CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 16years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
TODAY (Tuesday 13 August 2013)
"
Are you one of the growing number of cyclists in the UK? If not, why not?
The Government has announced plans to spend over ninety million pounds to make it easier and safer to cycle in England. David Cameron wants to create a "new generation of cyclists" and a "cycling revolution."But there's a long way to go. while over thirty percent of those in the Netherlands cite a bike as their main mode of transport... SHOW MORE
"
1st call er complaining cbout amount of space given to cyclists by veh drivers.
2nd caller already complaining about cyclists running red lights, barreling through peds and cars.
3rd caller from Cambridge resident suggesting how the money can be spent better on certain infrastructure for cyclists, and making infrastructure safer.
4th caller, related his experience of being knocked off by both a vehicle and other cyclists, riding on the pavement.
Various comments from both drivers and cyclists via the call office reporter.
CTC and RAC now in the show. CTC happy at a 'start', long over due. Cycling revolution, and its worth investing in cycling.
RAC supporting this investment. Roads appear a place of comflict, and anything to reduce this is welcome. RAC spokesperson says money invested on cycle infrastructure, not wasted, as suggested by reporters comments from other callers. Suggests infrastructure should be evidence based and built on helpful input from cyclists, rather than blandly building cycling infrastructure which is not effective.
CTC - suggests not just spending on tarmac. More training, drivers and cyclists, in schools etc..
RAC - more enforcment of the law to both cyclists and motorists.
Next caller from NI, commenting on Towpaths being used as highspeed routes for cyclists, and the problems. Asks has risk assesment been done on these tow paths. Suggetss plenty of cycling infrastructure on roads, in bus lanes etc.. Why is nothing done about this...
Twenty minutes was all I could take. Sorry.
Critical point, who is the more vunerable on the road? suggesting pedestrians?
RAC - saying cyclists should be more polite, CTC agrees, and suggests drivers should not be agressive either.
Caller - Cycles children to school - 8 & 11, very impatient drivers driving and parking near school. School trips, result in illegal parking near schools, by parents who live nearer school than he.
Caller - Tax cyclists. He is a cyclists, and suggests taxing cyclists as a way or giving drivers a reason to allow cyclists on the roads, as they pay their way.
Wonder if anyone will suggest we do pay our way already in Council tax.
CTC - backs this up - Driving cyclists pay VED too. But last thing we should bring in is a discuragement by taxing cyclists. Obese britain = more cycling not discouraging by taxing.
RAC - Tax on cyclists would create a beaurachracy and not 'pay its own way' never mind raise funds.
Caller now - Weighing up all calls to date, give cyclists bike lights to give a head start - in addition to ASLs.
The Hauge, on the second half of the program - News Now?
Reporter from call room. War between drivers and cyclists, swerving at cyclists. Welcomes investment but more cycling infrastructuremust be joined up.
Next person - Presumed responsibility for accidents for drivers.
Caller - professional cyclist. Doesn't like Cycle Tax, not the way forward. mutual respect for everyone.
He picks more quiet roads, not main highways. The problem with smaller roads is a too high speed limit for smaller lanes, National speed limit for narrow lanes! Speed limit is a limit not a target speed.
HVGs having blind spots - cyclists take care of themselves, but also drivers cutting up cyclists wile they're in cycle lanes. Be aware of whats around you. Ppl on mobile phones all the time.
Bikeability trainer seems to be advocating 'tests' for cyclist.
Cycling instructor next caller. 'what ever happen to cycle proficiency'. Bikeability now delivered to year 6 children. Trying to get this introduced a year earlier, or more. More training and longer training rather than just a couple of weeks a year.
Sharing roads - bikeability - now is more important. Boris bikes being used by people who don't have much road training/sense? Drunks using Boris Bikes? Commuters with little training, causing problems for other road users.
Next Caller - 1, Insurance. Cyclists have no insurance. If cyclists have insurance and they die, as the cyclist who was moan down by her son, then their dependents would have finacial backup. Scared horses, hobbie cyclists - scaring everyone, shouting, large groups - where is this going. Cyclist should have insurance!
More training for cyclists. Free as some complain about lack of money to pay for training, adults as well as children.
CTC - almost all cyclists don't have training but should. Basic road craft is sometimes known, but respect is basic. A few irrisponsible cyclists harming drivers respect for all cyclists.
Boris bikes again. All BB carry a flashing light - may explain lower accident rates for BBs.
Now to the Hague.
Anna again. Basic history. sounds like a prerecorded peice. More on Dutch cycling history. Dutch started early.
Asking about her experience on her cycle from The Hague to London. Dutch side = nice. UK side - nothing, or what there was very discontinuous. No courtecy from other road users. To get to cycle paths you have to cross busy road infrastructure. This would never be like this in Holland. UK residents complaining about unsafe roads detering them from cycling. In Holland cycling is more natural, normal clothes, large slow bikes, more relaxed. We need that here, says Boris in sound bite.
Dutch say - UK should pursue dutch policies, Cycle ambasador, speaking about how Dutch can export their experiences to UK.
Caller, from Denmark. Demark cycling wonderfull. Loads of road, wide routes. More induces to cycling. Cycling long established in Denmark. UK only just making an impact on cycling. Recounts his accident in UK. In Denmark, less oftern, plus not many hills.
Next caller - from Germany. Good network, feel safe, less stressful. Motorists appear to get along with cyclists - mutual respect.
Next caller - now asking why money spent on roads instead of education. We already have roads. Is money urban centric (except for national parks, why?)
Next caller - now asking why money spent on roads instead of education. We already have roads. Is money urban centric (except for national parks, why?)
UK can be a cycletopia if only we keep investing.
Last caller cycled through Hamburg in 19.. oatcake. Segrigated cycling even then. Also cycled through Netherlands in 18. oatcake. even better. We still haven't caught up. Markings on ground a sticking plaster - not enough.
@DaveC
THANKS for all of that -
Good précis.
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