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Age letters 18/10

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01 / Original postAge letters 18/10cfsmtb · 17 Oct 2005 02 / This pagePosts 1–7Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #7Marx SS · 18 Oct 2005

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Original section
Australia and New Zealand
Published
17 October 2005
Last activity
18 October 2005
Original author
cfsmtb
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7
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Public discussion
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  1. Original post
    cfsmtb
    Archived post
    #1

    The Age letters page - good one from Elliot (& fellow YarraBUG'er) and another one from someone who wasn't too happy about some ATB'ers antics...
    http://theage.com.au/letters/index.html

    Time to get on your bike, Geoff!
    Labelling the thousands of Melbourne's commuter bicyclists as "weirdos" (Geoff Strong, "The New Golf", Insight, 15/10) struck me as a fairly weird remark itself. Choosing a mode of transport that is clearly cheaper, non-polluting, healthy and fun is weird? I would be interested to learn what Geoff Strong's opinion of single-occupant, peak-hour motorists is.

    Strong then writes that "nearly half of the Melbourne population confesses to regularly riding a bike for recreation or exercise". "Confess" is another interesting choice of word: it implies there is something wrong with choosing to bicycle. What is wrong with deciding to use a mode of transport that is scientifically proven to increase your life expectancy? In the age of the obesity epidemic, I would have thought it was quite a reasonable choice.

    Increasing the role of the bicycle as a mode of transport offers outstanding benefits for Melbourne. It presents an opportunity to transform our city into a cleaner, healthier, safer and more enjoyable city. Geoff, it's time to get on your bike.
    Elliot Fishman, director, Institute for Sensible Transport, Fairfield

    2WD hoons
    So you thought 4WD drivers were arrogant and conceited? Well, many of those Round the Bay cyclists on Sunday made them look like novices. They were downright abusive to anyone who dared to hold them up in their quest to post a fast time. If you want to make a race of it, boys, organise a separate event on another day, but allow the ordinary mums, dads and kiddies to enjoy the challenge of a long ride without having to be on the receiving end of your abuse. It's meant to be a fun day.
    John Brooke, Ringwood

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  2. ghostgum
    Archived post
    #2
    cfsmtb said:

    The Age letters page - good one from Elliot (& fellow YarraBUG'er) and another one from someone who wasn't too happy about some ATB'ers antics...
    theage.com.auindex.html

    ...

    2WD hoons
    So you thought 4WD drivers were arrogant and conceited? Well, many of those Round the Bay cyclists on Sunday made them look like novices. They were downright abusive to anyone who dared to hold them up in their quest to post a fast time. If you want to make a race of it, boys, organise a separate event on another day, but allow the ordinary mums, dads and kiddies to enjoy the challenge of a long ride without having to be on the receiving end of your abuse. It's meant to be a fun day.
    John Brooke, Ringwood

    John Brooke doesn't say what he did to provoke that response.
    Most likely he either passed too close to a cyclist, or tried
    to push them off the road when he wanted to turn.
    Some hints on lane changing that work with bikes and cars.
    Match speed with adjacent lane, opposite a gap.
    Signal with indicator.
    Wait until traffic in adjacent lane has seen your indicator.
    Slowly move into the adjacent lane.
    And finally, don't brake as soon as your are in the new lane.

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  3. alison_b
    Archived post
    #3
    ghostgum said:

    John Brooke doesn't say what he did to provoke that response.
    Most likely he either passed too close to a cyclist, or tried
    to push them off the road when he wanted to turn.
    Some hints on lane changing that work with bikes and cars.
    Match speed with adjacent lane, opposite a gap.
    Signal with indicator.
    Wait until traffic in adjacent lane has seen your indicator.
    Slowly move into the adjacent lane.
    And finally, don't brake as soon as your are in the new lane.


    I thought it sounded like Brooke was a rider on ATB and some fellow riders weren't showing due care for the fact that they were in a ride with a wide range of abilities.

    ali

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  4. cfsmtb
    Archived post
    #4
    ghostgum said:

    John Brooke doesn't say what he did to provoke that response.

    Also John Brooke doesn't say whether he was;
    a). Driver of vehicle or
    b). ATB participant

    Or do I need that morning coffee to provoke the synapses.

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  5. ghostgum
    Archived post
    #5
    cfsmtb said:

    Also John Brooke doesn't say whether he was;
    a). Driver of vehicle or
    b). ATB participant

    Or do I need that morning coffee to provoke the synapses.


    Ok, on second reading it does sound more like John was a cyclist.
    So with the letter title being "2WD hoons", were the offensive
    cyclists on tricycles? If on bicycles, perhaps it should be "1WD
    hoons".

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  6. EuanB
    Archived post
    #6
    alison_b said:

    I thought it sounded like Brooke was a rider on ATB and some fellow riders weren't showing due care for the fact that they were in a ride with a wide range of abilities.

    ali

    That's how I read it and I think he has a fair point. Personally I didn't experience any `get out of the way' behaviour but I've no doubt that it happened. Roadies are supposed to be the experienced ones so they should be extra careful in an event with mixed abilities. Duty of care from the stronger to the weaker etc etc.

    Personally I had a blast, a great day.

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  7. Marx SS
    Archived post
    #7

    I must admit during the ride down to Sorrento there were a few passing opportunities that saw me way over on the incorrect side of the road due to the 2 or 3 abreast riding buddies discussing life/universe/everything, but it's the time for that sort of thing during the ATB. In fact I mentioned to a mate (as we rode abreast [oops] ) that it was a rare thing to ride such a major road right in the middle of the lane for such a spell, where it was all nice & smooth & no [censored] to pick out of my tyre due to the volume of bikes taking up the lane.

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