Folding Bikes - The London Mass Transit Disaster

I was wondering about this for a long time and now decided to write about it. Because each folder-no matter what make, model, price or age-has the ability to collapse into a smaller neater bundle and shares a history of being a war machine. I was wondering if others in the forums made this an important decision on his/her part when purchasing their own bike(s) for it to be used in an emergency like this and if so, how did your bike perform it's duty.

Both my bikes were purchased for their own proven ability to assist me in 2 transit strikes over the past 3 years. One is small and folds and the other is a full size regular non-folding bike. Both has a enclosed, internal hub drivetrain.

Let us know what you think.

I'm concerned if those who made the attack themselves were using folding bikes and placing the explosives in the bags! I can just imagine if this discovery is made, folding and full size bikes will be history on metro!

During 9/11 and the blackout in New York City, most of those excaping were on full size bicycles. There are very few folding bike users and since I don't ride in the city to work anymore, I was one of those stranded!

You're idea did make me think of buying a cheap folder and leaving it under my desk but I do have a rusting department store bike outside at the moment in case such an emergency happens.

Point well taken. Our company has offices in London, was putting up employees in hotels who were stranded away from home due to no transit.

A bicycle commuter (folder or not) would not be so constrained.

I have a very cheap Chinese made single-speed folder than I won as a door prize... makes me think I should keep it in my office should I ever become transit dependent. It would be an awful 30 mile trip on that bike, but it would get me home, eventually, like in 3+ hours.

But I'm not... I'm on vanpool with 8 other employees, and the van drives no matter what!

I started commuting by bike on Sept. 11 2002 specifically as a way to be nimble if anything were to happen. I kept riding because I like it. I have a 28-mile RT commute. I take the Metro during the winter when it's too dark to ride home.

Now why, did you even have to bring up the use of the bicycle in war? Most people not on these forums consider the bicycle a toy.Incidentally the heel was added to the sandals of roman soldiers to enable them to march farther and faster. I hope that is not banned. :eek:

http://www.highonadventure.com/Hoa97aug/Montana/montana.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/bicycle-infantry
http://www.flmvpa.org/bicycles.htm
http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/bsa_airborne_bicycles_(aka_parabike).htm (copy and paste, not sure why the url didn't link?)
Lots of neat stuff.

I'm concerned if those who made the attack themselves were using folding bikes and placing the explosives in the bags! I can just imagine if this discovery is made, folding and full size bikes will be history on metro!

During 9/11 and the blackout in New York City, most of those excaping were on full size bicycles. There are very few folding bike users and since I don't ride in the city to work anymore, I was one of those stranded!

You're idea did make me think of buying a cheap folder and leaving it under my desk but I do have a rusting department store bike outside at the moment in case such an emergency happens.


I'm 6 miles from work currently so I do not have an impossible walk if emegencies hit (I've also had breakdowns midway or near midway between work and home a few times). Living 3/4 mile from the Pentagon, I'm likely safer at work in Alexandria than at home, so a transit system shutdown is no reason to scramble home on bike, although I work near the courthouse in which the government prefers to try terrorists.

The owner's wife of a LBS owner's was stranded in DC 9/11/01. After that he expanded the product line from a recumbent specialty shop to a recumbent and folder bike shop, and the shop owner's wife now keeps a folder in her DC office.

Non-folders permitted on the subway system here outside rush hour, folders anytime, bikes on the fronts of busses anytime with folder ok inside.

I prefer keeping spares in the bike rack at work rather than a folder for all times for emegency, and my recumbent trike is barred completely, another only when folded (a travel LWB folder not a commuting folder), my quadrabent can be broken down in about 15 minutes. My small folder is a bike for more significant distances in a car/train/bus than the six miles between home and work.

Now why, did you even have to bring up the use of the bicycle in war? Most people not on these forums consider the bicycle a toy.Incidentally the heel was added to the sandals of roman soldiers to enable them to march farther and faster. I hope that is not banned. :eek:

My father was stationed in Australia and one of my uncles in England during the Second World War. I had firsthand stories of how the bike was used then and the odd way the Australians converted their cars without gas/petrol available to wood, coal or some other alternative burning fuel. I grew up during the 1973 Oil Crisis and adapted to bike riding as my other friends started to drive. I still got my drivers license, too. My father actually put up the money for me to try a folding bike for such emergencies-and I am glad he did!

There's been a rush on folders since the bombs: first as get-you-home bikes, now as alternatives to the tube.

There's been a rush on folders since the bombs: first as get-you-home bikes, now as alternatives to the tube.

Maybe that's a good thing? Sad it has had to take a few bombs for people to realise how easy and rewarding a bicycle commute can be...

Yep: combined with the congestion charge, central London is getting to be quite a bikey place. Cynical road-warriors are grumbling about all the wobbly suits :)

As for keeping a bike in preparation for an emergency, god, lighten up. When you start planning like that, they've got you. Ride a bike because you want to ride a bike, not because you're worried that the place will be blown up. It won't.

I forgot to add that I live in California. Since I became a teenager and independent from my parents, I lived through several moderate to major earthquakes, 2 riots, 1 attempted rape, an oil/energy crisis of the mid 1970's, numerous attempted and otherwise break-ins, a couple of severe droughts, several wild fires, and several transit strikes. Most or all of these require me to be mobile to get water and food supplies, perscription medications for my elderly parents, go to work or school, or attend to my father during his quadruple bypass heart surgery-all this without choosing to own a car and living in the car capital of the world where you are a second class citizen if you don't care to own one. But that does not mean I do not enjoy riding my bikes for pure enjoyment. I have done so and still do. It just that my father and uncle wanted to protect me without the use of fire arms or fatally injuring someone who might chose to take advanage of a crisis situation and try to harm me since I am female and more of a target. The bicycle was and is a means to make me less of a target (walking seems to attract preditors). They have the memories of even harsher times in my country and they want to share their experiences with others before it is too late for them (my uncle since died and my father is very ill).

People tend to react instead of act. The time to plan for an emergency is now rather than passively sitting by for the next problem to materialized since I noticed it might be too late to do something about it. Then don't worry about it. It will take care of itself. I was simply brought up to take a more active role in my professional and personal life than most people.

This is true: rail strikes have been more disruptive. Still, a bike gives you independence from all forms of disruption :)

As a daily cycle commuter into London I'd like to point out that the increased cycle traffic on the streets has actually caused more congestion. These are people abandoning the trains for cycling on the road - not abandoning cars to ride a bike.


This is quite sad. I doubt the increased cycle traffic is causing the traffic. It's more like people are just driving to the city in greater numbers for fear of another attack. The motorists don't care about the cost so long as it's safer than using the subways. The mayor should double the tolls entering the city.