On Sunday, March 17, 2019 at 4:30:18 PM UTC, Peter Parry wrote:
On Sat, 16 Mar 2019 15:17:42 -0700 (PDT), Simon Jester
wrote:

On Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 4:31:44 PM UTC, Peter Parry wrote:
On Sat, 16 Mar 2019 06:49:14 -0700 (PDT), Simon Jester
wrote:

s I have said many times it is not about what cyclists do but who they are.

No, its what _ some_ of them do where "some" is unfortunately a large
number. Cyclists are not a single community. There are at least two
major groups .

The first don't even consider themselves cyclists and wouldn't dream
of joining a club for it. They are the ever declining group of
utility cyclists. Largely invisible on roads they go shopping and
post letters. They push their bikes up hills, stop at junctions and
traffic lights and give pedestrians on crossings priority and a smile.
They go out in the same clothes they wear daily. At places like
school entrances they will slow down and may dismount and walk not
because they have to but because it is the right thing to do. Nobody
minds them in the least. Wholly un represented by cyclist pressure
groups they would like more cycle tracks and think 5 or 6 MPH is good
going. Holland is still full of them.


That is 99% of UK cyclists and the number of utility cyclists is increasing.

It is more like 5% and decreasing. It is also predicted to fall
further as many utility cyclists are age above 50 and approaching an
age whether historically they start to give up with bikes.

As you pointed out the vast majority of UK cyclists just get on with the job and have no interest in cycling issues. The number of such cyclists is increasing.


The second group are the combat cyclists, Alfa minus males in the
statutory uniform of lurid Lycra festooned with advertising slogans,
rainbow sunglasses and fingerless gloves. Nearly all are male and
between 25 and 45.

0.1% of UK cyclists.

I'm afraid not, although the same influence of age will start to come
through as for both groups the number of younger riders joining either
group are falling.


The Lycra Brigade are more visible and more vocal but, as you point out, are a minority


They are the people who run things as "cyclists representatives" They
hate mention of dedicated cycle lanes and go on about the "right to
ride" as a quasi religious ideal. They think the very young and the
elderly should stop being wimps and take the lane as vehicular
cyclists 6ft in front of 40 tonnes of articulated lorry.

Cyclists do have a right to use the roads.

Cyclist are usually well versed in their "rights", unfortunately not
so on their responsibilities. The opposition of the major cyclists
organisations to segregated facilities is well documented. Similarly
the promotion of the idiotic "vehicular cycling" by Franklin and the
CTC has done more to diminish cycling than anything else.

Just like motorists who tell u s they have a RIGHT to drive 10%+2mph above the speed limit.
I have never met a cyclist who attempted to murder me for walking in the road.


If decent cycle facilities are provided cyclists will use them.

But the cycling groups will argue against them (as they have since the
very first one was made). They support the Hierarchy of Provision
aimed at improving the lot for the vehicular cyclist and ignore the
utility cyclist completely.

Precisely.
Pedestrians, Equestrians and Cyclists have a RIGHT to use roads. Motor vehicle operators are sponging freeloaders who are permitted to use roads under licence.