Cycling in Europe

Depending on where you’re from, this introduction to cycling in England may shock or make you feel at home.

Car drivers do not like you, remember this. Not ALL car drivers but for the most part this is true. They aren’t your friend when you’re cycling on the road. You have to always look out for what they are doing (or not doing).
Right of way is meaningless. Always look and assume the worst. You can have the right away while also being on the ground in pain because the car driver didn’t care about the rules.
Do you get turned on being called names? If so you’re in luck! And let’s not limit the abuse to verbal you will also be honked at (and no it’s not because you look hot in lycra) and if you’re unlucky something of some sort c̶a̶n̶ will be thrown at you.
Roundabouts: reread point 2. You do NOT have any rights here, you are at the mercy of the whims of the car drivers! Some days will be easy and you may just be able to venture out into the roundabout without saying a hail mary beforehand but other days, be prepared to wait.
Direction signals mean nothing.
Those leafy overhangs are lovely in summer but any time of year they make it very hard to see a cyclist, use a rear light that flashes!
Cycle lanes come in all shapes, sizes and lengths. They can be 4 inches wide or 3 feet wide. They can last a few minutes or an hour. Be prepared for whatever space you’re given in your “cycling lane” for the car drivers to feel that 2 cm over the white line is where they are allowed to drive. You may find that the cycle lane makes life worse.
Holes, holes and more holes. Beware of the holes. I have no idea where England sources its road surfaces from. I suspect they are getting the scraps no other country wants! There will be holes here there and everywhere, look out for them.
Be prepared to always be in the wrong place. If there is a cycle lane people will tell you to cycle on the road, if you cycle on the road they will say to cycle on the pavement. You are always wrong, get used to it.
MAMILS, come in all shapes and sizes and different levels of friendliness. Typically, it is best to stay away. Oh and don’t for one second assume the fancy bike and lycra means they know what they are doing on the road, you may end up finding out the hard way.
Get bike insurance! Don’t leave your bike outside if you can help it. Theft is a real issue in London and even small towns in the middle of nowhere and it’s just getting worse. Even with the best locks, bikes are stolen at alarming rates.

More may be added to the list, but these are the main points for now. And for those of you reading this saying to yourself “I never had a problem” Well lucky you, most have.

For those who need to be told, there is an element of satire, obviously.

I’ve cycled more kilometres abroad than in the UK by now and have seen countless interactions between cars and bikes.

I’m cycling around the same time of day, same bike, same kit, so the only variable is the world around me, ie the car drivers.

As of today, I’d still rank Sweden (and likely Denmark as a tie) for the safest place to cycle. Although the topic I’d like to explore today is Germany’s love/hate with cyclists.

I know from my time on UK roads that car drivers in the UK aren’t keen on cyclists. The number of close passes and road rage episodes are countless. 10 mins on Twitter and you can confirm it isn’t just happening to me. If you look in social media you’ll see countless posts full of hate against cyclists. Social media and real life mirror each other. And I know people will want to come back with the “not all car drivers” retort, but it is hard to argue there isn’t an issue on UK roads.

Now for Germany. As a very petite female solo cyclist, I have spent around 4,500km on German roads. I have cycled on bike paths that cross regular roads, through towns and various main roads, some with cars feeling the need to show off how fast their metal box can go!

I have had a few people pull out without looking, one argued, one profusely apologised, a few close passes, well close for Germany.

BUT

For the most part, many wave me to allow me in, give me lots of room while overtaking, and wait for me to cross before they turn. Something I know they never did in the UK. All in all, not Swedish level but pretty good and light years ahead of the UK.

Now for the confusing part, the other day I stumbled across a local Facebook group and there was a discussion about cyclists. Oh and did I get a shock! Many comments are on par with the British car drivers who are against cyclists in the UK! But how? Why? These people are generally so polite and kind when I’m cycling, how can they hate us so much? (Although some of this I can understand as I have a lot of issues with German cyclists, another topic)

After asking some Germans, they aren’t keen on us lycra-wearing, 2 wheel-loving people. But then why the mismatch? Why am I not being honked at? No one is swearing at me. Why is social media not the same as real life?

I’m not a German, so it’s hard to know, but my suspicion is respect for the rules and a moral stance of not wanting to hurt people.

Some people do break the rules, these people are always in society but they are few and not the majority.

Perhaps, an innate respect for doing the right thing can momentarily overcome the dislike for cyclists? At least while behind the wheel.

Category: Cycling in Europe

Cycling in England

Can people dislike cyclists yet respect them?