The Times Cycling Campaign

I've cycled in Tuscany and found it very accommodating, the hardest part being the seemingly endless hills and the heat in summer.

very dangerous cycling in most parts of central/southern italy, dangerous cycling in the north due to bad road conditions and motorists totally ignoring cyclists, cars parked everywhere often on pavements (even in Milan) or in double lines on the curbs, mising cycling lanes and code of transport often not being enforced by police. If you tell someone you want to start cycling to work in most part of Italy people's reaction is that you are suicidal as rhb says.

+1

Mainly the aggressive driving IME, but wouldn't put me off going back.

More Bike love in today's Times leader:

Cycling is becoming a political football, and that’s welcome

March 1 2012 12:01AM

The Labour Party’s “cycling summit” today is significant, partly for the valuable proposals that will no doubt emerge, mostly because the event is further proof that cycling has arrived as a mainstream political issue. If HM Opposition is seeking to embarrass HM Government for being insufficiently pro-bike, that can only lead to a positive outcome for the embattled city cyclist.

The summit comes after a Commons debate on safer cycling last week. That debate was well attended by MPs, many happy to admit that they had been pressured to do so by their constituents. This is democracy in action, a lobby flexing muscles it never knew it possessed, elected representatives seeking to solve a problem some probably never knew existed.

Meanwhile, the priority given to safe cycling in London is set to be a major issue in May’s mayoral contest. The incumbent, Boris Johnson, and his challenger, Ken Livingstone, are already competing hard over who is more hopelessly devoted to the cycling cause. Up and down the country, local councils are keen to pump up their cycling credentials. Cycling has become an issue on which any credible planner, official or politician must inform themselves, take a view, and woo voters.

The Times has been campaigning for Cities Fit for Cycling for a month. There are immediate goals, not yet achieved. Trucks must be fitted with sensors. Lethal junctions in London and elsewhere must be redesigned as a matter of urgency.

Britain needs proper cycle routes, funded by private sector investment and a fixed percentage of the budget of the Highways Agency. Talking about cycling may bring political gain. Actually doing something will bring much more.

If they just bring in the opportunity to pull away five seconds before the rest of the traffic it will make a great improvement! The changes would probably take a generation though

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3336152.ece
Seems a rad idea and welcomed if the Met seriously consider prosecuting TfL for dangerous road design.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/contact/
Seems a rad idea and welcomed if the Met seriously consider prosecuting TfL for dangerous road design.
This takes us to the 'contact' page - what was the rad idea?

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3336152.ece
Oops

So who goes to jail in corporate convictions?

Directors/Bosses

Generally, it is just fines but directors and officers of companies can, potentially be imprisoned.

The campaign hasnt stopped the paper from printing Clarksons schtick again.he was at it again today playing off bus drivers against cyclists in reference to the Bristol case.so simplistic he's embarrassing.put a sock in it editor.

Katharine Whitehorn in today's Observer Magazine...

Seeing red over cyclists

^ Yawn. Generalisations about cyclists, much?

A fairly pointless article sure, but I can understand her perspective. I imagine her views are widely held by pedestrians. Pavement cycling is a problem.

She should STFU regarding cycling lanes though as she clearly isn't a user of them.

Indeed, and she's pretty brave to write something negative about cyclists.

I think it would be a shame if she received feedback that could be seen as attacks, rather than polite explanations about why the (pavement riding) problem arises.

All the Smug Cyclist™ rubbish we should just wear really. It's a horrible generalisation but tackling it looks agressive so is counterproductive IMO. Let it fade.

Indeed, and she's pretty brave to write something negative about cyclists.

Not at all, articles like that appear all the time because they reflect the public mood. Don't be misled by a bit of uproar the other way. Many people still think cycling is strange and is for poor people and immigrants who all break the law, or for posh people who likewise have no regard for the law because they're selfish.

In which case, maybe if it were a Telegraph Campaign it might have some effect

Indeed, and she's pretty brave to write something negative about cyclists.

So brave ;_;

Edit: having read it the first paragraph is fair enough - nobs charging about on the pavement and jumping busy ped crossings are fairly prevalent, hell I did some twatty things myself in my youth like that. Her comeback at such types is pretty spot on - I don't think she should stop shouting it even if they appear to be ignoring her!

The bit about cyclists being smug is bollocks though. Anyone actually know anyone like that?

Can't cyclists be smug and be afforded a safe transport system? Why are discussions about cyclist safety always brought down to the fact cyclists are arseholes?

Arseholes have rights too.

Just a quick one - my dad heard something on the radio about the Times cycle campaign and emailed me the following:

*There was a section on the radio at lunch time about the Times campaign. This is useful and I would advice you to flag up the cycle hazard sites on their interactive map. I have put in two of the three that I have identified.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/contact/

If these are brought to the attention of local councils and politicians then they risk condemnation and prosecution if they fail to address the issue and there are further problems.*

Thought I should post it here...

No rights for people who use Comic Sans, though.

Just a quick one - my dad heard something on the radio about the Times cycle campaign and emailed me the following:

*There was a section on the radio at lunch time about the Times campaign. This is useful and I would advice you to flag up the cycle hazard sites on their interactive map. I have put in two of the three that I have identified.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/contact/

If these are brought to the attention of local councils and politicians then they risk condemnation and prosecution if they fail to address the issue and there are further problems.*

Thought I should post it here...
I recieved an email today, to the same effect: 'Map your hazards and help make Britain #cyclesafe:

Dear Reader
Since launching The Times Cities fit for Cycling campaign, thousands of you have told us about cycling hazards in your area.
Now we're giving you a chance to help to get them changed.
We've created a map that allows you to pinpoint the exact junction, set of traffic lights, pothole or stretch of road that you would like to be improved.
All you have to do is go through to this page thetimes.co.uk/cyclesafe and follow the five simple steps.
The plan is to make this data available to local councils to help them to identify areas where they can improve and get more cyclists onto the roads.
Thank you once again for your continued support of The Times Cities fit for Cycling campaign – we could not have got this far without your help.
We hope we can count on your support once again.
James Harding
Editor of The Times'

                                         ![](http://extras.thetimes.co.uk/public/2012/cycling-campaign-email/images/line-break-2.jpg)

The problem with that map is that it doesn't show you what has been mapped already.

Will they remove duplicates? Is there any way to say "+1" to an existing report?

I added a load of hazardous things yesterday, but it's hard... I added the apoplectic bus driver from the bridges ride, but he's probably reached the station by now.