Cyclists above the law
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From: mileburner on 28 Nov 2009 01:43 "Peter Grange" <peter(a)plgrange.demon.co.uk> wrote in message news:fcm0h5hlc6qqbsp4gnv8jhpn61uqqs20ho(a)4ax.com... > > Sorry, but I have to disagree. No-one would get anywhere if we all > drove around so we could stop safely in a foot. Society generally > accepts there is a risk to moving around at a speed greater than > walking, and we have compromises like speed limits to help mitigate > that risk. The often-quoted problems of getting convictions for > killing or maiming wirh a car are a tacit acceptance by society that > people are going to get hurt or worse in a motorised society. > This thread kinda suggests that it is OK to kill and maim by using the road, so long as you are not breaking any rules when you do so. I don't buy into it. Road users ought to take a bit more care and a bit more responsibility for their actions.
From: Doug on 28 Nov 2009 04:03 On 28 Nov, 06:43, "mileburner" <milebur...(a)btinternet.com> wrote: > "Peter Grange" <pe...(a)plgrange.demon.co.uk> wrote in message > > news:fcm0h5hlc6qqbsp4gnv8jhpn61uqqs20ho(a)4ax.com... > > > Sorry, but I have to disagree. No-one would get anywhere if we all > > drove around so we could stop safely in a foot. Society generally > > accepts there is a risk to moving around at a speed greater than > > walking, and we have compromises like speed limits to help mitigate > > that risk. The often-quoted problems of getting convictions for > > killing or maiming wirh a car are a tacit acceptance by society that > > people are going to get hurt or worse in a motorised society. > > This thread kinda suggests that it is OK to kill and maim by using the road, > so long as you are not breaking any rules when you do so. > That is the popular perception and it seems to be supported in law. > > I don't buy into it. > Neither do I. Maybe at some time in the future people will look back and be amazed at how primitive we were, akin to having open sewers and hang drawn and quartering. > > Road users ought to take a bit more care and a bit more responsibility for > their actions. > Well they might if the law was more stringent and perceptions were altered. I challenge the concept that we should all be able to move around as often and as fast as possible while alternatives, such as the internet and living very close to work and shops, are ignored. Maybe its the remnants of the primitive hunter-gatherer instinct that makes people roam around so much. They do call shopping 'retail therapy' and even I often feel an incomprehensible urge to get out and about just for the sake of it. Luckily I mostly do it on a bicycle and sometimes electric train, thus minimising my pollution and I have long ceased any foreign travel. -- UK Radical Campaigns www.zing.icom43.net Travel broadens the damage.
From: Tony Dragon on 28 Nov 2009 04:13 JNugent wrote: > Adrian wrote: >> Peter Grange <peter(a)plgrange.demon.co.uk> gurgled happily, sounding much >> like they were saying: >> >>>> Except lycra shorts don't have pockets. >> >>> More bollocks. >> >> Umm, how many bollocks ARE there in a typical pair of lycra shorts, then? > > More than one (less than two)? > > That's on the basis that some of them are worn by women. > > And did I once read that Hitler was fond of cycling? Do pawnbrokers often cycle? -- Tony Dragon
From: johnwright ""john" on 28 Nov 2009 04:44 mileburner wrote: > "Peter Grange" <peter(a)plgrange.demon.co.uk> wrote in message > news:fcm0h5hlc6qqbsp4gnv8jhpn61uqqs20ho(a)4ax.com... >> Sorry, but I have to disagree. No-one would get anywhere if we all >> drove around so we could stop safely in a foot. Society generally >> accepts there is a risk to moving around at a speed greater than >> walking, and we have compromises like speed limits to help mitigate >> that risk. The often-quoted problems of getting convictions for >> killing or maiming wirh a car are a tacit acceptance by society that >> people are going to get hurt or worse in a motorised society. >> > This thread kinda suggests that it is OK to kill and maim by using the road, > so long as you are not breaking any rules when you do so. > > I don't buy into it. <the point------------------------------------------- your post> > Road users ought to take a bit more care and a bit more responsibility for > their actions. True. -- I'm not apathetic... I just don't give a sh** anymore ?John Wright
From: johnwright ""john" on 28 Nov 2009 04:54
johnwright > wrote: > NM wrote: >> On 27 Nov, 09:35, "mileburner" <milebur...(a)btinternet.com> wrote: >>> NM wrote: >>>> On 27 Nov, 00:31, Paul Weaver <use...(a)isorox.co.uk> wrote: >>>>> On 26 Nov, 18:25, johnwright <""john\"@no spam here.com"> wrote: >>>>>> Doesn't make it legal. They probably are not enlightened just >>>>>> trying to avoid filling in the reams of paperwork they would need >>>>>> to if they stop a cyclist for any offence. >>>>> Or indeed stop anyone for any offence. I've certainly been let off >>>>> with warnings while driving plenty of times. >>>>> Having said that, I have delightedly seen cyclists given FPNs for >>>>> pavement cycling in London :) >>>> Good, more of that is required. >>> I agree, if you force them onto the roads, it will slow down the >>> traffic and >>> make it safer for everyone. >> >> And the attrition rate amoungst cyclists will increase. > > Perhaps that's why more women cyclists get killed. Women as a cohort > tend to be more compliant than men. I see no one has taken this particular point on so I feel the need to expand on it a little. Years ago I was a gliding instructor and did around 4-500 trial lessons as they call them. In this the "pupil" sits in the front and the instructor sits in the back. You can talk but not interact in any other way. This is unscientific in the sense that no one planned it, but almost without exception if the passenger was a young woman I could persuade her to land the glider on her very first flight simply by telling her what to do. This never ever happened with a young man, since they were not inclined to be compliant. -- I'm not apathetic... I just don't give a sh** anymore ?John Wright |