General Election 2010

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/14/general-election-cyclist-pledges

sorry if a repost, the UKIP ones are funny (and a bit scary).

Those UKIP ones are insane

Found this on the Guardian website this morning, some interesting policies on cycling!

The original article can be found here

*Ukip

Let's start with the reliably daft Ukip. To give them their dues, at least they have bothered to address the issue in some detail. And not all of their ideas are completely looney - there's a wooly bit which mentions putting "greater emphasis on tackling bicycle theft" for example. Mostly, though, Ukip is concerned not with what it can do for cyclists, but what it can do * *about them. Such as:

Making cyclists get off and walk at junctions and roundabouts...[INDENT] Local authorities should be given additional powers to enforce a 'cyclists dismount' or 'no cycling' regulation where there are safety concerns – such as on busy roundabouts, junctions or bus lanes, or where the road would be too narrowed by cycle lanes and cause unacceptable delays to traffic.

• [/INDENT]Forcing us to get insurance in case we damage a car...[INDENT]*Ukip would consult on the desirability of minimum third party liability insurance cover for cyclists - a simple annual flat rate registration 'Cycledisc', stuck to the bicycle frame, to cover damage to cars and others, which are currently unprotected.
  
• [/INDENT]Banning bikes from roads and forcing cyclists to use bike lanes...[INDENT]*Ukip believes off road dedicated lanes are preferable to a confusing maze of cycle lanes on unsuitable or dangerous roads, which is problematic for cyclists as well as other road users.
  
• [/INDENT]And silliest of all, making us pay to park...[INDENT]*We support provision of cycle parking at reasonable charges.
  
• [/INDENT]*Read Ukip's transport policy in all its deranged glory here.
  
• 
  Thank god they will never come to power!
  

Zeich Heil

They will if they have looked in the General Election thread.

What a set of knob munchers

shakes head in disappointment

You have to understand where they come from. Cycling is very much a European sport and passtime. UKIP are fundamentally (emphasis required) opposed to Europe and therefore to cycling.

Another good reason to be a European Federalist.

if they ever become successful, I'm moving to Innsbruck.

I might do that anyway, but that would give me more of an impetus.

Perhaps deliberately voting in one of these frightened and stupid parties is the only way to rouse a sedated public into seeking real change. But then again, Boris got in, and people seem to be putting up with shit just as before.

Fuck it, for the first time ever, I'm not voting. The socio-political imbalance/inertia in this country exists on a level beneath and beyond party politics, and the power of the vote appears to have been completely and utterly neutralised.

I'll remain, however, politicised in my daily existence, and perhaps become even more forthright with my opinions when faced with incompetency or self-centred/oblivious political beliefs/behaviour.

That kind of thing.

OK. So roads are congested, and the fact that drivers have to share them with cyclists, is'nt helping. So we make cycling less desirable. Problem solved.

Except disenchanted cyclists return to their cars. Making roads more congested, and the fact that drivers have to share them with the remaining cyclists, doesnt help.
So we make cycling even less desirable. Problem solved now?

I dont think they've thought this one through.

Andrew Lloyd Webber promised to emigrate if Labour won in 1997. As a direct consequence of this, I voted Labour. He renaged on his election promise and now sits on his huge arse in the House of Lords. Henry, be careful what you promise.

i'd quite like to move to Innsbruck.
good medical school.
Austrians.
Skiing, mountain biking, big lakes....
its about perfect.

I'm thinking of writing a book/manifesto about/of personal politics. Policies will include crossing the road to walk along the sunnier side and deliberately not looking at adverts and such like. I can no longer endorse the futile system of party-politics but I could get behind a movement that, for instance, promotes afternoon naps and quality coffee for all.

Perhaps deliberately voting in one of these frightened and stupid parties is the only way to rouse a sedated public into seeking real change. But then again, Boris got in, and people seem to be putting up with shit just as before.

Fuck it, for the first time ever, I'm not voting. The socio-political imbalance/inertia in this country exists on a level beneath and beyond party politics, and the power of the vote appears to have been completely and utterly neutralised.

I'll remain, however, politicised in my daily existence, and perhaps become even more forthright with my opinions when faced with incompetency or self-centred/oblivious political beliefs/behaviour.

That kind of thing.

If you believe you have a civic responsibility to vote, and you're planning to not vote as a protest, than spoil your ballot. I think I've only ever voted properly in two elections (Canada also has a Single member plurality/First-past-the-post federal system) - the first time I voted, and in the recent EU election (as it's PR).

People will often say spoiling your ballot doesn't matter/achieves nothing, but as they are counted, a statistically large percentage of spoilt ballots would most certainly result in debate, if nothing else (a debate about voter dissatisfaction is better than a debate about voter apathy, which none-voting will look like. One gives us discussion about electoral reform, the other gives us ads on TV with rock starts telling us to "rock the vote"!).

I propose a loitering tariff for peds who stand in one spot for longer that 5 minutes. Unacceptable delays.

i proposed paving slabs that explode if you stand too long on them. that will sort out the loiterers, slow walkers, smokers, and old people. win all round. and create jobs clearing up the mess.

^ha!!!

wiganwill, will you be mine and velo's best man?

If you believe you have a civic responsibility to vote, and you're planning to not vote as a protest, than spoil your ballot. I think I've only ever voted properly in two elections (Canada also has a Single member plurality/First-past-the-post federal system) - the first time I voted, and in the recent EU election (as it's PR).

People will often say spoiling your ballot doesn't matter/achieves nothing, but as they are counted, a statistically large percentage of spoilt ballots would most certainly result in debate, if nothing else (a debate about voter dissatisfaction is better than a debate about voter apathy, which none-voting will look like. One gives us discussion about electoral reform, the other gives us ads on TV with rock starts telling us to "rock the vote"!).

I thought they wern't counted in the UK?

I can not and will never understand the dunce cunts in the country who complain about the state of the main parties but when you suggest a non-big-three party, they'll tell you "its a wasted vote".

proper plums

It's interesting in a way (the swivel eyed lunacy of the UKIP that is), I think the assumption is that if you are on a bicycle then you are too poor to afford a car, therefore if you are not on a bike you'd be either walking or on the bus.

Ergo if they got the cyclists out of the way then the road system would run much more smoothly, rather than (as would actually be the case) me sitting in traffic in a Volvo Estate, in their way.

Even voting liberal is a wasted vote.

I'm not too sure it's not true of voting for labour and conservative either

I thought they wern't counted in the UK?

They're counted in Canada, and a quick google search (which took me to wikipedia) told me they're counted here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoilt_vote)

Harriet Harman is my MP, and her majority is so large that it seems pointless voting (either for or against), however I'm still going to cast my vote.

wiganwill, will you be mine and velo's best man?

are we getting married?