The War on Britain's Roads (BBC Documentary / tabloid tv)

Of course. Environment and behaviour are reciprocal, though - they both affect each other e.g. a town creates some good cycle infrastructure > more people cycle > a higher percentage of the population becomes aware of the needs of cyclists > everyone drives better around cyclists in general > more people cycle > town creates more infrastructure > a higher percentage... and so on.

At the moment, our government is making a very meagre attempt at changing behaviour and without providing any proper infrastructure. If you look at the Netherlands or some towns in northern Germany, 30 years ago cycling was nowhere near as popular as it is today - their governments made some incredibly good infrastructure and let the behaviour change itself.

Perhaps it doesn't matter exactly where you start this loop, but it seems that changing environment (although expensive) is much quicker/more effective than simply suggesting people change their behaviour and hoping that the environment will eventually change itself.

This is, of course, pulled almost entirely out of my arse.

In principle you have a valid argument, in the sense that policy and legislation accommodated by the right infrastructure may very well be key to behavioral and cultural change on Britain's roads, or at least encourage/speed up the process.

But I can assure you that across northern Europe i.e. Benelux, Germany and Scandinavia, it is the other way around; policy and legislation, let alone infrastructure, is a direct result of public demand - culture if you want. Having said that, policy, legislation, culture and public demand are not inconsistencies, on the contrary, in a functioning democracy they should be one and the same.

Thanks for the informed responses guys (I had a feeling you'd educate me on the topic, Oliver) - I only have a layman's understanding of these things.

Thanks for the informed responses guys (I had a feeling you'd educate me on the topic, Oliver) - I only have a laeman's understanding of these things.

Fixed. :)

But I can assure you that across northern Europe i.e. Benelux, Germany and Scandinavia, it is the other way around; policy and legislation, let alone infrastructure, is a direct result of public demand - culture if you want.

This is true; high modal share usually comes first.

laeman

Oh god.

I think that a lot of the problem is actually caused by cycle lanes, it makes both cyclists and motorists feel that bikes are not traffic and different rules apply; lets flood the roads with bikes and let the cars get used to it. Everytime a motorist demands that I get off the road and on toa cycle path I let them know that I ride a road bike, the clue is in the name, the flip side of this is that I always stop at red lights etc because its my road too.

On Radio 4 now

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01p3n07 from about 2:43

doesn't add much; sensible chap from Cycling Weekly pointing out that cycling is not as dangerous as it seemed, and warning against gutter cycling

Just heard that, how on earth could the BBC choose Jan Etherington to provide an intelligent comment?

I was just about to formulate a suitable riposte, too.

I would have deserved it.

Just heard that, how on earth could the BBC choose Jan Etherington to provide an intelligent comment?

Petronella Wyatt not available?

Just heard that, how on earth could the BBC choose Jan Etherington to provide an intelligent comment?

I've just read this:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9562836/Wed-just-grown-to-love-cyclists-and-then-Andrew-Mitchell-had-to-come-along.html

What a sily ol' twat she is.

Apparently Jan gives "Comedy Writing Courses" in East Grinstead:

http://www.eastgrinstead.gov.uk/events/1581/east-grinstead-writers-club-an-evening-with-jan-etherington/

Gawd 'elp us!

Jan Etherington: Funny in her own lunchtime...

I've just read this:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9562836/Wed-just-grown-to-love-cyclists-and-then-Andrew-Mitchell-had-to-come-along.html

Wut???

Till now I always classified Mr. Mictchell as yet another asshole politician. Never realised that his actions would actually diminished the accomplishments of some of the finest GB Olympic athletes, let alone discredit the entire cycling community as a whole.

#Did I miss a "hahaha, and you fell for it" at the end of that piece?

Yawn....are we there yet?

Gotta love cycle droid!

Gotta love cycle droid!

Quite, quite mad.

I've just read this:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9562836/Wed-just-grown-to-love-cyclists-and-then-Andrew-Mitchell-had-to-come-along.html

What a sily ol' twat she is.

Apparently Jan gives "Comedy Writing Courses" in East Grinstead:

http://www.eastgrinstead.gov.uk/events/1581/east-grinstead-writers-club-an-evening-with-jan-etherington/

Gawd 'elp us!

Jan Etherington: Funny in her own lunchtime...

Good job it's comedy writing she teaches and not English literature. One foul swoop FFS!

http://buffalobillbikeblog.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/lucas-brunelle-the-king-of-new-york-and-the-war-on-britains-roads/

I agree with everything that Bill says.

(never thought I'd say that out loud)

http://buffalobillbikeblog.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/lucas-brunelle-the-king-of-new-york-and-the-war-on-britains-roads/

It's a good post, but I would argue that the problem isn't that alleycats are filmed, it's that they happen at all.

weird how so many people are focusing on the alleycat. It was atleast 4 years old and is now clearly doing what the creators of the program wanted.

weird how so many people are focusing on the alleycat. It was atleast 4 years old and is now clearly doing what the creators of the program wanted.

It's about six years old, I think, and it's still being used as an example of 'typical cyclist' behaviour, still being shown on documentaries and is just another stick to beat cyclists with.

yeah exactly. Another thing is a lot of bmxers ride about freewheel and brakeless. Dont see any focus on that. Like I personally couldnt give a rats ass, but seem only fair to mention another minority.

Prince Charles asked us to keep the brakes on our BMX's when I was a child, and that was a long time ago now.

It's a good post, but I would argue that the problem isn't that alleycats are filmed, it's that they happen at all.

I discuss the ethics of alleycat organising here: http://www.movingtargetzine.com/article/chicago-alleycat-backlash

It's about six years old, I think, and it's still being used as an example of 'typical cyclist' behaviour, still being shown on documentaries and is just another stick to beat cyclists with.

Just over 6 years old. Organised for BFF of that year.

http://www.movingtargetzine.com/article/lost-in-the-crowd-alleycat-an-in-depth-analysis-by-walshy

prince charles does barspins i heard