Forum Topic

I wonder....  The war on cars is backfiring

Article in The Spectator of today by Mary Wakefield (a cyclist by the way)The war on cars is backfiringhttps://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-war-on-cars-is-backfiring/amp?__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR04YkcaxT-QKWoK8iFSqwntGfJJlOJgphMtAahRLrQjZ1tBf39r5GIIvik

Ivonne Holliday ● 1852d15 Comments

I do not think so, Richard.I will not deny that there was (is?) an anti-cycling feeling particularly to the lycra-clad cyclists. This means that there is no confusion between speed cycling and cycling in general.  We are not talking about the gentle cycling in St. Mary Meed but "professional" cycling in London (in our case, do not know what happens in other cities in the UK).It is true that in Amsterdam the cycling is relaxed, peaceful and most people are dressed in "normal" clothes and have very appropriate mud guards on their bicycles.Mindlessly using cars is in the same league as saying that all cyclists are aggressive.Car ownership in London is high because, amongst other reasons, it has the highest population compared to other European cities as well as being bigger in km2 compared to others. Should we not compare London with New York for instance? Is there a lot of cycling in New York?  I really do not know, but somehow doubt it. But I am digressing.What I lament the most is that it appears we are all pitched up against each other, whether you cycle or, in my case, I have to drive.But, a telling line of your message is:  "There's a whole other area which is about cycling as a means simply of getting about instead of mindlessly using cars as if that's the only way to travel in towns."  By the way, we do not live in a town!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1852d

I get very tired of patiently waiting at red lights (on my bike) and having lycra wearing cyclists speed past me, it's really annoying and gives us all a bad name. That said on a 15 min ride to Battersea this morning i came within seconds of being hospitalised by car drivers on two different occasions.:(

Matt Palmer ● 1852d

"a misunderstanding which leads people, some anyway, to confuse "cycling" with speed/exercise cycling."Sorry Richard I do not agree. A large percentage of cyclists of all ages and types simply do not obey the rules. At least their rule breaking appears to be very inclusive.It would be good to get some independent figures but however large the percentage is it is the case that they simply can't be bothered to stop or slow down and pass too close.

Ed Robinson ● 1852d

"a misunderstanding which leads people, some anyway, to confuse "cycling" with speed/exercise cycling."I realised this some decades ago when, in a Battersea bike shop, I first saw "Titanium cranks" costing more than my whole bike.Madness, madness.

David Ainsworth ● 1852d

Unfortunately, the whole cycling part of this has been caught up not just in a rabid anti-cycling thing (lycra louts/they all cycle on the pavements/run red lights/blah blah), but a misunderstanding which leads people, some anyway, to confuse "cycling" with speed/exercise cycling. There's a whole other area which is about cycling as a means simply of getting about instead of mindlessly using cars as if that's the only way to travel in towns.

Richard Carter ● 1852d

Clean air, congestion, getting people fit - these issues are not going to go away.A quick google and you find that some countries have very sensible approach to cycling and personal e-transport devices. This consists of not just clear rules and enforcement but also a joined up approach. Instead the UK has gone for the complete opposite.https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/getting_around/active_mobility/rules_and_public_education/rules_and_code_of_conduct.htmlhttps://www.donkey.bike/spain-cycling-rules/

Ed Robinson ● 1852d

Yes Jonathan, that's probably because we are in lock down, so not much traffic anyway. With all pubs etc, shut no need for many deliveries.

Barbara Stevens ● 1852d

"it was filched from Bozo (I think it was what he claimed about his affair with Petronella Wyatt - which was later found to be true)."So it may really have been "an inverted pyramid of de Pfeffel", a kind of coded Johnson self-reference, which by the way does conjure up a most unappealing image in the mind.

David Ainsworth ● 1852d

Not my original, Simon: it was filched from Bozo (I think it was what he claimed about his affair with Petronella Wyatt - which was later found to be true).

Richard Carter ● 1852d

"London simply isn’t suited to cycling."Pedestrians had better watch out. They'll be next."And where does anyone imagine they’re going to keep their bikes?" Where does anyone imagine they’re going to keep their cars? I notice that the author of this Spectator article is Commissioning Editor for the Spectator.

David Ainsworth ● 1852d

"Article in The Spectator of today by Mary Wakefield (a cyclist by the way)"What a load of Barnard Castle!My favorite line "I cycled everywhere before lockdown".Is she suddenly concerned about social housing and policing?What are her solutions to the issues raised?Looks like a collection of facts assemble to have a dig at Boris to me. Would that have happened a couple of months ago?I wonder what has changed!

Ed Robinson ● 1852d

Thank you Jonathan.  I did say "I wonder" by the way.What I had not put two-and-two together was the author and that man were partners!  Well, I had forgotten about it.I did find the article a little odd, I must admit.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1852d

"piffle" what a lovely word, it's almost onomatopoeic and yes I did have to look up the spelling :)

Simon Knight ● 1852d

Exactly. You need read no farther than the silly phrase "the war on cars" to know that the piece is, to coin a phrase, an inverted pyramid of piffle.

Richard Carter ● 1852d

Ivonne, there is no war on cars.  There is however a campaign to make the roads safer for cyclists which is not quite the same thing.  Cyclists don't pollute, cars do.  That is, or should be, a big part of the equation.  Thanks to the ULEZ in central London about 90% of traffic is already compliant with the tighter regulations.  That will come to us later this year if Sadiq Khan is re-elected.In my view the article is tendentious and ill-informed.  And I say that before even noting that the author's partner achieved notoriety last year when he drove her and their child in their 4x4 to Barnard Castle just to test his eyesight!

Jonathan Callaway ● 1852d