Some f*cking cycling advocates!
I used to cycle. I would like to cycle again but have too much anxiety. I support cycling infrastructure being better and safer and being taken away from traffic.
But I do not support 'floating bus stops' where the cycle path goes between the pavement and the boarding platform for the bus.
These are a nightmare for blind public transport users who dont and wont ever have the option to cycle.
They're scary - so people who are blind and who have had near misses with bikes and know they cant reliably see or hear them coming fear to use them and avoid them - having their ability to travel independently further eroded.
But because those affected dont go there any more and don't use them the statistics dont show a rise in accidents - so some fucking cycling activists trumpet the statistics showing few accidents but they dont show what I'm talking about which is fear and its effects. Spouse isn't in your accident statistics because they don't go there any more and avoid it because of the floating bus stop - thus successfully not becoming a statistic but it's still a problem that they cant go there anymore and increasing parts of public transport infrastructure are becoming off limits to them.
The callous shit I get when I point this out from some of the cycling advocates boils my blood. Some of them are no better than petrol-heads - they got theirs and more vulnerable public space users dont matter.
I see why some people loathe cyclists and vote accordingly. I wont do that, but some of the advocates are callous.
Please cycling folk, if you see these types at work on social media then call them out and remind them that blind people have reasons why they oppose this solution and we need a better one so that everyone can travel in a way that they are confident in.
But I do not support 'floating bus stops' where the cycle path goes between the pavement and the boarding platform for the bus.
These are a nightmare for blind public transport users who dont and wont ever have the option to cycle.
They're scary - so people who are blind and who have had near misses with bikes and know they cant reliably see or hear them coming fear to use them and avoid them - having their ability to travel independently further eroded.
But because those affected dont go there any more and don't use them the statistics dont show a rise in accidents - so some fucking cycling activists trumpet the statistics showing few accidents but they dont show what I'm talking about which is fear and its effects. Spouse isn't in your accident statistics because they don't go there any more and avoid it because of the floating bus stop - thus successfully not becoming a statistic but it's still a problem that they cant go there anymore and increasing parts of public transport infrastructure are becoming off limits to them.
The callous shit I get when I point this out from some of the cycling advocates boils my blood. Some of them are no better than petrol-heads - they got theirs and more vulnerable public space users dont matter.
I see why some people loathe cyclists and vote accordingly. I wont do that, but some of the advocates are callous.
Please cycling folk, if you see these types at work on social media then call them out and remind them that blind people have reasons why they oppose this solution and we need a better one so that everyone can travel in a way that they are confident in.
Comments
Ironically low KSI figures often hide the deterrent affect towards cycking too, and this is well known amongst advocates so they should be able to see what's going on.
Unfortunately, there's not a lot more we can do towards the intransigent, any more than as a motorist I can convince the anti speed camera people.
Every good cause has its numpties. It's just driving me spare this morning because it's come up on my timeline and they are out in force. I'm torn between blocking them and wanting them to hear that they are hurting other people.
I had never heard of these things until today so have searched. I suppose they are part of trying to get cyclists off the road which is dangerous because many road users (including cyclists) don't pay attention and do proceed with a lack of care.
The solution, surely, isn't to move the danger to another part of the infrastructure but to get the bad road users to either ride/drive better or not ride/drive at all.
The problem is that the government that made any attempt to enforce this would not get re-elected.
If you live in Wales you will have heard about the 20mph urban speed limit, despite reductions of road deaths, serious injuries and collisions (which in turn cause traffic congestion). The Welsh government and Mark Drakeford, the outgoing First Minister, were been widely condemned by angry motorists claiming that checking their speed interferes with driving safely, and even that cars aren’t designed to drive at 20mph.
It certainly contributed to Welsh Labour losing seats in the Senedd in May.
I do believe, and practice, conscientious cycling in regard to pedestrians of any type. To me, it's just the next reasonable degree of the same caution hierarchy that makes cyclists vulnerable to autos:
Commercial trucks/Busses --> SUVS/Pickup trucks --> Cars --> Motorcycles --> Cyclists --> Pedestrians.
And don't forget small animals!
See when I was fitter and braver and used to cycle what @The_Riv say is exactly what I'd have said - pedestrians and especially those with greater vulnerabilities from disability or being very young or old require my caution and care. I just cant get my head round people who are younger fit cyclists who think blind people can get stuffed for them.
I dont want them to have to ride in traffic - I want safe access to the bus stops - I think if they could put Zebra or proper pedestrian crossings in that could be an acceptable compromise. Perhaps a large STOP - give way to pedestrians sign in addition or better still dismount at bus stops and wheel through.
But what's there now is a problem for blind people and the sheer zealotry of some cycle campaigners is putting my back up.
A second thought - when I retired I took motorbike lessons and passed my test. I was taught to ride defensively as though other road users were out to "get" me. This does not seem to be the case with some cyclists.
I always find it amusing wben people correctly point out that bicycles are vehicles but express surprise that their riders are not perfect observers of the law, just like every other group, as evidenced by the car I can guarantee will be right up my arse because I'm observing the speed limit.
I don't seem to see cars jumping red lights or mounting pavements to avoid them as often as I see cyclists do it.
Ah, but cyclists are special.
Oh do fuck off. No-one's claiming that. I see motorists break speed limits, block pavements and cut corners every day. Mini roundabouts are driven over more often than around. More people are killed on pavements by motorists than are killed in total by cyclists every year.
You were saying, Karl?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6e3xg5we9eyo