Live blog: MP calls for Minister for Cycling in cabinet, “Hygiene” –Sainsbury’s kicks out cyclist who wanted to bring bike in shop, “Get lights, wear bright colours and a helmet" - Skoda's cycle safety message; New Rapha jacket; Pro tip – zip it! +more

ragtag wrote:

Tried to take my bike into the Apple store in Covent Garden a few years ago. Forgot my charger and had to pick up a spare. Security said I couldn't take it in, no reason, just wasn't allowed. No where to lock bike. Thankfully a lovely lady said she would look after it for the 5 mins I went in to pick up what I needed and pay. 

I'm always kind of surprised that Apple stores don't make all visitors wear those blue shoe-covers like scientists and CSIs wear.

inicholson wrote:

Here's some more choice victim blaming from Skoda's We Love Cycling website: "some statistics indicate that 60% of cyclists who lose their lives in the saddle seal their fates themselves." "The bottom line is that in the majority of cases, fatal injuries of cyclists are caused by the cyclists themselves." It requires a lot of cherry picking to find any data that supports those claims; the overwhelming majority of reports put the blame on drivers somewhere between 50-80% of the time. I've cancelled my new Skoda. Why not go to their website and let them know how you feel.. https://www.welovecycling.com/wide/2018/11/07/the-most-dangerous-things-...

They could at least have had it checked by a native English speaker "....or if you stop for refreshment and treat yourself with a little more pints than you should to successfully get into a tunnel."  Apart from the grammar, does anyone know what this might possibly mean?

And of course the usual victim blaming for not wearing a helmet "Cycling without a helmet as a way to commit suicide?"

Just sent them this "I've just come across this website, and frankly, I haven't seen a more misleading, misinformed, inaccurate site for a very long time. At the very least you should change the name to wehatecycling, otherwise you could be infringing the trades descriptions act."

info [at] welovecycling.com for anyone who feels like emailing them.

inicholson wrote:

Here's some more choice victim blaming from Skoda's We Love Cycling website: "some statistics indicate that 60% of cyclists who lose their lives in the saddle seal their fates themselves." "The bottom line is that in the majority of cases, fatal injuries of cyclists are caused by the cyclists themselves." It requires a lot of cherry picking to find any data that supports those claims; the overwhelming majority of reports put the blame on drivers somewhere between 50-80% of the time. I've cancelled my new Skoda. Why not go to their website and let them know how you feel.. https://www.welovecycling.com/wide/2018/11/07/the-most-dangerous-things-...

Written by the cheap-skate (and downright ****ing ignorant) purchasers of Skoda vehicles - ****ing  private-hire/taxi drivers/firms.

Aye ... but Skoda ain't Skoda any more; they're the second most profitable of the Volkswagen Group's brands?  Remember Volkswagen's "Dieselgate".  See U Next Tuesdays.

danhopgood wrote:

we've all got a responsibility to act sensibly on the roads

https://theconversation.com/cars-bicycles-and-the-fatal-myth-of-equal-re...

burtthebike wrote:

What is it with drivers who feel that they have to tell me what to do to be safe? 

I was approaching a junction about three years or so ago.  Left lane was 'left turn only' and right lane was straight on or right turn.  I was in the right lane as I was going straight on, and there was a car driver pulling up in the left lane and indicating left.   On the left kerb, was an elderly lady on a mobility scooter.  

As I approached, the driver extended his right arm out of his window, and started to wave his hand in a 'slow down!' motion.   I found this curious as I was probably going at walking pace by that time.

As I drew alongside, I looked at him with an arched eyebrow, kind of 'what was that all about?' look. 

'Didn't want you to hit the old lady,' he said. 

'Your lot kill five people every single day,' I replied.  'And I'm the one you think needs to be careful?  You think I'm fucking blind?'

By this time, the lady was across, and I cycled away, rather pissed off.  

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

... and I cycled away, rather pissed off.  

I'd sort of assumed that was your default setting...  

brooksby wrote:

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

... and I cycled away, rather pissed off.  

I'd sort of assumed that was your default setting...  

LOL.

Not quite.    

brooksby wrote:

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

... and I cycled away, rather pissed off.  

I'd sort of assumed that was your default setting...  

My wife has instructed me to tell you that she agrees with you.  

ktache wrote:

I have seen people popping folded Bromptons in their supermarket trolleys.

Was once refused entry to my local Waitrose when doing just that.

I draw the line at taking my Big Dummy into supermarkets.

Kendalred wrote:

Th only thing I'm getting from this is the relief that I don't live in an area that needs security guards in supermarkets!

I didn't know there were such areas!

  Do you live in Trumpton?  Whatever town it is that Postman Pat lives in, or that island with Thomas the Tank Engine?

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

As HP says, it's an excuse.  A Tesco security guard (admittedly, in a small 'Express' store, rather than in a superstore) let me take my bike into the shop once.  And another - in an equally small store - refused.  It's entirely arbitrary, probably depending on the mood of the bloke at the door, and when questioned, the stores fall back on the 'health and safety' gobshite.  

Presumably he wouldn't have been so miffed off if the guard had openly said, "Sorry, there isn't room - but there's parking round the corner" or some such.

I think he went off the deep end at being told only that he couldn't come in because his bike was dirty and unhygienic (which *is* stupid, because the wheels of a bike are no more unhygienic than a pair of shoes, as others have said).

brooksby wrote:

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

As HP says, it's an excuse.  A Tesco security guard (admittedly, in a small 'Express' store, rather than in a superstore) let me take my bike into the shop once.  And another - in an equally small store - refused.  It's entirely arbitrary, probably depending on the mood of the bloke at the door, and when questioned, the stores fall back on the 'health and safety' gobshite.  

Presumably he wouldn't have been so miffed off if the guard had openly said, "Sorry, there isn't room - but there's parking round the corner" or some such.

I think he went off the deep end at being told only that he couldn't come in because his bike was dirty and unhygienic (which *is* stupid, because the wheels of a bike are no more unhygienic than a pair of shoes, as others have said).

Indeed.  At the end of the day, it is their shop, and it's really up to them whom they allow in, and under what conditions.   I would love to nip to the local Asda and wheel my bike around whilst filling my apidura bags with shopping, before paying and cycling back home.  But they won't let me, so... whatever.  There's really not much I can do about it.  

brooksby wrote:

Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:

As HP says, it's an excuse.  A Tesco security guard (admittedly, in a small 'Express' store, rather than in a superstore) let me take my bike into the shop once.  And another - in an equally small store - refused.  It's entirely arbitrary, probably depending on the mood of the bloke at the door, and when questioned, the stores fall back on the 'health and safety' gobshite.  

Presumably he wouldn't have been so miffed off if the guard had openly said, "Sorry, there isn't room - but there's parking round the corner" or some such.

I think he went off the deep end at being told only that he couldn't come in because his bike was dirty and unhygienic (which *is* stupid, because the wheels of a bike are no more unhygienic than a pair of shoes, as others have said).

The only possible difference, from a hygene point of view, is that a bicycle tyre is higher up than a shoe is likly to be - more comparable with (say) a wheel chair tyre.  I would be very surprised if Sainsbury's is selling ready to eat fresh produce that isn't covered in several layers of plastic.  Fresh fruit and veg isn't generally considered 'ready to eat' - consumers are advised to wash or peel before consumption.

Regarding 'parking round the corner' the x00 cycle parking spaces in Paddington Station is woefully inadequate - I've never seen an empty space there.

I've never tried taking my bike into a supermarket, but I have often considered it. I don't think it is an unreasonable thing to do (assuming it is not ridden) - it is probably less of an obstruction than the average supermarket trolley.