Read on Twitter
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
So why was Farage'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'll be quicker to list what was right: his critique of too many cyclists' 'revolting' piety, aggression, wearing lycra and being middle aged men. They'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 'used to be an innocent childhood pastime' and there 'used to be very few adult cyclists'. Uh? Cycling was very common, before most cyclists were intimidated off our roads by drivers https://twitter.com/rorymeakin/status/1291081453384667137
2. 'Cyclists, meanwhile, pay no road charges'. 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 'road charges' (M6, central London...?)
3. Keeping drivers out of cyclists' space with kerbs and wands is 'a nail biting nightmare for drivers and pretty dangerous for cyclists too'. Yea, if only drivers could drive into cyclists without pesky obstruction! I want some of whatever he's smoking... https://twitter.com/rorymeakin/status/1312539375268495361
4. 'Many completely ignore the rules of the road – that much is well established'. Police monitoring has shown cyclists break traffic law less frequently than motorists. Open your eyes and you'll notice drivers ignore the law all the time https://twitter.com/rorymeakin/status/1296886506251059202
5. Traffic filter opponents 'put up signs in protest, but these were removed by council workers who feared they could injure cyclists. Is this not utter madness?'
Putting unauthorised obstructions on a road is dangerous. How can removing them be 'madness'? Insane.
Putting unauthorised obstructions on a road is dangerous. How can removing them be 'madness'? Insane.
There's plenty more and this thread could get very long. So best to leave it there. But the indifference to cyclists' safety and, really, right to use the roads at all neatly demonstrates, ironically, why upgrades are needed. Some drivers are just far too entitled and dangerous
