"Cyclists think they own the roads. They don't" (Telegraph)

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"Cyclists think they own the roads. They don't" (Telegraph)

(19 posts)

Started 8 years ago by chdot
Latest reply from Wilmington's Cow

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chdot
Admin

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/goodlife/11707713/Cyclists-think-they-own-the-roads.-They-dont.html

"

Angela Epstein is an experienced journalist and broadcaster who has worked in the media for 25 years.

She regularly writes comment and opinion pieces for the Daily Mail as well as general features and health articles for the paper.

A frequent guest on television debates, Angela's credits include Question Time , Newsnight, This Morning, Day Break and Sunday Morning Live. She was also the subject of a Channel 4 Cutting Edge documentary about 'real life' journalism.

She is a regular contributor to Radio 2's Jeremy Vine Show, various programmes on Five Live as well as Woman`s Hour, PM and You and Yours on Radio 4.

"

http://www.angelaepstein.co.uk/bio/

(And she rides a bike.)

Posted 8 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

Ah, what a wonderful article of cliches (always frustrates me when people who churn out this stuff are professionals).

"Actually, I’ve owned a bike since the age of seven. And my husband is a fanatic. His bike is the third person in our marriage (though he limits his biking to off road).

Admittedly my bike is for leisure rather than transport, so I restrict myself to flat coastline cycle paths or designated cycle areas. My favourite is Parsley Hay where there are miles of routes along old railway lines across across the central and southern peak district."

I think I can start to see why she doesn't understand road commuting.

"But surely, cycling is quite different to driving. That's why cyclists need to take a compulsory proficiency test and have an MOT certificate for their bike. And why isn't the wearing of helmets compulsory?"

If it's 'different' to driving then why is she advocating the 'same' measures as for driving? I don't get this line. And then the helmet thing is thrown in there. Hasn't been mentioned before, doesn't get mentioned again, just the query, with nothing backing it up. Just.... There....

Posted 8 years ago #
lorlane
Member

Having a quick look at her twitter feed she seems to be a goady, Katie Hopkins wannabe, stirring up hate and intolerance left, right and centre.

Posted 8 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

Yep, i.e. not worth the effort.

Posted 8 years ago #
lorlane
Member

And on the day she tweeted about her upcoming itv "blast off about selfish cyclists and biking vigilantes" a woman cyclist was killed by an HGV driver.

Posted 8 years ago #
Min
Member

It reminded me of breast feeding mothers ---- who believe their choice is an inalienable right which shouldn't be contradicted.

Eh?

At least she doesn't mention "road tax".

(scratch that, I missed the bit under the twitter feed thinking that was the end of the article.)

Posted 8 years ago #
wingpig
Member

Is there such a thing as a person who is not Katie Hopkins actually wanting to be Katie Hopkins?

One day, real journalists will infiltrate all these frothbag nutpapers, find their patented Clickbait Tombolamatic machines and destroy them each in turn.

Posted 8 years ago #
chdot
Admin

'Problem is' stuff like this gets offered/accepted or commissioned.

At least there is a range of quotes from 'opposers'.

Gender of writer is coincidental, but 'unfortunate' in the sense that there are fewer women (than men) cycling - 'status quo' articles like this can't really encourage more people to cycle.

Of course 'we' want more people to cycle - for various reasons - there are still those who would rather there were fewer people on bikes.

Or at least prefer them not to be on 'their' roads.

Need more people who write "comment and opinion pieces for the Daily Mail as well as general features and health articles for the paper" more 'in favour' of more cycling.

Posted 8 years ago #
neddie
Member

The old "19,000 cyclists were killed or injured in road accidents" is one that the cyclist-haters and car advertisers love to quote (Volvo, I'm looking at you).

This is because it makes it sound like thousands of cyclists have been killed (when in fact it more like several 10s) and it's such an extreme and dangerous thing to do.

Note also the use of 'accidents'

Posted 8 years ago #
ARobComp
Member

"And why isn't the wearing of helmets compulsory?"

Glad she's done literally no research.

Posted 8 years ago #
gibbo
Member

@ARobComp

"Glad she's done literally no research."

Made me laugh out loud.

"I'm sure someone has asked this question before... and I'm sure someone has answered it... but I'm a busy journalist, so you can't expect me to have the time to look up something on Google..."

Posted 8 years ago #
Nelly
Member

Also usual poor 'national' journo practice of confusing her "experience" in London with what happens in the rest of the UK.

I have seen some pretty poor cycling in London........but I have also seen some truly horrific, dangerous driving by cars/trucks down there.

Feel a bit dirty clicking the link now.

Posted 8 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"Glad she's done literally no research."

I think you misunderstand modern day ~~journ~~opionalism!

It's about opinions/feelings/prejudice.

Some of it is deliberate controversialism, some of it is actual ignorance, but a lot is just telling people what they want to hear.

The latter could also cover views in (for instance) the Guardian.

We are 'lucky' that Boris and Dave are 'cyclists' and so the UK Gov is less likely to pay too much attention to this sort of thing than it once was.

Posted 8 years ago #
acsimpson
Member

"Meanwhile getting 'on yer bike' is open to, well, anyone. Only the other day, I saw two teenagers wobbling along on what appeared to be rickety death traps. In the absence of an MOT to ensure road worthiness and no palpable skill behind the handle bars, I gave them a huge berth, trundling slowly behind for fear of trying to overtake."

so is that the secret to stopping ugly passes from drivers who shouldn't have obtained a licence in the first place.

Posted 8 years ago #
mgj
Member

Actually, I think that she will find that the British State owns the road network, so as taxpayers on above average incomes as cyclists are often reported to be, 'we' own the roads more than drivers...

Posted 8 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"so is that the secret to stopping ugly passes from drivers who shouldn't have obtained a licence in the first place."

Well some people do use 'wobbling erratically' as a 'safety strategy'!

Posted 8 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"so as taxpayers"

Yes, there are times when Govs talk about 'hard pressed tax payers and their hard earned money', but generally nether act as though THEY (Govs) actually own it all.

Jacob Rees-Mogg says that Gov not entitled/able to devolve Crown Estates because it's only being held in trust for Monarch...

Posted 8 years ago #
Stickman
Member

A better version of this article (NSFW)

https://beyondthekerb.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/drivers-think-they-own-the-roads/

If ever I need legal advice I will be seeking out Chufty McGrumblethump of Cockburn Cockburn McGrumblethump solicitors.

Posted 8 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

Genius, as ever, from Bez. Thanks for that Stickman, brilliant read :)

Posted 8 years ago #

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