New Statesman article

Colin Blackburn said:

The New Statesman has a positive cycling article
coininciding with the 10th anniversary of Critical Mass in
the UK. The article is at:

tinyurl.comyvbrbOpen ↗

full url:

newstatesman.comsite.php3Open ↗
icle_NS&newTop=Section:%20Front%20Page&newDisplayURN=20-
0404050017

In the print edition it was accompanied by a photgraph of
two children cycling on an off-road cycle path which I
don't think was the best image to use for the tenor of
the article.

Here's some wonderful news from this fantastic article:

"Better traffic law enforcement for everyone - more speed
cameras, more traffic wardens and tougher penalties for
speeders and drink-drivers - would be an important step
towards promoting cycling. The London congestion charge
helped, proving that more people will try cycling when there
are fewer cars on the road. It also showed that more
cyclists using the road leads to fewer cycle casualties;
bicycles become more familiar to motorists. According to
Transport for London, cycle use has risen by nearly a third
post-congestion charge, while casualties have fallen by 17
per cent."

I wonder what the SS nutter would have to say about that!?

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

Quoted message said:

The New Statesman has a positive cycling article
coininciding with the 10th anniversary of Critical Mass in
the UK. The article is at:

Interesting to note that he found some LBS shop owners to
be snooty to beginners. I found that out 5 years ago when I
had a cheapo Makro bike, which was short sighted of them,
since I've now got a hybrid and road bike and use the shops
that weren't snobby to me.

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W
simonmason.karoo.netsimonmason.karoo.netOpen ↗

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

Quoted message said:

The New Statesman has a positive cycling article
coininciding with the 10th anniversary of Critical Mass in
the UK. The article is at: Colin

I find it interesting that the articles that mention driving
tests for cyclists never seem to cotton on to the fact that
nearly all adult cyclists are also car drivers and have
therefore taken and (should) have passed a driving test.

I do know a couple of cyclists (London area) that have never
driven but most of them either own or once owned a car. I
have been telling non cycling motorists that it's 98% but I
can't remember where I got the figure from. Probably made it
up years ago when arguing in a pub; I have never had anyone
contradict that figure.

Does anyone know what the percentage is?

Thanks Paul.
PS In my youth it was permissible to ride a moped with a car
licence. I don't know if it still is. If so, then it
should also cover a pushbike.

Paul Moss said:

I do know a couple of cyclists (London area) that
have never driven but most of them either own or once
owned a car.

I see lots of cyclists around here who haven't taken a
driving test. Because they're not old enough.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext.
33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177
Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Also from this week's edition but not available on the web (for free at
any rate) is the column by Andrew Martin, Class Conscious. I preferred his
Northerner column but now Lauren Booth has departed Britain for France as
Islington has gone to the dogs Andrew Martin gets the back page slot and
thus a new column. Anyway, I digress, hos column this week was about
renouncing ambitions as he gets older, in it he comments on how many of
those around him have been fiercely ambitious. It ends with the following
paragraph:

"At 42, I am finally beginning to relinquish some of my
ambitions. If only other people would do the same. When I
was in my early teens I'd often go on a mass bike ride with
a gang of mates. At the start, the shout would go up: 'No
racing today!' from those with cheaper and more rickety
bikes, and there would be friendly nods of agreement from
all sides.

"But then some sleek [censored] on a ten-speed racer would
start to inch ahead..."

Colin
--

"Paul Moss" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<NPfcc.19$%o4.8@newsfe1-win>...

Quoted message said:

I find it interesting that the articles that mention
driving tests for cyclists never seem to cotton on to the
fact that nearly all adult cyclists are also car drivers
and have therefore taken and (should) have passed a
driving test.

I think car drivers should have to take some sort of test,
which should include a knowledge of the Highway Code. From
what I observe most would benefit from this.

--
Dave...

Colin Blackburn said:

The New Statesman has a positive cycling article
coininciding with the 10th anniversary of Critical Mass in
the UK. The article is at:

There is one letter in response to the article in this
week's issue:

""" Letters - Don't cycle. Walk!

Contrary to Gideon Burrows's claim ("Get on yer bikes!", 5
April), nobody is forcing cyclists who find the roads too
busy to break the law by riding on the pavement. They could
get off and walk, and thus get better exercise. Cycling is
never going to make more than a minor contribution to
problems of congestion, pollution and unfitness. Resources
should go to where an impact can be assured: promotion of
walking (the pavements are already there); congestion
charging; better public transport; low/zero-emission
vehicles; reversing sales of school playing fields. If
cycling is the answer, we must be asking the wrong question.

John Griffin

"""

Interesting that he would like some resources to go toward
"low/zero-emission vehicles" rather than cycling. Some
people just don't understand cycles, do they?

Colin
--

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

Quoted message said:

Colin Blackburn said:

The New Statesman has a positive cycling article
coininciding with the 10th anniversary of Critical Mass
in the UK. The article is at:

There is one letter in response to the article in this
week's issue:

""" Letters - Don't cycle. Walk!

Contrary to Gideon Burrows's claim ("Get on yer bikes!", 5
April), nobody is forcing cyclists who find the roads too
busy to break the law by riding on the pavement. They
could get off and walk, and thus get better exercise.
Cycling is never going to make more than a minor
contribution to problems of congestion, pollution and
unfitness. Resources should go to where an impact can be
assured: promotion of walking (the pavements are already
there); congestion charging; better public transport; low/zero-
emission vehicles; reversing sales of school playing
fields. If cycling is the answer, we must be asking the
wrong question.

John Griffin

Quoted message said:

"""

Interesting that he would like some resources to go toward
"low/zero-emission vehicles" rather than cycling. Some
people just don't understand cycles, do they?

Colin

very odd indeed. If he thinks cycling isn't the answer,
there is something wrong with his comprehension, not
the question.

Quoted message said:

--

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

Quoted message said:

Contrary to Gideon Burrows's claim ("Get on yer bikes!", 5
April), nobody is forcing cyclists who find the roads too
busy to break the law by riding on the pavement. They
could get off and walk, and thus get better exercise.
Cycling is never going to make more than a minor
contribution to problems of congestion, pollution and
unfitness.

Utter cobblers! My 24 mile commute takes me around 2 hrs on
average. It would take me nearly *seven* hours if I walked,
almost as long as the working day itself! To start my
morning shift at 0645 would mean getting up at 0245,
instead of 0515! My life would be 8 hrs in bed, 8 hrs at
work and 7 hrs walking, with one hour for myself.
--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W
simonmason.karoo.netsimonmason.karoo.netOpen ↗

Colin Blackburn said:

Letters - Don't cycle. Walk!

I couldn't resist :-)

============================================

I have to take issue with John Griffin. Medical opinion has
it that cycling regularly, for example to work, is one of
the most beneficial forms of exercise there is. Is walking
better? I doubt it; a cyclist enjoys fitness levels
equivalent to a person ten years younger, and a life span
two years longer than average. In any case, surely
comparing the merits of walking and cycling as exercise
misses the point: cycling extends the distance one can
travel without recourse to motorised transport. A ten mile
commute is perfectly practical by bike (and often quicker
than driving).

I do not support pavement cyclists, especially as I know
pavement cycling is more dangerous than riding on the
roads, but Mr Griffin should also be aware that the chances
of being killed by a motor vehicle on the footway are
roughly 200 times greater than the those of being killed by
a bike, despite the large number of cyclists who are
apparently scared onto the pavements by fear-mongering (and
no doubt confused by councils whose idea of cycle provision
is to paint lines on pavements seemingly at random; surely
a case of mixed messages). The solution is not to denigrate
cycling but to promote adult cycle training which teaches
the skills necessary to ride safely and confidently in
traffic, something which I am pleased to note is finally
starting to happen.

Bikes are the original zero-emission vehicle, contributing
nothing to congestion, nothing to pollution, virtually
nothing to traffic danger; and they don't choke the roads up
when parked. Since selling my car three years ago we save at
a conservative estimate £3,000 annually, plus £50 per month
on the gym membership I no longer need. Aged 40 I am fitter
than at any time in my life. My wife also cycles to work
rather than driving because it is quicker, and we have a three-
seater bike for the school run. Cyclists are not part of the
problem, so we are surely part of the solution.

--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after
posting. chapmancentral.co.ukchapmancentral.co.ukOpen ↗

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at
Washington University

Simon Mason said:

My life would be 8 hrs in bed, 8 hrs at work and 7 hrs
walking, with one hour for myself.

Well, you would be walking by yourself. I can't imagine many
people wanting to join you!

;-)

--
Michael MacClancy Random putdown - "I've just learned about
his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." - Irvin S.
Cobb www.macclancy.demon.co.uk www.macclancy.co.uk

Simon Mason said:

To start my morning shift at 0645 would mean getting up
at 0245, instead of 0515! My life would be 8 hrs in bed,
8 hrs at work and 7 hrs walking, with one hour for
myself.

Is'nt that the same as the worlds greatest road safety
campaigners day? Oh sorry, you wrote walking...

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

Quoted message said:

Simon Mason said:

To start my morning shift at 0645 would mean getting up
at 0245, instead of 0515! My life would be 8 hrs in
bed, 8 hrs at work

and 7

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

hrs walking, with one hour for myself.

Is'nt that the same as the worlds greatest road safety
campaigners day? Oh sorry, you wrote walking...

Very mistaken with 8 hours at work too.

In article said:

Simon Mason said:

To start my morning shift at 0645 would mean getting up
at 0245, instead of 0515! My life would be 8 hrs in
bed, 8 hrs at work and 7 hrs walking, with one hour for
myself.

Is'nt that the same as the worlds greatest road safety
campaigners day? Oh sorry, you wrote walking...

A route (The Witchfinder's Trail, or somesuch) described in
May's `Cycling+' magazine contains the optional extension of
`wanking across the road'.

ian

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote
in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
berlin.de... Since selling my car three years

Quoted message said:

ago we save at a conservative estimate £3,000 annually,
plus £50 per month on the gym membership I no longer need.

Ummmm haven't you just bought a V70? (17/4/04)

Toby

Toby Sleigh said:

Since selling my car three years

Quoted message said:

ago we save at a conservative estimate £3,000
annually, plus £50 per month on the gym membership I
no longer need.

Quoted message said:

Ummmm haven't you just bought a V70? (17/4/04)

Indeed. We have one car, we used to have (for over ten
years) two. Running one car is saving us a mint. In a couple
of years when both kids are at secondary school (walking
distance) I am going to evaluate going car-free.

--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after
posting. chapmancentral.co.ukchapmancentral.co.ukOpen ↗

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at
Washington University

in message <[email hidden]>, Ian G Batten

(') said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Vincent Wilcox

Quoted message said:

Simon Mason said:

To start my morning shift at 0645 would mean getting
up at 0245, instead of 0515! My life would be 8 hrs in
bed, 8 hrs at work and 7 hrs walking, with one hour
for myself.

Is'nt that the same as the worlds greatest road safety
campaigners day? Oh sorry, you wrote walking...

A route (The Witchfinder's Trail, or somesuch) described
in May's `Cycling+' magazine contains the optional
extension of `wanking across the road'.

Heck, if you could put _that_ in a bottle, you'd put all the
V-I-A-G-R-A spammers out of business!

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke)
jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

Morning had broken, and there was nothing we could
do but wait patiently for the RAC to arrive.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Simon Brooke said:

Quoted message said:

`Cycling+' magazine contains the optional extension of
`wanking across the road'.

Heck, if you could put _that_ in a bottle, you'd put all
the V-I-A-G-R-A spammers out of business!

Do keep up at the back! We already have a member who could
casually mention having satisfied himself over 30 miles.

--
Nick Kew

Nick's manifesto: htmlhelp.com~nickOpen ↗

Just zis Guy said:

Toby Sleigh said:

Since selling my car three years

Quoted message said:

ago we save at a conservative estimate £3,000
annually, plus £50 per month on the gym membership I
no longer need.

Quoted message said:

Ummmm haven't you just bought a V70? (17/4/04)

Indeed. We have one car, we used to have (for over ten
years) two. Running one car is saving us a mint.

Wording it as "since selling my family's second car" rather
than "since selling my car" might be less likely to get a
"there's no way I could do that, I'll ignore the rest this
letter" reaction.

I'm currently evaluating having our second family car off
the road for rather longer than planned waiting for a
replacement part (the downside of a 15 year old car, but
depreciation is less than your V70), but expecting it won't
be permanent.