VELIB in London. miraculous advance in science mooted.

More chuffing knobbery:

Boris insists on safe cycling for bike hire scheme.

The bikes will have automatic lights which go on as soon as the rider
starts pedalling.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...eme/article.do

Automatic lights!

That go on as soon as the cyclist pedals!!!!

You'd think there was a shorter way to describe such a magical advance
in science.


Maybe the bikes will also come fitted with a small metallic dome that
could be pinged to make an audible warning noise?

spindrift wrote, On 13/02/2009 12:29:


I hope they come with toroidal polymer pressurised gas enclosures for
efficient interface with external surfaces.

LN



--

Professor of Madeupology at the
University of Myhouse

spindrift wrote:
More chuffing knobbery:

Boris insists on safe cycling for bike hire scheme.

The bikes will have automatic lights which go on as soon as the rider
starts pedalling.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...eme/article.do

Automatic lights!

That go on as soon as the cyclist pedals!!!!

I presume they will have bottom bracket dynamos then.
I would have thought hub dynamos would be better though.

You'd think there was a shorter way to describe such a magical advance
in science.

You must remember, that this article is not aimed at people who know
what a bottom bracket dynamo is, this is aimed at the general public.


Martin.

On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:31:05 +0000, Martin
wrote:

spindrift wrote:
More chuffing knobbery:

Boris insists on safe cycling for bike hire scheme.

The bikes will have automatic lights which go on as soon as the rider
starts pedalling.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...eme/article.do

Automatic lights!

That go on as soon as the cyclist pedals!!!!

I presume they will have bottom bracket dynamos then.
I would have thought hub dynamos would be better though.

Assuming the wheels move as soon as the rider pedals, a hub dynamo
would have the same effect.

I notice one comment on the article refers to mandatory helmets. Is
this really a requirement?

On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:02:52 +0000, Peter Grange
said in
:

I notice one comment on the article refers to mandatory helmets. Is
this really a requirement?

A few RSOs and the usual suspects are pressing for that, but the
scheme's backers have rightly pointed out to them that it would be
completely unworkable. There is talk of a code of practice which
may or may not include that, but last I heard the scheme was going
to hand out a leaflet with the bikes which gives safety advice from
a number of sources, including CTC and BHRF, so it is likely that
they will ultimately go with Plan A which was to encourage people to
cycle rather than to discourage people from cycling other than in
the way which a subset of people consider "right".

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk
85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound
GPG sig #3FA3BCDE http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/pgp-public-key.txt

On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:02:42 +0000, "Just zis Guy, you know?"
wrote:

On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:02:52 +0000, Peter Grange
said in
:

I notice one comment on the article refers to mandatory helmets. Is
this really a requirement?

A few RSOs and the usual suspects are pressing for that, but the
scheme's backers have rightly pointed out to them that it would be
completely unworkable. There is talk of a code of practice which
may or may not include that, but last I heard the scheme was going
to hand out a leaflet with the bikes which gives safety advice from
a number of sources, including CTC and BHRF, so it is likely that
they will ultimately go with Plan A which was to encourage people to
cycle rather than to discourage people from cycling other than in
the way which a subset of people consider "right".

Guy

Thanks for that, I couldn't see a helmet neing added to the handbag
just in case one wanted to use one of Boris's Bikes.

We need a name for Boris's Bikes really. Borisicle?

On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:02:42 +0000, "Just zis Guy, you know?"
wrote:

On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:02:52 +0000, Peter Grange
said in
:

I notice one comment on the article refers to mandatory helmets. Is
this really a requirement?

A few RSOs and the usual suspects are pressing for that, but the
scheme's backers have rightly pointed out to them that it would be
completely unworkable. There is talk of a code of practice which
may or may not include that, but last I heard the scheme was going
to hand out a leaflet with the bikes which gives safety advice from
a number of sources, including CTC and BHRF,



I love the way that you use the BHRF as if it is some authoritative
body - it isn't.

British Helmet Research Foundation - my arse.

" an incorporated body with an international membership" - my word it
is a grand body.

I see that they claim: "to undertake, encourage, and spread the
scientific study of the use of bicycle helmets, in the context of risk
compensation and sustainable transport".
(As long as the studies try and show helmets in a poor light)

Most odd - they were set up to promote the message:

"Message: Helmets are not beneficial to cyclists (unless the evidence
forces us to a dramatically different conclusion.)"

Is this their message now? Reading their pages - it most certainly
is.

BHRF - well the B can't stand for balance:

Just have a look at their links:

19 papers listed on evidence supportive of cycle helmets

57 papers sceptical of helmet effectiveness or promotion.

--
I encourage my children to wear helmets. (Guy Chapman)
I have never said that I encourage my children to wear helmets. (Guy
Chapman)
I would challenge judith to find the place where I said I encourage
my children to wear helmets. (Guy Chapman)
I pointed out the web page
He then quickly changed the web page - but "forgot" to change the date
of last amendment so it looked like the change had been there for
years.

"Peter Grange" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:02:42 +0000, "Just zis Guy, you know?"
wrote:

On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:02:52 +0000, Peter Grange
said in
:

I notice one comment on the article refers to mandatory helmets. Is
this really a requirement?

A few RSOs and the usual suspects are pressing for that, but the
scheme's backers have rightly pointed out to them that it would be
completely unworkable. There is talk of a code of practice which
may or may not include that, but last I heard the scheme was going
to hand out a leaflet with the bikes which gives safety advice from
a number of sources, including CTC and BHRF, so it is likely that
they will ultimately go with Plan A which was to encourage people to
cycle rather than to discourage people from cycling other than in
the way which a subset of people consider "right".

Guy

Thanks for that, I couldn't see a helmet neing added to the handbag
just in case one wanted to use one of Boris's Bikes.

We need a name for Boris's Bikes really. Borisicle?

I guess it depends on who makes them. Giant blond mop? Dawes - locked out
of front... Political Carrera is on the slide?