Defending cycling on Yahoo article about AL minicabs

[captain nemo1701]

Good grief, I just spent over an hour trawling through (OK, there's not much on telly ) this:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/cyclists-in-uproar-over-addison-lee-boss--views-on-road-deaths.html#

The amount of ignorance and anti-cycling vitriol is astonishing, especially concerning the road tax myth. I had to report one guy to Yahoo for serious abuse as he incited violence to cyclists.

 

[gaz]

There is very little point in trying to 'educate' these idiots. It would seem that several years of our education system has already failed to do so.

 

[musa]

I don't know if its the thrill of being anonymous or just plain ignorant which has double cross their mind as common sense which I can safely conclude is most certainly NOT common

 

[captain nemo1701]

Thanks Gaz, love the cartoon. It just astonishes me that people still have these attitudes. BTW, I think I had waaaay too much coffee today

 

[mchunt]

Yahoo at times does seem to be the Daily M**l of the internet. The basic spelling mistakes show how badly the school system has failed these people, give them a break they can't help it.

 

[Boris Bajic]

The A-L boss makes some painful generalisations and seems incapable of seeing the situation from any point but his own. Crikey! At last we don't have that type on this forum! He comes across as a bully who is accustomed to getting his own way. I may be wrong.

I am completely against what he says. It seems wrong, wrong, wrong.

However...

1. It is not entirely unrepresentative of the views of many, many other road users out there. He has the muscle and the money to air his views, but he is not unique. We all know that.

There seems sometimes to be a mindset among some cyclists (it may be those who have never driven or never driven HGVs) that is slightly hostile to and dismissive of other road users.

Even if we allow for the accepted truth that people who post on the Internet are sad, bonkers or deluded, it should be noted that very many of the responses to the piece are (for all the poor grammar) hostile to cyclists and in agreement with the A-L man.

2. Every cyclist who rides selfishly, dangerously or inconsiderately is adding to the problem. I include myself in that number, as I ride with vim when in London. I shouldn't, but I do. It's the courier in me m'Lud.

3. And I don't just mean the former couriers and brain-out brakeless hipster skid-stopping between HGVs.... There is also the (usually urban) cyclist who didn't ride as a child, doesn't drive and simply has no sense of how traffic moves and works. These terrify me more than the crazies. At least you get the impression that the crazies are aware of the havoc they spread in their wake.

A-L man is utterly wrong, but there are cyclists who make it easy for the casual observer to agree with him.

There are also cyclists whose views are so far the other way from A-L man's that, like the implacably opposed madnesses of Stalinism and National Socialism, they seem to meet up again on the wrong side of the planet.

 

[Maylian]

A prime example on internet trolling there for the most part, although it is concerning that quite a few people agree with the sentiment. Since I only use self propelled transport I can't judge both sides but I try and be as considerate as possible, don't run red lights intentionally, stop at zebra crossings etc but I'm still on the end of abuse by motorists.

I'm all for some sort of cycling proficiency test if drivers receive cycling awareness training as part of the test if they don't already.

 

[downfader]

There is very little point in trying to 'educate' these idiots. It would seem that several years of our education system has already failed to do so.

I am that guy. I fully admit.

However there is a serious issue here - that the moderators and admin of big sites like yahoo and youtube dont give a sh*t about a) the original issues and b) controlling the negative ramifications when people rant off.

The only approach is to keep "spamming" the facts with sources. Throw enough crap at the wall and some of it will stick.

 

[david1701]

Seriously this is what chill pills are for people, pop a few, have some beers and then go for a ride (unless it's miserable out there in which case bike love)

 

[downfader]

Interesting - tried to leave some links to stats on that story and the comment was deleted. Methinks someone doesnt want a few facts to be spread.

 

[downfader]

Seriously this is what chill pills are for people, pop a few, have some beers and then go for a ride (unless it's miserable out there in which case bike love)

The more you leave a parasite to burrow in the more damage it will do long term.

I still say spam the facts: studies PPR445, ipayroadtax, http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/Campaigns/1110_Cyclists-behaviour-and-law__4M__brf_rev_.pdf etc.

 

[Red Light]

I am that guy. I fully admit.

However there is a serious issue here - that the moderators and admin of big sites like yahoo and youtube dont give a sh*t about a) the original issues and b) controlling the negative ramifications when people rant off.

The only approach is to keep "spamming" the facts with sources. Throw enough crap at the wall and some of it will stick.

Look on the bright side - while they are at home on their computers posting comments they are not out on the roads endangering people - although I suspect most of them get out very little anyway.

 

[Boris Bajic]

Seriously this is what chill pills are for people, pop a few, have some beers and then go for a ride (unless it's miserable out there in which case bike love)

I got very cross about this issue, so I took your advice: Chill pills, some beers and then... after I'd got my shoes on the correct foot and found the garage... I went for a ride.

Frankly, I find your advice deeply flawed. The roads looked really weird after the pills and beers. Corners were sort of RUSHING up to meet me. I felt a little nauseous too. Cars seemed to be swerving all over the place and the bike was jolly hard to balance or steer.

To cut a long story short... I ended up in the gutter with bruises and cuts. I didn't feel any pain (which was odd) but my bike was mashed.

I walked it home, giggling all the way. Now... I need to fix the bike. Whom do I sue?

 

[david1701]

Outstanding

 

[downfader]

Having been on chill pills I do not recommend them, my fingers became numb.