Remember kids... always wear a helmet. (The almighty bikeradar helmet thread)

This often draws gasps and quizzical looks from the type of people I hang out with, but I've got a lot of time for Peter Hitchens.

Profoundly disagree with the vast majority of the things he says, but he's got a compelling style- so for that reason he's one of my favourite writers for exposing myself to things outside my socially liberal, progressive bubble.

It's fun to find an article of his I actually agree with.

Big headline, small correction.

Cunts.

Someone once talked about a plan to ensure corrections were printed the same size as the original mistake.

"Right wing columnist takes perceived left wing position because in this case it benefits them personally non-shocker"

Right wing columnist takes perceived left wing position

It's not a left wing position, it's a libertarian position . He probably finds himself in the same room as libertarians occasionally, and some of their good sense must have rubbed off on him against his will.

Jesse Norman is one of the MPs in Herefordshire. He was the author of The Big Society. He is a completely self serving weapon.

(Yes, I am playing the man not the ball but with justification)

It's not a left wing position, it's a libertarian position .

Perceived.

Many on the right see cycling as a left wing hippy thing.

Jesse Norman

Doesn't wear a helmet, apart from when on official business. He's a cyclist. He's probably a libitarian Tory. He's reviewing road safety and tends towards the safe systems view, or safer road users, safer road environment, safer machines, road danger reduction rather than road safety. Very unlikely to compel helmet wearing

He's a self serving opportunist so will do whatever gives him the outcome he's after.....

He's a self serving opportunist so will do whatever gives him the outcome he's after.....

Aka 'a Conservative'.

Worth a bump

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWhMEkMtLy0

What? A well balanced viewpoint? Fuck dat shit.

Meh.

^ With added 'share the road' bollocks and all.

His reaction on twitter shows a lot of naivety and being unprepared for the spotlight.

Also meh'd.

I also wonder if he's been misinterpreted.

"There's no reason not to wear one" and "I always wear one", or even "Everyone should wear one", are obviously not the same as "They should be made compulsory"

I can't see the original article behind the Sunday Times paywall, but it strikes me as possible that some journo has leapt to an unjustified conclusion.

https://twitter.com/GeraintThomas86/status/1033633461955977216

nativity

Well he has shown he isn't one of the Three Wise Men.

FML deffo an iOS autocorrect blunder.

His reaction on twitter shows a lot of nativity

In the advent of this he needs to consider some more media training...

Boardman's response is classy, as ever.

https://twitter.com/Chris_Boardman/status/1033617531775397889

Boardman's response is classy, as ever.

On his 50th birthday no less, he was trying to put twitter down for the rest of the day too.

Aye, I thought this video posted in the comments just needs to be littered everywhere I’m response
https://twitter.com/ds12kbw/status/1033620563221209088?s=20

So, G is asked in an extended interview whether helmet use should be made compulsory. He, being a racing cyclist and mostly unaware of everyday urban utility cycling, says he always wears one and shrugs his shoulders. Journo #1 writes extended piece that most people can't access, where that answer is buried somewhere near the bottom.

Journo #2 reads the first article, either fails to realise the nuances of the debate (or willfully ignores them for clicks), and plasters 'TdF winner calls for compulsory helmet use" on their BBC article.

Anyone who's been fighting this fight for longer than 5 minutes on Twitter rushes to battle-stations to engage in tedious damage limitation.

I've not even checked the DM yet...

Poor Boardman - I hope he enjoys his birthday.

Edit: Turns out he did actually say the words 'I would certainly make helmets compulsory'. Go figure.

Have just phoned up the BBC to complain about the G. article. 03700100222 if anybody else would like to.