Simon Edge calls it
THE CURSE OF THE CYCLING MANIACS
I am sure the cycling militants will have been filled with manic vitriol - - which just makes me think of a rather OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-ERRRRRRRR MISSUSS - camp Carry On
OoooooH ... anecdote.. anecdote.. oooh ... tut tutty tut tut ...sinful....l sinful sinful...
Simon Edge in <Express> pages 22-23 wrote:
On my way to work last week I was crossing a one way street where a queue of cars were waiting at the lights. The walk sign was on green but the cyclists ind the dedicated cycle lane whiz through with no regard to the rules. I looked left to check it was safe to cross - and was nearly nown down by a bike which made an illegal turn.
I heard an angry intake of breath from all around as this lycra-clad lout pedalled across my right of way Another pal was so angry when one ran over his foot that he kicked the wheels of the bicycle. Only then did the cyclist stop and threatened my pal with red ecked and faced violence.
Hmmm. We seem to hear more and more similar stories. Less here - but then we are country folk.. and we make allowances for all holiday makers who look at the scenery more than the roads
However, the reporter is echoing the views of a great many who tell us of their city adventures down the local pub. The enemy, surprisingly, is not the car any more ...which can kill if driven very carelessly - but the bicycle which approaches silently .. on pavements.. and disregards all red lights and pedestrian crossings.. and medium to seriously injury and on odd occasions even kill.
When Nigel Havers famously exploded in the Indie and the Waily - novelist Will Self (never read his books.. no intention of reading them.. name whether real or pseudonym says much to me
) wrote to a London paper that as a cyclist he
Quote:
has a right to flout the law and the Highway Code
Oh.. meanwhile on the safe speed site.. people are debating the Highway Code and a lot of us seem to think obeying this code and applying COAST - will SAVE LIVES!
Not when people write drivel like Mr SELF-ish!
Mr Angry from Sheffield (hallmarks of U-NO-OOO) raged that
Quote:
Mr Havers should spend a bit of time on a bike surrounded by one and half ton murder machines driven by people like him He might then understand why cyclists are forced onto pavements or need to escape by jumping red lights
Such logic leaves me speechless with shock at the sheer illogical nonsense. Especially when this same person (and let's face it .. he's been on sheffield's site
) whines about cycle lanes, sensible changes to the Highway Code, and that bikes are "traffic innit". The last point that bicycles are part of the traffic .. no one here denies this. But we say that this cycling traffic has to obey the same road rules as everyone else and a dollop of COAST for all who use the road is much needed.
Mr Edge
continues .. Ooo-er ... mind that laddering lycra now
(Like the wording..
FASHION!
Bowie song wrote:
fashion.. beep - beep
- Oooh yeah- fashion ..
greener than thee.
(because I fear for some .. not green issues but a desire to be seen as "with it" .. this sort ride a bike as badly as they drive their other fashion icons.. the 4 x.. the big beamer... not really
cyclists are they?
Quote:
The growing fashion for cycling is undoubtedly good for the environment. In theory, it should be a sign of a more civilised society which all should welcome
True.. but as he then says..
Quote:
The reality is a long way from the Holy Communion which John Major tried to invoke as a society at peace with itself. As visitors to the "Weekly Gripe" website make clear - this new breed of cyclists are making live a misery for everyone else.
The Gripe Site.....
Simon - if you lurk - you should have looked on C+ first
and on here
for the definitive view of how to ride a bike and drive in a safety led way.
On this Gripe site - he quotes.
Pat the Pedestrian wrote:
I reently started walking to work and it's the most stressful part of my day. I am forever worried about colliding with cyclists who are where they should not be.. on the pavement
They are inconsiderate and do not think they should slow down at all.
another on the site wrote:
I was hit by a bike and broke my elbow when I fell
and
Express reader via e-mail to letters page]
Most cyclists seem to be a law unto themselves - using pavements at unrecorded SPEEDS with disregard to pedestrians, traffic lights and anything requiring them to stop [/quote]
Simon Edge wonders if these people exaggerate .. Ken Livingstone has been running a campaign to get people on bikes.... but no mention of the rules of the road. A spokesman agreed RLJ etc were illegal but insisted a minority did so..
Hmmmm! Witness the hand wringing out pourings and shoutings elsewhere by a handful of these people - all day.. every day.. the minute you even suggest a cyclist breaks any law.
Contrast this with the leaflet IG posted up from his patch.
Darlington.. BEACON CYCLING TOWN behind that one
So.. given the spokesman claiming it was a "minority" - Express despatched reporters armed with cameras across UK. As they monitored three major junctions in London for one hour - they discovered that... drivers stopped at the lights.. and observed 26 cyclists obey the red light, 33 rid through on red and 8 use the pavement instead. In short 61% blatantly disobeyed a basic road rule at a busy junction in the rush hour. Not 5 in the morning.. but 9 in the morning.
Lord Stoddart (ind Labour) feels so strongly about the breakdown of a social code that he wants rules tightening up.
[quote="Lord Stoddart wrote:
Pedestrians are given short shrift. Some cyclists are considerate and obey the road rules - but Too many want all of the privileges and none of the costs
Whoops.. M'Lord .. you'll have the internet trollster gunning for you there
we did warn that cyclotopia brings about NEW rules Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland made it clear to his Lordship thaat "cycling on the pavement is an offence under S72 of the Highway Act 1873 and informs him that they introduced the £30 fixed penalty to deter this
Pity then they do not bring in a reg on clothing as Lord Stoddart wants and a GATSO 
to cop 'em at then ... Use the money to improve cycling facilties ... what a novel idea .. Join the club cyclists! Cyclotopia - eh? As yet - Home Office does not collect figures for cycling offences as they do for drivers.
Express wrote:
Plenty of anecdoctal evidence abounds as to cyclists breaking laws under officers noses with apparent impunity
Kevin Delaney in <Express> wrote:
Whether we like it or not rank and file officers have abdicated interest in road safety and traffic enforcement. They make different priorities
Mr Delaney suggests handing over responsibilty to councils
who would have a financial interest in handing out fines.
told 'ya. . they'll find another way to get cash now drivers are drying out as a cash cow and more milk to be had from increased lycra clad brigade
[i] cyclotopia 
Quite rightly Mr Delaney argues that bikes should be registered - which would benefit cyclists as decent bikes are not exactly cheap - and this would hold renegade riders to account
OY>>>> he's been lurkin'
Quote:
He suggests lessons could be included in the price of a new bike to a new rider in the same way as a new biker has to complete Compulsory Basic Training .
Lot of responsible cyclists out there - but like awful drivers - the awful cyclists stand out and tar the rest.
We want safe cycling and less of the ones who give cycling a bad name.. couriers who see pavements and as their personal domain
All this strikes a cord with Andy Shrimpton - bloke behind "STOP AT RED" campaign. (discussed already here
)
The guy owns a bike shop in York and was knocked off his bike last week by a careless driver. He reckons that the lycra louts are creating hostility with motorists and this is adding to the problems and KSIs which are increasing.
Express has photos galore in the piece of cyclists flouting the law
Edited to change title slightly as found some replies to this in Express and other papers. (Express had a poll yesterday as to whether readers thought cyclists should be fined. Result published tomorrow.)
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Admit that on older built up areas - bound to be a problem - but surely they could design the brand new builds better. 
When on my bike - (a nice Diamondback roady 
-Bit of own goal there. 
. try cycling along any suicidal paint jobs to meet some government target. Even the idyllic holiday resort of Lake District is not exempt from this stupidity 
