More anti-cycling vitriol from the press. It's becoming policy now.

[User482]

The argument that cyclists don't help themselves is superficially plausible, but false. Every one of us could follow the Highway code to the letter, and the morons would still find something to moan about.

 

[summerdays]

The argument that cyclists don't help themselves is superficially plausible, but false. Every one of us could follow the Highway code to the letter, and the morons would still find something to moan about.

True - but part of the problem would be that they don't actually know the highway code.

Today I was accosted (whilst chatting to a friend with my bike) by a pedestrian wanting to know if cyclists should cycle on the left. Basically he wanted to complain and was going to find fault, somehow I was responsible for all other cyclists.

 

[addictfreak]

All correct of course but I've just written to them condemning their anti-cycling stance as I think it's well over the top now. On top of the attack on my son three weeks ago, I've noticed an increase in animosity towards cyclists in the last few weeks and I suspect it's no co-incidence that this has gone hand-in-hand with ridiculous and unfounded nonsense such as that which appears in this appalling rag. On Sunday, for instance, with no reason whatsoever, one guy in an Alfa buzzed a group of us riding in single file on a quiet country road in the Yorkshire dales. His passenger screamed abuse out of the window and both of them were giving us furious hand gestures. I think articles like this in the Wail bolster idiots such as this and give them some justifcation for their childish actions.

I couldnt agree more Paul, the actions you describe are becoming more and more common. Mainly (in my experience) from younger drivers, what worries me is when the abuse turns to something more sinister.
I have posted stuff about this before, and seemed to be sneered at by some and told 'so what it happens to us all'.

 

[PaulB]

Can it be a co-incidence that the newspaper concerned is now Britain's biggest selling rag?

 

[andrew-the-tortoise]

Unfortunately it is bought in our household by my dad; for some reason they must have got him addicted to the easy Soduko & crosswords.

Such bile - the front cover today is 'Asyslum' along with the 'Lycra louts' article made me chuck it straight in the re-cycling bin.

Fred f*cking Basset has never been funny.

 

[asterix]

We're just some scapegoats for a whole lot of discontent with the way things are going. Papers like the Daily Mail thrive on scapegoats as has been mentioned above by Davidc.

 

[ComedyPilot]

It amazes me the venom spat in the direction of people cycling. The real issues in the country such as anti-social behaviour, drugs, crime and the no-go zones created around town centres due to pissed up thugs every weekend, go without a mention.

Get the local police to blitz RLJ and pavement cycling dangerously among peds, and fine the selfish prats doing it. Don't want a fine, don't do it. Get fined? Don't come crying to me, grow a backbone and discover the concept of personal responsibility.

 

[Will1985]

Nothing new from the Daily Tory there.

This is about the Mail, not the Telegraph!

 

[Davidc]

Can it be a co-incidence that the newspaper concerned is now Britain's biggest selling rag?

Hadn't heard that - I thought it was the Sun, and even that's preferable.

Says something about the sense and taste of the great British public, and not something good. Am I too old to emigrate?

 

[just jim]

"All you haters can...."

 

[purplepolly]

The real issues in the country such as anti-social behaviour, drugs, crime and the no-go zones created around town centres due to pissed up thugs every weekend, go without a mention.

Well they wouldn't want to alienate their readers, would they?

 

[Campfire]

A funny story, my Mum was cycling from Knutsford about 15 years ago (she's 89 now) and a group of yobs in a car passed her calling her a silly old cow. She was enraged & charged down the road until she came up to them stopped at the traffic lights at Mere Corner. My Mum's quite a character even now, so she drew up to the nearside, shouted "who's a silly cow now" and smacked the passenger in the face - she was wearing a large ring too.
I laugh every time I think of that story! I keep reminding her of it too. Yes, I'm a motorist as well as a cyclist but do get angry about the treatment of cyclists by some motorists. I don't believe in generalization of car ownership versus cyclist treatment as I find quite often it can be, elderly, youf and generally intolerent & inexperienced drivers. I am a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (not only the age) and they are running a campaign to be more aware of cyclists, as they have found that a lot of THEIR members are also cyclists.
Anyway - just imagine, a very fit looking 75 year old tackling a very surprised youf! I'd love someone to draw a cartoon of it.

 

[PaulB]

Here's today's effort from Britain's daily cycle-hating "newspaper". It literally is at least one a day now.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...d-bumps-residential-street-slow-CYCLISTS.html

 

[Archie_tect]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...d-bumps-residential-street-slow-CYCLISTS.html

Having read it it appears that the residents who live on the back lane are fed up with people on bikes using it as a short cut at speed.... they should know- they live there? It's a specific solution to a specific problem not a general criticism... it's a bit OTT but then when did councils ever do the simple thing?