Local council leader says cyclists are 'annoying'

[downfader]

I rode 43 miles today on a round trip to drop a dvd off at my local town's blokebusters (direct would have been 10 miles round trip).

Trouble is, this country as a whole (me NOT included) is too effin' idle to make a little effort, and would sooner drive a couple of hundred yards than walk or (perish the thought) cycle.

I shop with panniers, and old people have a thing called a trolley bag that they carry shopping in.

The rest of the (idle barsteward) nation would sooner clog the town up with their fume-belching rot-boxes and then complain about traffic levels.

Used to be an old dear across the road from me, passed away a coupla years back, but even just before she would walk the 2 miles up the road, up the big hill to the supermarket with her trolley bag and do her twice weekly shop.

People are lazy today. I'll admit it at times I'm no better. Councils and the Government do need to stand up and say "look people, you're taking the p*** a bit now, move your feet or lose it!"

People now see short rides as some kind of epic adventure that only lunatics take. I only ride 6 miles to work. Peice of p*** tbh, several of my workmates drive 2 miles, usually a lot less. Media, advertising and culture have all conspired to make people think the only option is the motor. There are places in the UK that I personally feel have become islands surrounded by raging torrents of motorised rivers. How can that be good in the long run..?

 

[PBancroft]

There are places in the UK that I personally feel have become islands surrounded by raging torrents of motorised rivers.

Ah, but in some ways, isn't that amazing? The masses follow these rivers leaving the surrounding areas to freedom from that tumult. Something for the fortunate few to enjoy.

Old worlds. A chance for the adventurous to find anew humanity and a curiosity in local culture. Of course there is the risk, the danger, the perilous journey. But what would that discovery be without risk? After all, if a man is not ready to risk his life, where is his dignity?

 

[downfader]

Ah, but in some ways, isn't that amazing? The masses follow these rivers leaving the surrounding areas to freedom from that tumult. Something for the fortunate few to enjoy.

Old worlds. A chance for the adventurous to find anew humanity and a curiosity in local culture. Of course there is the risk, the danger, the perilous journey. But what would that discovery be without risk? After all, if a man is not ready to risk his life, where is his dignity?

Ringwood used to be like that with its old market. Old worldly. Dont know if its still like that as I havent been in a few years. Used to be this amazing guitar shop down there called Oasis, run by two old nutters.

 

[Crankarm]

Some years ago the following conversation took place between a colleague and myself.

Colleague: "How far, is it that you cycle to work?

Me : "17 miles, so 34-35 round trip."

Colleague : "That's awful, really awful. Can you not afford a car or is there no bus or train?"

Me : "It's not so bad. I enjoy it. Where do you live?

Colleague : "About 1 - 1.5 miles from work."

Me : "That's a nice walk or 2 minute bike ride in the morning to wake you up."

Colleage "Nah, can't be doing with all that. I just wanna get to work so have to drive".

Me "That's awful, really awful .........."

 

[ComedyPilot]

Ah, but in some ways, isn't that amazing? The masses follow these rivers leaving the surrounding areas to freedom from that tumult. Something for the fortunate few to enjoy.

Old worlds. A chance for the adventurous to find anew humanity and a curiosity in local culture. Of course there is the risk, the danger, the perilous journey. But what would that discovery be without risk? After all, if a man is not ready to risk his life, where is his dignity?

Have you ever tried crossing one of these 'rivers'?

The arrogant selfish prats won't stop to let you, so I tend to turn left with the traffic, signal right and do a 'U'ey

 

[Zippy]

I rode 43 miles today on a round trip to drop a dvd off at my local town's blokebusters (direct would have been 10 miles round trip).

Trouble is, this country as a whole (me NOT included) is too effin' idle to make a little effort, and would sooner drive a couple of hundred yards than walk or (perish the thought) cycle.

I shop with panniers, and old people have a thing called a trolley bag that they carry shopping in.

The rest of the (idle barsteward) nation would sooner clog the town up with their fume-belching rot-boxes and then complain about traffic levels.

You've put me in my place ComedyPilot.

Yesterday I drove to a well known supermarket to do our weekly shop; a round trip of four miles. If I had panniers iI could've cycled. Isuppose I am afraid these days to lock my bike outside of anywhere for too long. I did also buy a month's supply of dog food which would have been too bulky for cycle haulage so i feel somewhat justified, but if I lived in a more honest world I would cycle more places I am sure.

 

[ComedyPilot]

You've put me in my place ComedyPilot.

Yesterday I drove to a well known supermarket to do our weekly shop; a round trip of four miles. If I had panniers iI could've cycled. Isuppose I am afraid these days to lock my bike outside of anywhere for too long. I did also buy a month's supply of dog food which would have been too bulky for cycle haulage so i feel somewhat justified, but if I lived in a more honest world I would cycle more places I am sure.

That was NOT my intention.

I merely want to point out that there are a LOT of unnecessary vehicle journeys, such as people parking on double yellows on a junction just so they can go into a newsagent to buy a paper/fags/lottery ticket.

If these people walked/cycled instead it would relieve congestion, make roads safer and MORE accessible to cycle/walk.

I was thinking to myself, just how many of the people in town had driven, and how far? I am sure no-one would have driven 43 miles round trip to get to Driffield to go shopping.

I just think if I can do it, then anyone can - and that if more people did it, then we'd be in a Netherlands-esque cycling mentality with a huge tax-paying population that demand better infrastructure, and are willing to pay taxes for it.

 

[downfader]

You've put me in my place ComedyPilot.

Yesterday I drove to a well known supermarket to do our weekly shop; a round trip of four miles. If I had panniers iI could've cycled. Isuppose I am afraid these days to lock my bike outside of anywhere for too long. I did also buy a month's supply of dog food which would have been too bulky for cycle haulage so i feel somewhat justified, but if I lived in a more honest world I would cycle more places I am sure.

I think its understandable if you have a massive shop to do and you're the only one doing it. I can also understand if you didnt want to cycle to somewhere like Burseldon Tescos near Southampton (3 cycle stands, and a choice of 2x 40mph roads to choose from where drivers often act like berks - most cyclists use the pavement and tbh I dont blame them there)

Funniest thing is we've all had conversations like Cranker's. We've all seen people get out of a car, possibly parking where they shuoldnt, just to buy fags and get back in to drive off. I suppose if we as cyclists question it we're seen as arrogant, so we need others to step in and "support" us by writing those letters to the paper etc

 

[laertes]

The obvious problem with the councillor's idea that "Everyone just wants to drive up to a shop and park outside" is that this only works for the first 6 people outside of a row of shops, and then all the parking is taken.

There is incredible laziness around, as posted above. In Kingston upon Thames, people will queue for 10-15 mins (on the main road through town) to get into a car park that is 1-2 mins walker closer than a much better alternative. The alternative is cheaper, has more spaces and is easier to park in, but no, they waste more time and petrol sitting on the road than they would with the extra walk.

I do however think that (1) some councils are spending silly money, on things that wont necessarily give them the benefits that they are expecting and (2) there is a tendency to be too anti-car: lots of people need to buy and lug some heavy stuff around.

 

[snorri]

do however think that (1) some councils are spending silly money, on things that wont necessarily give them the benefits that they are expecting and (2) there is a tendency to be too anti-car: lots of people need to buy and lug some heavy stuff around.

I think your posting is open to differnt interpretations laertes, would you care to give us a little more detail?

 

[marinyork]

That was NOT my intention.

I merely want to point out that there are a LOT of unnecessary vehicle journeys, such as people parking on double yellows on a junction just so they can go into a newsagent to buy a paper/fags/lottery ticket.

If these people walked/cycled instead it would relieve congestion, make roads safer and MORE accessible to cycle/walk.

I was thinking to myself, just how many of the people in town had driven, and how far? I am sure no-one would have driven 43 miles round trip to get to Driffield to go shopping.

I just think if I can do it, then anyone can - and that if more people did it, then we'd be in a Netherlands-esque cycling mentality with a huge tax-paying population that demand better infrastructure, and are willing to pay taxes for it.

Last time I went to that bit of the world (lovely, well apart from some bits of the A614) I'm always amazed by the number of bikes left out side shops unlocked or with small locks. That said there are some pretty disturbing traffic levels for such a small place.

 

[llanberispass]

We have just returned from holiday in Italy (Garda and Dolomites). You could guarantee that anyone you saw who was overweight was from these septic isles (apart from a few Germans). We have a real problem but goodness knows what we can do about it.

On a brighter note amazed at how considerate motorists here seem after cycling in Italy. Italian drivers are idiots (as demonstrated by road death rate double ours).

 

[laertes]

I think your posting is open to differnt interpretations laertes, would you care to give us a little more detail?

Certainly.

I work a lot with Government agencies and departments. They frequently spend money on stuff that sounds like a good idea but is never actually going to give them the outcomes they expect. Part of the point the councillor in Dumfries was making was "should we really be spending £x million on green projects when the whole country is stony broke?" and my point is that the £x million would also probably not give the expected improvements in cycle usage, congestion reduction etc that the council expect, because they are usually vastly over optimistic, fail to consider unintended consequences and do not manage the project to deliver the benefits, they manage the project to finish the project.

On the second point, it is all very well creating pedestrian areas and no-car zones, until you see some poor pensioner or woman with six kids trying to waddle 2 miles to get to a car park, or hanging around for hours for a bus.