Commissioner should prioritise dangerous cyclists

“Dangerous cylists? Please compare the number of people killed and injured by cyclists, and the numbers of cyclists killed and injured. I think you'll find motorists are the dangerous ones. It's the cyclists who need protecting.”

“Sustrans has opposed the extension of the Avon Valley Raiway to Riverside in Bath. It has attempted to take part of the trackbed of the Severn Beach line, thereby preventing doubling of the track to provide an improved service. It has, wider abroad, opposed the re-opening of the Wenford Bridge line for china clay trains. It has connived with Cornwall Couny Council in an attempt, thankfully foiled, to renege on an agreement with the Launceston Steam Railway to provide a joint-use link between Launceston and Egloskerry.

It has opposed tramways within the city on the grounds that tram tracks and cycles are incompatible, which must be news to inhabitants of most continental cities. It exists purely and simply to further the interests of cyclists, whhich is why Sustrans is such a ridiculous misnomer.”

“@katachua: "Sustrans has opposed every attempt to improve public transport"
Are you referring to the comments they made when the council wanted to remove Bristol's most heavily used cycle route and replace it with bendy-buses?
Can you clarify what you mean by "every"?

@Roversteve: "Cycling is for pleasure NOT for commuting"
So should I quit cycling to work on the basis of your comment? Aapparently now it's impossible to commute to work on a bike.”

“@Knowlerrr

"Katucha - Sustrans is a charity, not a publicly funded body"

I'm perfectly aware of that, although why recreational cycling deserves charitable status is beyond me.

I'm also aware that Sustrans gets large grants from public funds, including the Lottery, for its campaigns that benefit cyclists and only cyclists.”

“Katucha - Sustrans is a charity, not a publicly funded body”

“Cycling is for pleasure NOT for commuting.”

“Will Sustrans please change its name to BikeFan? It has nothing to do with sustainable transport or with pedestrians (other than harassing them on pavements). It has opposed every attempt to improve public transport, and has refused to ask cyclists to obey the law.

It is simply a publicly funded group for recreational cyclists.”

“@vrwrtuy - "They don't choose to cycle on pavements because they are uneven, narrow, unconnected and full of pedestrians. They cycle on pavements because they are less dangerous than roads and the motorists that use them in their killing machines."


Pavements are for pedestrians and people pushing their bikes. I agree with your comment regarding pushing your bike on the pavement.


The problem seems to be that some cyclists are too frightened to use the roads and think that justifies their use of the pavements where they, in turn, frighten some pedestrians.

Cyclists, if you think that cycling on the roads is too frightening, then cycling is not for you! Either become a pedestrian (because they are allowed on the pavements), or take a car or bus.

I have met nervous drivers that think that the roads are too dangerous. No-one would accept that nervous drivers use the pavements. No-one should accept that nervous cyclists use the pavements either.

Sustrans needs to avoid ambiguous statements and condemn pavement cyclists, cyclists jumping red lights, cyclists without lights at night, etc.

If Sustrans did this, they would be taken much more seriously by the general public.

When Bristol is one big 20 mph zone (on Sustrans request) will Sustrans support the prosecution of ALL pavement cyclists?”

“Perhaps he should have a word with the Lib Dem councillor in the neighbouring ward who seems to encourage cycling on the pavement, in the park, etc.

I wonder what Sustrans better options involve?”

“Er DM_Fishponds
The best way to make cyclists avoid pavements is to make their route safer.
They don't choose to cycle on pavements because they are uneven, narrow, unconnected and full of pedestrians. They cycle on pavements because they are less dangerous than roads and the motorists that use them in their killing machines.
Don't blame them.
Although personally if I want to avoid roads I walk my bike on the pavement until there is a safe bit of road or a cycle path”