It is wrong to think in terms of “private” versus “public” transport. That is important only to the bureaucrats who have to manage transport problems and fund transport solutions.
What matters is social versus anti-social transport.
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At War With The Motorist 
Some guy on a motorcycle tried to say something to me last night, not even sure if it was favorable or not. “BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-mummble-mumble-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-WHAT????-OOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-mummble-mumble-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-WHAT????-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM” I eventually rode past and left him stuck in traffic; never saw him again.
Earlier this year, riding across Blackfriars Bridge around sunset on the way home, the evening sky to the west was quite breathtaking – a classic graduated colour-wash with the London Eye, the Savoy Building, Shell Centre and others silhouetted against it, and the office lights winking in the blackness. I wish I had a camera with me.
A young lady started to overtake me and decided instead to ride alongside and have a conversation about how beautiful the sunset was.
Couldn’t have done that from a car. Wouldn’t have done it with the pedestrian next to me if I had been walking.
Commuting by bicycle is so much more sociable than any other form of private transport (except walking)…
Paul – and then …?
Lovely stuff. Sums it all up.
What a great picture :-) Cycling certainly is a very social means of transport. Maybe not so much in central London but you can guarantee if you go for a weekend ride around country lanes you’ll get a cheery welcome from any other riders you see! Sometimes you get the INR (Inperceivable Nod of Recognition) when on quieter streets but that’s about it.
Nice distinction!
Global travellers often report cycling to be good for generating positive social contact in places they pass through.
I wonder why? Perhaps something to do with the efficiency, and thus attractiveness, of the bicycle. And/or the common enemy of the motor vehicle?
Thought you might like to know about the Aire Valley Bike Bus.
I’ve been riding with it for almost 3 years, as a once a week social commute. It started with ideas of safety in numbers and environmental concerns, but I think the best thing about it is meeting people who have become friends over time and having a natter. Social cycling.
The big secret is simply to talk to other people as they pass.
Hello all,
my great sadness is the competitive nature to the daily commute and how often people seem ‘locked down’. I guess a lot of it has to do with the fear of the traffic around us but I do love it when I get to talk to some other cyclists and I like to think that deep down everyone would prefer a bit of banter in the morning…