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Fellow peer tells Tebbit "on your bike" as Tory ex-minister rants about cyclists

Former chairman of the Conservative party says “barricades” protecting cyclists are causing pollution

A Labour peer yesterday interrupted a Lord Tebbit rant about cyclists to pithily advise the former Conservative Cabinet member, "then get on your bike!"

BikeBiz reports how Lord Tebbit – who famously once said that his unemployed father had “got on his bike and looked for work” – had taken the opportunity presented by a House of Lords debate on air quality to complain about the "barricades" erected to protect cyclists.

“It sometimes takes over an hour to drive from Parliament Square to the Tower of London,” said Tebbit. And underlining the full extent of his dissatisfaction with those on two wheels, he continued: “That is being caused by the barricades which have been put up in order to assist cyclists – who also get in the way on the main road.”

That drew the heckle, which attracted much mirth – but not in the stony-faced Tebbit, who responded: “The noble Lord opposite speaks very impertinently towards me and other people of my age who would find grave difficulty in cycling on the roads these days.”

So maybe use the segregated cycle lanes instead then, Norman.

Tebbit has previous when it comes to taking his opportunities to complain about cyclists during debates. In 2013 – during what was supposed to be a discussion on the safety of cyclists – he made the claim that cyclists 'habitually' break the law by giving false details when pulled up for traffic offences. On the basis of this alternative fact, he recommended that they be compelled to carry identification.

In June last year, Tebbit also called for an annual MPs’ bike ride to be cancelled on the grounds that it was a “foolish exhibition” likely to increase congestion and pollution.

Parliamentarians ride less than three miles from the Dutch Embassy to Parliament, but Tebbit wrote to Ruth Cadbury – who had sent out the invitation – to voice his displeasure. He chose to characterise the event as a “proposal to increase peak hour traffic congestion in central London on Wednesday 8 June.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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17 comments

Avatar
Barry Jones | 7 years ago
2 likes

Oh the irony 'reduce air pollution by doing away with safe cycling lanes'....perhaps making London and other cities traffic free zones would be a logical solution...

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leaway2 | 7 years ago
4 likes

It is really comforting when someone reafirms my reasons as to why I dislike that person. Get people off bicycles and into cars, that'll reduce the congestion.

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barbarus | 7 years ago
2 likes

I watched the clip, it almost made me sorry for him, to see the feeble old shuffler drone on about "the noble lord opposite speak[ing] impertinantly to me".  Almost.

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ktache | 7 years ago
3 likes

10 miles of protected cycle routes.

How many hundred miles of parked cars?

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handlebarcam | 7 years ago
8 likes

He can't ride a bike or take the tube. He needs his car because he has he taken to carrying a scythe around with him wherever he goes. That way, when Death pays him a call, the Grim Reaper will think he is looking in a mirror, and will keep on walking. There's no other way to explain how someone that old and evil isn't dead already.

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OldRidgeback | 7 years ago
11 likes

Nornam Tebbit is a truly nasty piece of work. I was at a business dinner once and was annoyed to find out that he'd been brought in as an after dinner speaker, then disgusted by the two 'jokes' he made, which on legal grounds I will not repeat here.

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Mungecrundle | 7 years ago
7 likes

There are many reasons why older people take retirement. Being unable to physically handle the commute between home and work being but one of many.

Or maybe he could transfer his talents to a country where they still have reserved car lanes for the political elite.

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davel replied to Mungecrundle | 7 years ago
3 likes

Mungecrundle wrote:

There are many reasons why older people take retirement. Being unable to physically handle the commute between home and work being but one of many. Or maybe he could transfer his talents to a country where they still have reserved car lanes for the political elite.

Senility started early with Tebbit. In the womb, I'd wager.

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crazy-legs | 7 years ago
13 likes

Quote:

“It sometimes takes over an hour to drive from Parliament Square to the Tower of London,” said Tebbit.

Or he could just get on the Underground at Westminster, go 7 stops eastbound on District / Circle Line and be at Tower Hill in about 20 minutes.

It's less than 3 miles!

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Edgeley replied to crazy-legs | 7 years ago
9 likes

crazy-legs wrote:

Quote:

“It sometimes takes over an hour to drive from Parliament Square to the Tower of London,” said Tebbit.

Or he could just get on the Underground at Westminster, go 7 stops eastbound on District / Circle Line and be at Tower Hill in about 20 minutes.

It's less than 3 miles!

 

 

It wouldn't take that long.  10 mins on the tube.

What a tosspot. 

 

What is more, a cabbie would usually take you south of the river, via Elephant and Castle. 

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crazy-legs replied to Edgeley | 7 years ago
4 likes

Edgeley wrote:

It wouldn't take that long.  10 mins on the tube.

I was factoring in the walk at both ends, getting through the ticket barriers etc for an old fart a man of advanced years like Tebbit  but yes I agree, actual time on the Tube is about 10 minutes.

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RobD | 7 years ago
11 likes

Ah I do so love when the old white men, out of touch with reality, decide to spout nonesense about things they have very little experience or knowledge of.  exactly the sort of people I would want to have deciding things in the country...

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ChrisB200SX | 7 years ago
10 likes

Houses of Parliament to Tower of London - 54 minute walk according to multimap.com, who on earth would drive that?!

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Saratoga replied to ChrisB200SX | 7 years ago
5 likes
ChrisB200SX wrote:

Houses of Parliament to Tower of London - 54 minute walk according to multimap.com, who on earth would drive that?!

Indeed. It only takes 20 minutes to cycle according to Google too.

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FrankH replied to ChrisB200SX | 7 years ago
0 likes

ChrisB200SX wrote:

Houses of Parliament to Tower of London - 54 minute walk according to multimap.com, who on earth would drive that?!

An 85 year old might be tempted to take a taxi.

Avatar
ChrisB200SX replied to FrankH | 7 years ago
3 likes

FrankH wrote:

ChrisB200SX wrote:

Houses of Parliament to Tower of London - 54 minute walk according to multimap.com, who on earth would drive that?!

An 85 year old might be tempted to take a taxi.

Ah yes, those taxis that don't cause any pollution, it's the segregation bollards that emit the pollution.

Remember, if you're sitting in the traffic, you are the traffic  1

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Kendalred | 7 years ago
12 likes

Well he's a dickhead, but at least he's consistent!

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