Dwn
Senior Member
I cycle most days, and drive far less frequently. In order to cycle more and drive less, even bought an elephant bike for going to the supermarket - it’s a very useful bike for bulky and heavy items. I cycle because I enjoy it, and it’s good exercise that I can fit around doing other tasks.
I’m very glad to see, for selfish reasons largely, improved cycling infrastructure, although we have a long way to go yet. Despite this, I do have a good deal of sympathy for drivers frustrated with cyclists and cycle lanes. They (we) have been sold these expensive machines, which promise freedom and practicality. The freedom is usually illusory, especially in cities and seeing this reduced further in some places for the benefit of cyclists isn’t easy to accept.
An example: In Glasgow, there is a junction which has been modified to accommodate a very nice cycle lane (one of the few really good ones). I cycled that way the other night to see why it has generated such negative feedback from drivers, and it does create large traffic queues where only small ones previously existed. So, of course they are angry - not helped by a significant minority of cyclists jumping through the red light at the same junction.
The Labour Party has discovered that if your activists imply that your core vote are racists and homophobes, then they aren’t going to vote for you. Cyclists suggesting that drivers are selfish tubs of lard is hardly likely to help get people on bikes.
I’m very glad to see, for selfish reasons largely, improved cycling infrastructure, although we have a long way to go yet. Despite this, I do have a good deal of sympathy for drivers frustrated with cyclists and cycle lanes. They (we) have been sold these expensive machines, which promise freedom and practicality. The freedom is usually illusory, especially in cities and seeing this reduced further in some places for the benefit of cyclists isn’t easy to accept.
An example: In Glasgow, there is a junction which has been modified to accommodate a very nice cycle lane (one of the few really good ones). I cycled that way the other night to see why it has generated such negative feedback from drivers, and it does create large traffic queues where only small ones previously existed. So, of course they are angry - not helped by a significant minority of cyclists jumping through the red light at the same junction.
The Labour Party has discovered that if your activists imply that your core vote are racists and homophobes, then they aren’t going to vote for you. Cyclists suggesting that drivers are selfish tubs of lard is hardly likely to help get people on bikes.