is that people who don't like cycling are 'ostracised'.
at least according to:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/10330558/Take-a-stand-against-the-false-God-of-cycling.html
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
the new threat in the Uk ...
(16 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
-
What an utterly barmy and ill-thought out article. He mentions he doesn't like cycling, and I think it's going to be a diatribe that follows, but actually it's just that he doesn't 'enjoy' going out cycling, but prefers to play squash or football or go swimming. Which is fine. For some reason he thinks that he then gets abuse for telling people he doesn't like cycling.... Does he go on to explain that it's the actual physical activity of himself going cycling that he doesn't like? Or does he just say to cyclists, "I don't like cycling" in a way that suggests it's the whole thing about cycling and cyclists that he has a problem with? He might get less of a reaction if he explains himself...
And then there's the fact he loves walking. Good grief, but if the world was made better for cycling, with a reduction in cars that followed, he'd love walking even more!
I think Morningsider mentioned yesterday that he had no idea where this notion of the 'bicycle lobby' came from, because all evidence pointed to it not being terribly strong. This article is another example of that - for some reason people have it in their heads that the government in the UK is bending over backwards to please cyclists and do everything for them at the expense of everyone else. The sums involved in cycling infrastructure, and the simple evidence out on the roads, should really put that notion to bed, but for some reason it persists.
Posted 11 years ago # -
An interesting confusion over cycle as sport vs cycling as mode of transport.
Which brings up certain issues about demonstrating the difference between funding for the sport vs funding for transport mode.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I think the writer is a bit confused.
Part of the problem is 'cycling' - which is (currently) a high profile sport and an underfunded (not all that Leith Walk money is for cycling...) means of transport. Of course it suits politicians (especially when it comes to spending money) to lump it all together.
"
Secondly, I like walking. This gives me the opportunity to listen to a podcast, think about writing ideas, or simply to feel in touch with my environment. It is therapeutic and healthy, both for the mind and for the body. When I ride a bike, all of that is lost in favour of speed, danger, gritted teeth, and throbbing legs."
Well that's up to him how he rides - though if he does it in central London he may feel 'compelled' to go at speed.
Not sure how pleasant the walking is. A clear case of someone who should be an ally with 'cycling', but isn't - perhaps because of the way cycling is portrayed by too many people in various media outlets...
Posted 11 years ago # -
I'm sure this Telegraph article is nothing to do with News Group's support of cycling throught the Times' Cities fit for cycling campign and sponsorship of team Sky - a pure coincidence.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Standard issue newspaper comment piece.
Editor: There's loads of pro cycling stuff going on, we need an anti piece to create some debate (ie, get some hits on the website/sell more papers). Wallis Simons, you don't cycle do you? Give us a thousand words on how you don't like it. And remember we're the Telegraph, so make sure you go heavy on the dead hand of the state / civil liberties stuff, yeah?Posted 11 years ago # -
And now he's getting moaned at on Twitter, so that's really going to help.
Posted 11 years ago # -
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Every great revolution goes through 3 stages. First, they say it's impossible, then they say it conflicts with the Daily Mail, and finally they say they've always been behind it.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@Sallyhinch (& others) the "cycling lobby" may not be that big, but we can be quite noisy (especially on things like twitter) - comes of being a bunch of well educated, intelligent, articulate people...
Posted 11 years ago # -
...innit
Posted 11 years ago # -
And then there's the fact he loves walking.
Hold onto your hats but... I have to confess... I like both cycling and walking!!!
I was unaware that cyclists disliked people who walked... I mean, every one of us hates football players, squash players and swimmers - everyone knows that (and for reasons so obvious we don't need to mention them) - but walkers?
Seriously, I know a lot of these opinion pieces are based on "issues" the writer decided to make up, but this idea that cyclists are at war with anyone who chooses a different form of exercise just takes things to a new level.
Posted 11 years ago # -
And the "cyclists have stolen my libraries" false equivalence is even more nonsense.
Why not "paying child support to parents = library closures" or "hosting the Olympics = library closures"?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Or even "renewing Trident = library closures", "building HS2 = library closures", "new aircraft carriers = library closures", or perhaps "(almost) everyone owns smartphones = library closures"
Posted 11 years ago # -
I wouldn't pay too much attention to the article, *everyone* needs something to whinge about:
Cycling costs too much.
Duelling the A9 costs too much.
The new FRB costs too much.
HS2 costs too much.Incidentally, on the 'sport' thing I can understand his musings, remember high school?
"What team do you support"
"Team?"
"What football team do you support?"
"Football, hmm, not really my thing"
"HA HA, HA HA, @Baldcyclist's (wan't called that at school ;) ) a p..f, what a p..f HA, HA, HA."That attitude still apparent today in some circles (wife's family), sexuality never usually questioned now, but that confused look of , You don't like football? oh, you like cycling with the slow head nod suggesting rabies at least, if not something more highly dreadful or contagious.
Posted 11 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
posts
