Cyclists are a Menace

Beasty

The Spectator magazine are holding a debate in London on 30 November:

http://www.spectator.co.uk/shop/events/5291791/spectator-debate-cyclists-are-a-menace.thtml

"Cyclists divide opinion like Marmite. Don't miss this chance to saddle up and have your say"

Ken Livingston is one of those speaking against the motion. Pity they could not get Boris along also.

Should be a lively debate

tomasrojo

Eco-friendly saviours of the planet or self-regarding maniacs who represent hazard to road safety?

Talk about your false dichotomy.

mockler007

:rolleyes:

tomasrojo wrote: »

Talk about your false dichotomy.

yeh plus fcuking 1......
Whats the story with this news from the uk
lads we are in Ireland.
Hellllooo

Dr Rod Doom

So, for the motion are - a truck driver, a bus driver and a Daily Mail hack?

Gonna be some interesting views there

tomasrojo

mockler007 wrote: »

:rolleyes:

yeh plus fcuking 1......
Whats the story with this news from the uk
lads we are in Ireland.
Hellllooo

I can't possibly match your eloquence.

Beasty

mockler007 wrote: »

:rolleyes:

yeh plus fcuking 1......
Whats the story with this news from the uk
lads we are in Ireland.
Hellllooo

So what? If you are not interested, don't post. The thread will quickly die if others share your views (although I think you will find there is quite a lot of cross-referencing of UK stories in this forum).

Hungrycol

Aren't Fridays great.

Beasty

Hungrycol wrote: »

Aren't Fridays great.

Yep - wouldn't have posted it on any other day:)

tomasrojo

I know everyone was on tenterhooks to find out what the end result of the Spectator debate was.

Cyclists are not a menace, Spectator debate decides

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2009/dec/01/cyclists-menace-spectator-debate

concussion

I'm so sick of the assumption that because I am on a bike that
A - I do it becuase I'm a hairy, smelly tree-hugger, or
B- I do it because I can't afford a car.

Grrrrr...

tomasrojo

concussion wrote: »

I'm so sick of the assumption that because I am on a bike that
A - I do it becuase I'm a hairy, smelly tree-hugger, or
B- I do it because I can't afford a car.

Grrrrr...

Me too.

I've seen so many articles about cycling to work that keep harping on about cyclists wanting to "save the world", as if every cyclist were an environmental activist. It's so lazy and stupid.

As it happens, I am interested in environmental issues, but I'm not an activist, and it's not why I cycle. I don't know anyone who cycles primarily out of concern for the environment, though some of them like the fact that something they enjoy doing is largely benign.

hem

Agreed- I enjoy cycling and miss it when I don't do it (like over the Christmas holidays). Saving the planet is just a neat little side-effect.

Dr Rod Doom

+ 1

And what's so often ignored is that cycling is usually faster in a city. Even for my 19km commute my journey time is not far off the bus journey time

blorg

tomasrojo wrote: »

As it happens, I am interested in environmental issues, but I'm not an activist, and it's not why I cycle.

tomasrojo

I possibly am, but most cyclists aren't!

Also, since I know a bit about Environmental Science (I studied a few modules as an undergraduate), I'm aware that cycling isn't really going to save the world. But it's a wonderful thing in and of itself.