Target pavement cyclists, say MPs

This article depressed me a bit.

Choice quotes from MPs:

Committee member and Tory MP David Curry said some were "irresponsible and arrogant road users" and said many people believed they took no notice of red lights and believed traffic cones were "not for them".
"The only time I have been knocked down in my life was by a cyclist going like a bat out of hell outside the House of Commons," he said.
"We seem to regard cyclists as living in some sort of superior moral category when they actually do not have any."

WAC

I think he makes some fair points. I see fucking idiots cycling like cunts every day in London. Too many cyclists seem to think that the pavements are there purely to ensure they arrive at their destination 30 seconds sooner.

I think he makes some fair points. I see fucking idiots cycling like cunts every day in London. Too many cyclists seem to think that the pavements are there purely to ensure they arrive at their destination 30 seconds sooner.

Mr Curry starts by making reasonable points such as:

Committee member and Tory MP David Curry said some were "irresponsible and arrogant road users" and said many people believed they took no notice of red lights and believed traffic cones were "not for them".

But then he just slides into pure cyclist hatred with the gem:

"We seem to regard cyclists as living in some sort of superior moral category when they actually do not have any."

^^CYCLISTS HAVE NO MORALS^^ says elected official

On that note- what "cycling crimes" do we agree with?

I'd say that pavement cyclists are my number one hate.

I agree with cycle-by shootings

Seriously if pavement cycling is done in a considerate manner then I really don't have a problem with it.

Vallance Rd (scene of a recent fatallity) has been closed (southbound) for the last week or so.
The road users that, invariably, ignore the closure are cyclists.

Seriously if pavement cycling is done in a considerate manner then I really don't have a problem with it.

Nope- you should only cycle on a pavement if you are under 12 years old, any older than that and you should have the bicycle confiscated and a £500 fine.

Seriously if pavement cycling is done in a considerate manner then I really don't have a problem with it.

It's completely unacceptable.

/end_of_thread

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

if you need to get onto the pavement to get around other road users blocking the road, get off and walk, if you are in a hurry; run.

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

I have never been hit by a police car on the pavement that is pulling a wheely whilst tinny music emanates from a mobile phone on a lanyard around the riders neck.

Neither have I, post collision, been told to "look where the fuck you is going bruv" by a police person.

if you need to get onto the pavement to get around other road users blocking the road, get off and walk, if you are in a hurry; run.

• lots.
  
  

Also don't accelerate past another cyclist on the right, then cut across them violently almost causing them to crash just so you can ride up onto the pavement to avoid the red light in front of you.

HTFU and jump the red.

Quite right Dammit, pavement cycling is often carried out by yoofs on stupid BMX bikexs with pegs and their arse hanging out of their trousers.

Which makes it all the more galling than I find myself lumped in with those bumclowns. I don't cycle on pavements.

pulling a wheely whilst tinny music emanates from a mobile phone on a lanyard around the riders neck

not anyone's idea of considerate behaviour. What about pottering along at walking pace, smiling at your fellow citizen and in no way causing a danger to them?

Let's just all be reasonable and sensible and learn to get along without confiscating one another's property, crashing into people because you're being a twat or fining each other £500...

I think he makes some fair points. I see fucking idiots cycling like cunts every day in London. Too many cyclists seem to think that the pavements are there purely to ensure they arrive at their destination 0.3 seconds sooner.

fixed

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

Awesome logic. that'll show em.

I think there's a bit of a moral panic going on about 'cyclists on pavements'. Often the flashponts are near cycle paths where a cyclist could reasonably be expected to be. Granted there are some twats out there, and a large proportion of them are nodders on bikes.

I really don't care if a cyclist uses a pavement. I really do care if that makes people on foot scared or actually endangered. All for an extra second at your desk...

+1 to the comment about being late. Leave home earlier! I think there's a lot of people who see cycing as some kind of workout, which I think is plain stupid if that's your commute. Catford hill climb is one thing, but charging around on Clerkenwell road is another.

[/BikeRadar]

If you are pottering along at 4mph or less then you may as well be pushing the bike.

Zero tolerence on this one- if you are on the pavement then be a ped, not a cyclist.

It would help peds to stop hating us also if we respected the pavement.

I was once walking along a pavement in holloway, pushing my bike cos i had a puncture, when this crazy bitch shot out of the door of some crusty boutique straight into my path. This resulted in confusion and the inadvertent wangling of my front wheel in amongst the folds of her long skirt.

"you shouldn't be cycling on the pavement"
"i'm not"
"well, you shouldn't have your bike on the pavement"
"I've got a puncture!"
"you should've brought your puncture repair kit"
"yes and you should've brought your spatial awareness"

(last two lines are a slight embellishment)

Nope- you should only cycle on a pavement if you are under 12 years old, any older than that and you should have the bicycle confiscated and a £500 fine.

I thought it was illegal to ride on the pavement irrespective of your age? It's just you can't get done under the age of 12

"Awesome logic. that'll show em."

When cyclists are accused of having no morals and being worse than terrorists, logic has long departed.

I think he makes some fair points. I see fucking idiots cycling like cunts every day in London. Too many cyclists seem to think that the pavements are there purely to ensure they arrive at their destination 30 seconds sooner.

I was turning left out of whatever that big road in Hackney is called into Graham Rd. Its a bit narrow there so I followed a chap on a red Vivalo up the curb to cut the corner. This chap stopped. Just stopped, right in my way making it totally impossible for me to cycle on the footpath and around the corner before dropping back onto the road. Fucking inconsiderate.

There were other weird things about this too... but whatever.

dont worry about it Curry is a no-mark just looking for easy publicity. wont go anywhere of any consequence.

I was turning left out of whatever that big road in Hackney is called into Graham Rd. Its a bit narrow there so I followed a chap on a red Vivalo up the curb to cut the corner. This chap stopped. Just stopped, right in my way making it totally impossible for me to cycle on the footpath and around the corner before dropping back onto the road. Fucking inconsiderate.

There were other weird things about this too... but whatever.

He's allowed to do what he wants, his frame has a story and a history

I agree with the article, think the pro pavement cycling comments back up his points...

"Of course it's wrong if an idiot does it, but I am far from that my friend, I saunter by and doff my cap at the little old ladies and they wave me on my merry way..."

superior moral category indeed...