Pedal on Parliament (Scotland)

[DresdenDoom]

Th

Yes, just have a go at ordinary Scottish folks of all ages, from all walks of life, trying to make a difference. You're not painting yourself in a good light & offensively trolling a thread & trying to detract from its positive nature. Well done.

The problem with a difference of opinion on the interwebs is that the 'right minded folk' see it as trolling. It's a problem.

I don't consider these protests as having a positive nature, just special pleading from a group which by and large elects to put itself in the position that it's complaining about. Should the demands be met it will cause massive inconvenience to the vast majority of the population who in case you hadn't noticed, drive cars. As you do. As pedestrian space has been increased due to the Grauniad masses, roads have narrowed to the point where it is physically impossible to give a bicycle enough space. That'll be an unintended consequence then. I'm guessing that you'd quite like to turn every city into Oxford, a nightmare place on anything without pedals. I see myself as the voice of a majority cowed by the use of the magic phrase healthandsafety, which is unsure of how or where to raise its head above the parapet.

Cars are a Good Thing, a touchstone of a developed nation and in this country also its paymasters. They should be accorded due (pre-eminent) consideration. Bicycles are primarily a Lifestyle Choice, they can take their chances. Personally I have no motorised transport, because I can't afford it. Can you say the same? I'm the fat sweaty guy you overtake up every hill, desperately wishing I had some fossil fuels to help me. I ride the same roads as you but see them through entirely different eyes. As I load my trailer with a few kg of Aldi in the rain the last thing on my mind is the winding, lorry-filled road home. I'm on the pavement, riding v slowly. No-one seems to mind, most people are very tolerant. You might try that some time.

 

[BentMikey]

Well, you're not helping matters, you're making things worse. Cars do not improve cities, they make them less pleasant places to be in, considerably so. If you've ever lived in the Netherlands, you quickly learn how much more pleasant life can be when car culture is tamed, with some of its worst excesses prevented whilst keeping most of the benefits.

Road space hasn't been given to pedestrians, road space has been given to parked cars. The roads are awesomely wide, with loads of space for the most part, except no longer because so many are full of parked metal boxes going nowhere.

Shame on you for suggesting that no action should be taken. p.s. riding on pavements is for five year olds.

 

[DougieAB]

What an great day! My wife and I were just amazed at the numbers gathered at the Meadows. Lots of bikes to look at, the Surly Pugley was especially impressive.

 

[sunnyjim]

Wow! 3000 votes cyclists! Alex Salmond will be along any minute to promise a cycling paradise in the future peoples republic.

 

[gavintc]

A stubbornly high number of people die on the roads every year, and I'd be surprised if less than 95% of them don't involve stupidity on at least one parties account. Since stupidity can't be legislated against, better to learn to deal with the shoot that just keeps on happening. There's a lot of middle-class angst mixed in with all these protests lately. Bet you were all students once...

That is a remarkably crass statement. Stupidity can be legislated against and it is possible to change attitudes and opinions. Respect for cyclists demands that motorists make allowances. I contend that cycling in UK is much less pleasant than cycling in many other countries, simply because many motorists do not care. For example, the driving standards in Naples are poor, but motorists make allowances for cyclists. In a queue of cars, it is quite common for motorists to make space for you to filter through. In many of the northern European countries; Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands and others, they have learnt to provide space cyclists and motorists recognise the needs of the cyclist. Change is possible and not it is not acceptable to just do nothing.

Your attitude that 'learn to deal with the shoot' is quite appalling. I propose that you think about the person riding the bike that you pass. They are human as well you know - not some lower life form.

 

[growingvegetables]

I don't consider these protests as having a positive nature, just special pleading ....

I see myself as the voice of a majority cowed by the use of the magic phrase healthandsafety

I love rhetorical flourishes which fall flat.

 

[goo_mason]

Should the demands be met it will cause massive inconvenience to the vast majority of the population who in case you hadn't noticed, drive cars.

Did you actually read the manifesto? If so, perhaps you could elaborate on this 'inconvenience' you believe it will cause?

FWIW - I'd never been to any protest before yesterday, and yes - I was a student once between 86 - 90.

As pedestrian space has been increased due to the Grauniad masses, roads have narrowed to the point where it is physically impossible to give a bicycle enough space. That'll be an unintended consequence then.

Don't read the Guardian or any paper these days. I get my news from a variety of online sources. But roads narrowed to increase pedestrian space? Where? All I see are once wide roads becoming impassable to two-way traffic as they become free car-parks

I'm guessing that you'd quite like to turn every city into Oxford, a nightmare place on anything without pedals.

Never been there so I've no idea what it's like. I'm trying to make Edinburgh & Scotland the kind of place where people don't keep saying "I'd love to get back on a bike but it's just not safe." I want my daughter to get be able to cycle on the roads like I did at her age without having to feel that she's not part of the traffic and bottling it and riding illegally on the pavement.

Cars are a Good Thing, a touchstone of a developed nation and in this country also its paymasters. They should be accorded due (pre-eminent) consideration. Bicycles are primarily a Lifestyle Choice, they can take their chances. Personally I have no motorised transport, because I can't afford it. Can you say the same? I'm the fat sweaty guy you overtake up every hill, desperately wishing I had some fossil fuels to help me.

I agree that cars have their place, but given pre-eminent consideration? Are you serious? All forms of transport have their place, but doffing your cap and grovelling in the gutter - or worse still on the pavement - because someone has an engine? Heh heh. If I was the cynical type I might suspect you might be a lobbyist for the motor industry, paid to masquerade on cycling forums as a cyclist.

Anyway, I have a full, clean driving license but do not and have never owned a car. I'm also 16 stone. So yes, I can say the same. However, I find that for most journeys (eg the 20 mile round-trip to work), the bike is a good 30mins faster than the bus, and around 10-15 minutes faster than a car - hence why I gave up my £500+ annual bus pass and bought a bike 6 years ago. Makes much more sense. And when the time comes that I'll need a car, I'll join the Edinburgh City Car Club and hire one on-demand. It goes without saying that I'll drive considerately and respectfully around cyclists!

I ride the same roads as you but see them through entirely different eyes. As I load my trailer with a few kg of Aldi in the rain the last thing on my mind is the winding, lorry-filled road home. I'm on the pavement, riding v slowly. No-one seems to mind, most people are very tolerant. You might try that some time.

Nope - I'll not be cycling on the pavement. It's illegal and the first complaint people ALWAYS level against cyclists when they're moaning.

I'll be on the road, being polite as ever - if I feel I'm holding anyone up then I'll move aside to let them pass, but only where it's safe for both of us to do so. If that means holding them up for a few seconds then so be it. I'm sure most reasonable drivers will be tolerant & understand. It's much safer that way for all concerned.

 

[goo_mason]

Nice write-up of the event here (amongst so many others popping up on the web): http://mccraw.co.uk/pedal-on-parliament-triumph/

 

[Col5632]

I didnt think anybody would have anything bad to say about POP but just proves how wrong i was

 

[thnurg]

Here's another one that is beautifully written.
http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/magaz...all-corners-of-scotland-to-reclaim-the-roads/