Target pavement cyclists, say MPs

the discussion should be about why are there so many kids/adults riding on the pavement? not some lazy-arsed finger pointing by chauffeur driven numpties.
the answer sadly is that so many 'normal' riders are shit scared of riding on the roads, and for all the cycle training in the world, they arent gonna start unless the thing that causes the fear:- the volume of traffic, is reduced.

Note to self: Invest in brown paper bags.

Target MPs duckponds, say cyclists

the discussion should be about why are there so many kids/adults riding on the pavement? not some lazy-arsed finger pointing by chauffeur driven numpties.
the answer sadly is that so many 'normal' riders are shit scared of riding on the roads, and for all the cycle training in the world, they arent gonna start unless the thing that causes the fear:- the volume of traffic, is reduced.

Sorry, but i'm calling bullshit on this.

Let's imagine everyone ditched their big horrible polar ice cap melting cars and everyone got the bus/tube. Now there are obviously going to have to be more buses brought in with the extra demand, and therefore much more buses for these vunerable cyclists to contend with, I rarely get worried when a car is very close to me, or i'm between two cars, but that's definitely not the case when a bus just misses me, or i'm stuck between two buses.

They need to start cycling on quiet roads, get used to dealing with other road users, gradually work their way onto larger and busier roads and soon enough they'll be fine cycling through central London or whatever city they're based in.

Im coming from the perspective of the critical mass creating safer roads, more riders, safer roads- it follows, yes?
point taken about buses, its more scary the bigger the physical size of traffic.
but if you ask the majority of average riders why they are on the pavement , they will just say 'because of the traffic'
when we train kids/adults we do indeed take them through a progression from local roads up, and thats good as you suggested. but where does that leave inner city people? if they arent disposed to training, being educated and reading these sorts of forums what are they gonna do? you guessed it, ride on the pavement.

While deaths and injuries of cyclists had fallen overall since the mid 1990s, they had risen by 11% since 2004, the committee said.
Brilliant. Gee, I wonder if it would be useful to know how many more cyclists there are on the road since 2004?

Brilliant. Gee, I wonder if it would be useful to know how many more cyclists there are on the road since 2004?

In London, cycling's up 83%. Casualties have halved in the same period. The truism is, the more cyclists there are, the safer the roads become. It's called "The Virtuous Cycle".

In London, cycling's up 83%. Casualties have halved in the same period. The truism is, the more cyclists there are, the safer the roads become. It's called "The Virtuous Cycle".

its not a 'truism' people , its the facts verified by acres of research.

I've now found the complete quote from the honourable mr curry MP in the Daily Heil

When taking evidence, Tory MP David Curry asked the transport department's permanent secretary Robert Devereux: 'Why are cyclists such irresponsible and arrogant road users?

'The only time I've been knocked down in my life was by a cyclist going like a bat out of hell outside the Commons, dressed like Darth Vader, as they all do. They do not take any notice of red lights. They think traffic cones are not for them.'

Dressed like Darth Vader. All cyclists.

I don't want to be glib, and I concede pavement cyclists are flipping annoying and admit I have shoulder-charged them more than once, but it's strange that pavement cycling gets so much gum-flapping when the total number of cycle commuters, including those who don't cycle on pavements (1.1m) is massively outnumbered by the total number of uninsured cars on the roads (1.7m).

I don't want to be glib, and I concede pavement cyclists are flipping annoying and admit I have shoulder-charged them more than once, but it's strange that pavement cycling gets so much gum-flapping when the total number of cycle commuters, including those who don't cycle on pavements (1.1m) is massively outnumbered by the total number of uninsured cars on the roads (1.7m).

...you're saying that nothing is being done to reduce the amount of uninsured cars on the road?

Seriously?

...you're saying that nothing is being done to reduce the amount of uninsured cars on the road?

Seriously?

Had I said "But nothing is being done about uninsured cars" then you'd be right.

I said that there is a disproportionate amount of squawking about a relatively trivial problem.

Yes, have a crackdown, bring it on, maybe it will discourage twats riding bikes on pavements.

I think daily mail forgot to mention that cyclists are also responsible for lady dianna's death and the current economic crisis in the UK.

Oh and also house prices. Lycra louts are definately responsible for that debacle too.

and hoodies.

And we all dress like Darth Vader.

you might.
i do no fuck with the sith.

Fucking expense swindling ivory tower cunt MP's. Grrrr.

Had I said "But nothing is being done about uninsured cars" then you'd be right.

I said that there is a disproportionate amount of squawking about a relatively trivial problem.

Yes, have a crackdown, bring it on, maybe it will discourage twats riding bikes on pavements.

in my view the reason for the 'squawking' (nice turn ;-)) is because in many ways biking has become politicised, whether people like it or not biking addresses some of the issues that affect modern daily western life.. how come we have live threads on here about- environment pollution and climate change, obesity, and by implication childrens independence and development.?
and people who don’t ride know they are missing out.

About time too, getting fed up of teenager/yobs speeding up and down pavement on their sit-up-and-beg full suspension mountain bike.

Statistically, you are more likely to be killed by a police car on the pavement than a cyclist.

Excellent point.
All those broken legs arms fingers, concussions, bruises, damaged property and all are ok though..

Little old ladies are 2 points but children are 10 as they move faster and are more difficult to hit.

while the scally on a MTB riding down the pavement is annoying - i freely admit that i will ride on th pavement if its faster - usually when im at work - of course i will be considerate to pedestrians when im on the pavement but if some cunt of a policeman tried to fine me 500 quid for delivering a package on time i would find that pretty unfair.

added to this i went for a ride with my mum a few weeks ago and at a couple of busy intersections she got on the pavement "because it was scary" which to someone who is a very occasional bike rider i can imagine it is.

no way should cyclists be fined for riding on pavements - cars should fined for cutting up/bullying cyclists and intimidating them from riding on the road where they have a right to be

Target MPs duckponds, say cyclists

Curry is one of the MPs who like flipping his homes to max his expenses. Also tried to claim a hotel bill in his constituency because it was snowing.

In Oz, if you are an adult you are allowed to cycle on the footpath if you are leading a under-12yo kid, I think. Obviously you are also allowed to cycle on the footpath if you are under 12 too.

Do they have any laws like that here?

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Curry[/ame]

"David Curry MP drives a very expensive fuel guzzling car and spends his spare time berating cyclists something that he feels puts him in a superior moral category [2]"

Hahaha