PCSO's stopping and fining cyclists (on ED Road)

[blinder999]

Moos Wrote:

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> Isn't that a bit of a silly argument?

no

[Mark]

That shows a Google results page showing a couple of blogs at the top saying "Why I hate cyclists". Is it meant to show that the general British public doesn't like cyclists?

Benefits of cycling shows some good results too.

[blinder999]

Mark Wrote:

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> That shows a Google results page showing a couple

> of blogs at the top saying "Why I hate cyclists".

> Is it meant to show that the general British

> public doesn't like cyclists?

>

> Benefits of cycling shows some good results too.

I didn't realise how much antipathy there is towards cyclists until I started cycling - many people, encouraged by the likes of Jeremy Clarkson, just really hate cyclists.

[Moos]

Blinder, "misrepresentation of an opponent's position"? you cheeky minx. I did exactly what you did, just looked for the opposite picture.

I do think your Google post was funny, and a good idea. However, you could easily find similar results for 'people who hate East Dulwich' or 'people who hate buses'. I know there are people who are hostile to cyclists but you'll have to come up with better evidence than a quick Google that it's people in general.

But it really was funny.

[Ted Max]

It certainly got me thinking.

[blinder999]

Moos Wrote:

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> Blinder, "misrepresentation of an opponent's

> position"? you cheeky minx. I did exactly what

> you did, just looked for the opposite picture.

I was being facetious, but the fact that there are (of course) people who like cyclists and cycling is irrelevant to my point that there are a lot of people who really hate them.

[Moos]

Ted to the max! Loving you and blinder* today.

*even though he is a fecking cyclist ;-)

[TheePope]

Only one way to solve this

http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=love+cyclists&word2=hate+cyclists

And we have a winner!

[blinder999]

TheePope Wrote:

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> Only one way to solve this

>

> http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&wo

> rd1=love+cyclists&word2=hate+cyclists

>

> And we have a winner!

hahahaha fantastic!

[Huguenot]

Jeez, you kids.

DaveR is my hero. A good, well reasoned arument, and a logic deadstop.

What do you give me? Search terms??

C'mon, you can do better than that. I'm a cyclist, in a casual way. There's plenty of 'in's - how about "why should I care?".

[mrs f]

Ok-another cyclist going to add my two-pence-worth...

The world needs cyclists- ok quite a dramatic statement but hear me out- we need to find alternatives to petrol fueled transport... bikes are brilliant, they are cheap, easy to run, easy to operate, healthy, carbon neutral (the running of them is anyway) and they are small and do not take up much space on our roads.

As a cyclist in London (of course I am a brilliant and consierate one) I have to say that we do come in for a lot of greif from people and yes people jump the lights and go on pavements but we also put up with constantly being cut up, shouted at, padestrians waliking out in front of us without looking (or even worse looking and seeing us and still crossing so we have to stop/break to avoid hitting them). The cycle rutes in London are TERRIBLE (this is no understatemet) I would NEVER EVER EVER EVER allow a child of mine to cycle on the roads - it is very dangerous.... you might be wondering why I bother to still cycle if I feel it is so bad, and that is because I believe in the greater cycling good.. we must encourage more people to cycle, we must make the roads safer for cyclists, we must make more cycle lanes, we must start to be nicer to cyclists and stop going on about how awful they are..... once you do all of these things then all of a sudden cylists will start to respect you back and the world will be a better place.... Especially in London do we need to embrace cycling as a main form of transport.... we cannot continue with our petrol fuled days....

So for all you non cyclists out there, try it, even if just for a day.... and then you can pass judgement

(BTW I do not agree with cycling dangerously on pavements without respect for padestrians)

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

I started cycling to East Ham and back every day last week and the hardest bit of my 25 mile a day cycle ride, is not the crappy badly signed cycle lanes or getting up the hills at the end of the day, but the dangerous, reckless car drivers that seem to think that they own the road and anyone who gets in their way is collateral damage.

I hate car drivers, they need to get out of their metal and plasic cocoons and reconnect with the people around them whose lives they endanger every day and whose environment they pollute like they have more rights than anyone else.

On my way up Lordship Lane I got a bit wobbly as I was pushing to the top and some wanker sped past me and only missed me by about an inch. He parked his car a bit further up and when I told he he had nearly hit me, he said it was my fault for being a bit wobbly. He had loads of space, but couldn't be arsed giving me a wide birth to ensure he didn't hit me. He was in his cocoon and didn't give a shit about anyone else.

Get everyone out of their self-contained, little death traps and on a bike, and yes, I too believe the world would be a better place.

Edited for rubbish spelling

[Huguenot]

Good on you Chav! :-)

Mrs F, I love cyclists!

[microbite]

My take on cyclists is that they take their lives in their hands every time they jump on their bikes, I couldn't do it, way too dangerous out there, but at the same time I have on more than one occasion been nearly knocked down at crossings/on pavements when they illegally jump lights/ride on pavements. I am afraid to say that I have also found that some of my friends who are now avid cyclists into work as opposed to car drivers now are much the same as those of my friends who gave up smoking, when they smoked it was fine with them and feck everyone else they upset with their smoke, but once they gave up became the loudest ranters and protesters when it came to other people smoking near them, even outside, I have friends who have never smoked in their lives but who always make way less noise and less indignant stampings of feet than ex smokers, the same as a few of them who now refuse to drive their cars into work and take their bikes , who previously thought nothing of tooting their horns at cyclists to "speed them on a bit!!", unbelievable!

Edited to say I am not for one moment saying that anyone on this forum displays this kind of behaviour.

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

Getting legs of iron Huggie, and I sleep like the dead!

I've been cycling for 20 yrs in London but the combination of old age and sitting on my arse too much recently mean my fitness level is terrible, so it may be a couple of weeks before I manage Lordship Lane without a wobble, so in the meantime can all of you Clarkson fans give me a wide berth please.

[wagtap]

3 hobby bobbies catching cyclists...good thing they've had extensive training.

I drive, use a motorbike and cycle, and I have no problem whatsoever with cyclists using the pavement at appropriate times. People on here say "if you can't use the road, don't cycle", well - HELLLOOOO - have you seen how poor the standard of driving is by the brain-dead minority who get in their cars and switch off their minds, with NO observation, NO awareness and NO concern for anything but getting to the traffic lights a few seconds sooner?

Drivers of cars are getting worse by the year and I have total sympathy for those who justifiably feel threatened by the incredibly POOR drivers around them.

Sort out the drivers before whingeing about harmless cyclists.

And so what if they jump red lights? We all waste far too much time waiting for Red (bent) Ken's lights to change at junctions...if a cyclist runs a light, it's his/her responsibility - pretty bloody harmless.

Surely there must be something bigger to moan about?????

PS - of course there are anti-social muppets everywhere, whether on bikes, in cars, on foot. And yes, we'd all be happier without them...

[Huguenot]

Ah wagtap, the voice of reason.

I notice that you also recognise that other rules of the road are not for you when driving. How fortunate we are that you don't leave pedestrians and cyclists with crushed skulls and snapped backs as you skip gleefully through no entry signs.

Indeed, if you run scared from the motorists, it is fine advice to oppress the pedestrians, for they are weak and you are strong. Not as strong as the motorists, in front of whom you tremble with cowardly ways, but stronger than mothers with toddlers.

How wise you are to ignore traffic signals, because it is only your health at stake. Not the motorists who swerve into each other trying to dodge your idiotic maneuver. Not the pedestrians who bite the dust when frantic motorists mount the pavement trying to avoid your flashing pedals.

How flexible your mindset is, that when you're out of a car then drivers are idiots, but when you're in a car you are the finest cavalier in christendom.

I tug my forelock to you, stood on your jelly pedestal in your dressing-up box finery.

[Horsebox]

Huguenot Wrote:

> How flexible your mindset is, that when you're out

> of a car then drivers are idiots, but when you're

> in a car you are the finest cavalier in

> christendom.

In fairness to Wagtap, where did he/she actually say that, Huguenot?

[microbite]

Don't get me wrong, if there is no danger to pedestrians, I don't actually see a problem with people, especially children, being allowed to ride on pavements, etc. or jumping red lights if there are no pedestrians in sight or it is 2am in the morning, if the cyclist wants to take a risk with his or her own life jumping a red light, thats entirely up to them, but what I do object to is cyclists basically riding around trying to dodge pedestrians at crossings when they do not have the right of way then getting indignant and shouting abuse if anyone dares be in their way, sanctimonious tw@ts if you ask me. Saw a woman get knocked over at such a crossing and the cyclist just rode off with his middle finger in the air when the surrounding pedestians hurled abuse at him for jumping the lights.

Surely there must be something bigger to moan about?????

I'm sure the woman who was knocked over would have loved to have something bigger to moan about, but unfortunately she was too busy practically getting knocked unconscious as he'd clipped her and she fell to the floor banging her head on the concrete!!!

[Huguenot]

Ah, sorry Horsebox, see Wagtap's infuriation at being expected to abide by motoring laws here.

The old dear's trying to duck the law through technicalities.

[microbite]

So exactly who are your rooting for in your arguments Wag? the cyclists or the car driver? you seem to jump from side to side as and when it suits your post.

I think with a bit more consideration on both sides, from drivers and cyclists, the World would be a happier place >:D< but unfortunately it never works that way. I have neither car not bicycle, and unfortunately have to rely on public transport to get around, oooooh, those damned users of public transport, always sitting on the outside seats so you have to climb over them, always breathing down your neck on the tube, inconsiderate b@stards if you ask me!

[PeckhamRose]

I am with wagtap. The problem is there are too many traffic lights and the cyclists take their chances and of course we know the large majority do so safely.

Last night there was a discussion about it at the Police Ward Panel and the police said they do use discretion. But also said it is against the law. Hmm. In the Southwark Council road plan thingy I have suggested traffic lights should be stripped out. They help cause congestion.

[SeanMacGabhann]

so when people cross the road without traffic lights...?

[blinder999]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

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> so when people cross the road without traffic

> lights...?

Some easy to follow rules from Darth Vader on North Cross Road:

 

[PeckhamRose]

Roundabouts with pelican crossings or zebra crossings on the approach roads.

Works in loads of places. East Dulwich roundabout for example.