Without a shadow of a doubt, the worst place I have ever cycled is Philadelphia, USA. Absolutely hands down, no contest, the worst. The only times I have ever actually been hit were there, and there were three instances over the 5 ½ years I was a resident.
Without a shadow of doubt, the best place I have ever cycled is France. Granted I have only ever cycled the French countryside, but cars would literally drive in the ditch in order to give me enough space. They treated me as I was taught to treat horses by my driving instructor 16 years ago: decrease your speed and give them a wide birth. In the year and a half I lived there, the two cars which did not behave in that way had British licence plates.
Spain is next: the cars never slow down out in the countryside, so the speed can give you a shock, but they overtake on practically the other side of the road, so you are perfectly safe. In the three cities we cycled in, the cars treated you with such respect and gave you a lane to yourself, always exhibiting patience and care. We were never an obvious source of irritation even when we didn’t exactly know where we were going.
And so I’m here again in London. The London I left 10 years ago was a much nicer place to cycle. There were fewer people, which means fewer cars and much, much fewer cyclists. London is still nowhere near as bad as Philadelphia, but it’s closer to that than to the continent; not in terms of the amount of cars (London is much more densely packed), but in terms of the maliciousness and carelessness of drivers.
I can’t help but think about courtesy and about care. I understand road rage – I am possibly the least patient person in the world – but I think it so dangerous that the frustration and rage at these packed and often grid-locked roads means that the care, courtesy and consideration which is vital for safe road usage has all but disappeared.
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Posted under ethics, general
