malumbu

Earl had already posted this, and with more information, rather than just echoing the BBC.

My post was clear. You are talking about "supporters" and labelling a group of people. I expect like me that there are many, if not most, who are happy/accepted the square. But I wouldn't label us as supporters as it comes across as we are activists. You have done this elsewhere by the assumption that most cyclists are the 'cyclist lobby'. Just go the whole hog and call us all wokes. That is what is happening across the world with popularist politicians taking about the 'war on wokes'.

Good point. It may be a better use of your collective time to complain to Lime about badly parked bikes.

I haven't called you this. I'm just interested in what a Reform voter may think.

Why not? Opposing climate change is one of Reform's main policies. You don't need to agree with all their policies of course but you should have a view either way.

I've worked on sustainable transport for a number of years and I doubt it. A mix of performance, hi tec and possibly status. Drivers of say a Nissan Leaf or a Zoe, certainly early adopters, yes the environment is a key factor. I've test driven many EVs in my career and Tesla was my least favourite apart From an entry price Indian car, made for mass adoption in Asia where the quality was awful. I started a thread on EV recommendations but got no interest apart from some silly comments. Perhaps some of you have a Tesla and think differently. My dislike pre dates Musk becoming a fanatic.

Did you like Kings Cross when it was a red light and drug dealing location? For younger readers in the 90s and perhaps later it was well dodgy.

In deed, but I have been infected and now starting to say garage with a soft g like the Americans

Surely consumers gave the good sense to make good decisions, eg on animal welfare, sustainability and the like. Oh, wait a second...... Now I get that you aren't a fan of Starmer but I am gobsmacked you compare him to Trump. Now Faradge and Trump. That's a different subject. Misspelling on purpose to reclaim his hard 'g'.

@Cancerian what are your views on climate change and on Reform's position. As a former Tory you will get well aware that Cameron, May and Johnson supported net zero and environmental measures.

I expect that most of us go with the flow. Polarising things plays straight into the hands of Reform. I expect that is something you don't want.

Can't blame it just on Jazzer. More than just one person to blame. I'd start off with the Lib Dems going into coalition with the Tories. But very much a six degrees of separation thing so we all must take a share of the blame 😔

Question was addressed to Ted.

Do you cycle? How would this be done?I expect it would be difficult to achieve

Speak to the Estate Agents, expect most will say get it on the market rather than spend money which may well be wasted when the next owner changes things. Get a couple of friends round and ask them honestly what rough or unfinished things come to their attention. Weeds in the front. Door that doesn't close properly. Arrangements in the kitchen. Whatever! There may be minor things that can put people off. Clean your windows!

The unnecessary austerity under the coalition, hammering public services, and then subsequent Tory governments not investing when interest rates were rock bottom screwed the country. These were before COVID and Ukraine which the Tories used as an excuse. There is no good reason to vote Reform; they have a platform of returning Britain to something it never was. The left of Labour parties, IE Greens and LDs are the only sensible alternative. This is not letting Labour off the hook; worryingly they already seem to be veering to the right.

What's your problem? In deed, this is something that has to happen to maintain and improve our infrastructure

The decision to leave the EU was a poor one, but I'd avoid the term stupid when applied to the masses (the decision was of course stupid) and blame those who willingly misled. A certain N Farage (pronounced with a hard G rather than the soft G he affected, rather continental eh?) being one of the main culprits. He blames the Tories for not delivering Brexit, and not really clear how Labour are playing this. But ultimately what sort of Brexit were people voting for? And ditto what future were people voting for last Thursday?

Save a version as a PDF so everyone can read. It is simple.

What political assumptions about drivers and cyclists? What an odd post. My main point is the sharing of road between different users, which the vast majority do. I am not the one promoting and overstating conflict.

I've given you numerous benefits of cycling. Would you not agree with them? I understand that some people are upset by 'cyclists' - blaming them for measures that discourage driving, perhaps jealous of the freedom that cycling can give, grumpy due to 'cyclists' feeling they have the moral high ground, but you, the right wing press, social media, populist politicians and the like are contributing to this nonsense that most people hate 'cyclists'. And it is set to get worse with current politics. A shame. I cycle thousands of miles a year. I'm more likely to get a smile from a motorist that a frown. Most of the time the interactions are cordial. I don't know why you and some others need to grossly exaggerate the conflict.

Good article and puts everything nicely in perspective. Amused me that he did not actually give a stronger hint which forum this was, or perhaps talk about the hard liners who are particularly angry about cyclists. Rather that having a go at me it would be interesting to hear what your views are about cyclists and speed controls. The OP has a strong view, many of us consider that this is disproportionate and unachievable. What do you reckon? Happy to discuss further. I really don't understand why you continue to look at 'cyclists' as a homogeneous group. The universal things that I can say about cyclists are, it's a healthy and environmental friendly way of traveling, it's good for your mental well-being, it's cheap, it is often quicker than other forms of transport, provides personal mobility, can be sociable and much of the time it's fun. Cyclists will do it for various reasons. We are not all the same. 'We' are 'despised' by a noisy minority, and all you do it perpetuate that view rather than resolve any issues. I've posted elsewhere about the division in our society that Reform encourages. It's felt this way since the Brexit vote and surely our time is better served trying to reverse this.

I expect that they consider it should be a free choice what to do with your waste, and that segregating it is a waste of money, no doubt it's all a woke conspiracy. I expect that others are more up to speed with Reform policies. I should have asked Nigel when I was drinking with him. Well within the vicinity of him in Westminster pubs a couple of times.

Let's see how a Leader and party that thrive on division and demonising elements of our society actually do when they have to deliver. Let's hope that the two main parties don't consider that the best way to fight Reform is to become like then. Even less reason to visit the small town where I grew up. Not a cause for any joy or celebration. Happy to celebrate the Canadian result.

I expect Reform will end all this nonsense about segregating waste, bagging dog poo. Your neighbour will have quite a few parts of the country that they can move to without all this tut-tutting.