-
It seems to me that a lot of people are loosing perspective of what's going on here and a few are becoming contraries.
The vast majority of the people in the country learn to ride a bike at the age of only a few years because it is an easy process. We learn to drive, under instruction, and must pass a fairly rigorous testing to comply with law to be allowed to drive a car on these roads. I think we can agree that cycling is a far easier skill to learn than to drive.
If that is the case then it is the USE of the road by cyclists which is the problem being argued here. In which case I am not sure why training would be so useful when you consider (not a checked fact) that approx. 80% of London's cyclists are drivers as well, meaning the vast majority are already versed to the use of roads to at least the same level as the drivers of the cars with which they share the road.
Now I am a driver and a cyclist and I DO jump red lights on occasion. I say this not to annoy but to explain that I do this only when I consider it to be safe and is done without causing concern to drivers. When cycling around London I see others jump red lights and on almost all occasions (99.9%) I'd say it's done without causing concern to drivers as people don't jump reds and then close their eyes and pray they don't get hit.
Unlike drivers cyclists ARE aware of their vulnerability, whereas as a driver (and I vouch for this) I am not at all concerned with my vulnerability, although I personally am concerned about my car getting scratched or damaged.
I think drivers are more concerned with the speed at which cyclists move through traffic. The fact that with no warning a bike can fly past their window and give them a little scare. The idea that we move from lane to lane and pass vehicles very close by.
However this spiel about a granny dodging a pothole or the suchlike is convoluted rubbish. A driver (lets all go to the calling out bad cyclists thread) should not overtake a cyclist if there is any danger. A driver should look ahead of the cyclist to asses the obstacles they will encounter and react accordingly the way they do with other cars.
Beyond this I cannot think of any reason why every cyclist should have training to cycle on the roads. I haven't had any myself but I understand that the majority of the training is defensive-centric. Holding the road, positioning to hold future territory, etc, etc. Does this man not realise that if everybody was to follow the letter of the cycle training that his cabs would never be able to overtake a cyclist. This granny moving to avoid a pothole would never have had to move as she would have been in the centre of the lane already and this suggested overtake would never have been attempted in the first place?
Anyway, it appears that the majority of this anti-cyclist hype is based around the RLJing. As cyclists don't want to die and a fight with a car through a red light is not something a cyclist would do then the only conceivable reason for drivers anger regards RLJing is a deflected anger and jealousy that they must sit and wait while a cyclist can freely continue with very little chance of recompense.
Whatever, any time you find yourself 'understanding' his point of view or feeling any sort of sympathy you should re-read the original piece from the AL Spring magazine and realise that the words he wrote have the very real ability to be putting YOUR LIFE IN DANGER next time your on the road. Even if the piece is retracted you must remember this:
That instance when an AL car driver of less than reputable persuasion is intending to overtake you and something happens; be it a move to avoid a pothole, a forgotten signal, a chain snap, anything, that driver will in that instance have a perceived allowance to take the risk which puts you in danger because of what he read. Even if he doesn't consciously want to cause you harm that snap, subconscious second will not necessarily lead to the same decision as it would have before.
-
I'm a bit gutted I can't go as so many are heading down.
-
Very likely this has been brought up already but I don;t have the time to check.
http://www.facebook.com/events/392495397451954/392957907405703/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity
Protest at Addison Lee on Monday:
Most London cyclists will have probably heard about John Griffin, boss of minicab firm Addison Lee, instructing his drivers to use the bus lanes and that he will personally indemnify them against prosecution [http://itv.co/IqON26]. Minicabs can not legally use the bus lanes and, although a testament to the poor standard of provision for cyclists in London, this is one place where a cyclist can get some respite from the often mind-bogglingly awful driving seen from many Addison Lee drivers.
Also in a further move, John Griffin has also published a factually inaccurate and victim-blaming rant about cyclists that Dr. Robert Davis, Chair of the Road Danger Reduction Forum, dubbed a "display of self-pitying bigotry and victim-blaming" and that "above all, [this is] the kind of incendiary message that exacerbates rule and law breaking behaviour by motorists." [http://bit.ly/IqDxmj]
In a time where cyclists are fighting to be heard and warning of the dangers of the roads John Griffin has decided to instead focus on his own profit above the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.
Please join us for a mass 'die-in' at 6pm on Monday the 23rd April outside of Addison Lee's London offices. We will meet at the junction of Stanhope Street/William Road then head to their office to deliver a letter to John Griffin of Addison Lee and stage a 'die-in' by lying down outside the office to highlight the real danger his drivers pose to cyclists and pedestrians. It's short notice, but this is an event that's happening now, so acting quickly is important!
Make-up and fake blood welcome!
-
Repost?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9kC0VfWkAbQ
Anyone fancy trying to recreate this in their office?
I think Joe made the point perfectly.
-
^ You misunderstand me, I think. I'm referring to people who think that quoting comedy makes them funny, no matter how badly they quote it. Which might also be tosh, but isn't what you're arguing against.
Still really fucking tedious.
I don't really care, was only joking. I do find I have to quote Will Ferral films (I do/did find him hilarious) whenever I'm trying to get through a conversation with Hinata/Rowhan/whateverthefuckhecallshimselfnow. ;)
As long as your first post is not suggesting you like Ed Byles then we are OK.
Smell my cheese, mate!
..it's got walnuts in it.
-
People quoting comedy is shit in itself, no matter how good the original. The inane quoters seem to think they should get some credit for the quality of the material they are butchering.
What a fucking load of tosh.
..because people do not claim credit for the material when quoting something. It is impossible to claim credit for a quote when quoting as the inference of a quote is an implication of the fact the it is not your own material.
-
Worth a watch. Epic slow-mo of explosion near the end.
-
Seeing as it's gone quiet I NEED to let you know that I want these possibly more than my next breath (as long as normal service vis a vie breathing is reinstated on the proceeding breath).
-
Hate this gentleman more than I can possibly ever describe to you. He's the kind of person if I met I think I'd spend each second thinking up every conceivable reason as to why it would be a really bad idea to punch him really hard in the throat.
Simple genius, didn't see it coming.
-
Jon Olssons PPI Razor R8 GT, with Stasis Supercharger kit.
Full carbon wide body conversion knocking 250 kilos off the weight, 700 + BHP.
And a ski box
Nice to see you've been referenced on the website as well.
How to waste your lunch break today
This made me very happy earlier. I seem to be waiting like a schoolboy for Thursday mornings Monkey fix each week!
-
With the official website informing me that there are 30 days, 23 hours and approximately 3 minutes left until the Nurburgring 24hrs starts I will ask again if there is anyone keen on going down. I'll be taking the Range. 4 in the car and can fit one more if needed. Otherwise Anyone interested in convoying down?
-
-
Consider a standard 1275 makes 63bhp from the factory, and then reconsider the power increase.
I was thinking the same. That is insane. Do you know what the most anyone has ever got out of the original engine? That's gotta be well up there.
-
I suggest as the weather is only going to improve an Ask pizza ordered to the green triangle in front of the Flask could be in order.
Either way pizza was always a killer of a night due to people leaving the pub far to early (i.e. before they had stopped serving).
Isn't there a Strada restaurant just round the corner? They do take away don't they?
-
kiwi's, choice bro!
Shoot. Sorry mate. ;0
-
As a carry on from the Lotus posted yesterday. Some great reading from previous threads! Guy sounds like an absolute gent and would love to have a pint with him...
-
^should come with a disclaimer 'made by hipsters'
Some great footage in there though, the red Silvia is especially sexual.
-
Friends just sent me this. Granted it's a RR video of sorts, but absolutely mad me piss myself.
-
I think the ferrari colour is azzuro. It's the closest listed for the year unless it's a special order, but there are a few of them in that colour to be seen..
-
I love Mercs, and I love V8's, and it will mainly be used for storming across Europe, but above all . . . .
Meow
-
Gotta love Australians. That is brilliant.
LFGSS
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
What was it, 17 made? Of which only a few actually drove under their own power...
It's funny how supercars are no longer made to look like boys wet dreams (apart from Lambo and I guess the F60)