D
Deleted member 1258
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That picture has been appearing regularly on facebook fore quite some time. I've got a copy on my computer somewhere.
What Do You See?
- Thread starter Richard A Thackeray
- Start date
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That picture has been appearing regularly on facebook fore quite some time. I've got a copy on my computer somewhere.
OP
OP
Richard A Thackeray
Legendary Member
Maybe to us, but thought-provoking (take more care??) to drivers?
I've not seen it before, anywhere, hence....
classic33
Leg End Member
It was in the local A&E, in two areas. Not been this last month, so unsure if they're still there.
glasgowcyclist
Charming but somewhat feckless
- Location
- Scotland
vickster
Squire
I prefer @classic33 less sexist version 
classic33
Leg End Member
There's a female version of the first one.I prefer @classic33 less sexist version
Apollonius
Guru
- Location
- South Staffordshire
Interesting that the underlying assumption is that the drivers of powered machines need to have their awareness raised. I can't argue with that.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Its not their awareness that's the problem. They all know cyclists exist. They all known that flesh and bone will come off badly against steel.
Its their lazy at best, criminal at worst, behaviour that needs addressing
Its their lazy at best, criminal at worst, behaviour that needs addressing
glasgowcyclist
Charming but somewhat feckless
- Location
- Scotland
Unfortunately, too many people see a target, an object of hate, and drive accordingly.
Their hatred is fuelled by the various media outlets churning out anti-cycling messages both directly in cases such as Matthew "I was only joking" Parris, or indirectly by items such as the BBC R4 piece raising the topic of compulsory insurance for all cyclists after a toddler was injured by someone cycling on a pavement. Most newspapers will carry something similar on a regular basis, or out of nowhere they'll print a reader's letter banging on about cycling being a public menace because someone rang a bell/didn't ring a bell, cycled on the road/cycled on the pavement or some such. Phrases such as "cyclists should have to do X like the rest of us" are specifically designed to put cycling as an activity performed by some other group. Different. Alien. Not like us. An out group.
Even in situations where the rider is a victim of aggressive, deliberate assault with a motor vehicle, you'll find the media hijacking it with the sole intent of redirecting blame on to the victim. A case in point is the one where a van driver deliberately used his vehicle to run a rider off the road. It was as clear an assault as you'll get but BBC Sussex whipped up the anti-cycling fervour by asking the public "Who's to blame?". After a barrage of criticism for the moronic question, they claimed they were "trying to stimulate debate". This is how these incidents are twisted against people who chose to cycle, by suggesting there's even a debate to be had when some thug slams a van into the side of you.
This is not accidental journalism, it's deliberate, repeated and reinforced weekly across all platforms. (So-called safety campaigns are thinly disguised victim blaming exercises too.)
This will, in a few cases, create a mindset in drivers who will feel justified in using their vehicles as weapons, as in the van episode above.
The eventual outcome is that some drivers will kill people based solely on them having chosen a particular form of transport. This motorcyclist in Australia killed a cyclist and boasted later, "I hit him, I've got it on my GoPro" and "the c-nt deserved it".
His response to a bumper sticker asking for 1.5m passing space was typical of someone who has bought into the anti-cycling propaganda perpetuated by the press: "Start paying for using the roads or keep copping abuse and 2inch flybys”.
Quaint posters like the one in the OP are going to do nothing against people who wish us harm.
Their hatred is fuelled by the various media outlets churning out anti-cycling messages both directly in cases such as Matthew "I was only joking" Parris, or indirectly by items such as the BBC R4 piece raising the topic of compulsory insurance for all cyclists after a toddler was injured by someone cycling on a pavement. Most newspapers will carry something similar on a regular basis, or out of nowhere they'll print a reader's letter banging on about cycling being a public menace because someone rang a bell/didn't ring a bell, cycled on the road/cycled on the pavement or some such. Phrases such as "cyclists should have to do X like the rest of us" are specifically designed to put cycling as an activity performed by some other group. Different. Alien. Not like us. An out group.
Even in situations where the rider is a victim of aggressive, deliberate assault with a motor vehicle, you'll find the media hijacking it with the sole intent of redirecting blame on to the victim. A case in point is the one where a van driver deliberately used his vehicle to run a rider off the road. It was as clear an assault as you'll get but BBC Sussex whipped up the anti-cycling fervour by asking the public "Who's to blame?". After a barrage of criticism for the moronic question, they claimed they were "trying to stimulate debate". This is how these incidents are twisted against people who chose to cycle, by suggesting there's even a debate to be had when some thug slams a van into the side of you.
This is not accidental journalism, it's deliberate, repeated and reinforced weekly across all platforms. (So-called safety campaigns are thinly disguised victim blaming exercises too.)
This will, in a few cases, create a mindset in drivers who will feel justified in using their vehicles as weapons, as in the van episode above.
The eventual outcome is that some drivers will kill people based solely on them having chosen a particular form of transport. This motorcyclist in Australia killed a cyclist and boasted later, "I hit him, I've got it on my GoPro" and "the c-nt deserved it".
His response to a bumper sticker asking for 1.5m passing space was typical of someone who has bought into the anti-cycling propaganda perpetuated by the press: "Start paying for using the roads or keep copping abuse and 2inch flybys”.
Quaint posters like the one in the OP are going to do nothing against people who wish us harm.
classic33
Leg End Member
We give in then, saying that drivers have every right to to continue?
The one I posted came from a County Council Site. From a campaign started by one person. If there were more posters along similar lines here, would that help.
There was the "look, look again" & the "think once, think twice, think bike" when motorcyclists were invloved in more accidents.
Maybe it's time to remind people that the cyclist is a person. Get the way all incidents are recorded changed to reflect this.
I don't know who has copyright of the first one, but I'd like to see it in both forms at petrol stations.
The one I posted came from a County Council Site. From a campaign started by one person. If there were more posters along similar lines here, would that help.
There was the "look, look again" & the "think once, think twice, think bike" when motorcyclists were invloved in more accidents.
Maybe it's time to remind people that the cyclist is a person. Get the way all incidents are recorded changed to reflect this.
I don't know who has copyright of the first one, but I'd like to see it in both forms at petrol stations.
glasgowcyclist
Charming but somewhat feckless
- Location
- Scotland
The biggest step is to challenge the media and their propaganda every time, don't let them away with making it seem okay to hate or assault us for our transport choice, even in jest. Expose the myths wherever you see them. Demand safe transport infrastructure. Demand appropriate categorisation of offences and sentencing. Demand better responses from local police.
The attitude of police varies wildly across the country. This has to be standardised to reflect the welcome approach of the Traffic Department of West Midlands Police to cycling and to wider road safety.
The poster shown in the OP perpetuates the stereotype that we're all trying to ride in the TdF. Your selection of posters was little better, all racing bikes, helmets and lycra. Around me cycling isn't like that, people wear mostly normal clothes, many see the helmet as unnecessary and they're on all sorts of bikes, hybrids, fixies, cargo bikes, e-bikes, even the odd recumbent.
Start showing ordinary people, in a way that others can relate to that person being a wife, a sister, a grandfather, a brother, and not sport participants and you'll be more accurate and maybe get the message across better.
(Edited to add: first image is from Google, the other two are mine.)
bozmandb9
Insert witty title here
- Location
- South Oxfordshire
Personally I think the poster is good. It could be construed as sexist, or criticised for portraying a certain type of cyclist, but why?
I relate to it a lot. I feel that as a white, middle class middle aged man in lycra, I am probably in the most resented or disliked group of cyclist, and I've got the scars and experience to prove it.
I believe there is, if you like a hierarchy of hate against cyclists. So virtually nobody for example would see a four year old on a bike, and think 'bloody cyclist' and deliberately close pass them. Equally, many drivers would naturally be more considerate towards an elderly female cyclist (yes, I know not all). But I think middle aged guys are perceived a fair game. And the racing bike, lycra etc are all part of it, which is why you'll often see references in the abuse, even, dare I say it, on this forum, where there may be references, usually pretty disparaging to cyclists with a certain type of bike, or apparel.
Perhaps we need to also look at ourselves. If it's ok for us to resent and judge groups of cyclists we don't agree with, then why can't drivers?
Motorcyclists tend to benefit from a much greater sense of solidarity, and community. If pedal cyclists did likewise, our collective voice would be infinitely stronger. Whilst we focus on bickering over helmets, and whether or not we approve of group rides, or Castelli/ Rapha clad cyclists, we'll continue to get killed and injured, and have no effective voice. I've also witnessed newcomers to this forum put off never to return by responses they received to their first ever post, probably to quit cycling before they even really began.
I relate to it a lot. I feel that as a white, middle class middle aged man in lycra, I am probably in the most resented or disliked group of cyclist, and I've got the scars and experience to prove it.
I believe there is, if you like a hierarchy of hate against cyclists. So virtually nobody for example would see a four year old on a bike, and think 'bloody cyclist' and deliberately close pass them. Equally, many drivers would naturally be more considerate towards an elderly female cyclist (yes, I know not all). But I think middle aged guys are perceived a fair game. And the racing bike, lycra etc are all part of it, which is why you'll often see references in the abuse, even, dare I say it, on this forum, where there may be references, usually pretty disparaging to cyclists with a certain type of bike, or apparel.
Perhaps we need to also look at ourselves. If it's ok for us to resent and judge groups of cyclists we don't agree with, then why can't drivers?
Motorcyclists tend to benefit from a much greater sense of solidarity, and community. If pedal cyclists did likewise, our collective voice would be infinitely stronger. Whilst we focus on bickering over helmets, and whether or not we approve of group rides, or Castelli/ Rapha clad cyclists, we'll continue to get killed and injured, and have no effective voice. I've also witnessed newcomers to this forum put off never to return by responses they received to their first ever post, probably to quit cycling before they even really began.
Jody
Stubborn git
There must be some truth in that. I have only done 4 rides on the road bike but already had more close passes when on it and wearing lycra than on the MTB wearing baggies.
glasgowcyclist
Charming but somewhat feckless
- Location
- Scotland
Isn't it sad that we can't have the confidence to say that nobody would do that?
Yes, the predictable articles by ill-informed journalists have a theme that usually centres on the 'lycra-clad louts' of the road. They'll introduce this regardless of the attire of whoever stoked their ire that day so that the impression given is all cyclists are strangely dressed hooligans. They don't care that this doesn't reflect the reality of people who ride, they are pushing an agenda to sympathetic readers who'll jump on their bandwagon. This is why I don't like that first poster, it plays into their hands.
I don't know of any group of cyclists attacking and abusing others on the road, or giving them 2-inch flybys because their choice is different.
