Putting a break on careering couriers - summary executions?

I hate political correctness said:

I think more than a few summary executions of careering cyclists
(especially those who show no disregard to motorists and pedestrians)
could be considered.

Why do people have such venom for Bicycle couriers !?

They do a physically demanding and probably dangerous
job, and (AFAIK) the pay is fairly low. I always wonder
if they started out as people who loved riding their
bicycle, and probably now hate it, since it's so much
like work.

It [censored] me too when I get a fly-by walking on the footpath,
but that's not really much different to what taxi-drivers
and car-couriers do every day. Two wrongs don't make a
right - but a few thousand do, and it happens every day.
Thinking about it I see a damn site more car/truck couriers
parking on the footpath than I see bike couriers riding on it...
and I see alot of both. And don't get me started on the
scrwys things taxis do about the place.

IMHO, Sydney Council --
"Majesty, there are no bikepaths; the cyslists are in danger!?"
(waves hand dissmissively) "Let them ride Bus Lanes!"
-- is giving stick to the bicycle couriers, since they are
one of the lowest parts of the road-traffic food chain.
Traffic in the city is a disgrace (they're trying to make
Sydney into LA right?!), yet they point at one of the
most insignificant parts of it and somehow find a scapegoat.

The big problem is 60% of Sydney traffic doesn't really want
to be in the city at all. If you don't believe me, stand on
one of the major CBD corners and watch the puzzled & frightened
drivers with interstate nuberplates trying to pick their
way through. I'm sure these people would have avoided the
city _if_at_all_possible_.

I for one, specifically request bicycle couriers every time
I send something across town. They are quiet and efficient,
maybe councils could learn something from them.

-kt

"I hate political correctness" <[email hidden]> wrote
in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I think more than a few summary executions of careering cyclists
(especially those who show no disregard to motorists and pedestrians)
could be considered.

Go back to aus.cars

kingsley wrote:
**snip**

Quoted message said:

Why do people have such venom for Bicycle couriers !?

They do a physically demanding and probably dangerous
job, and (AFAIK) the pay is fairly low. I always wonder
if they started out as people who loved riding their
bicycle, and probably now hate it, since it's so much
like work.

The pay is not too bad considering it is untrained work, but certainly
not danger money.
Most cycle couriers still love riding their bikes, and spend most of
their money and spare time on their collection of pushies (a real
courier has at least 3 bikes - a work bike, a road bike, a mountain bike
and a spare work bike. Oh, and that thing in pieces in the hallway).

I think if Sydney Council were really concerned about pedestrian safety
they would ban cars with bullbars from the CBD. I can't see that
happening in my lifetime.

- LB

"kingsley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I hate political correctness said:

I think more than a few summary executions of careering cyclists
(especially those who show no disregard to motorists and pedestrians)
could be considered.

Why do people have such venom for Bicycle couriers !?

I hate them because they are so visible in their actions. When the cycling
advocates push for more bike lanes etc etc, Joe Six-pack and Betty Voter
think "not for those bandits" since all they notice is the hell spawn evil
that is couriers.

"Luther Blissett" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

RMan said:

I hate them because they are so visible in their actions. When the

cycling

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

advocates push for more bike lanes etc etc, Joe Six-pack and Betty Voter
think "not for those bandits" since all they notice is the hell spawn

evil

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that is couriers.

Hate is such a strong term, RMan. Surely you have better things to hate?

Degrees of hate I geuss.....

Quoted message said:

Anyway, since when were bike lanes an election issue with the average
voter? I believe they honestly don't give a [censored] either way.

At a Federal/State level, they are not, 'cos they are political suicide.
But at a council level, bike lanes can be. They are in my area. (SE
Melbourne)

[snip]

Quoted message said:

I'm not anti-car, hell, I drove 3 blocks to the gym today (forgive me
lord!). But the CBD is for business, not for interstate tourists or
shoppers from the suburbs to drive around looking for parking spots.

What a strange opinion.

Quoted message said:

Bike couriers are a sympotm of a larger problem, not the problem itself.

Well, I'd sure like to get one of those permits that they have that allows
them to disregard road rules.

Quoted message said:

Well, I'd sure like to get one of those permits that they have that allows
them to disregard road rules.

Is that the same one they give to taxi drivers, delivery van drivers
and jaywalkers? They all break the rules and people seem to just say
'hey, they've got a job to do'.

Taxi drivers kill a bunch of people and cause a bunch of accidents
every year by doing illegal things, why not whinge about them and call
them a menace?

Cycle couriers are an easy target for a lazy media that panders to
people's prejudices.

And while we're distracted, venting our spleens at a tiny fraction of
a fraction of a percent of road users much bigger, badder crimes
continue unchallenged. Easy target I say.

Duncan Bourne

"Duncan Bourne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Well, I'd sure like to get one of those permits that they have that

allows

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

them to disregard road rules.

Is that the same one they give to taxi drivers, delivery van drivers
and jaywalkers? They all break the rules and people seem to just say
'hey, they've got a job to do'.

Taxi drivers kill a bunch of people and cause a bunch of accidents
every year by doing illegal things, why not whinge about them and call
them a menace?

Cycle couriers are an easy target for a lazy media that panders to
people's prejudices.

And while we're distracted, venting our spleens at a tiny fraction of
a fraction of a percent of road users much bigger, badder crimes
continue unchallenged. Easy target I say.

So you can't get me one of the permits then ?

I didn't realise you need a permit RMan.
Whoever told you about these permits must have thought you were some
kind of moron. I don't think you are, so I will let you in on a secret:
There are no permits, this idea is not to hurt anyone, and don't get
busted. Simple in theory, simple in practice.

"Luther Blissett" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I didn't realise you need a permit RMan.
Whoever told you about these permits must have thought you were some
kind of moron. I don't think you are, so I will let you in on a secret:
There are no permits, this idea is not to hurt anyone, and don't get
busted. Simple in theory, simple in practice.

No, no, no, not the permit to be a normal person. The permit to fang it on
footpaths, ride through red lights, ride the wrong way up one way streets,
make illegal turns at intersections. The permit to make all cyclists look
the same in the eyes of the public. I believe the highest level permit is
the one giving you the power to abuse other cyclists who dare comment on
your riding style. Man those guys must be something special, like
Jedi-courier Masters, and I'd sure like one of them.

RMan

RMan wrote:
**snip**

Quoted message said:

Man those guys must be something special, like
Jedi-courier Masters, and I'd sure like one of them.

Don't worry RMan, keep going as you are and you soon will be. Behold the
power of Spontaneous Trait Transference:

"People who allege wrongdoing against someone are usually perceived by
others as being dishonest themselves" ... 'The gist of our research,'
the authors said in a recent e-mail interview, 'is that when you gossip,
you become associated with the characteristics you describe, ultimately
leading those characteristics to be ‘transferred’ to you.'

http://www.apa.org/monitor/may98/imp.html

Here endeth the lesson.

Easy target for the media is true. Though, I have found that anyone
riding a bicycle in the city is called a courier.

Megan

[email hidden] (Duncan Bourne) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Well, I'd sure like to get one of those permits that they have that allows
them to disregard road rules.

Is that the same one they give to taxi drivers, delivery van drivers
and jaywalkers? They all break the rules and people seem to just say
'hey, they've got a job to do'.

Taxi drivers kill a bunch of people and cause a bunch of accidents
every year by doing illegal things, why not whinge about them and call
them a menace?

Cycle couriers are an easy target for a lazy media that panders to
people's prejudices.

And while we're distracted, venting our spleens at a tiny fraction of
a fraction of a percent of road users much bigger, badder crimes
continue unchallenged. Easy target I say.

Duncan Bourne

"Luther Blissett" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

RMan wrote:
**snip**

Quoted message said:

Man those guys must be something special, like
Jedi-courier Masters, and I'd sure like one of them.

Don't worry RMan, keep going as you are and you soon will be. Behold the
power of Spontaneous Trait Transference:

"People who allege wrongdoing against someone are usually perceived by
others as being dishonest themselves" ... 'The gist of our research,'
the authors said in a recent e-mail interview, 'is that when you gossip,
you become associated with the characteristics you describe, ultimately
leading those characteristics to be ‘transferred’ to you.'

http://www.apa.org/monitor/may98/imp.html

Here endeth the lesson.

Thank you oh wise one. I will now practise the raising of my MTB out of
the swamp of the Yarra River, using nothing but the force, I mean
forks..........

RMan wrote:

**snip**

Quoted message said:

Thank you oh wise one. I will now practise the raising of my MTB out of
the swamp of the Yarra River, using nothing but the force, I mean
forks..........

Oh, you're from Melbourne? That makes sense then, there is no law and
order in Victoria, it appears to be a state of murderous chaos.
Melbourne cycles couriers are the lowest of the low, and do set a bad
example for all other cyclists. Sydney couriers are quite the opposite
... they are professional, courteous, clean shaven and drug free. The
companies pay them well, but even this does not compare to the love,
respect and gratitude they receive from an appreciative public.
Just the other day I was riding the wrong way up Castlereagh St and a
young policeman waved at me. Even though I was busy (sandwich in one
hand, coke in the other), I took the time to wave back, to not do so
would be rude. The poor fellow was so flattered by my acknowledgement
him that he immediately got on his radio and told his friends. It's hard
slog being at the top, but sometimes you just have to take the time to
be nice to the little people.

- LB