[mdavidford]

I think part of the problem

I think part of the problem is that the concept attached to ‘cyclist’* has become removed from that of ‘person’. Which makes it easier, when reading the word, to bring to mind a lumpen ‘tribe’ (whether your view of that ‘tribe’ is good or bad), rather than a feeling, fragile, and flawed person.

Personally, I have been trying (and commonly failing) to refer to ‘people/person cycling/driving’, but breaking the habit of using the shorter ‘cyclist/driver’ isn’t easy. It can also impact the fluency of what you’re writing, but in a way, perhaps that’s the point – it seems not fluent because it breaks with what we expect and forces us to think differently.

( and, to an extent, ‘driver’ too, although there’s more of a tendency there to use the depersonalised ‘car’. )

[mdavidford]

Apparently it’s a catfish.

Apparently it’s a catfish.

So presumably Antonio?

[mdavidford]

I was envisaging them riding

I was envisaging them riding something more like this.

(Not sure who the friend in the background is, though.)

[mdavidford]

I think you’ve rather missed

I think you’ve rather missed the point that the whole challenge arises from a transition to electric vehicles, where fuel, as such, goes away, and with it the whole basis of our existing tax system. Adding a few pence to the tax on fuel won’t have much effect if no-one’s using any to start with.

[mdavidford]

I’m not saying the proceeds

I’m not saying the proceeds should be used specifically to pay for the roads. I’m looking at it from a ‘what should we tax to discourage an anti-social behaviour [private vehicle use]?’ / ‘how can we fill a hole in the public finances left by declining fuel/vehicle duty?’ perspective.

I’m not a big fan of hypothecation in this instance, and would rather see the roads (and public transport) continue to be paid for out of general taxation, so that the budget can be based on what’s needed*, rather than what we happen to be able to raise through vehicle-related taxation.

[We’re talking ideal world, here – I wouldn’t suggest that what’s currently spent on public transport bears much relation to what’s needed.]

[mdavidford]

I’d start by making all on

I’d start by making all on-road parking charged, and (so that that doesn’t unfairly penalise those who can’t afford it) adding an element in to the council tax calculation for off-road parking provision*.

[*This does rather conflict with my preference for replacing council tax with a local income tax, but let’s cross that bridge if and when we get to it…]

[mdavidford]

Jimmy Ray Will wrote:

Another demonstration of our current adminstration playing to the crowds.

Well, except that the person raising this isn’t part of the administration – just a random backbencher. And the relevant minister basically rolled their eyes and told them to do one.

[mdavidford]

Mungecrundle wrote:

Mungecrundle wrote:

I once had a nasty incident involving a spoon. How many people are injured every year by spoons?

You need…

Spooooooon Guaaaaard

[mdavidford]

Rice bars are a good option,

Rice bars are a good option, as you can fill them with pretty much anything that takes your fancy, and because the rice is basically neutral there’s little that won’t work with it. Almond butter is a particular favourite of mine.

[mdavidford]

hawkinspeter wrote:

I’d love a bit of techno-anarchism – like a free-market of societal systems. Open source government if you will.

Whereas what we’ve got is an open sauce government.

[mdavidford]

I don’t want to be ‘penalised

I don’t want to be ‘penalised’ with taxes generally, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be.

[mdavidford]

Jogle wrote:

Jogle wrote:

Residents heard big bang as car crashes

Cosmic background radiation caused the collision?

[mdavidford]

Steve K wrote:

One of the many, many reasons I could never have been a pro is that no way I would pee on the move.

Apparently, the number of sportives using it was the main reason for leaving Blackberry Way.

[mdavidford]

Re. the littering – this

Re. the littering – this might just be a function of numbers. Unfortunately there’s a significant minority of thoughtless people in all walks. That significant minority of riders on a sportive may be enough to ‘lay a trail’ of litter in its wake, whereas the litter from the minority of solo / small group riders is more dispersed and less obvious – it doesn’t necssarily mean that the sportive riders as a whole are any worse.

[mdavidford]

HoarseMann wrote:

I just can’t believe they think a driver awareness course is appropriate. If the driver really did just pass their test 2 weeks ago, they’ve literally just completed an intense period of driver training. How on earth can a ‘refresher’ course be deemed any benefit, can they really have forgotten how to drive after 2 weeks!

Perhaps they should be offering the ‘improvement course’ to the driver’s instructor and examiner?

[Author]

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