Boris Johnson apologises for giving his wife a backie

definitively answered here:

http://www.bikeshophub.com/blog/2011/08/19/have-you-realized-your-racks-...

http://www.copenhagenize.com/2011/08/overcomplication-bicycle-to-boardro...

I've a Pashley Guv'nor with the Sovereign kickstand/rack, and ever since a few visits to the Netherlands, my 11 year-old son is quite happy to be towed along on the back, Dutch-Girlfriend style, through town ...

I think Mark Treasure and other cycling campaigners have pointed out the stupidity of this law before. Facepalm of the month to CTC for that comment!

Quote:

cycling campaigners have said he should have known better

We can do without some types of "cycling campaigner". Isn't there some other Good Work they can get involved with?

The idea that this ought to be illegal even is infuriating. Just like the "red light debate". Compare and contrast the Parisian cycle campaigners' attitude:

Quote:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3311182.ece
Christine Lambert, chairwoman of Mieux Se Déplacer à Bicyclette (Better Bicycle Journeys), said many French cyclists already ignored red lights.

“It’s just good sense. Traffic lights are not a factor of security. They were installed so that car drivers would let pedestrians cross the road, to regulate the flow of traffic and to moderate the speed.

“But bicycles don’t go fast and don’t make any noise. It’s idiotic to stop for nothing. You waste energy and it slows you down. The best safety assets for cyclists are your eyes and your brain.

“Some people think that the rules of the road should be the same for everyone but that is wrong.”

I gave someone a backie during a tube strike in 2003 or thereabouts, as I recall most people either smiled or ignored us.
It was a Raleigh steel DL1 type job, I wouldn't try it with plastic fantastic carbon number

In Utrecht earlier this month, I saw plenty of backies, which didn't cause any problems. People do lots of other things on their bikes too - using umbrellas, carrying shopping, taking a second bike with them, holding hands etc. I captured some of this for a video https://youtu.be/L3pUNMxtGRk

This is not news. Move along nothing to see here.

good on him... and her

Boris breaks the law, is let off because "He's a character".

Good oh Boris. If it wasn't Boris it'd be a fine. Why is he not fined?

Disappointed in the CTC.

Couldn’t they have responded along the lines of “If we took cycling seriously in this country this sort of thing would be normal.”

Blah blah irresponsible cyclists blah blah probably ran a red light and ran over a cat while he was doing it blah blah road tax blah blah buy a car.

What a stupid distraction.

Sam Jones from CTC, the national cycling charity, described his actions as being "very naughty," adding: "We wouldn't encourage other cyclists to carry passengers in such a fashion."

Meanwhile, in a sensible country... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_gSKo8DVkQ This is a television advert showing normal, safe behaviour.

This is hardly a story worthy of any press time.
I'm so disappointed in The Sun. Seriously have they nothing better to do?

Can't quite believe CTC felt the need to issue a statement (although they may have been lured into doing so). Appropriate answer would have been "You wha'? Yeah well, whatever."

I get MamilMan's drift on but while being croggied around, Ms Wheeler would have had Mr Johnson's fully legal headlight (not an euphemism) stuck up her backside which may have distracted her mind from any romantic ideas.

As for Bo', respect for planning to ride all the way home out of the saddle since he clearly doesn't have a pannier rack to accommodate the Missus...

Meh. I once gave a backie to the Combined Services rugby captain, a second row who also played for the Baa-Baas, and neither he, the half dozen pints we'd supped or the pizzas he was carrying on the way back to the bar seriously compromised my ability to control the bike, so I seriously doubt fellow prop Boris would have been terribly fazed by the wee slip of a lass that is his wife...

Aside from Mamilman's disdain its a shame we can't do this in this country. In amsterdam a few weeks ago it seemed that half the bikes had more than one person on them, some of them have even put padded seats on the pannier rack to make it more comfortable. We just don't have the road conditions for it here though.

Its a bit namby pamby and pathetic that its illegal though!!

(oh, and shut-up CTC!)

It hardly conjurs up an image of romance. I would have though a croggy was more appropriate for a lady friend.

Backie Vs Croggy.

Croggy.
Sitting on the handlebars of his bike Marina felt his warm breath on her neck. She could smell the musk of his cologne and knew then she was powerless to resist as his hands slid further and further along the handlebars to press against her tender bottom as he rode her hard into Pall Mall.

Backie.
As he heaved their combined weight through the 3rd set of red lights Marina was sure the smell emanating from between his considerable buttocks was more than just sweat. Her mother had warned her of this but as the sweating heap wobbled from side to side and they coasted into Cheapside she suffered the final indignity of him letting rip into her face.

Stupid story, stupid law.

The only reason The Sun made a fuss about this, is because of their disappointment and surprise in finding the woman was his wife.

I'd usually be the first up to get a dig in on Boris Johnson but this is such utter nonsense.

I'm disappointed that the CTC even bothered to give a statement (although I'm sure they were prompted into it by a journalist doorstepping them whilst looking for validation of this non-event.