Westminster Council clamping down on cyclists...

I'm sure we would all vote yes for safer streets (all vehicles) and no to the council plodders.

Oh, and this press realease was attached. It's long. Sorry.
...

There are actually some good suggestions here, such as promoting cycle training and increasing training for bus drivers. But I still don't see why they are focussing on only enforcing the rules of the road for cyclists, why not push a bigger campaign to ensure all road users obey the law?

Still no stats to show how many little old ladies are knocked over, or how frequently...

I went looking for some old game yesterday. Found none. Where are they all?

Drop the Cllr a line here and ask her to justify her comments.

http://www3.westminster.gov.uk/forms/emailform.cfm?cllr_id=23&comments=&CFID=2646881&CFTOKEN=42507214

Dear Cllr Harvey
I was really shocked to hear your comment on the many old ladies who get knocked down by cyclists in London. I've never seen this, nor heard of it.
Can you please direct me to the evidence as I think it is quite important this receives a wide audience. Something should be done to stop this manifestly awful situation, it's about time to bring these anarchist cyclists under control, I'm sure you'll agree.
I await yours
kind regards
Mr John Wildgoose

Today I received a reply from Cllr. Harvey:

Dear Mr. del Aguila,

Thank you for contacting me regarding comments attributed to me in the press. The quote you’ve mentioned “We’re always getting little old ladies who are knocked down and abused by a cyclist, who leaves them on the ground as they ride away” is a mis-conflation of a number of comments made when relating incidents described by Westminster residents.

The Built Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee fully support increasing the number of cyclists in Westminster; I’m a cyclist myself. However the Committee’s major objective is that the roads should be safe for all road users, cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike, and that is through the persistent application of the Highway Code. A more accurate picture of the conclusions of the Committee was included in the Council’s own press release (attached).

Our comments reflect the concerns of Westminster residents. The regularity with which this problem has been brought to the attention of Councillors led the Committee to consider it necessary to scrutinise the problem of poor cyclist behaviour. Councillors and Amenity Societies have heard from a number of residents who have been injured by inconsiderate cyclists, as well as many more near misses, abusive language and other unhelpful practices. This is corroborated by written and oral evidence received by the Committee, available on the Westminster City Council website (Agenda Item 4, esp. Appendix 1). You will see the London Cycling Campaign gave evidence at the meeting and fully support and promote cyclists adherence to the Highway Code. The minutes of that meeting will be posted on the website in due course.

It is fully accepted that there is widespread underreporting. This may be due, at least in part, to the procedural difficulties associated with formally reporting incidents and low confidence that informing the relevant authorities will lead to a useful result. It can be very frustrating to wait a long time in a police station to report an incident which is unlikely to be resolved. That is why police enforcement of the Highway Code, and TfL’s public awareness campaign are so key. The high level of media and public interest in the whole subject underpins our belief that action must be taken now.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Angela Harvey

Also attached was the same press release as above.

I find it quite significant that she took time to respond. Ho hum

Got the same response. I replied, that her remark was offensive and unnecessary and that the Mayor's office sends mixed messages to the cycling community.

...I would simply refuse to give my name or comply in any way and ride away...

You are Harry Hutton?

I was on my bike in Hyde Park a couple of months ago and one of Blunkett’s scruffy twat-style police officers shouted at me that there was a £200 fine for not sticking to the cycle path. But she was on foot, and I was on a bike, so I just kept right on going. Didn’t even speed up. My spirits soared when I thought of the impotent rage she must have felt.

I even woke up in the middle of the night and felt a wave of euphoria as I remembered my victory. I jumped out of bed and punched the air in triumph, shouting, “Yes! Yes! One-nil!”

You are Harry Hutton?

I like the sound of this fella' !

: )

I was riding at the South End of Hampstead Heath once (just passed the tennis Courts if you know where they are) and some idiot police officer leaped out of nowhere and went to grab one side of my handlebars (which almost definitely would have thrown me to the ground) while telling me I was not 'allowed' to ride on this particular piece of the world - I managed to swerve and rode on shouting back at him that he was a fucking idiot - strangely he didn't bother giving chase (?)

Felt good.

Today I received a reply from Cllr. Harvey:

Thank you for contacting me regarding comments attributed to me in the press. The quote you’ve mentioned “We’re always getting little old ladies who are knocked down and abused by a cyclist, who leaves them on the ground as they ride away” is a mis-conflation of a number of comments made when relating incidents described by Westminster residents.

A mis-conflation !?

What the fuck is a mis-conflation meant to be ?

And who made this 'mis-conflation' - was it Cllr. Harvey or the newspaper ?

'Mis-conflation' sounds a lot like Hillary Clinton's 'misspeak' (or as it is more commonly known 'lying').

'Mis-conflation' sounds suspiciously like a mis-conflation of syllables.

typical caught peddling lies and simply says I never said that.
our town is in the hands of liars

I guess I misunderestimated her.

Just wondering if anyone here commutes to Westminster and knows whether I can leave a D lock on one of the bike railing things (rather than carry it in my bag all the time). I had a vague memory of reading that Westminster council were pretty cycling unfriendly and don't want to find my lock has been removed because the council consider them untidy or something. Cheers for any help.

I did see someone having a fine written out today on Oxford Street for riding on the Pavement.

James -> not too sure on that one, there always seems to be a few sans bike on the parking hoops

I did see someone having a fine written out today on Oxford Street for riding on the Pavement.

By council clowns in red hats or by metropolitan force?

an ......

......The times and standard dig up a quote from some obscure westminster fart-knocker councillor who says old ladies are knocked to the ground and then beaten up by lycra nazis. The old ladies cry and cry but the cyclists just carry on.

Both papers get lots of hits on their website from cyclist/cyclist haters. Advertisers are pleased, all the fuss dies down and nothing changes.

mmmm sexc