Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
The problem I see with inventing a new word to subdivide cyclists is that the proponent is the "Active Travel Commissioner for the Sheffield region".
Her concern seems to be that the word "cyclist" has negative associations, and people will be reluctant to ride their bikes because they don't want to be - or don't see themselves as - "cyclists". So if we invent a new word, say, "pootler" people will dash down to Halfords safe in the knowledge that they are not about to become "cyclists". They can safely ride their bicycles, while they can continue to hate cyclists and run them off the road when driving.
The problem I see with this is that it is divisive. The "pootlers" become the good guys, deserving of infrastructure and encouragement, and the "cyclists" are the bad guys, deserving of no respect at all.
Her concern seems to be that the word "cyclist" has negative associations, and people will be reluctant to ride their bikes because they don't want to be - or don't see themselves as - "cyclists". So if we invent a new word, say, "pootler" people will dash down to Halfords safe in the knowledge that they are not about to become "cyclists". They can safely ride their bicycles, while they can continue to hate cyclists and run them off the road when driving.
The problem I see with this is that it is divisive. The "pootlers" become the good guys, deserving of infrastructure and encouragement, and the "cyclists" are the bad guys, deserving of no respect at all.