Scott Hastings versus mass hoards of angry people!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
Radio Scotland now....
(11 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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Scott wants strict liability to bring Scotland into line with Europe.
I never realised so many people have been injured by cyclists. Any casual listener to this 'debate' would conclude that the very roots of civilisation would crumble if any effort was made to placate or encourage cycling. If you imagine the EEN comments page being spoken on radio you'll get an idea. Scott was basically swamped by a huge reservoir of anti-cyclist prejudice. I expected as Scott was Scotland's most capped rugby player that the might have got a better reception. Some of the utter nonsense that was flung at him defied belief.
BBC iPlayer will have this available. Call Kaye - iPlayer link
Scott was 'appalled by what he sees..' he didn't condone iPods, undertaking etc etc. He was trying to 'reach out' to the pro-car majority but they were still jamming the prgramme with stories of wheelchair users getting hit by cyclists etc.
He didn't mention NWC at least! No-one did.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I missed that but, caught an expert advising on child transport. Either I heard wrong, or her take on utility cycling with your children is: don't do it. Take them to a nice park or Sustrans route.
One mention of the word 'tandem' but no expansion on that, although she did cover bakfiets, tagalongs, front and rear seats and what she kept calling chariots. Is that the technical term for trailers? Only ever heard them called that.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Chariots makes sense, aren't we all meant to be horses or something.
Posted 11 years ago # -
and what she kept calling chariots. Is that the technical term for trailers?
Chariot was one of the early manufacturers and is probably the most common genericised trademark for a two-wheeled kiddie trailer.
For single-wheelers I tend to call them 'Trailgators' or 'trailabikes' rather than 'tagalongs'.
Posted 11 years ago # -
"Chariots makes sense, aren't we all meant to be horses or something."
We need to recreate that Ben Hur scene with some bikes, chariots and the Redbraes cycle speedway track...
Posted 11 years ago # -
In reply, it was me on Radio Scotland today. It was a short item and so I could not cover all bases. You'll see that I have included tandems in a follow-up blog about to be posted on http://www.fionaoutdoors.co.uk
I wanted to reply to a couple of points: This one: "...I heard wrong, or her take on utility cycling with your children is: don't do it. Take them to a nice park or Sustrans route."
You did hear me wrong and haven't included all that I said. I mentioned that I did ride with my daughter in a back seat on roads when she was young but I wouldn't recommend for all. It is a matter of personal choice. The roads are busy and you are beholden to the kindness of other road users, which, as we all know, is not always so. I am very much behind the campaign to improve road conditions for all users, especially cyclists (I cycle all over the place) but to recommend that all parents go on the roads with kids in bike seats etc would be madness. Choose your routes to suit your experience, confidence and traffic levels.
Also, with regards to chariots/trailers. I have always known these as chariots. I first used one about 14 years ago. It makes sense to use this word but likewise trailers is a fairly good description too. Both are fairly commonly used :-)
Tagalongs I think are different from trailgators. Read my blog and see if it makes sense.
Anyway, thanks to those who listened and I was simply a guest on the show who was asked, in my experience as a cyclist and parent, to give a bit of advice and some of my tips. Nothing more... Happy cycling to you all.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@fiona - Thanks for popping along and clarifying - I'm glad you were misheard!
Robert
Posted 11 years ago # -
I couldn't listen to it much past the first few minutes - sorry fions - the predictabe torrent of outrage was too depressingly familiar.
If anything makes the case for strict liability, it's the attitude of drivers like those who phoned in. If they're driving around the place that angry then a deterrent is needed to make them think twice before taking that anger and 'frustration' out on a vulnerable road user.
Posted 11 years ago # -
*holds up hands* Mea culpa. Next time I'll iPlayerise before commenting on something I didn't listen to very carefully, for it was said only once.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@Uberuce - I did think about adding that there would be no malice in your mishearing (and honourable enough to have admitted of the possibility up front), but concluded that you were big enough and furry enough to speak for yourself...
<grin>
Robert
Posted 11 years ago #
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