malumbu

Why wouldn't increased costs and/or reduced convenience of motoring encourage some people to give up their motor Rocks? I'd love to know. Hadn't realised you'd planted a chip in my mind.

That was a blanket statement about all car drivers - the whole notion that driving is a right and that non-drivers are inferior. Its been pumped out by the authorities and societies for over six decades. So if someone decides to give up their car for environmental, cost (ie cheaper alternatives) or just declining driving competence, good on them. They haven't lost their masculinity or femininity. With regards to the needs of the physically disabled, there have been massive steps (or should I say lower or no steps) on public transport in part due to the government doing the right thing and legislating. www.gov.uk/guidance/rights-of-disabled-passengers-on-transport The individual has the right to decide their own form of transport, disabled on non-disabled members of the population. For the umpteenth time I am not about banning private cars, but less driving, smarter driving and all road users being competent and sharing the road.

Society.

Why is he a nut job? He had some decent policies. He wasn't electable and had too much baggage. That doesn't make him a nut job. And why is this relevant to CPZs? Just another hobby horse.

Just trying to simplify things Rocks. Blithering? Is that the same a long repetitive posts? I keep mine short and repetitive. That's humour

Then we need to get over this bizarre idea that a car gives us dignity and a cab takes that away.

I was at the East Dulwich Cabaret years ago at the EDT. An inexperienced comedian was being heckled so my mate turns on the person in the audience. Oh good the hecklers being heckled said the comedian. I feel just like that comedian. There will be whole communities on the web where you can join in with others looking at videos of cyclists and tut tut with them Rocks, not really sure what you get out of it here. Strange. (That is (e), no real reason just strange).

So what to you reckon the the excuse that old, disabled and/or vulnerable HAVE to have cars to stay mobile (a) Disagree, they do HAVE to have cars (b) Occasionally but there are plenty of good alternatives and it may be cheaper to use cabs and Uber if I am an occasionally driver rather than own a car (c) as (b) but microbility gives another option for older or disabled road users.

Got a simple (a) to (c) here Rocks (a) I dislike cyclists (b) I am blaming cyclists for all the issues over ULEZ, LTN, CPZ (c) Cyclists are fine, its a good and sustainable way of getting around, Some sadly need better training and to obey the highway code. I expect it is a (b) on this one. No need to post any more on this subject then.

What are you (a) to (e) Rocks? You so often avoid my perfectly valid questions. Therefore I expect you are an (e).

My father drove till almost 90. He damaged cars through poor ability going through clutches, banging into fixed objects. He was from a generation where owning a car was a massive prestige symbol and would never give it up. He drove professionally for two decades and was still a competent driver well into his 70s, but even then had given up night driving. But as he aged he was getting dangerous. Funnily enough as kids he thought that we should walk, cycle or bus when we were going to school, events and later to pubs and the like rather than give us lifts so he wasn't a petrohead. But for his last few years keeping a car made no economic sense whatsoever. So, no I don't agree with your argument that when you are old and frail you need a car.

Ok so you are (e) in terms of (not) reducing motorised traffic. Appreciate honesty on that As for sharing road space agree with you and detest these manufactured culture wars. I've said all this on numerous times. Worthy of another thread.

I've lost the plot. So some simple questions (a) do you agree that there needs to be some restrictions on roads? (b) if so how will this be done? (c) some people always 'lose out' how would you decide which roads to close? (d) If not what alternatives should be implemented nationally or locally? (e) Or are you for no changes I've lived, cycled, walked, driven, motorcycled and used public transport in London since the late 80s. From cycling I learned the rat runs, and as an occasional driver would use them from time to time. Until they closed them down, introduced more controlled parking, the congestion charge and the like. This all encouraged me to reduce car journeys. So this worked on me, I may be the only one out of 40 million drivers but my survey of me is 100% change in behaviour. I find the argument of One Dulwich - oh we believe in timed closures but kick this into the long grass waiting for communities to decide to be rather hypocritical. If I was going to choose two roads to close the Court Lane junction would certainly be one. Cycling passed stationary traffic every morning for 15 years (in those days I would say pay a million for a grand house in the village for a traffic jam three hours a day...) Melbourne Grove? Occasional cut through. Only on my bike now. Timed closures? Seems to be sensible where there are schools. So rarely drive in rush hour not an expert, beyond seeing the congestion, poor parking and engines running around some of the local schools when I am cycling. As for my priorities? They'd be for greater enforcement of speed controls (it would be so nice to eliminate traffic calming - there because the masses cannot be trusted) , enforcement of parking restrictions/parking on the pavement outside of the working day when it is a free for all, better information and training for all road users which would hopefully reduce the issues above, and make people use their cars smarter (including choice of vehicle and whether to own one in a first place). Not naming names but for a number of you this really is the chance to say that you do want to change things, rather than just dismissing everything.

Well some will think sod this, parking is too difficult, I'll use an alternative. You are very dismissive. The issue is those that are so wedded to driving they will put up with all inconveniences. Added, dismissive applies to not just Penguin.

Good stuff, thanks. I'll be making the Sri Lankan curry powder too!

I doubt whether most people dislike cyclists. I expect most aren't that bothered. More road user culture wars stoked up by the right wing press and beloved government, and some of you here who blame cyclists for LTNs, ULEZ, CPZs and the Russia invasion of Ukraine. Survey from last year https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/new-survey-shows-public-back-action-encourage-cycling-and-public-transport-remain-attached-their Whilst their was no question on whether you liked cyclists, those surveyed were generally warm to encouraging more cycling 44% say they would like to cycle more than they currently do 71% say they support actions to encourage more people to walk or cycle instead of driving a car… …but the same proportion (also 71%) feel they need a car to suit their current lifestyle While there is more support (45%) than opposition (33%) for schemes charging road users a fee to drive around towns and cities, support has weakened since 2020 It's IPSOS and as far as I know such respected organisations have not been infiltrated by Marxist cyclists. Others will no doubt beg to differ

I don't like people who dislike cyclists.

In deed a success over a number of governments, banning smoking in the workplace was another major factor, packaging and not having this on display at point of sale. I know hard core smokers who said they'd not go to pubs anymore, yet now think how nice it is. As for smoking on planes, trains, buses, cinemas.... Love bringing Brexit into the equation. Well that has been a great success eh? There used to be some stonking discussion on the Lounge between Cat and Steppenwolf before the former had enough and returned to Neverland, sorry Oz. But leaving the little people out of it who voted to leave the EU without any consensus of what this meant, our elected representatives really facked this up - Cameron doing a runner, May for the silly red lines and premature application forArticle 50 , May and Corbyn for not working together (albeit that would never have worked), and Johnson going back to what Brexit was supposed to be and then bumbling it over the line. Fortunately the little people had the working class heroes Rees-Mogg and Farage on their side. PS love the link to Aesop, page 2 is the Wolf and the Sheep, "don't give up friends for foes"

Wondering who advises Mel Stride, do they just make it up or think that middle England will lap this stuff up So (a) supporting the gig economy with all the shit that comes with it. (b) failing to recognise that Deliveroo and no doubt others place the responsibility on the delivery rider to use legal transport, be a competent rider, adhere to the Highway Code including lights at night. Mind you there is an interesting side line in dealing drugs which can make it very lucrative, there's the entrepreneurial spirit that Britain so needs. (Informed in part by a member of family who did a few months for Deliveroo.)

In deed, I had to leave Nextdoor as there was just a plethora of angry posts and threads each day.

I've seen some reward systems offered by big employers working from large sites which could be one way forward. Pfizer in Sandwich had a scheme charging for workplace parking, reduced or free if people car pooled, and separate incentives for those using public transport or active travel. That was years ago and most of the activities there were shifted to other sites.

The sad nature of this and other social media networks is that so many people use it to complain, rather than post positive things. Some of my WhatsApp groups are taken over by one or two people who seem to trawl Twitter, the Daily Mail, GB News for the latest thing to froth about. It can of course be therapeutic to get things off your chest. There is a good thread on the Lounge to have a good moan, but that is done with humour, and sadly in the last two years or so most regular posters left the Lounge. This site is a good source of local info but again many cannot resist having a go at something or someone. Anyway I'm complaining about people complaining so I'll shut up

That's told me 😉

Drivers have to be dragged out of their vehicles kicking and screaming. No amount of consultation will achieve this. For many if not most driving is a hard habit to break. I'm not anti car but anti entitled driver. Ask them nicely to reduce their number of journeys will not work. Ps on the alternatives to LTNs and other Schemes see nobody has suggested anything on the thread I started. So lots of complaining but no positive proposals. Ps central government needs to lead but their environmental credentials falling like a rock

Right wing think-tanks are all about money and maintaining power and retaining personal freedom rather than the health and wellbeing of the masses