tired self home I remembered the post I had written last week. I asked all of you to send me in some birthday wishes. I was worried to check it because what if there was just 2 comments in there!

I created the post before my short trip to Jordan and Israel. Two countries that I thoroughly enjoyed and would happily recommend.

As my laptop loaded and I clicked on London Cyclist I found there was more than 2 comments. There was around 85 and all of them really nice and reading through them instantly put a huge smile on my face! So thank you so much for everyone who took the time to leave their birthday wishes. It was also the perfect thing to read upon my return to London.

I wanted to pick out a couple of them:

“Your blog has not only made me feel safer about cycling but also allowed me to pass on your tips and advice to my boyfriend when he first started cycling to work (and I was worried about him!). So thanks for everything – keep up the good work.”

This comment by Caroline sums up perfectly why I run this blog. Making it easy for people to start cycling safely and enjoy it.

…you did a review of cycle cafes once upon a time. One of them was near my work; I wandered over to check them out. I got along brilliantly with them, and am now building a new bike with the lovely people.

Elena – happy to help you discover some new things in London!

OK a few things … discovering Wiggle…finding your recommendations for good waterproof jackets…Micycle workshops….bike cleaning ….. buying a floor stand pump (thanks- brilliant!)….bike marking schemes with local police (my local plod emailed me the next day)…the low-down on overtaking and waiting-at-lights etiquette …and also I like your style of writing about bikes so makes me feel good about cycling in London.

Thank you Claire for picking out so many things!

Encouragement to a not-so-confident cyclist to become a much more confident one!

Definitely one of the best outcomes of the blog! Thank you Ann.

I also really liked this image that was sent to me by Brian of a GPS drawing that took 2 hours to do!

Just pretend it says Andreas!

All of the comments were amazing. So thank you so much. Was interesting to see how useful people are finding the maintenance guide and also the cycling routes.

Which brings me on nicely to the big update…

The London Cycle Routes eBook, which has been downloaded just over 400 times, will be receiving a major overhaul. Just yesterday, I was busy improving the maps on the first three routes. Now they are far clearer and easier to follow. It made me wonder why I didn’t just make these improvements sooner!

Above that I also listened to all the feedback emails I received and I’ve started adding a Google Maps version of them to make it extremely easy for someone to use.

Of course the biggest suggestion people had was “more of the same!”. So I’ll be adding 5 more routes to the eBook for people to enjoy.

I’ll reveal more of the exciting new features in the coming weeks but needless to say I’m sure there’s going to be some very happy customers!

The good news is, as promised, anyone who has downloaded the eBook will receive a copy of the new version for free. Though, I’m not quite sure how I’m going to send it out yet as I have to figure that one out (hopefully it won’t involve a painfully slow one, by one email – but if that’s what it takes then I’ll do it!)

The new version will really complete the guide and I’ll be proud when I add it to the website 10 days from now.

Thank for for reading the London Cyclist Blog!

In my free Guide to Cycling in London I mentioned two of my friends Dan and Alex who are moving from London to Melbourne in Australia and doing so by bike. Their trip will take 8 months and I’m sure will be the adventure of a lifetime. As I write this they are just a couple of monthly away from setting off and I’m set to join them for the first leg of the journey down to Dover.

It is an incredible trip no doubt and they will soon be exploring far away places such as Cambodia and Japan (they’ve decided on a route that covers additional countries they wanted to see). I’m proud of them as neither are fitness fanatics or even hugely keen cyclists. In fact Alex (The Aussie girl who is stealing our good friend Dan!) hasn’t touched a bike in years. They are a true testament to having a dream for a trip and going for it.

Of course, that’s not to say there hasn’t been difficulties along the way. Finding the money to buy all the equipment, choosing a bike, planning a route, working out Visas and so forth all needs to be considered.

One guide I recommended to them and wanted to also recommend to you is the Bicycle Travellers Blueprint by my good friend Darren Alff. It is a guide that will remove half the hassle when planning a trip like this. Meaning there is more time to dream of beautiful destinations and enjoy the cycling without things going wrong.

It is the sort of thing you have to read before taking a big cycling trip such as this one. Though, I’m not suggesting an 8 month tour is possible for everyone or is even something everyone would like to do. However, perhaps you want to do a 1 month trip around Eastern Europe or a 2 week trip along the beautiful British Coastline.

How to plan the perfect trip

The first necessity is obviously all the equipment. If you, like my two friends, Alex and Dan don’t even yet have a bike that is suitable for a long trip then this is where the guide begins. It helps someone make the right decision as to the type of bike they should buy and also how to transport things on that bike. There is also a number of useful sections in this chapter that discuss the sort of equipment that makes a huge difference but you’ll probably forget to take and how to keep your bike safe while you’re travelling.

One of the most useful sections in this first chapter is the packing checklist. This makes it incredibly easy to get going and not forget any essentials. Having someone with a ton of experience explain what is and isn’t necessary sets you off on the right gear (pun intended). Oh, and while you are out on the road climbing a big hill you’ll be making a promise to yourself to email Darren and thank him on the section about things you can leave at home!

Once all the equipment is done and you know how to pack your panniers like a professional you need a route. This can be one of the most difficult parts of the planning stage but Darren has broken it down beautifully into an easy to follow method. Everything including how to research, find accommodation and create a budget is covered in this second chapter.

You might think that is where the guide ends. However, Darren has then gone on to talk about what it is like to be on the road. This is good for the mental element of the preparation which especially for particularly long trips might be something you didn’t consider beforehand. He also outlines how you can stealth camp – as in camp for free and not be seen while you are touring. A useful skill that you’re unlikely to learn elsewhere.

There is a ton more contents in the downloadable eBook but I hope you get the idea that this is an “all your questions answered” guide. I’ve been recommending it since last year when I was first told about it to anyone who comes to me with questions about doing a big bike tour such as my two good friends who are due to ride Lands End to John O Groats next week as a warm up to their 8 month tour!

Discount until Sunday

Just before sending this I messaged Darren on the off chance he might be interested in doing a bit of a sale for London Cyclist readers. He said he is happy to offer 20% off until Sunday 29th. Therefore the normal price of $24.95 is temporarily $19.95.

If you have any questions about the eBook before you buy then please leave them below. I’m happy to answer them or I can direct them to Darren.

To receive your discount head to this page to find out more and instantly download the eBook to start planning your adventure!

http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/go/bicycle_travellers_blueprint/

Note: This is taken from the London Cyclist eBook: A guide to Cycling in London which is freely available to newsletter subscribers. Click here to find out more.

Where to buy a second hand bike in London

• GoingGoingBike is a newly launched website that sells second hand bikes
• Otherwise.. Gumtree and eBay are classics though be careful about stolen bikes
• In a bike shop – the LCC maintain a good list of bike shops in London that sell second hand bikes.
• In a police auction – Frank G Bowen run the London auctions
• Classified ads in newspapers and magazines

How to be sure you are not buying stolen goods

You don’t have to be a criminal detective to know when the bike you are looking at is stolen. There are obvious signs to look out for:

• See if the person who is selling the bike is suited to it.
• Look for the bicycle frame number. This is located underneath the bike. If this has been scratched off it is a tell-tale sign of a bike theft.
• Meet with the person at their house not in a location such as an underground station. If they refuse they may be selling stolen goods.
• Ask for identification
• Ask for an original receipt of when the bike was purchased. If there is no receipt then perhaps they have an original manual

Getting a good deal

It can be helpful to have someone with you who knows a thing or two about bikes. Also try and get a test ride. Here are some things you should be looking for:

• Correct frame size – if it doesn’t fit you then there is no point in buying
• Rust – on the chain and on the rest of the bike. The chain can cheaply be replaced but rust on the rest of the bike can be a problem.
• Dents – both on the frame and forks
• Tyres – Are they worn out? They will need to be replaced.
• Sprockets and gears – do the gears keep skipping, do the components look worn out? Replacing them can be a costly exercise.
• Do a full M check – check all the classic areas: bolts, buckled wheels etc should all be assessed. Some things can be fixed cheaply but can quickly raise the price of what seems like a good deal

Have you had any experiences with buying second hand bikes? Leave a comment..

I’ll start us off but I’m going to cheat a little as I’ve not been doing any cycling this week while I’m travelling so I’ll refer back to last week.

My best: First coming back from France I was so eager to jump on a bike. The opportunity came when my friend, who only lives less than 10 minutes cycling away, finished his work and invited me over. Hopping on my bike for the first time in over a week felt great. I’m always amazed at how fast it whizzes along on a smooth road surface and I couldn’t resist taking my hands off the bars and pedalling down the empty A road enjoying the cool post-rain breeze. If only all roads in London were as smooth as that one.

My worst: I don’t frequently cycle in rush hour and when I do it’s a very hit and miss experience. This time pedalling over to a meeting in Hyde Park was really not fun. It was one of those days where you get hit by all the red lights and each time a loud motorbike happened to be next to me. I felt like I really had to fight for my place in the road and I was glad to just finally get to the park and relax along the cycle lane and have a drink in the Serpentine Cafe which is one of my new favourite meeting places.

What was your best and worst cycling experiences this week?

See also:

• Insider tips from Boris Bikes pioneers
• What cyclists can be fined for
• London Cycle Hire Scheme – your thoughts?
• Bike lights definitive guide
• What is your uphill cycling strategy?

I’m unsure if Topeak are trying to go down some kind of iPod style marketing route with their Topeak Race Rocket colours but I think it works really well. The Topeak is in some ways the iPod of the Mini Pump world.

Measuring just 19cm long this is the perfect little pump to pop into your saddle bag or pocket (Is that a pump in your pocket?). Whilst it might weight next to nothing and take up hardly any space it doesn’t fall short on performance. The makers claim it can blast up to 140psi into tyres. In tests I wasn’t able to quite reach that level without my arm falling off but none the less I was incredibly impressed. Compared to most mini-pumps it not only reaches a higher pressure but also does so more quickly. What this means is less time stood by the side of the road pumping air into your bike.

The Topeak Race Rocket is adjustable to accommodate both Presta and Schrader valves so all bikes are covered. It also comes with an “extendable hose” which means better comfort when pumping your tyres and less chance of too much pressure been placed on the valve stem which can cause it to break. The Topeak also comes with a bracket so you can attach it to your bike.

Overall, it’s a package I can’t fault. The best part is the price. If you buy it from Wiggle you can get it for as little as £22.49. I think this is pretty incredible value considering some of the pumps I’ve bought in the past and not been nearly as impressed with them. Overall a fantastic pump that I highly recommend.

Prices of the Topeak Race Rocket

£22.49	£22.99	£24.99	£26.99

What I liked

• Hardly takes up any space in my bag
• Very lightweight construction
• Pumps up tyres quickly and to a high pressure

What I didn’t like

• Not getting one sooner!

See also:

• Topeak Joe Blow Sport Pump Review
• Bike repair on your iPhone
• Definitive guide to bike lights
• B&M Ixon IQ review

I wanted to take a quick look through some of the top things that I’ve tweeted in the past 6 months to see what sort of things are really popular amongst Twitter readers:

1. London Cycle Hire Status Map – Very cool visualisation of the usage of the cycle hire scheme
2. What cyclists can be fined for – This received 500 clicks from just 1 tweet. Obviously something people are interested in!
3. Silly ways to use the cycle hire scheme – posted on the day of the cycle hire scheme launch I’m guessing this got plenty of fan fare from the fact it was a trending topic for the day
4. Guide to cycling in London – The free PDF eBook I launched on London Cyclist
5. The world’s loudest bicycle horn – I guess anything with “The world’s loudest” is going to have big success!
6. Where to get your bike tagged – Lists the dates the police are tagging bikes in London. Goes to show people are very interested in bike safety.
7. Guardian compares the London Cycle Hire Scheme to the Paris one – The sheer interest around the Cycle Hire scheme and anything related to it has been staggering in the past 30 days.
8. London Cycle Cafe’s – who? where? what? – A look at the London Cycle Cafe’s everyone has been talking about
9. Who are the least courteous drivers in London? – Ask a controversial question and you’re sure to get some heated debates
10. Cycle training pays off in Sheffield – It cost the equivalent of a metre of highway and led to an estimated increase in cycling of 70%
11. Hello Joe competition – High vis clothing is a big hit with London Cyclist readers as are giveaways!  
12. Every bicycle theft victims dream – a YouTube video showing the somewhat cruel revenge on a bicycle thief
13. Why bike thieves should be very afraid – The new cycle task force is in London
14. 10 London cycling events you shouldn’t miss out on – Be part of the London cycling community, try out these events!
15. Top 50 cycling blogs 2010 – A pain to put together but always a big hit!
16. Why do police target cyclists who jump red lights? – A question we all want the answer to
17. Cyclist fined £700 after jumping red light – Shows you why you should just accept the fine
18. Danny McAskill in Chamonix – Great YouTube from a cycling superstar
19. London Cyclist releases eBook with 25 London Cycle Routes – And I’m glad to say it has been well received!
20. Daily Mail hate campaign against cyclists – Unfortunately Tweets like this are very popular which I guess is why the Daily Mail continues to write articles like it.

What will the next 6 months of twittering bring us? Who knows! But it’s certain controversy, giveaways and intrigue and the three things that bring in the Twitter clicks!

Click here to follow on Twitter