[David9694]

A new catch-all Tea Shop thread for those miscellaneous new stories that don’t quite fit with parking, crashing into buildings or trapped/prisoners in their homes. 

Topic

[Jogle]

I think that the could be

I think that the could be distilled to “I don’t like cycling and so neither should you. And I don’t like buses. Now stop wasting my money on cycling infrastructure where I want to drive”

Daily Echo wrote:

[b]‘Very few people enjoy cycling’ – Letter[/b]

Whilst advocates of cycling are vociferous in their support of this mode of transport, their beliefs and motives have so obviously been rejected by the huge majority of the travelling public. How can this simple statement be denied?

 

It would appear that virtue-signalling politicians and similarly motivated local councillors buy into this ideology, using everyone’s money—gleaned via taxation, road traffic fines and suchlike—to create even more miles of rarely used cycle lanes.

 

I would suggest, as proven in reality, that very few enjoy or prefer to ride a bicycle.

 

The whole scenario reminds me of the tale of The Emperor’s New Clothes. Everyone “on message” wants to be seen as aware and saying the right thing… until suddenly, some innocent points out the obvious and asks, “What clothes?” Or in this case, “What bike riders?!”

 

Furthermore, I strongly suspect that our councillors, politicians, and civil servants are not dashing around the city or county from meeting to meeting on their trusty tredder! Nor is the private corporate business sector.

 

Have you ever heard of an MP, a local leading councillor, or a civil servant insisting they must have access to the corporate bone shaker? I very much doubt it. Furthermore, if the “company bike” is unavailable, are they then stood in line with the rest of us at the bus stop, waiting for a bus that may not even turn up?

 

For us peasants, having secured a doctor’s appointment two weeks in advance, to then be left deserted at the roadside is, of course, our own fault. Be we sixteen or seventy, we really should have been frantically pedalling our way to the surgery.

 

In my view, the majority of car users are not lazy, pro-pollution, or anti-cyclist. It is simply a case of work, lifestyle, personal capability, and practicalities.

 

Surrounding the city are numerous estates and new urban development’s consisting of thousands of dwellings. Other than those in peak physical condition, the ability of the rest to complete multiple journeys in a day by bike is pretty much inconceivable.

 

Many would likely be beaten on their first “Mini Switzerland” hill climb! With ice-cold gusty winds, unpredictable rain, specialist bikewear, and a bag full of alternative clothing, no wonder many would be out of puff before they’d even had a chance to skip their first red light!

 

And how does it work socially? I’ve never been asked off the cuff, “Can I offer you a lift home on my crossbar?” Or when going on a romantic date, does one agree to meet up somewhere on their bike, hoping her glamorous frock doesn’t get caught in the chain?

 

Furthermore, what happens when going out for a celebratory meal with family or friends? Do six of us sit at the table in sweaty leggings, hi-vis Lycra safety vests, complete with 12 pairs of bicycle clips and six crash helmets (hope no one’s had their hair done!), or have we brought suits, gowns, and best clobber to change into?  

 

Then, after our five-course buffet—including suet pudding and custard—do we somehow all wobble home together at the same time and speed?

 

I could go on. Whatever the case, suffice to say, I remain unconvinced that we are heading in the right direction of travel.

[B]J Martin

Hedge End[/b]

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/24937452.echo-reader-says-its-proven-people-enjoy-cycling/

[David9694]

Phil from Fowey : live scene 

Phil from Fowey : live scene 

(Not sure what driver route problem Phil is trying to solve by taking this road.) 

[GMBasix]

Phil Haynes wrote:

Phil Haynes wrote:

 It can add to frustrations when people use the cut-throughs and they have the right of way but people don’t know the rules of the road and don’t reverse out the way if you are on a hill.”

Beautiful!

Wait till the cognitive dissonance kicks in when Phil finds out that “right of way” doesn’t mean what he thinks it means, and he doesn’t have what he thinks he has, just because he’s “on a hill”.

[mdavidford]

I assumed that a commuter

I assumed that a commuter road was like the Room of Requirement – it travels to wherever people need to drive on it.

[HoarseMann]

and what does he mean by 

and what does he mean by ‘people don’t know the rules and don’t reverse out of the way if you are on a hill’.

I’m not really sure that is a ‘thing’. I think he’s conflating two specific points:

1. Generally, you should reverse if it makes sense for you to do so – i.e. you’ve just gone past a good passing place and it would be easier for you to reverse back than the other driver.

2. Generally, if you are coming downhill, it’s better for you to give way to the vehicle coming uphill if possible – saves on burning out their clutch trying to get going again.

Perhaps he thinks that means if you’re coming uphill you have ‘priority’, which really isn’t the case as far as I can see…

Rule 155

Single-track roads. These are only wide enough for one vehicle. They may have special passing places. If you see a vehicle coming towards you, or the driver behind wants to overtake, pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite a passing place on your right. Give way to road users coming uphill whenever you can. If necessary, reverse until you reach a passing place to let the other vehicle pass. Slow down when passing pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

[Tom_77]

David9694 wrote:

‘Disgrace’ as commuter road closed for ‘absolutely nothing’

Surprised to see this described as a commuter road, but I guess if you’re a commuter then all roads are commuter roads.

[David9694]

Traffic wardens across

Traffic wardens across Tonbridge and Malling only visit schools in pairs for fear of assault by parents

In an email to the dad, Ms Smith said: “I sympathise with the problems you have and your safety concerns.

“Civil Enforcement Officers cannot be at every location at the same time or the same location every day as there are over 40 schools in the borough and most have parking issues of some sort.

“This is further complicated where there have been threats of violence and abuse to our staff as we have to make arrangements for police support at the same time.

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/malling/news/traffic-wardens-work-in-pairs-outside-schools-due-to-violenc-320142/

[chrisonabike]

Hirsute wrote:

Hirsute wrote:

Well how do you expect her to carry a treadmill on her bike ?

[Hirsute]

Well how do you expect her to
Well how do you expect her to carry a treadmill on her bike ?

[chrisonabike]

SaveTheWail wrote:

SaveTheWail wrote:

’I literally drive to work and back, and that’s like two miles’ – and she’s a fitness instructor!  Must be too tired after a day on the treadmill or something.

After a day getting others to run on the treadmill … TBF some folks who lead classes are pretty active in them.  And maybe she has to carry a bit of her own kit with her, or doesn’t feel safe to leave the bike as opposed to a car?

However – here’s Swinton and a radius of about two miles.  Swinton appears to have a couple of train stations also – though sadly the Metrolink appears to ignore northwest and southeast.

It might be that she works to the north west – in which case perhaps those motorways are a barrier.

I’m going with “standard modern lifestyle” though.

[SaveTheWail]

‘I literally drive to work

‘I literally drive to work and back, and that’s like two miles’ – and she’s a fitness instructor!  Must be too tired after a day on the treadmill or something.  (Also, in spite of the headline, she doesn’t appear to know ‘exactly who it is’.)

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/somebody-racking-up-fines-number-30972885

[David9694]

Spare a thought for Phil from

Spare a thought for Phil from Fowey whose cut-through is closed; if only there was an alternative. He’s even done a video. 

‘Disgrace’ as commuter road closed for ‘absolutely nothing’

‘I’m disgusted really, they did not have to shut the road until the roadworks started’

“There are other cut-throughs but they are narrower and more dangerous,” Phil said. “It can add to frustrations when people use the cut-throughs and they have the right of way but people don’t know the rules of the road and don’t reverse out the way if you are on a hill.”

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/disgrace-commuter-road-closed-absolutely-9942189

[David9694]

Neighbours fear child will be

Neighbours fear child will be killed on this Stoke-on-Trent rat-run

Speeding drivers are plaguing the street

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/neighbours-fear-child-killed-stoke-9847562?int_source=nba

sounds like you may need an LTN

[David9694]

bensynnock wrote:

bensynnock wrote:

’but if cars couldn’t go faster than the speed limit how do you accelerate out of trouble…'

you’ll never get to this week’s dying relative’s bedside in time

[chrisonabike]

David9694 wrote:

David9694 wrote:

Green Party – really not sure what you stand for. 

You’d have to ask eburtthebike, but “getting into power and staying there” is likely the most important.

However – *given* motornormativity presumably “local issues” for local people?

Cllr. wrote:

For my mum, travelling from Droitwich, inadequate public transport led to her being forced to drive and the congestion added stress at an already incredibly difficult time.

“I spoke recently with a midwife who works at the hospital, and works with families and premature babies.

“She disclosed that when disclosing these babies, they have to consider the time of day as they are aware that when congestion is at its peak these newborns and their families can be stuck in traffic for over an hour and a half, which could be dangerous.

“How horrific that families and hospital staff are having to consider this when making choices about care.”

Perhaps she’s thinking a bit *too* locally though – how is “more parking” gonna solve “congestion” and not eg. facilitate it? Unless there is a queue a mile long waiting to get into the car park…?

Also while correctly understanding humans (we might drop *all* other considerations if our loved ones are suffering) perhaps there is a connection between the extension of that idea (“we *have to drive* Jim to the shops”) with “inadequate public transport”?

And I get that hospitals are acting more as “social care” and that’s an issue *. But … isn’t scheduling discharge at appropriate times (I think it should say) part of the process normally?

* That is contrary to the trend at least as long as my life of going for increasing medical skill – usually involving technology. That probably means hospitals *have* to be larger and also more focused on “get them in, treat, get them back out ASAP”.

[Author]

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