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“For every truck that pulls out without thinking, there is a cyclist with no helmet”: Cargo bike boss calls for cyclists to “be courteous to motorists and not fly through red lights”, claiming streets filled with “warring factions” + more on the live blog

All eyes may be on the House of Commons, but you’ll be pleased to hear that Ryan Mallon’s still resolutely focused on keeping you up to date with the latest cycling news – and the occasional funny video – on this Budget Day edition of the live blog

SUMMARY

30 October 2024, 09:06
Commuter cyclists in London stoped at light with van in background - copyright Simon MacMichael
“For every truck that pulls out without thinking, there is a cyclist with no helmet”: Cargo bike boss calls for cyclists to “be courteous to motorists and not fly through red lights”, claiming streets are filled with “warring factions”

“For every car that cuts in to a cycle path there is a bicycle sailing through a red light.”

If you read the above quote out of context, you’d probably assume it was uttered by Nick ‘Mr Loophole’ Freeman, a Telegraph columnist, or some eejit off GB News.

You probably wouldn’t have guessed it was attributed to the co-founder of an ultra-low emissions cargo bike courier company in Oxford, however.

But, in an interview with the Oxford Mail this week, Velocity Cycle Couriers’ director Jake Swinhoe claimed that the current pitiful state of the city’s roads – which he says are currently contested between “warring factions” of cyclists and drivers – could be at least partly improved by people on bikes endeavouring “to be visible, and not fly through red lights, and be courteous to motorists”.

Velocity Cycle Couriers, Oxford

Velocity Cycle Couriers, Oxford

“There will come a day when motorists and cyclists amble along together, happily sharing the roadways with a friendly smile and a wave to acknowledge each other as fellow travellers with equal rights,” Swinhoe told the newspaper.

“Sadly the streets of Oxford paint a far more divided picture with warring factions shaking angry fists and hurling expletives at each other.

“For every car that cuts in to a cycle path there is a bicycle sailing through a red light. For every truck that pulls out without thinking once, thinking twice, then thinking bike, there is a cyclist with no lights at night and no helmet.

“Cargo bikes are becoming more and more common on our streets and the debate goes on about unlicensed, uninsured, and irresponsible riders who don’t pay road tax and think they own the roads, but is this the case from the point of view of a professional commercial cycle courier company?”

> Camera to fine rule-breaking drivers as safety measure introduced after cyclist's death still being ignored

Velocity Cycle Couriers was established in 2022 – the same year cyclist Dr Ling Felce was killed at Oxford’s notorious Plain roundabout by an unlicensed, uninsured driver of a 32-tonne tipper truck, who was under the influence of cocaine at the time – and currently works with 80 local businesses with the aim of cutting emissions and air pollution in the city.

“Our riders will be out in all weather – rain, snow, frost and high winds – but are trained to obey the rules of the road and always consider other road users,” Swinhoe continued, arguing that there are “good and bad road users”.

“If an absent-minded tourist steps into the road with their face in a mobile phone we try to swerve past, give a jaunty ring on the bell and a cheery ‘hello’, even though this can be testing.

“Velocity have been on the streets of Oxford for more than two-and-a-half years and have learned a great deal about how to get around our city and how to best get along with fellow road users.

> “Is the focus road safety?” Volunteer speed watchers accused of “spreading nonsense” after claiming “several cyclists clocked over 30mph” on 20mph street, while dismissing drivers’ speeds as “on average 25-35mph”

“In that time there have been two accidents involving cargo bikes – one where a delivery van reversed into our bike and an amicable resolution of buying us a new mudguard was agreed, the other had a car shunt a stationary cargo bike, causing some damage and then speeding off before our rider knew what happened.

“Luckily this has meant us not having to trouble the extremely expensive insurance policies we have for our bikes and riders or cause any damage to other road users, pedestrians, or brick walls.

“I personally am a bike rider and a motorist – I am conscious that a car or van does a lot more damage to a bike rider than a bike to a car so try to give cyclists a safe distance and a stress-free ride when I am on four wheels.

“Though equally when on a bike I endeavour to be visible, and not fly through red lights, and be courteous to motorists.”

30 October 2024, 12:58
“Some infrastructure is actually worse than nothing”: £6m active travel scheme scrapped over fears “narrow route” could put cyclists into conflict with pedestrians and “leave little room for HGVs”

Plans to create a new active travel path in Guildford have been thrown out after councillors and campaigners raised concerns that cyclists could potentially endanger pedestrians on the shared-use path, which some claimed would also create “pinch points” on the road and make it too narrow in places for lorry drivers.

The proposed protected cycling and pedestrian path on London Road, which was to be funded by Active Travel England, was also set to include improvements to the existing footways, five new bus stops and shelters, a new toucan crossing, and the creation of parallel pedestrian and cyclist crossings.

A consultation carried out last year found that half of the 995 respondents believed that the scheme would contribute to the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users, while 31 per cent disagreed.

London Road, Guildford (Google Maps)

London Road, Guildford 

At a meeting of Surrey County Council last week, residents urged the local authority to “seize the opportunity” to create a greener Guildford, while local children spoke of how they have been forced off the roads, with some involved in collisions with drivers while cycling to school, Surrey World reports.

“We have to do something and this is the chance we have if we want to save the planet,” one pupil said, adding that the new cycleway would enable hundreds of children to ride their bikes to school in the area.

Meanwhile, Guildford’s Liberal Democrat MP Zoe Franklin, along with various ward councillors, argued that the take-it-or-leave-it project, though not 100 per cent perfect, was a considerable improvement on the present layout.

“This is the best scheme possible given the restraints of the route,” councillor George Potter said.

> Cyclists in Guildford breathe in more polluted air than motorists, finds study

Others, however, such as councillor Terry Newman told the meeting that data suggesting the road was dangerous was erroneous and based on “selective statistics”.

“Some infrastructure is actually worse than nothing as it promises novice cyclists some protection then abandons them when it’s most needed,” Newman said.

Fiona Davidson argued that not only was the scheme “unsafe” for pedestrians, but – despite the results of the consultation – it also lacked public support, claiming that residents told her that “it will make it less safe for most road users, including cyclists”.

“Do we really want to invest millions and take on that sort of risk?” she asked.

Yasmin Broome, a member of the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People, also told the meeting that cyclists continued to travel too fast and chaotically along London Road, and urged the local authority to “please, please keep our disabled community safe and stop these proposals”.

Confirming the scheme’s rejection, after a six to three vote in the cabinet, Surrey County Council leader Tim Oliver said: “I don’t think that this is safe. We have to be absolutely sure the new scheme is safer than what is there.”

30 October 2024, 16:56
Random pro cycling photos, #504
30 October 2024, 10:56
Demi Vollering rescuing goat from well on holiday in Greece (Demi Vollering, Instagram)
“GOAT saving a goat”: Demi Vollering interrupts holiday hike… to rescue a goat from a well

Alright everyone, get your GOAT puns at the ready…

In news that will likely cause some consternation among her new employers at FDJ-Suez, Demi Vollering appears to be ignoring the traditional cycling memo that the off-season is about relaxing and doing as little as possible – by spending at least part of it rescuing an actual goat from a well in Greece.

Yes, you read that night. The 2023 Tour de France Femmes winner, who on Monday confirmed her long-awaited move to the French squad from SD Worx, is currently on holiday in Turkey with her partner and manager (and by the looks of the following Instagram post, her personal videographer) Jan de Voogd.

But during a mountain hike in neighbouring Greece, the Dutch pro stumbled across a stricken goat, which appeared to be trapped inside a stone well on the mountain.

So what did Vollering – famed for her lack of caution on the bike – do? She jumped in and lifted the goat up to safety herself, of course (while De Voogd made sure to film the whole thing, for some reason).

“While we were hiking, we came across this well. Some goats jumped away, which scared me, but the well also caught my attention because there were so many flies hanging above it,” Vollering said, in captions accompanying the video.

“I was so afraid to look over and find something dead, but suddenly I heard movement. We found this young goat helpless, it looked skinny and scared.”

In the video, Vollering can be heard saying in Dutch: “Shall I help you? It’s really dirty here. He's very weak, poor animal. This hole is f***ing disgusting”, while Jan helpfully adds: “A few others have already kicked the bucket here”.

Which is a helpful thing to say to one of the best cyclists in the world before she jumps in to help the poor animal.

Demi Vollering rescues goat from well in Greece (Demi Vollering, Instagram) 4

“So I jumped in to get him out,” Vollering continued. “He didn’t weigh anything and was very weak. As I took him out I expected him to run away, but he fell down in an awkward position, and for a second I thought he would die.

“Luckily, he got up quickly, and ran away back to his friends. The well was very disgusting, a lot of flies, dust, and leftovers from other animals.

“We realised that we should have given him some water, so I tried to call him back. That was not a nice place to be stuck in – probably not the first time a goat was stuck in there.”

Hiking and rescuing scared animals – that’s one way to decompress after a stressful season, Demi.

30 October 2024, 16:37
“Sorry Vini, the Ballon d’Or winner is Bini”

More cycling/football crossover content today, this time courtesy of Intermarché-Wanty’s ever reliable social media team:

For context, the Vini in question is Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior, who controversially boycotted football’s annual gala dinner this week after finding out he wasn’t going to win.

Hopefully our Bini doesn’t do the same if he’s snubbed for the Vélo d’Or later this year…

30 October 2024, 11:57
Mark Cavendish wins stage 5, 2024 Tour de France (ASO)
“Just let the man retire in peace”: Jens Voigt says there’s “at least a 50/50 chance” Mark Cavendish will race 2025 Tour de France, in bid to “hold off chasing stage hunter Tadej Pogačar”

Well, it looks like Mark Cavendish’s coy, noncommittal remarks at yesterday’s Tour de France route presentation have opened the floodgates for speculation about the Manx Missile’s future as a professional cyclist.

“Like everyone who has ridden the Tour de France or the Tour de France Femmes, you finish it and you think: ‘I’ll never do that again’, then a couple of days later, you miss it and you long for the buzz the year after,” the 39-year-old said on stage in Paris yesterday, sending the cycling world in yet another frenzy.

When asked what he felt about another tilt at the Tour, and a possible record-extending 36th stage win, beyond his 40th birthday next year, Cavendish cheekily replied: “We’ll see.”

While Sir Cav – who hasn’t raced since crossing the line in Nice in July – could merely be attempting to drum up interest in what will almost certainly be his last appearance as a pro at ASO’s Tour-themed crits in Singapore in November (albeit one that won’t involve any proper ‘racing’), that hasn’t stopped fans and pundits speculating that Comeback 3.0 (or is it 4.0?) could be on the cards.

Even Jens Voigt, everyone’s favourite over-the-top breakaway merchant-turned-excitable pundit, has got in on the act, pointing out that there are plenty of chances in next year’s Tour route for Cav to add to his tally of 35 stage wins.

Jens Voigt Hour Record 21 - Jens with bike on shoulder (©Maxime Schmid)

“We have nine more or less flat stages until the first really tough stage [10, in the Massif Central],” the Jensie told Eurosport today.

“That does invite Mark Cavendish to go one more time, to try to win more stages and try to hold off the chasing stage hunter Tadej Pogačar!

“I see at least a 50/50 chance for that.”

Although not everyone is excited about the prospect of a 40-year-old Cavendish rocking up in Lille for an encore, after all the excitement of this year’s record-breaking Tour.

“Oh, just let the man retire in peace, FFS,” cycling social media producer Dan Deakins wrote in response to Voigt’s latest Cav call.

Hear, hear. Or more to the point: Shut up, Jens.

30 October 2024, 14:59
“The year is 2042 and Mark Cavendish lines up for his FINAL LAST EVER Tour de France”

It looks Cav-mania is showing no signs of slowing down.

After Jens Voigt’s claim this morning that the multiple opportunities to add to his record-breaking tally of 35 Tour de France stage wins at next year’s race could tempt Mark Cavendish out of what appears to be his imminent retirement (again), Rouleur editor Ed Pickering has come up with another possible angle for Cav ’25 – and Project 36.

Mark Cavendish Tour de France 2024 (ASO/Billy Ceusters)

(ASO/Billy Ceusters)

“It’s not so much the number of possible sprint stages as the fact that the Paris stage will be the 50th anniversary of the first time the Tour finished on the Champs-Élysées that makes me think maybe Cavendish could ride one more Tour,” Pickering wrote on Twitter.

“No better place to retire than the Champs.”

Which may be true – though I’m not sure Cavendish would sacrifice his victory lap in Nice in July for an extremely stressful afternoon, and probable defeat, on the Champs next year – but it’s fair to say others are sceptical.

Simon Warren Mark Cavendish tweet

“The year is 2042 and Mark Cavendish lines up for his FINAL LAST EVER Tour de France,” replied Simon Warren.

To be fair, the way things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised.

30 October 2024, 15:56
Wahoo confirms new ‘Elemnt Ace’ computer set to arrive on 3 December – and by judging by their new video, it’s heavily pixelated

For some more info on what may be lurking behind all those pixels, our tech team had all the admittedly blurry details last week, following a few cheeky online leaks:

> New Wahoo bike computer leaked that appears to have a built-in wind sensor

30 October 2024, 15:39
Remco Evenepoel podium Tour de France 2024 (ASO/Billy Ceusters)
Remco Evenepoel aiming for yellow jersey at early Tour de France time trial in 2025

The early reviews are in for the 2025 Tour de France route, with Remco Evenepoel already publicly declaring his plan to take the yellow jersey on stage five of next year’s race, a 33km time trial in Caen.

The Olympic champion won this year’s early TT in Gevrey-Chambertin, on his way to finishing third overall and winning the white young rider’s jersey at his debut Tour, and is eyeing further success against the clock next season.

“A time trial so early in the race gives me a chance to take the yellow jersey in the first week,” Evenepoel told L’Equipe following yesterday’s route presentation.

Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogačar at 2024 Tour de France (Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

(Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

However, the Soudal Quick-Step leader reckons the 2025 Tour’s time trials – even the second mountainous effort against the clock in the Pyrenees – won’t have much of an impact on the GC battle, which he believes will still be shaped by the plethora of stages in the high mountains, and iconic climbs such as Mont Ventoux, Hautacam, and La Plagne.

“That won’t have much importance for the general classification because there are still a lot of mountains and stages to follow,” Evenepoel added.

“It’s a very special route, but very beautiful! The Grand Départ [in Lille] is not too far from my home and from Belgium.

“The mountain stages seem beautiful to me with a lot of mythical cols to climb.”

30 October 2024, 14:14
Get this on the Christmas list immediately! Wout van Aert sponsor Ethias releases limited edition ‘Mini Wout’ cuddly toy

The Santa lists are filling up across the continent at the sight of the second-best cycling-related cuddly toy ever released… (with first spot going to the Highland cow from the Glasgow world championships, naturally.)

The unflattering badger-like hair, nose, the skinny arms and legs – it’s a masterpiece.

Hey, and at least anyone who nabs a ‘Mini Wout’ can enjoy it a good deal more than the Belgian’s old NFT range, anyway.

30 October 2024, 11:39
Cyclist backs cyclist for Manchester United job

With Ineos currently in the midst of another huge sporting decision – first the Pidcock transfer saga, now the United gig, it’s been a busy few weeks – it was only fitting that Sky Sports happened upon a cyclist who was passing by Old Trafford this morning, and decided to seek out his views on who should be the next poor soul doomed to sit in that poisoned dugout:

And it was even more fitting (and somewhat bizarre) that the cyclist chosen for this particular vox pop decided to back another lover of all things two wheels, and the current co-manager of the road.cc Premier League Cycling XI, for the vacant managerial post at Old Trafford – the one, the only Neil Warnock!

Tell Jim and Dave we’re expecting at least £10m in compensation if they decide to poach our Colin.

Though thankfully there’s another coach/cyclist who’s all of a sudden got a lot of free time on his hands this week, who could be the ideal replacement if Warnock does decide to leave road.cc Road for the bright lights of the Europa League…

Erik ten Hag
30 October 2024, 12:41
Looking for a new rear light that could help make ‘Sorry mate, I didn’t see you’ a thing of the past (no guarantee about, of course) this winter? Well, we’ve got just the guide for you
30 October 2024, 10:30
Oh no, the Halloween Strava Art is already out in force

B+ for effort for this 69-mile Leicester-based cycling ‘art’, and a C at best for execution.

If we’re honest, it looks like the kind of decades-old plastic skeleton that’s stuffed in a box in the attic, and was only brought down at Halloween because your five-year-old begged for it. Which adds to the creepy vibes, I suppose.

30 October 2024, 09:58
Cycling’s inventory woes and economic challenges continue, as Shimano reports sales are significantly down again – but is everything finally starting to head in the right direction?

After obtaining a PhD, lecturing, and hosting a history podcast at Queen’s University Belfast, Ryan joined road.cc in December 2021 and since then has kept the site’s readers and listeners informed and enthralled (well at least occasionally) on news, the live blog, and the road.cc Podcast. After boarding a wrong bus at the world championships and ruining a good pair of jeans at the cyclocross, he now serves as road.cc’s senior news writer. Before his foray into cycling journalism, he wallowed in the equally pitiless world of academia, where he wrote a book about Victorian politics and droned on about cycling and bikes to classes of bored students (while taking every chance he could get to talk about cycling in print or on the radio). He can be found riding his bike very slowly around the narrow, scenic country lanes of Co. Down.

Add new comment

58 comments

Avatar
Mr Hoopdriver | 1 day ago
1 like

At this rate, Cav will also be outdoing that other former GOAT Frank Sinatra for comeback tours.

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to Mr Hoopdriver | 1 day ago
5 likes

Mr Hoopdriver wrote:

At this rate, Cav will also be outdoing that other former GOAT Frank Sinatra for comeback tours.

Stage wins

I've had a few

And they are surely

Worth a mention?

I did

What I had to do

To make Merckx

Pay me attention...

I rode

Each charted stage

I've travelled most

Of France's highways

No more

No more of this

There'll be no replay...

Avatar
Car Delenda Est | 1 day ago
9 likes

"Though equally when on a bike I endeavour to be visible, and not fly through red lights, and be courteous to motorists.”

Yeah that's not gonna stop them from driving into you dude

Avatar
wtjs | 2 days ago
13 likes

when on a bike I endeavour to be visible, and not fly through red lights, and be courteous to motorists

That's it! I should have been more courteous and more visible

https://upride.cc/incident/lc64tge_bmw_closepass/

https://upride.cc/incident/yn67mvj_sainsburys44tonner_closepass/

To recap: Jake Swinhoe is an Uncle Tom 'I'm a cyclist myself' con-artist and tosser

Avatar
IanMK replied to wtjs | 2 days ago
11 likes

Yesterday a van driver close passed me into oncoming traffic and then even before they'd completed the manoeuvre yanked on their breaks coming to a complete stop so they could turn right whilst I squeezed up on their left . All this while I had a red flashing light and a bright orange jersey.
Was I
1. Polite and courteous and thanked them for nearly wiping me out.
Or
2. Called them a #*#*£&@ idiot and submit my cam footage to the Police

Avatar
eburtthebike replied to IanMK | 2 days ago
2 likes

2, two, too, to and 2 again.

Avatar
Kapelmuur | 2 days ago
4 likes

Had a family visit to Oxford last week and mindful of the warnings issued by Mr Hitchens we were extremely apprehensive about walking in the city, especially to an evening meal in Jericho.

In fact no problems at all, cyclists kept to the roads and we didn't see any RLJs.

Maybe it was an exceptional week.

Avatar
eburtthebike | 2 days ago
10 likes

£6m active travel scheme scrapped

£6m and they can't get it right?  Stone the crows, love a duck, gor blimey guv.  What a turn up for the books, totally unpredictable.

It's time that councils acknowledged the fact that if you are going to build proper Active Travel infrastructure, it is going to have to inconvenience drivers: which is only justice because if it wasn't for the drivers we wouldn't need the infrastructure.

Avatar
IanMK replied to eburtthebike | 2 days ago
7 likes

The council went to the expense of drawing up an LCWIP which was then funded by ATE. It's not an easy process and would have only been funded if the government appointed experts thought it a good proposal. The council then decide that, despite having no qualifications of note, scrap the scheme on the spurious grounds that they don't think it's safe. WTF do experts know?

Avatar
stonojnr replied to IanMK | 2 days ago
1 like

Im not sure on that, Ive seen a glut of council proposed schemes recently that all apparently had the ATE seal of approval, and certainly their funding commitment, but are not much better than stuff we were getting 10 years ago.

Arguably worse stuff because it still seems to think painting a line on a road or putting a sign on a path is good infra, and I thought we'd broken that mould.

it has left me wondering what ATEs remit actually is, like do they actually oversee what eventually happens with these schemes or where the money goes?

Avatar
dubwise | 2 days ago
10 likes

Can you ask Jake Swinhoe who is in the wrong:

me cycling on my side of the road or a driver on the wrong side driving straight at me and refusing to return to his side of the road.

I received verbals not only from said driver but also workmen, whose vehicles were blocking the other side of the road from me.

Avatar
wtjs replied to dubwise | 2 days ago
8 likes

Can you ask Jake Swinhoe who is in the wrong

He'll say: 'can't we all just get along?'

Avatar
quiff replied to dubwise | 2 days ago
4 likes

I had similar recently - driver coming towards me on wrong side of road (with a grass verge separating the two carriageways) having contravened a keep left sign, because a delivery van was blocking his carriageway.  

Avatar
Andrewbanshee replied to quiff | 1 day ago
4 likes

Same for me. Parked cars blocking the oncoming lane. Didn't stop a drivist gunning towards me. I held my ground as he kept shouting for me to reverse. Then someone in a nearby house started shouting at me, then a drivist pulling out of a junction, and finally a dog walkers decided to stop and berate me. Made me more stubborn tbh. He did back up.

Avatar
Clem Fandango | 2 days ago
19 likes

Another freeze on fuel duty.  Damn this war on motorists!

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Clem Fandango | 2 days ago
6 likes

Yup, now let's see if there's anything (useful) for active travel or that's "we just can't afford...".  But we can afford electric car subsidies of course.  Harm minimisation (a bit) yes, but just think how much more not driving a journey benefits...

Avatar
Mr Hoopdriver replied to chrisonabike | 2 days ago
10 likes

chrisonabike wrote:

Yup, now let's see if there's anything (useful) for active travel

Oh you starry eyed dreamer ....

Avatar
Shake replied to Clem Fandango | 2 days ago
10 likes

So not to affect the working people.....increases in the bus fare cap to £3.

Avatar
Tom_77 replied to Shake | 2 days ago
6 likes

Shake wrote:

So not to affect the working people.....increases in the bus fare cap to £3.

Rail fares are going up 4.6% too. I guess nobody gets the train to work any more.

Avatar
Tom_77 replied to Clem Fandango | 2 days ago
7 likes

"Tough Decisions"

Avatar
BBB | 2 days ago
7 likes

As a bus driver and a life long cyclist, I believe that Mr Swinhoe is either a victim blaiming idiot not comprehending the fundamentals of the road safety or just a cynical business owner trying to create a kind of "we aren't like other cyclists" PR very calculated publicity aimed at the the mindless car dependent mob and local authorities. Probably both.

Mr Swinhoe and his DRIVERS should consider wearing helmets themselves just in case they get hit by a larger vehicle like an HGV or a bus. In any case, there will be always one helmet too many.

Avatar
Paul J | 2 days ago
16 likes

Flimsy plastic helmets are well known for being able to protect cyclists from being crushed by ten+ tonne lorries. Fact.

Avatar
eburtthebike replied to Paul J | 2 days ago
6 likes

Paul J wrote:

Flimsy plastic helmets are well known for being able to protect cyclists from being crushed by ten+ tonne lorries. Fact.

Rubbish!  There are hundreds of "helmet saved my life" stories from people who've been run over by trucks.*

*May contain elements of sarcasm.

Avatar
S.E. | 2 days ago
1 like

I just watched a police car stopping a cyclist and fining her, only 1-2 hour ago! Might be the first time ever I have seen that? I guess it was for a red light.

I had the police calling me with their car's loudspeaker once, also for a red light, made me stop before the crossing, then they just drove away...

Avatar
mitsky replied to S.E. | 2 days ago
7 likes

LANGUAGE MATTERS

A police car stopped someone and fined them?
Was it self-driving/autonomous?
Or was it a police OFFICER that stopped and fined them?

http://rc-rg.com

"wow, that car did that all by itself?"
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3331869633536303/

Avatar
Hirsute | 2 days ago
2 likes

Near Far Away

When I saw the goat photo it sure looked to me as though the goat was being lifted up in a hand!

Avatar
alexuk | 2 days ago
3 likes

So predictable are the average comments from the mob. Here we have a guy, saying that not all cyclists are great, not all motorists are great, but it takes two to tango and all parties need to do better; with a desire for us all to use the road in harmony. The mob then attacks, rather than commending and working towards the same goal. I rode from North to South London this morning. Lots of red-light running cyclists, lots of d**khead driving. Its not about cars and bikes, its about c**ts. Don't be one.

Avatar
brooksby replied to alexuk | 2 days ago
18 likes

alexuk wrote:

So predictable are the average comments from the mob. Here we have a guy, saying that not all cyclists are great, not all motorists are great, but it takes two to tango and all parties need to do better; with a desire for us all to use the road in harmony. The mob then attacks, rather than commending and working towards the same goal. I rode from North to South London this morning. Lots of red-light running cyclists, lots of d**khead driving. Its not about cars and bikes, its about c**ts. Don't be one.

I understood most of the comments as not saying that all cyclists are perfect but simply that cyclists and motorists are not equivalent (as the Highway Code recognises, IIRC).

As an example, I wrote below and asked rhetorically just how many HGV drivers - or car drivers, for that matter - have been KSI by a red light jumping cyclist who was wearing no helmet?

If a motorist behaves badly, the other people are likely to be KSI.

If a cyclist behaves badly, they themself are likely to be KSI.

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to alexuk | 2 days ago
15 likes

alexuk wrote:

So predictable are the average comments from the mob. 

And so predictable are the usual comments from the knob. 

Just in case you are not, as many suspect, a PBU and really are that stupid, Mr Swinhoe is not just issuing a plea for us all to use the roads in harmony, he is directly comparing behaviours which when performed by motorists often end in death or serious life-changing injuries and which when performed by cyclists usually end with nothing but annoyance from observers (no approval of said behaviours implied). It's whataboutery at its very motornormative worst.

Just because pretty much everyone disagrees with you that doesn't mean they are a mob, it just means that everyone disagrees with you.

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