BBC Inside Out tomorrow - reminder

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theboytaylor

theboytaylor

Well-Known Member
Location
Charlton, London
Obviously nothing major happened in London village over the weekend as this programme is being trailed in the first headline on the morning news.

Police are being encouraged to crack down on poor cycling - which I have no problem with provided they also crack down on the poor driving as well.

The article included the fact that there was a survey conducted in Westminster borough (Westminster is renowned for tolerance of motor bikes, cycles, etc) which found that one in five cyclists break the law every day. Accompanied of course by CCTV footage of some idiot wombling through a red light then up on to the pavement (amazing you can get that footage but if a car hits you that's often not available...).

That said, there was a brief snippet of Tom Bogdanovich from the LCC pointing out that all road users should be looking out for those more vulnerable than them. Which is a good point, but you suspect most people will focus on the fact that he doesn't address the accusations of poor cycling.
 
Jezston

Jezston

Über Member
Location
London
Cunobelin said:
Interestingly a 2002 survey in Scotland showed that the following were actions that the respondents performed:

Driven at 40 in a 30 zone - 80%
Driven at 80 in a 70 zone - 71%
Driven at 890 90 in a 70 zone 51%
Drove too close to the vehicle in front - 36%
Speeded up when being overtaken - 14%

... and the favourite stick for cyclists, driving through a red light - 39%

Then according to reports in the same year 76% of HGVs were driven above the speed limit, 65% of drivers failed to observe rural 30 mph limits and on the motorways over half the vehicles wer above 70 mph and 18% above 80 mph. On dual carriageways 13% were above 80 mph

So only 20 % being guilty makes cyclists far better observers of the roads than motorists?

But I will bet that doesn't get mentioned.....
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I've only been commuting by bike less than a year, and only regularly for about six months and I'm already utterly sick of the way so much crap gets spread about cyclists. We already have to defend ourselves constantly on the roads, why should we keep having to defend ourselves off them as well?

I'll watch this when it pops up on iPlayer, and if it is the load of crap I expect it will be - then I suggest we ALL write letters of complaint to the BBC pointing out these statistics, and asking why they are singling out cyclists when drivers are FAR worse, and FAR more dangerous as a result.
 
L

Lizban

New Member
Location
Blackheath, London
Here we go again cyclists are the devil - sometimes the BBC is a little narrow minded (said with a hint of irony)

However I still struggle with the defense of cyclists that runs along the lines of
'but cars are worse'. I agree of course they are but that doesn't make what some cyclists do acceptable.

I much prefer the 'positive defense/advocacy' of cycling i.e. the health benefits, the time saving etc we also need to acknowledge that there are issues but countering with all the good we do.
 
thomas

thomas

the tank engine
Location
Woking/Norwich
Lizban said:
However I still struggle with the defense of cyclists that runs along the lines of
'but cars are worse'. I agree of course they are but that doesn't make what some cyclists do acceptable.
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No, but it does mean that motorists can't fuss about blooming cyclists without being hypocritical.
 
L

Lizban

New Member
Location
Blackheath, London
thomas said:
No, but it does mean that motorists can't fuss about blooming cyclists without being hypocritical.
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Agree 100% but it doesn't make what some of us do any more acceptable. Saying 'but they do that' is only smoke and mirrors
 
Tollers

Tollers

Guru
Location
San Francisco, California
Wow, Lots of placid cyclist at critical mass to the soundtract of "Killing in the name", by Rage against the machine! Now that's impartial journalism. Hahaha
 
HaloJ

HaloJ

Rabid cycle nut
Location
Watford
hehe tollers. That made me chuckle as well. Although I do feel they painted Critical Mass in a poor light. My other issue with the program was that it started with "a small number of cyclists putting the others in a bad light" then a piece full of these bad cyclists. I'd have been happier them saying that at the end rather than putting it in the forgettable piece at the start.
 
Tollers

Tollers

Guru
Location
San Francisco, California
HaloJ said:
hehe tollers. That made me chuckle as well. Although I do feel they painted Critical Mass in a poor light. My other issue with the program was that it started with "a small number of cyclists putting the others in a bad light" then a piece full of these bad cyclists. I'd have been happier them saying that at the end rather than putting it in the forgettable piece at the start.
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Yup....it was almost as though they have never been to London
 
U

ufkacbln

Guest
Lizban said:
Here we go again cyclists are the devil - sometimes the BBC is a little narrow minded (said with a hint of irony)

However I still struggle with the defense of cyclists that runs along the lines of
'but cars are worse'. I agree of course they are but that doesn't make what some cyclists do acceptable.

I much prefer the 'positive defense/advocacy' of cycling i.e. the health benefits, the time saving etc we also need to acknowledge that there are issues but countering with all the good we do.
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There is a difference in "cars are worse" and "cars are also a problem"

My point is that there is a need to deal with bad habits and antisocial behavior.

Take pavement cycling, I would have no problem with a clampdown, but also deal with other vehicles on the pavement as well. If there is a campaign about lighting, stop bicycles and cars with faultly or no lighting. If you are targetting RLJs then stop all the vehicles who transgress

It is about ALL road users being included as traffic and with the same responsibilities in law, as opposed to targetting a single group and letting another get away with the same offence.
 
thomas

thomas

the tank engine
Location
Woking/Norwich
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00r0tbd

Video is up. Just watched it. I didn't think it was too bad to be honest. It did start by saying that a minority are making it worst for most...

The critical mass bit was a little pathetic...oh no, some cyclists boxed in a taxi...pfft. Man up a bit. Hardly hard hitting stuff.

Shame about the women whos kid got hit, but the police would probably care just as much if a cyclist had been hit by a car.
 
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