Bicycle safety field trip

Feb 17 2010

Today I went into the field to observe cyclists in action. My five-year old Kodak is not the hippest of cameras, and I’m not the most accomplished photographer, but together, we managed to get a few shots of the landscape.

Mostly, I just wanted to characterise the road conditions during rush hour. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that’s when most cyclists are injured–during morning and evening commutes. I didn’t get outside until just before 9:00, but traffic was still reasonably heavy and there were cyclists everywhere.

There were all sorts of bikes on the road, and not everyone was wearing a helmet, but most of the people who looked like serious commuters were fully equipped with safety gear. It was surprisingly tough to catch cyclists in the frame. They’re quick, and were frequently hidden behind or between cars. Here’s a few of the shots.

Traffic lineup on Lothian Road

A traffic lineup on Lothian Road. Loads of double-decker buses come through this 5-way intersection. They frequently share that lane with cyclists.

 

Cyclist crossing the street
A cyclist wearing a helmet, reflectors and high-visibility jacket crosses an intersection.

 

Cyclist waiting at a light
A commuter cyclist waits his turn at a traffic light.

 

Bike lane
The bike signal indicating the beginning of a bike lane.

 

Chained up bicycle on the Meadows
A bicycle chained to a rail on the Meadows.

 

Cyclist waiting for a lorrie to pass
A cyclist waits for a lorrie to pass.

 

One response so far

Leave a Reply