http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/minister-for-road-safety-loses-his-marbles-live-on-parliamentary-tv
Yep it is true!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
The Dutch could learn a thing or two from the UK re cycling safety!
(9 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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Did I mention I think people should have to pass a basic but comprehensive science test before being allowed to serve in public office, vote, leave the house or go on the internet? I'm deadly serious about the first one, although I admit to the sillies as the list goes on from there.
If his grasp of maths was good enough to have passed it, Mr Penning would have known that stat is utter crotchwring.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Perhaps he is good at maths. A major skill that politicians learn is how to lie with statistics. The real task to educate the media and electorate but that's tough
Posted 13 years ago # -
Yes, I can hardly imagine anyone seriously thinks that the Netherlands is more dangerous for cycling than the UK - but truth isn't the important thing here.
It is perfectly true that the casualty rate per capita is lower here, even though the casualty rate by exposure is incomparably better. He could literally mean that the Dutch authorities could come over here to learn how to suppress cycling numbers, thus reducing their overall casualty count (for instance).
Posted 13 years ago # -
I was taking Richard Feynman's advice - never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. Which may have been stupid of me, now that you get me thinking...
Posted 13 years ago # -
We do expect cycling to be safer as more do it. Of course the approach here is to discourage cycling with narrow paths, bollards, squeeze points and steps.
Does the panel think that cyclists on some parts of this island have in fact evolved to overcome these barriers?Posted 13 years ago # -
Yeah Im pretty sure the cycle 'facilities' in this country have directly led to the growth of cyclocross.
Posted 13 years ago # -
cf: growth of waistlines, growth of queues at traffic lights, petrol pumps, doctor's surgeries....
Posted 13 years ago # -
"never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity"
In case where someone is either being stupid or malevolent I always hope it's malevolent. Stupid people are unpredictable and dangerous. You know where you are with someone who's malevolent.
Posted 13 years ago #
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