Drivers want road test for cyclists (Observer article)

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_ne...125629,00.html

My response

rant

1) You'll notice all the 'Useful links' at the bottom of the report
are to motoring organisations and the Special Reports are for Cars,
Transport, Oil and Petrol. Now that should indicate the objectiveness
of the article.

2) The title 'Drivers want road test for cyclist' should read
'Motoring Organisations wishing to promote themselves are calling for
road tests for cyclists'

3) The lycra louts referred to are kids who ride on the pavement in
black clothes with no lights (at night). They have no right to be
there and 95% of fellow cyclists and 100% of pedestrians despise them.

4) There is no 'unprecedented campaign' just the usual press articles
'we love cars, we hate cyclists'.

5) The demand is for stiffer penalties (above the usual). Note we also
suffer from lack of enforcement of penalties. Even the RAC agrees on
this.

6) The MP, Eric Martlew represents Carlisle but is looking to solve a
London problem. Carlisle is about 800km from London. His argument is
against lack of enforcement. Something he's been elected to solve !

7) I agree about cyclists not stopping at red lights. My estimates are
50% don't (similar to RAC findings). Whether you do or don't is a
function of how long you have been riding or how many accidents you've
had.

8) A Private members bills (amendments to legislation) (to force young
members to where helmets or face fines) can be raised by a single MP.
Bills that survive the 'suggestion phase' then progress to the
Committee Stage. In 2001-02, 8 out of 114 bills were successful.

9) Andrew Howard says 'There is an element of lawlessness among pedal
cyclists and they sometimes need reminding that there are people more
vulnerable than them on the roads.' Perhaps the focus should be on the
number of lawless car users.

10) The main bugbear is the increased cost of insurance to
organisations from the new proposed European legislation.

/rant

"David Cowie" wrote in message
news
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_ne...125629,00.html

My response

rant

Count the number of car ads in that paper.

"David Cowie" wrote in message
news
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_ne...125629,00.html

2) The title 'Drivers want road test for cyclist' should read
'Motoring Organisations wishing to promote themselves are calling for
road tests for cyclists'

No they don't.
The journalist asked a few questions, and they did not say anything of the
sort.

In news David Cowie typed:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_ne...125629,00.html

My response
6) The MP, Eric Martlew represents Carlisle but is looking to solve a
London problem. Carlisle is about 800km from London. His argument is
against lack of enforcement. Something he's been elected to solve !

about 500km, actually. Aberdeen is about 800km from London.

A

David Cowie wrote:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_ne...125629,00.html

My response

rant

1) You'll notice all the 'Useful links' at the bottom of the report
are to motoring organisations and the Special Reports are for Cars,
Transport, Oil and Petrol. Now that should indicate the objectiveness
of the article.

2) The title 'Drivers want road test for cyclist' should read
'Motoring Organisations wishing to promote themselves are calling for
road tests for cyclists'

3) The lycra louts referred to are kids who ride on the pavement in
black clothes with no lights (at night). They have no right to be
there and 95% of fellow cyclists and 100% of pedestrians despise them.

4) There is no 'unprecedented campaign' just the usual press articles
'we love cars, we hate cyclists'.

5) The demand is for stiffer penalties (above the usual). Note we also
suffer from lack of enforcement of penalties. Even the RAC agrees on
this.

6) The MP, Eric Martlew represents Carlisle but is looking to solve a
London problem. Carlisle is about 800km from London. His argument is
against lack of enforcement. Something he's been elected to solve !

7) I agree about cyclists not stopping at red lights. My estimates are
50% don't (similar to RAC findings). Whether you do or don't is a
function of how long you have been riding or how many accidents you've
had.

8) A Private members bills (amendments to legislation) (to force young
members to where helmets or face fines) can be raised by a single MP.
Bills that survive the 'suggestion phase' then progress to the
Committee Stage. In 2001-02, 8 out of 114 bills were successful.

9) Andrew Howard says 'There is an element of lawlessness among pedal
cyclists and they sometimes need reminding that there are people more
vulnerable than them on the roads.' Perhaps the focus should be on the
number of lawless car users.

10) The main bugbear is the increased cost of insurance to
organisations from the new proposed European legislation.

/rant

The article is a load of tosh IMHO, I am adriver and cyclist, I am a
motorist and cyclist and I don't want a test for cyclists, I would like all
cyclists to be law abiding ones, a test would not make that happen just like
a magical driving licence does not make all the lights on my car stay
illuminated or my speed to remain within legal limits. My own regard for
the law and safety does. The fear of getting caught and nicked will deter
offenders not test. Failing or not taking a cycling test will not deter
anyone who wants to ride a bike. Whichever motorists want a road test for
cyclists are living in cloud cuckoo land. But I guess we all know this
already.

martin


--
The Reply & From email addresses are checked rarely.
http://www.mseries.freeserve.co.uk

David Cowie wrote in message . ..

5) The demand is for stiffer penalties (above the usual). Note we also
suffer from lack of enforcement of penalties. Even the RAC agrees on
this.

All that's required is enforcement of existing laws on pavement
cycling, traffic lights, and cycle lighting at night. While they're
about it, it would be nice if they would start fining motorists who
use the cycle lanes.

6) The MP, Eric Martlew represents Carlisle but is looking to solve a
London problem. Carlisle is about 800km from London. His argument is
against lack of enforcement. Something he's been elected to solve !

Suddenly Eric Martlew is an authority on cycling because of his
private member's bill. If enacted the bill would destroy any faint
remaining hope of reaching the government's target for cycling, at the
same time dealing a serious blow to public health just when obsesity
in the young is becoming a serious issue.

--
Dave...

"Ambrose Nankivell" wrote in message ...
In news David Cowie typed:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_ne...125629,00.html
Carlisle is about 800km from London. His argument is
against lack of enforcement. Something he's been elected to solve !

about 500km, actually. Aberdeen is about 800km from London.

Cut David some slack. He's only a colonial. :-)

--
Dave...

David Cowie posted ...

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_ne...125629,00.html

My response

rant

I guess you'd find similar, biased towards cycling rather than cars,
articles in the cycling press too ..

--
Paul

"David Cowie" wrote in message
news
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_ne...125629,00.html

My response

rant

1) You'll notice all the 'Useful links' at the bottom of the report
are to motoring organisations and the Special Reports are for Cars,
Transport, Oil and Petrol. Now that should indicate the objectiveness
of the article.

2) The title 'Drivers want road test for cyclist' should read
'Motoring Organisations wishing to promote themselves are calling for
road tests for cyclists'

3) The lycra louts referred to are kids who ride on the pavement in
black clothes with no lights (at night). They have no right to be
there and 95% of fellow cyclists and 100% of pedestrians despise them.

4) There is no 'unprecedented campaign' just the usual press articles
'we love cars, we hate cyclists'.

5) The demand is for stiffer penalties (above the usual). Note we also
suffer from lack of enforcement of penalties. Even the RAC agrees on
this.

6) The MP, Eric Martlew represents Carlisle but is looking to solve a
London problem. Carlisle is about 800km from London. His argument is
against lack of enforcement. Something he's been elected to solve !

7) I agree about cyclists not stopping at red lights. My estimates are
50% don't (similar to RAC findings). Whether you do or don't is a
function of how long you have been riding or how many accidents you've
had.

8) A Private members bills (amendments to legislation) (to force young
members to where helmets or face fines) can be raised by a single MP.
Bills that survive the 'suggestion phase' then progress to the
Committee Stage. In 2001-02, 8 out of 114 bills were successful.

9) Andrew Howard says 'There is an element of lawlessness among pedal
cyclists and they sometimes need reminding that there are people more
vulnerable than them on the roads.' Perhaps the focus should be on the
number of lawless car users.

10) The main bugbear is the increased cost of insurance to
organisations from the new proposed European legislation.


Most adult cyclists have passed a driving test and are car owners.
Paul