Boris on the today program ...again...

In relation to the police cycle manual that is 'news', Boris was on the Today program (about 8.45 if you want to listen again) this morning.

However he did talk about the cyclist fatalities, left turning lorries and some other things like allowing cyclists to run lights at left junctions.
So something must be getting through.

it's up (at last) http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/b006qj9z/console 2:45:18 till 2:51

so choice bits:

his top tip for junctions 'get to the front' 'assert your perogatives'.

• mentioned - still looking at turn left at red (again Female mentioned)
  
• 60 fatalities in last 8 years more than 50% female
  
  

top tip 2 - dangerous space 20 yards in front of you 'very likely not to be hit by anything behind'

said 'turn left on red' thing was also in the 'No I won't sign the EDM' letter from my MP - so the briefing notes are out there.

FFS John Humphries' tone of voice, ridiculous and flippant, over what Boris said about women being more prone to being killed on our roads made me spit with anger! What an utter utter twat.

I just wrote to Today to complain about that. Cunt.

Direct link for just the bit with Boris in: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8356000/8356487.stm

FFS John Humphries' tone of voice, ridiculous and flippant, over what Boris said about women being more prone to being killed on our roads made me spit with anger! What an utter utter twat.

I just wrote to Today to complain about that. Cunt.

Humph hater here.

Word of the day
"punctilious"

So all you lady cyclists are far too punctilious, that's your problem. Obey the rules of the road and perish is what he seems to be saying to the lady cyclist.

... then in the next breath he starts banging on about observing traffic rules.

This thing about turning left on a red light is a non-starter. Especially as he cites it as a way to reduce people being killed by left-turning lorries. If the cyclists were turning left too, they wouldn't end up being under the lorries. They're trying to go ahead, mostly, one would assume, having followed his advice of filtering to the front, rather than hanging back 'punctiliously' behind an LGV indicating left.

He's a mass of contradictions, that man.

Humph is just a nasty piece of work.

Word of the day
"punctilious"

So all you lady cyclists are far too punctilious, that's your problem. Obey the rules of the road and perish is what he seems to be saying to the lady cyclist.

if I decoded it correctly he's telling cyclists on one hand to run reds, on another he's telling the police to clamp down on pavement riders, red light jumpers etc..

hum. doublespeak :)

This thing about turning left on a red light is a non-starter. Especially as he cites it as a way to reduce people being killed by left-turning lorries. If the cyclists were turning left too, they wouldn't end up being under the lorries. They're trying to go ahead, mostly, one would assume, having followed his advice of filtering to the front, rather than hanging back 'punctiliously' behind an LGV indicating left.

He's a mass of contradictions, that man.

Humph is just a nasty piece of work.
You can get squeezed by lorries if you are both turning left, as the rear wheels start cutting in to tighten the turn. I think the idea of left turns at red is worth looking at, because you can filter into traffic quite easily, and it's another way of reducing the need to wait at junctions with cars.

Humphrey, obviously ignorant of the cycle death statistics, is probably acting on some misplaced desire to reject what he sees as the sexist suggestion that women are less competent on the road.

before the advanced stop line were introduced, cyclists used to wait behind cars (well, some).

bin the ASL, encourage cyclists to wait and take their time, and the simplest advice is always the best - never undertake HGV, even when it's not in motion.

before the advanced stop line were introduced, cyclists used to wait behind cars (well, some).

not in london, my friend.

in fact, in the olden days we used to push our way to the front, then jump the lights when it was safe. The only difference now is the traffic (both cycle, vehicle and HGV) is much, much heavier and more unpredictable due to poor or aggressive driving.

In the olden days you're more likely to be told to get off the road on a daily basis than nowadays.

unpredictable? yes, aggressive? not old enough to tell the difference but I do believe that motorised vehicles do take more consideration toward cyclists than they did 10 years ago.

netherless `i feel I'm going off topic, point is, is cyclists nowadays are less likely to wait behind cars nowadays due to the ASL than in the past?

I was cycling in London 10 years ago ('olden days'? :o) and the only thing that seems different is the number of cyclists.

I thought the asl was put there because that's what everyone did anyway.

I thought ASLs were a form of speed dating for motor bikers.

FFS John Humphries' tone of voice, ridiculous and flippant, over what Boris said about women being more prone to being killed on our roads made me spit with anger! What an utter utter twat.

I have a similar reaction almost every time he's on. He's such a miserable, self important old sod. Earlier on the programme he'd been dismissive about the plans for nurses' degrees. I just wish someone in the BBC would have the courage to fire him.