Two-thirds of adults in England think cycling is dangerous!

[SkipdiverJohn]

There are plenty of people out there who avoid driving wherever possible because they consider the roads dangerous. Some people are just frightened of their own shadow.
Ever noticed how big a proportion of the obvious born-again coronacyclists always kit themselves out with helmets as a group, compared to the proportion of seasoned utility/touring cyclists who wear them? Different levels of risk perception and aversion.

 

[rogerzilla]

Infamous Family Fortunes question:

My favourite was:

Name a famous TV soap?

Dove!

 

[RichardB]

The inevitable result of all the ooooh-it's-scary-don't-forget-to-wear-a-helmet-or-you'll-die publicity. Joe Public sees all that, and as he never cycles, takes it as gospel that cycling is a kind of minor version of motocycling, and therefore utterly hazardous.

Mind you, if you believe everything you read in the Grauniad, I have a bridge to sell you.

 

[mjr]

Unfortunately, over the last decade election surveys have failed to correctly predict the result of any general election or national referendum.

2019 General Election surveys: Con - Lab - LD - SNP - PC - Green - BxP (all %)
Kantar's last poll: 44 - 32 - 13 - 4 - 0 - 3 - 3
Deltapoll: 45 - 35 - 10 - 4 - 0 - 3 - 4
Ipsos MORI: 44 - 33 - 12 - na - na - 3 - 2
Survation: 45 - 34 - 9 - 4 - 1 - 3 - 3
Actual result: 45 - 33 - 12 - 4 - 1 - 3 - 2

I'd say that was pretty close to the surveys.

So, unfortunately, over the last page, @Drago has failed to correctly summarise the accuracy of general election surveys!

 

[mjr]

Probably these are the people who think it’s safe to crowd the beaches and pubs with no idea of social distancing.

Probably, but they're the people also currently gassing our families, crashing into shoot and generally being inactive burdens on healthcare who we need to get out of cars and onto bikes for everyone's benefit!

 

[mjr]

It has been pointed out to me that the WPA/Getty photo in the article linked in the Opening Post makes it look like Mr Johnson is one of those nobbers who rides on the far right on roads with no cars:

 

[classic33]

Cyclists are shouting out for segregated, dedicated cycle lanes. Therefore it must be dangerous to cycle.

I'd be happy if they spent the money on bringing the roads up to scratch. Rather than perpetuate the myth that it's dangerous to cycle on open roads.

 

[Drago]

Most thinking cyclists don't want segregation. They want pothole free roads and for motor vehicle drivers to treat them with respect. If drivers could somehow be stopped from behaving like Ben Hur then not a single penny on cycling infrastructure would be needed.

 

[DaveReading]

And I really don't want to know what 21% of walking trips are for education/ escort education
is all about. :-)

If all else fails, you could read the definition supplied in the study that you quoted from:

"Escort education: Escorting or accompanying a child/children to school"

But where would be the fun in that ?

 

[tyred]

I thought an Escort walking trip was what you do when your Ford Escort breaks down and you have to walk home.

 

[classic33]

2019 General Election surveys: Con - Lab - LD - SNP - PC - Green - BxP (all %)
Kantar's last poll: 44 - 32 - 13 - 4 - 0 - 3 - 3
Deltapoll: 45 - 35 - 10 - 4 - 0 - 3 - 4
Ipsos MORI: 44 - 33 - 12 - na - na - 3 - 2
Survation: 45 - 34 - 9 - 4 - 1 - 3 - 3
Actual result: 45 - 33 - 12 - 4 - 1 - 3 - 2

I'd say that was pretty close to the surveys.

So, unfortunately, over the last page, @Drago has failed to correctly summarise the accuracy of general election surveys!

"Others" with 1.6% missing.

Which means the figures given aren't correct

 

[mjr]

Most thinking cyclists don't want segregation.

They want protection.

They want pothole free roads

That's easy: build roads that the pothole-causing heavy vehicles are not allowed to use.

and for motor vehicle drivers to treat them with respect. If drivers could somehow be stopped from behaving like Ben Hur then not a single penny on cycling infrastructure would be needed.

Indeed, but it's not happened in 100 years, so why think it will happen now? The imperfect possible of infrastructure improvement is better than that perfect impossible.

 

[matticus]

Most thinking cyclists don't want segregation.

They want protection.

My view is that all cyclists are the same - they want to feel safe.

We differ a little in what makes us feel safe. I know that I feel safe most of the time - and "safe enough" the rest of the time - riding on public roads. Except for the very rare bad choices!

I'd say vv few people could never feel safe with cars around them.

 

[mjr]

We differ a little in what makes us feel safe. I know that I feel safe most of the time - and "safe enough" the rest of the time - riding on public roads. Except for the very rare bad choices!

I'd say vv few people could never feel safe with cars around them.

Never say never, but if the A10 and A149 didn't have half-decent cycle tracks to the town 20mph area, I'd cycle a lot less than I do.

To be fair, I can understand @Drago's disdain because I grew up near where he lives and the motor-free cycleways there range from substandard to hazardous and there seems little prospect of the bankrupt Northants council or its successors seeing reforming highways practice as a priority. Most places are better, although neighbouring Warks seems worse!

 

[Milkfloat]

Warks is certainly terrible for cycling infrastructure, but the road surfaces are far better than Northants, when I cross the border it is immediately obvious as the surface goes from pretty good (for the UK) to something akin to Aleppo after Assad and the Russians have been lobbing their munitions out.