R2OK!

Mark Mayhew · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2897

Is the soaring cost of fuel making you change your travel habits.

My local railway station is under seige from a massive increase in the number of people using cycles to the station.

Our local paper reported "the racks are so full, people are lockng their machines to anything that is stuck in the ground-railings, lamposts, signs etc on both sides of the street outside the station.

There is no doubt that there has been a sudden, colossal increase in the number of people using pedal power. One thing is for sure there are not enough bike racks at the station to cope with the increase".

We are certainly using our bikes more these days-are you.

gfloyd · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject:

I am thinking twice about the number of miles I drive and also about the speed I drive at. I find that driving at above 60 mph seems to make fuel decrease very rapidly, so I'm trying to stick at 60 (or just above!)
_________________
His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

I think 55 is supposed to be the optimum speed for fuel economy - car manufacturers use that for the "best" mpg figures for new cars, and the last time there was a major oil crisis the USA tried to enforce a national speed limit at that figure, with limited success, apparently - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Maximum_Speed_Law

I did read somewhere that for every 10mph above that, economy drops by 4mpg. Use of air-con also has an effect on fuel consumption, and performance, and, of course using the car for short journeys is the biggest drag, hence the sudden popularity in bikes for train commuters (I wonder if they'll be so keen come the cold, damp, murky days of November).

I haven't noticed a big rise in cycle use here, but then the local topography doesn't make it an easy option.

Our car is generally used for shopping and ferrying our quite elderly mothers around, and for our two or three holidays a year in this country, and that is unlikely to change. We are fortunate in having a relatively frequent and reliable (though achingly slow) public transport network here and have always used that for city centre and work.
_________________
Ron

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

We haven't changed our habits very much, as we've got no plans to fly in the near future.

Don't tell anyone, but I can't ride a bike!

Ian.

Rachel · Guest

We're jolly lucky where I am. Two railway stations - one for London bound journies and one for West bound journies- both within walking distance of pretty much the whole town. A great bus service to all nearby towns and also a bypass so we don't get heavy through traffic- it's great! I don't really need a car anymore since giving up the corporate rat race - in 7 weeks I've covered just 176 miles in my lil sportKA - that would have been two days if I were working. Still on the same tank of fuel that I came home with on my last day. Incidently I paid £1.09p a litre for it 7 weeks ago. What does it cost now? I do have a bike - just for pleasure riding though around the country lanes. I still drive into town for shopping but only because it's free to park in some town centre car parks if you shop there and also I buy more than I can carry. Thinking about getting a trendy shopping trolley-( am I old enough for one of those yet?) it's about a mile ( maybe less)to the shops from my house- so it does seem a bit extravigant to drive but hey, with only 176 miles in 7 weeks - I think I'm doing my bit.....

It's jolly quiet out on the roads today.....

55 MPH! ... I've just been out to the Post Office and to Focus- don't think I got over 25 MPH or out of 3rd gear ...... our Postman has a bike! Smile

Ian Robinson · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:12 am Post subject:

After 4 years of driving to the Edinburgh Fringe, I decided to take the train this year and was very happy to get a ticket going from my home town to Edinburgh that costs not much more than petrol would.

And then they announced they are closing the track - from the week before I leave until the end of September. So, never mind me, if any families fancy a day trip to Blackpool or the Lake District over the summer holidays they can't go by train. Brilliant!

The train companies are now unable to tell me when my train will leave, where from, or if I can reserve a seat. Bah!

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

We gave away all our bikes last year! Four bikes!

I could cycle to my customers with my laptop on my back but I really would NOT want to be cycling to where my customers are, mainly in Coventry where the roads are full of impatient drivers trying to get to school or work, some listening to the radio, some using mobile phones, kids screaming in the back seats, don't indicate, overtaking buses, pulling out into roundabouts and main roads.

It must be a nightmare for cyclists, I don't blame many for cycling on the pavements, it's much safer as there's not many pedestrians on the pavements!

gfloyd · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject:

Unless cyclists have a dedicated lane to cycle in, its like playing Russian roulet on the roads. I cycle just at weekends. Like Rachel, I mainly cycle in the country on the lanes & along the canal paths, etc. I dont think I would volunteer for city centre cycling, even if it was an option.
_________________
His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....