Cycling in parliament

When I saw the title of this thread I had this mental image of them
cycling away down the hallowed halls of power, and that the separation
between government and opposition front benches was just enough such
that two opposing cyclists each signalling left (or right) couldn't
quite touch hands.

I'll get me coat...
R.

Richard said:

When I saw the title of this thread I had this mental image of them
cycling away down the hallowed halls of power

Hmm, hope Boris doesn't read this - he might start getting ideas and
literally bringing his bike to work (still, keeps him off the football
pitch, I suppose)....

David Belcher

wafflycat said:

See

http://www.bikebiz.com/daily-news/article.php?id=6637

with link to podcast

And in Hansard here:
<URL:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060509/halltext/60509h03.htm#column_24WH>

<URL:http://tinyurl.com/rxrem>

--chris

Response to Chris Gerhard:

Quoted message said:

<URL:http://tinyurl.com/rxrem>

But... quite a lot of that seems to make sense. Who are they, and what
have they done with the real House of Commons?

--
Mark, UK
"Between believing a thing and thinking you know is only a small step
and quickly taken."

On Wed, 10 May 2006 10:58:43 +0100 someone who may be Mark McNeill
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

But... quite a lot of that seems to make sense. Who are they, and what
have they done with the real House of Commons?

Not all MPs are lying, incompetent, slimeballs; though it sometimes
seems like they all are. Some do actually care and wish to make
things better.

Mark Lazarowicz, who is responsible for calling this little debate,
has a long record of doing things which most people would consider
sound.

That does not mean he is perfect, he is unsound on cycle helmets and
"identity" cards for example.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

Mark McNeill said:

Response to Chris Gerhard:

Quoted message said:

<URL:http://tinyurl.com/rxrem>

But... quite a lot of that seems to make sense. Who are they, and what
have they done with the real House of Commons?

Funny I thought the same. There was just one Labour v Conservative
moment when I thought it might degenerate into the usual but it did not.

I've been left thinking that this democracy thing might indeed be able
to work. Though I wonder if this actually causes any thing to actually
get better.

--chris

Mark McNeill twisted the electrons to say:

Quoted message said:

But... quite a lot of that seems to make sense. Who are they, and what
have they done with the real House of Commons?

I particularly liked the comment by Charlotte Atkins MP about how her
only complaint about the CTC's email campaign was that "I do not think
that I got my fair share."
--
These opinions might not even be mine ...
Let alone connected with my employer ...

Alistair Gunn said:

Mark McNeill twisted the electrons to say:

Quoted message said:

But... quite a lot of that seems to make sense. Who are they, and what
have they done with the real House of Commons?

I particularly liked the comment by Charlotte Atkins MP about how her
only complaint about the CTC's email campaign was that "I do not think
that I got my fair share."

There is an open invitation in the Hansard transcript for cyclist to get
much more involved in local provision, helmets, road safety etc with
their LA and MP. Hopefully the CTC and the CCN will pick up on this and
provide the same mechanism and draft text to get the message to MP's as
they did on the Highway Code consultation.

--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

Chris Gerhard said:

<URL:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060509/halltext/60509h03.htm#column_24WH>

Thanks for the link, Chris. It certainly is refreshing to read the words
of these sensible MPs, rather than the daily twaddle that this country's
political journalists serve up. I would, though, take issue with what
seems to be the fundamental thrust of Mark Lazarowicz's speech. He says
that "the biggest single factor that influences the trend in cycle use
in the UK" is "the provision of resources", by which he seems to mean
resources for the building of special cycle facilities. The factors that
have discouraged me from cycling in the UK have been dangerous drivers
and not being able to afford to buy a house within cycle-commuting
distance of my place of work. I feel that the issues of town planning
(raised by Martin Horwood in connection with the siting of railway
stations) and law enforcement (raised by David Drew in connection to
motorists using mobile phones) are far more important than advanced stop
lines and cycle lanes.

Nevertheless, I'd still like to propose three cheers for Mark
Lazarowicz: hip-hip!

Bob

Bob Johnstone said:

Chris Gerhard said:

<URL:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060509/halltext/60509h03.htm#column_24WH>

Thanks for the link, Chris. It certainly is refreshing to read the words
of these sensible MPs, rather than the daily twaddle that this country's
political journalists serve up. I would, though, take issue with what
seems to be the fundamental thrust of Mark Lazarowicz's speech. He says
that "the biggest single factor that influences the trend in cycle use
in the UK" is "the provision of resources", by which he seems to mean
resources for the building of special cycle facilities. The factors that
have discouraged me from cycling in the UK have been dangerous drivers
and not being able to afford to buy a house within cycle-commuting
distance of my place of work. I feel that the issues of town planning
(raised by Martin Horwood in connection with the siting of railway
stations) and law enforcement (raised by David Drew in connection to
motorists using mobile phones) are far more important than advanced stop
lines and cycle lanes.

Nevertheless, I'd still like to propose three cheers for Mark
Lazarowicz: hip-hip!

Indeed. It was a mostly sound debate.MP's by their nature are, like
doctors, interventionist. It would be a shame to see lots of crappy
white paint instead of the things that bring real benefits:

Training children to cycle safely from an early age
Encouraging people to use the road as more cyclists = more safety
Enabling cycling through making destinations cycle-accessible.

It really requires a social acceptance of cycling by other traffic.

Shame about the h*****, but at least we have their names and can
educate them in an appropriate manner.

...d

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

Quoted message said:

When I saw the title of this thread I had this mental image of them
cycling away down the hallowed halls of power, and that the separation
between government and opposition front benches was just enough such that
two opposing cyclists each signalling left (or right) couldn't quite touch
hands.

Reminds me of one of my favourite scenes from the film "If", where the
teacher cycles straight *into* class (down a narrow corridor, dodging and
scattering the kids) whilst singing "To be a Pilgrim" 🙂

--
Mr R@T / General Lighting
Ipswich, Suffolk, Untied Kingdom
http://www.partyvibe.com