Idiots at work

[ComedyPilot]

No-one on here is defending bad cycling, and we regularly have a right old whinge about them, but as Adrian points out we (as cyclists in general) seem to get blamed and accept vicarious responsibility for the actions of the few (RLJ, Ninjas). But vehicle drivers don't get this, and moreover, they don't seem to want to take their own personal responsibility let alone holding their hands up to other driver's actions......

Henry Ford created a monster that has encased modern 'society' in a metal protective shell that seperates them from the communities they drive through. As cyclists we engage with those environments; we do not (contrary to DM belief) endanger them but provide a cheap, safe, clean, efficient, fun transport solution.

We are gathering a never before seen momentum of acceptability; and a number of motoring hacks/papers/slebs/comment columns do NOT like it, and do their best to tar us with the 'bad cyclist' brush.

 

[glenn forger]

That makes it OK then

That's what I said, yes.

 

[Andrew_P]

 

[Linford]

No-one on here is defending bad cycling, and we regularly have a right old whinge about them, but as Adrian points out we (as cyclists in general) seem to get blamed and accept vicarious responsibility for the actions of the few (RLJ, Ninjas). But vehicle drivers don't get this, and moreover, they don't seem to want to take their own personal responsibility let alone holding their hands up to other driver's actions......

Henry Ford created a monster that has encased modern 'society' in a metal protective shell that seperates them from the communities they drive through. As cyclists we engage with those environments; we do not (contrary to DM belief) endanger them but provide a cheap, safe, clean, efficient, fun transport solution.

We are gathering a never before seen momentum of acceptability; and a number of motoring hacks/papers/slebs/comment columns do NOT like it, and do their best to tar us with the 'bad cyclist' brush.

The problem with pavement cycling is that it is the wrong type of engagement with the communities. Pedestrians are basically 'everyone'...they aren't a specific group in the way which cyclists, drivers, horseriders of motorcyclists are. As long as pavement cycling remains a criminal offence, then society will condemn it. We are all taught from a very young age that the pavement is where you walk unless you have no other choice. It should be a safe haven for pedestrians irrespective of which other way they choose to get around.

spindrift glenn forgers comparison/comment about more people being killed by cars is a ridiculous way of trying to defend the indefensible. Pavement cycling really is the Achilles heel of cycling. It manages to pee off pedestrians irrespective of whether they drive or not...they honestly don't give a toss that it is only done by a minority of cyclists, and the rest of us respect the reason why these pedestrian spaces have been made.....

 

[glenn forger]

comparison/comment about more people being killed by cars is a ridiculous way of trying to defend the indefensible.

It wasn't a defence, it was pointing out that your claim to speak for pedestrians is ludicrously inflating your self-importance. You don't speak for pedestrians, you have no idea what they are all thinking, and if the fear you pretend they have existed they'd be carrying cameras. They're not carrying cameras because they're not bothered. And if they wanted a spokesperson I don't reckon they'd pick you.

 

[glenn forger]

The Minister For Cycling agrees:

Thank you for bringing the issue of cycling on the pavement around dangerous junctions such as Vauxhall Cross to my attention. I agree that the police should be using discretion in enforcing this law and would support Paul Boeteng's original guidance.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2014/jan/20/police-cycling-pavements

The original guidance was issued by Paul Boateng the minister responsible at the time. He said:

The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of the traffic, and who show consideration to other pavement users.

Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road. Sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required.

 

[Cubist]

It doesn't matter a lot. If you're determined to be moralistic about it, you can't tell the ones that can't be arsed from those that have another reason. If you simply accept that you shouldn't run people over, it ceases to matter so much.

I'm going to plagiarise and paraphrase an article I once read, and I can't find original reference to it unfortunately, but here goes:

There is a bare minimum expectation of proper road use. If everyone who got behind the wheel of, or straddled any sort of vehicle, set out with the specific intention of "Today I will not injure or kill any other road user" the roads would be far, far safer.

That has become a personal mantra. Courts and a vast proportion of road users are too quick to accept excuses, citing what one can reasonably expect to happen. That falls woefully short of an acceptable standard, and allows people to kill vulnerable road users in low sun, changing the radio station, emerging from unsighted junctions, crushing cyclists at junctions and so on. I am personally appalled at the casual acceptance of real people dying because some idiot was in a hurry, couldn't be bothered to check, took a chance etc etc etc. if you take time to reflect, that simple sentence I quoted above should be adopted as the standard of care when using any form of transport.

 

[Cubist]

No-one on here is defending bad cycling, and we regularly have a right old whinge about them, but as Adrian points out we (as cyclists in general) seem to get blamed and accept vicarious responsibility for the actions of the few (RLJ, Ninjas). But vehicle drivers don't get this, and moreover, they don't seem to want to take their own personal responsibility let alone holding their hands up to other driver's actions......

Henry Ford created a monster that has encased modern 'society' in a metal protective shell that seperates them from the communities they drive through. As cyclists we engage with those environments; we do not (contrary to DM belief) endanger them but provide a cheap, safe, clean, efficient, fun transport solution.

We are gathering a never before seen momentum of acceptability; and a number of motoring hacks/papers/slebs/comment columns do NOT like it, and do their best to tar us with the 'bad cyclist' brush.

I'd like to edit this into my post above, but the bastard iPad is a nightmare for that sorted thing......

 

[sazzaa]

I'm going to plagiarise and paraphrase an article I once read, and I can't find original reference to it unfortunately, but here goes:

There is a bare minimum expectation of proper road use. If everyone who got behind the wheel of, or straddled any sort of vehicle, set out with the specific intention of "Today I will not injure or kill any other road user" the roads would be far, far safer.

That has become a personal mantra. Courts and a vast proportion of road users are too quick to accept excuses, citing what one can reasonably expect to happen. That falls woefully short of an acceptable standard, and allows people to kill vulnerable road users in low sun, changing the radio station, emerging from unsighted junctions, crushing cyclists at junctions and so on. I am personally appalled at the casual acceptance of real people dying because some idiot was in a hurry, couldn't be bothered to check, took a chance etc etc etc. if you take time to reflect, that simple sentence I quoted above should be adopted as the standard of care when using any form of transport.

I have to be honest, I think my first few years of driving were shocking when I look back on them now. It's taken a couple of scares, other people having accidents and a realisation that driving dangerously rarely gets you anywhere faster, to make me chill out on the roads and take safety seriously. I think when you learn to drive, and right from the start, see how other road users act on a daily basis it somehow becomes the norm, and takes a bit of thinking to get yourself out of those awful habits.

 

[Cubist]

I have to be honest, I think my first few years of driving were shocking when I look back on them now. It's taken a couple of scares, other people having accidents and a realisation that driving dangerously rarely gets you anywhere faster, to make me chill out on the roads and take safety seriously. I think when you learn to drive, and right from the start, see how other road users act on a daily basis it somehow becomes the norm, and takes a bit of thinking to get yourself out of those awful habits.

The actual mantra goes beyond being safe. That still leaves wriggle room for lapses in concentration, low sun, unlit cyclists and so on. What it is actually saying is being careful is not enough. It's accepting responsibility and acknowledging that you, and only you, must take absolute responsibility for the safety of others, proactively using the road in such a way as will not cause "accidents" and going out of your way to avoid risk to other people.

If we accept this we find ourselves away from the all too common, "yes, I hit the other car/ped/child/cyclist" but it was their fault because..........." Or (worse in my view) "it wasn't my fault, it was because the council painted the bins the wrong colour, or because the cyclist wasn't wearing hi viz."

 

[raleighnut]

I'd still like to see the idiots in town centre stocks every courthouse used to have them

 

[sazzaa]

I'd still like to see the idiots in town centre stocks every courthouse used to have them

Who do you vote for?

 

[raleighnut]

I used to vote Labour now I follow the great Milligna's advice "Don't vote it only encourages the b_ggers Mind you my MP is Keith Vaz nuff said

 

[semislickstick]

Henry Ford created a monster that has encased modern 'society' in a metal protective shell that seperates them from the communities they drive through.

*cough* Wasn't it Mercedes and Benz though? (Q.I said so, so it must be true )

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

*cough* Wasn't it Mercedes and Benz though? (Q.I said so, so it must be true )

Karl Benz?