CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Flat party conversations with strangers

(4 posts)
  • Started 9 years ago by dougal
  • Latest reply from Wilmington's Cow

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  1. dougal
    Member

    Rambling about "large groups of cyclists" causing "dangerous overtakes". I tried to get across the point that it was the overtaking that was dangerous so it was the person deciding on the manoeuvre that was responsible for any danger. Then we were onto horses on the roads. It was very late and I had been drinking so didn't want to press the point because I knew nothing of value would be gained.

    But it was interesting meeting someone who (despite using a bike on a casual basis to get around town) was still firmly of the mindset that cyclists were the ones causing trouble, being antagonistic, etc. Even among the petrolheads at work it's not an opinion that people tend to voice.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  2. crowriver
    Member

    "Even among the petrolheads at work it's not an opinion that people tend to voice."

    Drink loosens the tongue and washes away inhibitions. At work, folk are more circumspect.....doesn't mean they don't hold those views, they just don't feel free to voice them (until they've had a few).

    Posted 9 years ago #

  3. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I regularly get a colleague shuffle up to me to complain about cyclists for whatever reason. Apparently because I cycle to work I need to be told of anything he might have seen on his way home that involved a bike. He usually shuffles off again when I remind him about the three different sets of penalty points he has for speeding, driving on a mobile phone and driving through a red light (in his "defence" he was overtaking someone whom he thought was going too slow and didn't see the red light...)

    If I'd had a few I'd certainly be less diplomatic in my dismissal of him.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  4. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    I used to have a very similar colleague who felt she had to tell me whenever she had witnessed a cyclist doing something daft (strangely I didn't tell her every time I saw a driver doing something daft).

    Anyway, one day the conversation got onto road casualties, and me pointing out the manifestly huge difference in the number caused by drivers. In all seriousness she went on to suggest that most of the injuries and deaths caused by drivers were probably them avoiding errant cyclists.

    Posted 9 years ago #

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