Counter-petition to 'Stop Surrey being a cycle track' campaign

Anon Emous LEATHERHEAD, UNITED KINGDOM 2 months ago Liked 13
We are sick to the back teeth of these arrogant, road hogging lycra louts. The scale of arrogance demonstrated by most of these lyrca clad bullies has to be seen to be believed. We are no longer able to walk our dogs at a wood in East Horsley because we have twice come back to our vehicle to find road bikes lent all over it. The arrogant riders seemed indignant- how dare I not let them lean their stupid bikes on my car. They are cyclists, the new Gods of the road. Twice we have met a bunch of them literally stopped across the highway; and again the anger they showed when we asked them to move was staggering. How dare we ask them to move, they are cyclists- the new Gods of the road. While I write it is also worth pointing out that on numerous occasions the lycra louts have dismounted next to me while I got the dogs in the car and urinated right in front of me. They have no shame. What is staggering is the fact that this bunch of yobs is actually encouraged, like a spoilt child at its mother's side, by the Government and Surrey County Council. The reason given for the road closures- loose terminology like "economic benefits" and "health benefits". The rationale behind the road closures patronisingly suggests that all this nonsense will inspire the residents of Surrey to be healthier and be more active. Do they assume we are all unhealthy and inactive, and that the only way to get healthy is to ride a bike dressed in skin tight- all -too revealing lycra? What about having a nice walk? A horse ride? A run? Skateboarding? BMX biking? Roller skating? Nope, sorry you cant do those things anymore they are NOT road cycling and therefore are not part of the new religion. How dare anyone tell me I need to be healthier! I am a free person and will be as healthy as I wish. And do the council really think that a family would like to go out cycling on the roads with the lycra louts playing Tour-de- France make believe, racing each other and the clock like that is all that matters? Once an occasional cyclist myself, I would not want to be anywhere near the lycra bunch on the roads. Is it not true that the new cycling fad does not include families on ordinary bikes amongst its members? Where are the families and kids out on bikes? They would be scoffed at or worse, run off the road by the lycra -clad racing set out on another sportive. Let us not forget that road racing is an activity where some of the very icons of the sport are slowly being revealed as doped up and drug enhanced "athletes". Is this a sport to aspire to at all? Road cycling in Surrey has become somewhat like a cult; it is closed off, it is angry in defence of itself and believes, because of its eco-friendly credentials, that it is out to save humanity. Reading the comments on some of the cycling forums many of them are glad we have been forced off the road and even scoffed when elderly residents on Box Hill said they felt intimated by the number of cyclists there. Who are these cyclists to judge the feelings of the elderly, the very people we should all hold with great regard and do our best to support and care for? It is not fair on local businesses to close roads on their busy days- they have a right to be open and earn a living. They need to in order to survive. What are the "economic benefits" of these races, and if there are any, to whom do they belong? Certainly not businesses closed on the route. This madness must stop; the roads and public spaces are for everybody, and the needs of some should not outweigh the needs of others. Let non-cyclists go about their law abiding business in peace- we have every right to do so EVERY day of the year.