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  • This 'blind people cycle terror' story has been on all the BBC TV and radio news bulletins throughout the day. I find it really depressing whenever a cycling charity/body has to intervene in this way - ie ticking off the very people they campaign hard to protect. (I know part of LCC's work is to promote responsible cycling, but it still seems so unfortunate.)

    Suddenly, cyclists shift from being the vulnerable road users to the villains. What's more, the 'victims' are disabled, and to make matters even worse, there are cute innocent dogs involved! :(

    I don't doubt that it must be horrendous to be bumped, knocked over or startled by a cyclist - I'd be bloody angry and upset, myself, even more so if my dog got hurt. Nor do I doubt it's a problem - if it wasn't, this campaign wouldn't exist. However, I can't help being a bit sad about it and pessimistic about the effectiveness of the campaign, not only because the prats who do this type of thing (which often involves running red lights, cycling on pavements, weaving around peds on crossings etc) are selfish, unaware of, don't give a crap about cycling organisations or issues within the cycling community, but also because they're probably indignantly in denial. No one admits in public to being a dick - well OK, a small few do on here, in jest. Yet we all see people, possibly every day, doing idiotic/dangerous things while cycling...from full kit roadies, to suited Brompton-ites, Boris bikers to fixie skidders. I actually noticed this so much more when I had to become a pedestrian for several weeks this summer, often with my dozy dog in tow. The Surrey Canal Path is one example of a route no one ever admits to cycling too fast on, yet the vast majority of people who do are MAMILs/well dressed commuters, not the imagined 'yobs off estates' most would rather blame.

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