This is what I'd said in response to someone else:
"#71 - I don't think cars are evil. I've got a car. I've got a very nice car. A rather sporty little number (the username may possibly be a clue). What I don't like are two things - unnecessary use of the car (with accompanying excuses as to why public transport of self-propelment is 'impossible'); and a feeling of 'might is right' that seems to surround the car that leads to comments, such as in this thread, that any sort of control on the car is seen as 'anti-motorist' or an attack (someone here even complained about pedestrian crossing lights causing hold-ups - those selfish pedestrians wanting to cross the road safely). Necessary evil is the spot-on phrase (though as with all 'evil' things it can be fun). Day-to-day I choose to cycle; it means the car remains 'fun'. There also seems to be a total lack of understanding that if you empty the buses, and remove the cyclists, for all of them to get in a car... the streets are going to be rather full... In short I hate misguided and incorrect victim-assumption; environmental (meaning the immediate environment of sound and look, not 'green') impact; and legitimisation of illegal or anti-social acts (that simply doesn't happen with anything else. I. Love. My. Car."
And this was the response from Freewheelin':
"#72, this is something I see often. Cycling activists who own cars, BUT claim that their case is "different". They only use it when absolutely neccessary(,open to argument). Live in the Grange, in an Architect redesigned house, runs a BMW 4x4, but they say, that their case is "different". MMMhh really ?"
Then my two responses (thus far not answered):
"@Freewheelin ??? Sorry? Not sure what I said that was saying my case is different? I ride according to the rules of the road; I drive according to the rules of the road... And I'm in Duddingston in a 30s Bungalow and own a Mini - one car between the two of us... I ride every day and run citycycling.co.uk. Not eeeeentirely sure what I've done wrong in your eyes, or is everyone who cycles not allowed to own a car???"
"Actually, @Freewheelin, counter-intuitive though it seems, the car is also helping me get my other half back on the bike after being scared off the road a couple of years back. http:www.citycycling.co.ukIssue6Car1.html Serious offer, contact me through the site if you want to meet for a coffee and chat through cycle 'activism'. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts."
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