University project - help needed

[mart0203]

Hi, i am a transport design student currently studying at the university of Huddersfield and have been given a brief with the aim to of designing a range of products for cyclists and urban commuters for the brand Oakley, and was hoping you could help me out by taking the time to answer a few questions listed below, all help is much appreciated and thanks in advance.

• What is the reason behind you making a journey on a bicycle?
• How long does your journey take on average?
• What are the main problems you encounter on your journey?
• How would you improve your journey if you could?

Thanks again in advance for your help.

[natman]

• What is the reason behind you making a journey on a bicycle?
• to get away from the daily grind, and get fit
• How long does your journey take on average?
• training ride 1-2 hrs , sportives depend anything up to 7hrs
• What are the main problems you encounter on your journey?
• mainly everyone who isnt expecting a cyclist to be doing high speeds
• How would you improve your journey if you could?
• make it a crisp spring day, not a whisper of wind, and no one on the road in front of me

[Mike the bike]

Best of luck with your project Mart and I'll concentrate on your third question if I may ...

The main problem for me is the attitude of motorists towards vulnerable road users. It isn't usually deliberate; it's the casual, unthinking way in which they threaten our safety by driving too close and refusing to allow us sufficient time.
Every rider I know has a multitude of tales describing close shaves and intimidation and every single day poor driving blights my commute.
There is probably no single answer, although a radical change in the application of existing laws would help. Just the other day, for example, a lorry driver who was on the phone at the time he knocked a woman off her bike was fined £2700 and banned for eight months. In the grand scheme of things this is a minor inconvenience. The woman, on the other hand, has had her whole life affected by brain damage, her family are left with a huge burden and the NHS bill will run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. I suggest there needs to be a re-balancing of society's priorities and perhaps there is a way you could help.

[ls28harry]

Hi Mart.


1. My journeys are mostly training rides.

2. Depends on route. 2-5hrs

3. Have to agree with Mike, as hate cycling on busy roads I will base my rides on road conditions. I do my best to avoid the traffic but ultimately get caught in it somewhere.

4. I would move abroad and never come back.

[chris bagust]

1. No longer a cycle commuter, but cycled to work for fitness and to avoid cost. Also could (in summer) turn ride home into a training session.
2. 20 mins to work (going for it) 25 mins home (direct route, going for it) All heavy urban.
3. I'm with Mike. Scaffolding lorries and German 4x4s are the worst. Also FAR too many potholes and ill-fitting or occasionally non-existent drain covers.
4. Fix the sodding roads - M/C riders and drivers of small cars suffer too. I'd love to think there was a way of banning large cars from city streets....

Chris