Cycling city? Prepare for gridlock
Your front page exclusive: 'Get on your bike and spend cash' (Evening Post 27th Oct) confirms my opinion that Bristol City Council (BCC) is back-pedalling in its efforts to spend some £22.8 million to improve Bristol's cycling infrastructure.
Indeed, my own cycling activities within the inner-city environs show little evidence of any real commitment to improving either road safety or parking facilities for cyclists.
-
Moreover, despite the Post's campaign to have some traffic lights turned off at notorious road junctions, I fear the sheer volume of mobile status symbols presages total gridlock, as Bristol's vehicular arteries fail to respond to the switch-off treatment.
It may (or may not) interest drivers to know that a simple calculation shows that, if commuting for an hour a day over a lifetime, this computes to well over a year sat fuming in traffic jams. What a waste of time!
Perhaps instead of appointing a traffic supremo (who is doomed to failure) at some £92,000 a year, BCC should have engaged Paul McKenna (hypnotist) to carry out mass hypnosis on Bristol's commuting drivers.
His remit would be to embed in their petroleum-saturated subconscious the reality that the car is robbing them of the freedom it once promised.
Of course, some diehard petrol addicts would not fall under his spell. However, if it worked on half of Bristol's car commuters, the city would benefit from improvements to its air quality.
Not only that but those who had given up their petrol addiction would see improved health, as they exercised their right to join the world of freewheeling cyclists.
Those who remain welded to their slow-mobiles might like to reflect on some encouraging words of H G Wells: "Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race."
R L Smith, Knowle.
20 Comments
View all
by Captain Nemo, staple hill
Thursday, November 12 2009, 1:32PM
“No, not quite the end of the discussion Rob as you missed my point entirely.
The EP bleats on about cycling on pavements as if it's the greatest evil known to humanity. The way they go on you'd think dozens of folk are mown down every day. Reality is - while cycling on the pavement is illegal (so is parking your car on it), it's very rare that you'll have a collision. That's just putting things in context Rob, not condoning it. And no, I do not cycle on pavements. Sometimes, cyclists are pedestrians too.”
by Rob, Knowle
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 7:55PM
“"but compared to how many pedestrians are killed by cars mounting the pavement, it's so small as to not be worth worrying about."
Oh, so that's alright then. Don't worry old ladies coming out of a shop. That idiot of a cyclist, breaking the law PROBABLY won't hit you because 'Captain Nemo' says so. 'What's that love'? Oh he has. Hang on while we put you on a spinal board, and get some fluids ready. Can we contact your family?
You are breaking the law. End of discussion.”
by captain nemo, staple hill
Monday, November 09 2009, 1:32PM
“Hey folks, lets not get too heated here. Actually, the number of cyclists who kill pedestrians on pavements is very, very low. I can only think of two incidents in the last few years. Not that I condone cycling on pavements, but compared to how many pedestrians are killed by cars mounting the pavement, it's so small as to not be worth worrying about. When you think of it, considering how many cyclists and pedestrians use the railway path, the number of accidents is extremely low.
There are some pathways, not pavements, where it's perfectly legal to ride a bike. Unfortunately, the signs are either missing or obscured by tress/hedges etc. There are also some very wide pavements which could easily be converted to dual use if cycling city could be bothered to investigate. Come on Bristol- we can be inventive about this and build new cycle-pedestrian routes. Shared paths actually work very well.
As a cyclist, I can see pedestrians miles ahead of me on the railway path and slow down accordingly. I find it tends to be unexpected movements - such as suddenly stepping left or right - that can cause accidents. However, many bikes only do about 8mph on average, unlike the 20mph or even 30mph (!!) as claimed by certain ill-informed tabloid rags who haven't done any research. So if something's going to hit you on a pavement, you're better off if it's a bike:)”
by Rob, Knowle
Thursday, November 05 2009, 8:23AM
“You have SERIOUSLY lost the plot, Walter. Yet again you prove DCI Hunt correct. Fact is Walter, people HAVE been killed by idiot cyclists riding on the pavement. (You may yet injure someone by YOUR riding on the pavement, Walter Mitty). Not ONE person has been killed by a parked car on the pavement. For you to come up with your last pathetic statement just shows the depths you are willing to plunge, Walter.
Also showing the depths you are willing to sink is picking up an obvious typo in DCI Hunt's post.
You total nut job.”
by George, Bristol
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 3:50PM
“DCI, you are a complete idiot, proved again..
Your weak retort:
"You pove your idiotic credentials every time you post"
DCI - I "pove" no such thing!”