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If we don't want public division, we should all be backing that democratic decision.
Nothing wrong with public division. It means that people can see we're all different with different wants and needs. People can see we're having robust debate on what we want, what we're asking for and why we're asking for it.
A democratic decision doesn't mean that opposition to the voted option suddenly disappears or should no longer be heard. Cycling needs totalitarianism like it cars need a bag of sugar in the petrol tank.
The_Seldom_Killer
Uh, I've been cycling in London for twenty-odd years. I fully support protected infrastructure, as long as it's done bloody well (ie 2m lanes minimum 2.5 preferably, well maintained, with protection maintained in time or space through junctions.).
I recognise this might make some routes a bit slower for some of the people on this forum (myself included). However, it opens them up to a mass of people who just wouldn't cycle otherwise (and training is good, but doesn't help enough. it's the near-misses that put people off.)..
And, you know what, the joy of the open road in London, forget it. Actually, we're never taking the lane. We're just filtering through 18 inch gaps between stopped buses. It's no fun at all. If someone wants to build me a 2m lane to bypass all that, good on them.
As for disputes within cycling groups - outside Hackney LCC, and this forum, that discussion is over. LCC (centrally) has made a (democratic) decision to back high quality protected lanes and junctions on main roads. If we don't want public division, we should all be backing that democratic decision..