bozmandb9
Insert witty title here
- Location
- South Oxfordshire
I've noticed recently on a certain popular social media site, a tendency amongst some enthusiastic cyclists to judge and condemn other cyclists, who they decide do not conform to their ideal of how cyclists should behave, or the standards we should meet.
Now I get it, in terms of, most of us know perfectly well how to cycle in order to minimise inconvenience and danger.
However we live on this planet called earth. If we observe people walking, driving, cycling, or doing pretty much anything, we'll find plenty to criticise. But we tend to accept that 'accidents happen' when it comes to driving. As it happens, they don't, which is why to Police, they are all 'incidents', and all caused by driver error.
My point is this. When we rant, especially in public, about 'lesser' cyclists, who may jump red lights, or cycle in the wrong lane, or whatever it is, all we are doing is increasing the noise in the anti cycle babble, which does us no favours whatsoever.
Why should cyclists be expected to be perfect? Why should we expect to be judged on the conduct of the worst of us? Try that with pedestrians!
The fact is, whether driving, cycling, motor cycling or walking along the pavement, the greatest skill you can have is to anticipate and avoid danger caused by the mistakes of others.
Now I get it, in terms of, most of us know perfectly well how to cycle in order to minimise inconvenience and danger.
However we live on this planet called earth. If we observe people walking, driving, cycling, or doing pretty much anything, we'll find plenty to criticise. But we tend to accept that 'accidents happen' when it comes to driving. As it happens, they don't, which is why to Police, they are all 'incidents', and all caused by driver error.
My point is this. When we rant, especially in public, about 'lesser' cyclists, who may jump red lights, or cycle in the wrong lane, or whatever it is, all we are doing is increasing the noise in the anti cycle babble, which does us no favours whatsoever.
Why should cyclists be expected to be perfect? Why should we expect to be judged on the conduct of the worst of us? Try that with pedestrians!
The fact is, whether driving, cycling, motor cycling or walking along the pavement, the greatest skill you can have is to anticipate and avoid danger caused by the mistakes of others.