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Wow. This is really, really dire. One of the stupidest articles on cycling I’ve ever read, replete with a call for incredibly dumb, illiberal policy proposals. A shame: https://twitter.com/nigel_farage/status/1325431331791269888">https://twitter.com/nigel_far...
So why was Farage& #39;s rant so especially bad? Well, pretty much every sentence had at least one factual error, misunderstanding or trite whine in it. Some had multiple. I counted 69.
It& #39;ll be quicker to list what was right: his critique of too many cyclists& #39; & #39;revolting& #39; piety, aggression, wearing lycra and being middle aged men. They& #39;re all fair criticisms. Nobody likes pious middle aged men in silly clothes, do they?
Just a couple of the more ridiculous errors, though. 1. Cycling & #39;used to be an innocent childhood pastime& #39; and there & #39;used to be very few adult cyclists& #39;. Uh? Cycling was very common, before most cyclists were intimidated off our roads by drivers https://twitter.com/rorymeakin/status/1291081453384667137">https://twitter.com/rorymeaki...
2. & #39;Cyclists, meanwhile, pay no road charges& #39;. Where to even begin with this? First, cyclists have high incomes, and pay more tax per person than any other group. Second, 85% are also drivers, and most will pay VED too. There are almost no & #39;road charges& #39; (M6, central London...?)
3. Keeping drivers out of cyclists& #39; space with kerbs and wands is & #39;a nail biting nightmare for drivers and pretty dangerous for cyclists too& #39;. Yea, if only drivers could drive into cyclists without pesky obstruction! I want some of whatever he& #39;s smoking... https://twitter.com/rorymeakin/status/1312539375268495361">https://twitter.com/rorymeaki...
4. & #39;Many completely ignore the rules of the road – that much is well established& #39;. Police monitoring has shown cyclists break traffic law less frequently than motorists. Open your eyes and you& #39;ll notice drivers ignore the law all the time https://twitter.com/rorymeakin/status/1296886506251059202">https://twitter.com/rorymeaki...
