tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post4909442027882403471..comments2024-03-18T08:51:07.314+00:00Comments on i b i k e l o n d o n: Why I support The Times' "Cities fit for Cycling" campaignibikelondonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-75948544444208779702012-02-09T10:40:33.966+00:002012-02-09T10:40:33.966+00:00It's good that a major newspaper is trying to ...It's good that a major newspaper is trying to do something positive to make cities safer places in which to cycle.<br /><br />But it would be even more encouraging if The Times could rein in the excesses of one of its columnists who sees cyclists as fair game for his ill-informed, bitter and downright dangerous rants.<br /><br />Matthew Parris has in the past used his column to denigrate and even incite violence against cyclists - he suggested that they were responsible for littering countryside hedgerows with drinks cans, and on another occasion suggested that readers string piano wire across lanes to decapitate cyclists.<br /><br />I wonder how he feels about one of his colleagues now lying comatose in a hospital as a result of an accident while cycling.congokidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-87725148632731286132012-02-05T21:21:45.121+00:002012-02-05T21:21:45.121+00:00@Anonymous Okay.....(!)@Anonymous Okay.....(!)ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-16652686936486696722012-02-04T20:33:03.556+00:002012-02-04T20:33:03.556+00:00News International are a bunch of international cr...News International are a bunch of international criminals intent on buying off governments around the world. The Times is one of their outlets, and it is simply jumping on the Sustrans bandwaggon to try and buy votes amongst the liberal left.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-28894363110565609482012-02-03T09:58:58.896+00:002012-02-03T09:58:58.896+00:00It is wonderful to see a national paper take up th...It is wonderful to see a national paper take up the cyclists' cause - just a shame that one of their staff had to suffer an accident first.<br /><br />I believe that one key point is missing from the eight point manifesto announced by The Times. Namely, we should be focusing on getting the clear and explicit right to use the middle of the lane. Of course, we already have this right, but the vast majority of motorists are unaware of this fact.<br /><br />Many motorists become aggressive with cyclists not because the cyclists are in the way - but because the motorists believe that the cyclists should not be in the way and should be hugging the curb. As a result, motorists feel that cyclists who 'take the lane' are themselves being aggressive and bloody-minded.<br /><br />We urgently need drivers to become aware that cyclists have the same right to road space as they do. The best way to achieve this would be a simple change to the Highway Code stating that cyclists can cycle in the middle of the lane on urban roads.<br /><br />Some city councils in Spain have recently introduced this legislative amendment (Spanish local councils have some powers over roads) and I can confirm from personal experience that drivers' attitudes have changed as a result.<br /><br />Of course, Spanish cyclists implicitly had this right beforehand - yet the majority of drivers did not know or care. The situation is the same in the UK.johnrawlinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05483219429357988683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-54293591036794109822012-02-03T01:36:31.253+00:002012-02-03T01:36:31.253+00:00Greetings from across the pond.
It is very sa...Greetings from across the pond.<br /> It is very sad that so many have to be injured or killed before anyone takes notice. Here in Highland Mi. where I live most people I talk to just consider cyclists a nuisance. I refer to the 4inch wide stripe at the edge of the pavement as "Our bike lane". Some of the motorists blast their horns and shout obscenities just for riding that 4 inch line. Every time I ride the 1 & 1/2 mile road into town, I feel like I am risking my life.<br /> Not every city or town here is like what I have described. However, I would say that most are just like that. <br /> If I do get run-down one day, I hope it generates some real interest in the safety and rights of cyclists here. Keep fighting the good fight! Godspeed<br /> Cheers,HughHughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12986498277947032639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-69879999878945521862012-02-02T16:56:57.153+00:002012-02-02T16:56:57.153+00:00@ibikelondon - Some of the riding I see can leave ...@ibikelondon - Some of the riding I see can leave me worrying (I've submitted a few clips for Silly Cyclists from along there!) it's mainly people filtering to dangerous positions alongside cars/lorries and the usual RLJing/pavement hopping to get round stopped vehicles. I can't help but think that those riders should just chill out a bit and enjoy the ride! We're already considerably faster then those in cars and it only serves to give them ammunition to moan at as ALL about.Mark Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03687296045166324440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-6673492737616421932012-02-02T16:28:26.884+00:002012-02-02T16:28:26.884+00:00@Mike I'm impressed too, which is why I've...@Mike I'm impressed too, which is why I've been prepared to put my voice to the campaign. Let's hope it makes a difference. I agree, 2% of the highways budget would be easily absorbed by the DfT but would make a HUGE difference on the ground. Seems fair to me; bikes make 2% of the journeys, let's have 2% of the budget, increasing with each % point of modal share.<br /><br />@MarkS I know exactly the feeling you are talking about when you see a trail of bikes ahead of you in the road, it gives me hope too. But I do worry about just how safe all these cyclists are really - I'm yet to be swayed by a convincing argument that proves the safety in numbers effect works in the UK. Perhaps the backing of a Murdoch paper will help to get some really big and bold things done.<br /><br />@Anonymous I quite agree!ibikelondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06978714126105951294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-81211342074091165152012-02-02T16:21:41.580+00:002012-02-02T16:21:41.580+00:00It's very encouraging to see a mainstream pape...It's very encouraging to see a mainstream paper campaign on cycling - particularly one not really associated with this sort of thing. It goes to show how mainstream cycling has become, and how political parties who ignore safety (Boris Johnson and the tory AMs who refuse to debate the issue) do so at their electoral peril.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-77007553020942813822012-02-02T15:33:36.657+00:002012-02-02T15:33:36.657+00:00Maybe getting the backing from a Murdoch owned pap...Maybe getting the backing from a Murdoch owned paper could be just what the cycling fraternity needs. He may not be everyones favourite person at the moment but if he does have some clout in Westminster it may be a good thing ;-)<br /><br />As Mark has already said I'd love to share the roads with many other people, not just the die-hard cyclists who are brave enough to tackle busy roads and mix it with the road traffic. I still get a pang of excitement as I hit that lovely straight part of CS7 heading from Stockwell towards Clapham and can see a veritable sea of red lights and hi-vis ahead of me :-) However this same site is rare on most other roads! Seeing this replicated all over town will I think signify the "cycling revolution" that Boris keeps harping on about but has so far failed to deliver.Mark Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03687296045166324440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129037502516609710.post-52747839558968727222012-02-02T15:26:30.244+00:002012-02-02T15:26:30.244+00:00I read the Times today and I'm impressed, the ...I read the Times today and I'm impressed, the points in the manifesto are positive, good demands which have been made by groups such as SPOKES, SCCS and others. The 2% of highway budget on cycling is one of my favourites, as is 20mph on residential roads.<br />I think one thing that is missing, which is probably due to being politically difficult is something like "9. Cycle safety should be prioritised over traffic flow/motorist convenience". (In Edinburgh 'on-road cycle path means 'parking bay': many "cycle paths" have 24hour parking on them...).<br /><br />It feels like more and more people are supporting good cycle infrastructure from both ends of the political spectrum, and the numbers cycling here in Edinburgh's has been going up every year. I think it might be time to feel a little optimistic?<br /><br />Mike.Mike Smithnoreply@blogger.com