Cyclox is a local cycling campaign for Oxford, probably similar to many local cycling campaigns.
As a general rule I don’t join any political parties or pressure groups, but, decided to join Cyclox for a few reasons. There leaflet has many good common sense ways to improve cycling in Oxford – better facilities, safer roads, lobbying for better standards of driving, and also trying to improve the image of cyclists by promoting safe cycling techniques. You feel that their goals are quite achievable and taking part might make a real improvement to cycling in Oxford – something I enjoy a lot. (see pics of Oxford cycling)
Main Aspects of Cyclox
- Cycle Parking – It is hard to get suitable places to lock a bike in Oxford. It is estimated nearly 3 times as many bikes try to park in the city centre as their are racks. In the past few years I have noticed an increase in the number of bike racks – hopefully this will continue to increase
- Cycle Network - There are some good local networks of cycle paths, hopefully more will come.
- Bikes and Buses - As the leaflet suggest, many including myself have been overtaken aggressively by buses. Sometimes they pass so close, they almost touch you. Cyclox tries to work with bus companies to change driving perceptions.
- 20mph Speed Limit. As a motorist and cyclist, I think on balance a 20mph speed limit on residential roads is a good idea
- Accident blackspots. Some areas are notorious accident blackspots for cyclists. Often poor road design is at fault.
Advice for Cyclists
from Cyclix
- Practise looking over right shoulder
- Be careful passing near trucks and buses. Don’t pass HGVs on the inside
- Cycle safe distance from kerb.
- Always use lights at night
- Don’t ride on pavements (cycling on pavements)
- Don’t jump red lights. (cycling through traffic lights)
- Don’t let them steal your bike.
Links
From the age of two (saddle on Dad’s crossbar) to eighteen (Hercules ‘Kestrel’) I went everywhere around Oxford, shire and city, by bike. Much of this was in wartime and those empty country roads and almost-empty Oxford city streets would make a modern cyclist drool with envy.
My best effort was Oxford to Lincoln in a day (but we camped overnight on the way back.)
Halcyon days!
Now two or three times a week I ride around Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra . It’s only about 20 clicks but for an old stager, an hour at a time is quite sufficient.
Love bikes, love indexed gears!
Regards from (sometimes) sunny Australia
Roger M
BIKES and BUSES:
Oxfordshire Highways has informed me that cyclists have the right to cycle on the road itself – regardless of whether there is a cycle track on the pavement alongside that side of the road. I have passed this information to both bus companies on each occasion when I’ve been (effectively) bullied by bus drivers when cycling on the (smoother surfaced) road alongside a cycle path.