On Aug 16, 6:54*pm, Dave - Cyclists VOR
wrote:
On 16/08/2012 16:12, pensive hamster wrote:
[...]
I did not
say that the research itself was 'selective' or 'misleading'. I said
your quote from what appears to be an interim assessment (not the
final research) was selective and misleading. You seem to be cherry-
picking the research.

Not at all. *The research said, quite clearly;

"Many people barely recognise the bicycle as a legitimate mode of
transport; it is either a toy for children or a
vehicle fit only for the poor and/or strange. For them, cycling is a bit
embarrassing, they fail to see its purpose, and have no interest in
integrating it into their lives, certainly on a regular basis."

Do let me know if you have trouble with some of the big words.



Further, you do not provide a link to the actual research report so
that the reader can judge the research for themselves. You expect them
to accept your summary of the research.

I have in the past. *It's public domain, GIFFS.



I am guessing that you are probably quoting from the Guardian article
on the research.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...ling-campaigns
http://preview.tinyurl.com/4xozyvx

The Guardian article does contain the quote from Dave Horton that you
like so much that you have adopted it for your sig. But it also
contains the following, which for some reason you have omitted from
your sig:

'A key finding was that the small numbers of people who do try cycling
tend to be intimidated by overwhelmingly car-oriented urban layouts.

'Even to experienced riders these often resemble "a dangerous obstacle
course", Horton said. "The minority of people who cycle in English
cities tend to do so despite, not because of, existing conditions.
Some people try cycling, but are quickly put off." '

So part of the reason why many people do not cycle, according to Dave
Horton, is that they find the roads to be dangerous.

Looking again at the part which you do quote, it includes the
following:

" [For] Many people... the bicycle ... is either a toy for children or
a vehicle fit only for the poor and/or strange ... For them, cycling
is a bit embarrassing'

Have you read the full report? I would be impressed if you have. I
haven't, I'm not that bothered. The reason I ask, is because I wonder
if the report analyses the socio-economic profile of those holding the
views that you quote. I expect it skirts round that issue.

I would imagine the kind of people who see cycling as a bit
embarrassing, something fit only for the poor and/or strange, are
people who are sensitive to the way they think other people might see
them. They are predominantly lower-class and aspirant lower middle-
class, who would be embarrassed to think that others might see them as
the kind of people who couldn't afford to run a car, who are forced by
necessity to cycle. They couldn't bear the shame. As an April 2012
newspaper article put it:

__________________
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/me...mpetitive.html
http://preview.tinyurl.com/cc3g2ol
[...]
In Britain, cycling has long been sniffed at as the forced option of
the working class, rank with images of flat-capped factory hands and
straw-chewing codgers weaving down farm tracks.

This is no longer the case. According to Mintel, the leading retail
analyst, the wealthier people are, the more likely they are to ride
bikes. ...
__________________


So how about you, Dave? Where are you on the socio-economic scale? Do
you sniff at cycling because you don't want to be seen as working
class, as a strange straw-chewing codger? Or are you more like Dave
(Cameron) and Boris?



You seem to have, as the fragrant Mary Archer said of her husband, 'a
talent for inaccurate précis'.

How do you know Mary Archer is fragrant?


You should follow your own advice and GIFFS. Admittedly, I do not
personally know for sure that Mary Archer is fragrant, but I see no
reason to doubt the opinion of Mr Justice Caulfield, who, after all,
oversaw her cross-examination.


I suppose she would be
compared to a sweaty, smellycyclisthusband.


What makes you think her husband might be a sweaty, smelly cyclist? I
have no reason to suppose that Jeffrey is anything other than
perfectly groomed at all times.

In any case, he might well consider you a lower-class oik who is not
worth suing. So you are probably safe.

[...]
Grown men riding children's toys? *Clad in fluorescent lycra?

OK, I agree about the fluorescent lycra.

As Mr Clarkson said "dressed like extras in a gay rave movie".


Unlike Mr Clarkson, I am a stranger to gay rave movies.

[...]
If cyclists had any social skills & interacted with normal people, they
would realise how they are perceived.


You really haven't got the hang of this snobbery thing, have you? If
you had better social skills, you would realise that over-generalising
about any category of people can be a bit of a give away; people may
perceive you as a bit weird, someone with a bee in their bonnet.

Yes there are some strange cyclists, but there are plenty of normal
ones too, and even some posh ones. Perhaps you just haven't met any?