Why Are Cyclists So Hated...

oops..too late

You are clearly not part of the solution!

Life for forumengers is always,

[]Who has the most bikes
[]Who does the longest skid
[*]Who has the most fixie Internet friends

Fixed to make a better LFGSS version than Ed's above.

Olive oil, pepper, salt, foolish.

Fixed.

You are clearly not part of the solution!

i am off to read the suicide manual.

I dont see how riding around on a blinged up fixed gear, or carbon race bike is anything other than the cycling equivalent of using a Lambo to pop down to Harrods. Most of the fised gears i see in London these days are nothing more than hipster penis envy machines.

Cyclists aren't hated - i think its the fact that some so called cycling campaigners get the fact they are supposed to be encouraging cycling confused with being an eco warrior does more damage than good, and makes it seem like a them versus us argument, when in fact it should be a how can we accommodate each other discussion.

Everyone who harps on about emissions etc etc fails to realise that in 20 years we will all be driving around in zero emission vehicles, but that there will still be cars on the roads, and we will still face the same dangers.

We need to remove the green element form the discussion, because what we really want to be able to do is cycle around safely, and that has nothing to do with hating cars, eating Linda McCartney, and wearing hemp. Being green is a nice side effect of cycling, but its not the reason most people do it

Its when a cycling campaigner gets on tv/radio etc and spends all teh time talking about green issues that people turn off and think what a sanctimonious wanker - if they just stuck to the issues at hand we would all come off a lot better.

This is quite true--cycling is really a bit of an indulgent luxury. The people who tell you it's green just want to keep their cosy little secret to themselves.

I agree with this bit 100%

Like the "congestion" charge. Which is actually an emissions charge. A green vehicle still takes up the same space on the road as the petrol or diesel motor. It's an epic fail.

Well, it initially was a congestion charge. The problem is that over time the political agenda changed--for instance, European air quality regulations came into force. This is why the description of the 'zoning' approach to Central London was watered down and confused. These things should have been kept apart very carefully. It is of course nonsense to make electric vehicles exempt when they hardly 'solve' any of the problems generated by excessive motor traffic except providing a nice tool for greenwash (new electric vehicle charging points soon coming to a borough near you).

Can we get back to Festus fancying a piss drinking tranny?

They can't call it an emissions charge though as the biggest polluters are exempt- taxi and bus exhaust is hellish beyond belief when compared to a modern petrol (or some diesel) engines.

Not infact as london has the emissions zone.

stop derailing this

ffs

I do not recycle
I drive a petrol engined 4x4 which struggles to do 25 to the gallon
My windows are single glazed and often open whilst the heating is on
I dispose and buy new rather than repair
People think I'm some eco green tree hugging moral high ground veggie because I ride a bike and hate me because of it

I also turn off when I hear the sanctimonious people going on about how us cyclists are saving the planet.

As for global warming and rising sea levels, I live on top of a hill with quite a high heating bill. If you want to hate me do so because when the Thames bursts its banks I will stand on my physical high ground, video you all drowning and put it on YouTube.

At least Jeremy Clarkson is willfully stupid for money

You are clearly not part of the solution!

There. Was. A. Lot. Of. Solution. In 'that' video.

I think i want psychiatric help.

No. I want to have some sic. Maybe more warning before I finish bagel with gherkin and mustard. I'd also like to make clear that by tasty I meant he - cos I knew it was a he- looked reallly determined with the message on the board. You know?

No. I want to have some sic. Maybe more warning before I finish bagel with gherkin and mustard. I'd also like to make clear that by tasty I meant he - cos I knew it was a he- looked reallly determined with the message on the board. You know?

Too late, you now have a forum rep. The tranny chaser, not a van either.

White van man meet white tranny man

At least Jeremy Clarkson is willfully stupid for money

I reckon he was like that long before people started paying him.

Too late, you now have a forum rep. The tranny chaser, not a van either.

Er Leroy calling Winston black??

This is quite true--cycling is really a bit of an indulgent luxury. The people who tell you it's green just want to keep their cosy little secret to themselves.

No, most people do it because its an easy, cheap and quick way to get around town, not for any green reason. The bicycle has been a great way to get around long before anyone knew about emissions, the problem is that the people representing cyclists dont necessarily mirror the views of the majority of cyclists.

No one gives a shit if a cyclist consumes more or less than a fat guy on a bus, and no one cares if a bike takes up more or less space on the road.

What we care about is that we can ride around safely, in a well designed environment.

It's the difference between what people say, when asked, and what they do.

When you say no one cares about the environmental benefit of cycling, I agree, in as much as it doesn't affect their decision to do so, but it still comprises part of their retrospective rationale for cycling.

For example, people that don't have kids might relish the fact they aren't contributing the largest environmental impact possible by an individual, however that probably isn't an important factor in their decision (if it was one) not to have kids.

No, most people do it because its an easy, cheap and quick way to get around town, not for any green reason. The bicycle has been a great way to get around long before anyone knew about emissions, the problem is that the people representing cyclists dont necessarily mirror the views of the majority of cyclists.

No one gives a shit if a cyclist consumes more or less than a fat guy on a bus, and no one cares if a bike takes up more or less space on the road.

What we care about is that we can ride around safely, in a well designed environment.

VV, I was being ironic. Well ... trying to. :)

Most cycle campaigners I know don't actually talk about 'the environment' all that much, as it's well known that most people aren't interested in that. It's too abstract and too remote. However, there is of course a very important meaning of the 'environment', which is the immediate environment around--our streets, etc. That's really what our campaigning is focused on.

Just what I was going to say Oliver, a different resolution of the environment. The environment in which we live is nicer with less congestion, noise e.t.c. This is where cycling is at it's most environmentally friendly, towards the environment we experience. [/wishy washy]

So why do many people act so anti socially on a cycle?

Why do so many people act so anti-socially in any vehicle or situation? There's unlikely to be any unique cause amongst cyclists.

one walk through a tube station will show you that pretty much everyone has the capacity to act anti-socially under the right conditions. those places stress me the fuck out.