In fairness to Mr Oliver, I think he did better than was suggested earlier in the thread. He stayed calm, and knowing he was simply staring into a camera lens with no view of the studio it's difficult to catch on entirely to the mood between Douglas and Brewer (which was scarily smug, someone really should have a word with Brewer, even his intro to the piece was vaguely sneering towards cycling).
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
Newsnight Scotland TONIGHT (was)
(106 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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SRD Confession: I've not watched it either. Issues to do with (un)sleeping children and prevented me watching it live, and I have totally failed to find the gumption to force myself through it.
If it helps, I am point blank refusing to watch it!
Posted 12 years ago # -
If it helps, I am point blank refusing to watch it!
Ditto.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'd say that's the best option - it annoyed me greatly.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Yes, I haven't watched it either (we have a recording of that "The War on Britain's Roads" programme from the end of last year sitting at home and I haven't managed to bring myself to watch that either...)
Posted 12 years ago # -
Just watched the Newsnight discussion and you could tell Brewer was going to side with Douglas as soon as he said (in relation to increasing cycling's budget from 1% to a still small 5%), "What about this argument that we ought to spend a fortune?" A loaded question for someone (Douglas) who was looking for that exact ammunition!
And then Brewer asks the stupid question about the wind and rain to Mr Oliver and allows Douglas to immediately interrupt just in time for the "debate" to run out of time. A total stitch up and a rehearsed one I agree.
An interviewer sometimes needs to act as devil's advocate to represent an opposing view, but not when the opposing view is also involved in the debate! At no point did he make a pro-cycling comment.
I'm always sadly amused by the number of anti-cyclist or pro-car types (in and out of politics) who have double (or triple) chins. It would do them some good to get on a bike and see how good they think we have it on two wheels!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Alan Douglas did at least get on his bike and agree to meet Dave Brennan
http://www.magnatom.net/2013/02/cycling-with-enemy.html
Don't suppose he's changed his mind much, but a worthy effort from Dave B I thought
Posted 12 years ago # -
Alan Douglas cites that cyclists could do more to help themselves, red light jumping being one, it is amazing that so many drivers do just that but that seems acceptable. Moving on, cycling two abreast is acceptable, it is in the Highway Code as acceptable practice and it is legal. There are instances where this is not recommended and cycling in single file would be advised and sensible. It gets back to the old debate as to whether a passing motorist would prefer to pass a group of cyclists cycling two abreast or a very long line of cyclists in a single file. The number of drivers that shout and toot their horns suggests to me that they think that cycling two up is not acceptable but other than that I have no way of knowing. As a driver my view is the shorter the group the sooner I will be past them and the safer it is for everyone.
Posted 12 years ago # -
This (comment from Magnatom's post) is excellent:
Drivers use language in weird ways, often reversing the meaning of common words. My favourite example is "arrogant", which is usually used to mean "didn't get out of the way of more important people like me."
Posted 12 years ago # -
Perhaps best seen as an open and honest view from behind the windscreen.
All cyclists are the same.
All cyclists misbehave.
Cyclists should police themselves.
Things will never change.
Cyclists do not deserve any kind of encouragement.Posted 12 years ago # -
@Tom, exactly like the average taxi driver or EEN commenter then!
Posted 12 years ago # -
This write up by David (Magnatom)is very good: http://www.magnatom.net/2013/02/cycling-with-enemy.html
Especially this paragraph: "As a cyclist who wants to see non-cyclists cycling, I think that we should be using our admittedly scarce public money to invest in cycling. Alan thinks we should be focusing on repairing the roads as they stand as that would make it safer for everyone. I got the feeling that he was not too bothered either way if more people cycled or not. My contention is that cycling has to be a real option for travel, especially for shorter journeys, and that repairing the roads and building cycle infrastructure could go hand in hand "
Regarding the two example photos of cycling infrastructure - in our usually used infrastructure, the photo shows a foot pavement to the left of the parked cars - can that be adjusted to accomodate both pedestrians and cyclists? I'm not sure about that here, but, am sure that in many areas improvements can be made.
Posted 12 years ago # -
@TSFDefender. There's shared pavements yes, and then there's this kind of infrastructure. Incredible.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Tom, that was very interesting to see the diverse route of a commuter, and seeing the imnprovements and adaptions to infrastructure already there.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Brisbane, Australia I do believe. Not exactly renowned as a cycle-friendly country. Just goes to show how far behind Scotland is.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Perhaps worthy of its own thread but I just caught the very end of the same discussion now being held of STV's Scotland Tonight programme. It was the last thing on the show so I imagine it's probably the last 10 minutes or less.
Same protagonists but thankfully no Gordon Brewer of course.
I shall be recording it on STV +1.
Posted 12 years ago #
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