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Opinion
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 20/06/2008, 10:25 AM
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GreenBlue
Joined on 24/05/2008
Posts 85
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Today an EEN pole puts the question "is enough been done to encourage cycling"?
Well the obvious answer is no, from all quarters; parents, schools, businesses, councils, police, government etc. Personally I'm not anti car and I'm pro bike.
But is there not another side of the coin other than trying to encourage cycling. Cycling has to be safer for cyclists; especially schoolkids, and cyclists must be proficient and responsible before going on a road, and respecting pedestrians (ie on footways, non bike space).
Pro bike /green bodies tend to encourage cycling/ cyclist rights idealistically (health, anti car, saving the planet) before equally demanding responsible/proficient cyclists. I think this is idealistic and irresponsible on the part of these campaigns.
Practically three main things need to happen:
1) Cyclists, especially young cyclists at schools/colleges, need to pass a Bikeability proficiency course (used to be called the NCPT, with the red triangle badge). Cyclists need to have it imprinted (highway code/signals trained) pavements/pedestrians are no go areas and to be trained to be more confident with vehicle traffic. Car drivers spend £000's on gaining a driving licence, many cyclists are let loose for free. There is a thorny issue of insurance and public liability cover?? Perhaps if cyclists have a drivers licence, they should be exempt needing a bikeability proficiency test.
2) The cycle way network needs expanding, with more pavements/special roadspace dedicated and given up. Most highways have 2 pedestrian footways, 2 road lanes and no decicated bicycle lane. In Norwich some main roads do have a dedicated cycle lane as part of the cycle network, but not enough! You need to make cyclists feel safer from general road traffic, and pedestrians safer and more respected from cyclists.
3) More secure bike lockups, especially 2-3 central supervised lockup garages need to be in place. If cyclists are riding in to shop/ work in Central Norwich, they need to know someone is supervising/minding there bike, and that the sole barrier between theft/damage is a bicycle chain/lock.
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20/06/2008, 3:12 PM
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ironsmad
 
Joined on 12/03/2008
Posts 131
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cycling is for third world poor people,even most of them enjoy 4x4's .The bike has had its day ,enjoy walking its better.
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20/06/2008, 4:18 PM
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GreenBlue
Joined on 24/05/2008
Posts 85
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The third world technically ended with the downfall of the second world, Gobachev and the Berlin Wall! Norwich and Cambridge have high bicycle use, compared nationally.
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20/06/2008, 11:24 PM
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ironsmad
Joined on 12/03/2008
Posts 131
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Cycles and pedestrians don't mix too well, cars and lorries with cycles on the same roads too much danger for the bike rider. Children cycling on main roads going off to school ,no thanks. The average cyclist now days, as with most motorists has very low understanding of the highway code. Red traffic signal means stop !.By all means cycle in parks for fun and relaxation , but not for a means of transport for the masses. Norwich's high bicycle use could be down to lack of good and frequent public transport plus the cost. We could benefit from a tram -service or a docklands style light railway. I don't feel this would appeal to the local government because of the cost and new infrastructures that it would require.
These services should have put in place back in the 70's when other cities moved in the right direction of improving public transport, maybe because of the draw-bridge mentality that was abound then and which in some cases is still found. Are those punchers still a b2rstead to change?.
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21/06/2008, 9:00 AM
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GreenBlue
Joined on 24/05/2008
Posts 85
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Bicycles do have a role to play in an integrated transport strategy in Norwich with the 3 proposals I quote.
I love trams [that used to be Norwich pre war] and bendy busses that are all part of European cities such as Strasbourg, Karlesruhr, Strasburg,Vienna etc (Manchester,Sheffield) . One thing Europe has done better, plan and invested better long term than Norwich. There is no chance of trams and/or bendy buses in Norwich. The council have come out stating this on expense grounds or changing bus stops. There long term public transport strategy is for more modern greener fueled double deckers; apparently. This is how good/bad public transport is ever likely to get.
Asking a few people who cycle, the ultimate flexible ,inexpensive, quicker than walking, short journey (0-3miles) option is the reason for Norwich's/ Cambridges high bike use; and also student numbers from several instutions.
Public transport is not great, OK at best, and will aways have connectivity, cost, flexibility , crowded issues over short distance journey's.
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28/06/2008, 7:28 AM
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GreenBlue
Joined on 24/05/2008
Posts 85
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However, poorly trained, cavarlier cyclists or cyclists who feel victims of the roads [tribal war of the road]; are then turning abusers and bully's of the city's footways; where they have no business riding along.
So why in Germany, Holland, Denmark, France; why less conflict on the road with cyclists/cars, and less cyclists on footpaths??
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28/06/2008, 11:32 AM
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ironsmad
Joined on 12/03/2008
Posts 131
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All the countries mentioned still have proper police -force , instance fines and cops with guns. Maybe the general public of the mentioned have brains. Where as this great country has on mass many thick people. Road rage ,Trolley rage,Kids killing kids. Lawless society breeds Muppet's ,plus muppet's in power, were all doomed.
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28/06/2008, 1:01 PM
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GreenBlue
Joined on 24/05/2008
Posts 85
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Muppets and silly cycling behaviour are twins. Norwich Cycling Campaign is like a poor passive liberal parents to multiple kids with no potty training.
Can anyone in the know answer why Norwich Cycling Campaign promotes liberal cycling mass access, rights, routes, facilities without first and foremost promoting cyclists to be safe and competent, complete a proficiency test, highway code tested and combat ASB pavement cycling. If you go to their website, you see one link to a bike trainer,[zero last year], and little in their own literature. This is were the focus and ££s are needed, like in the old days of NCPT, now Bikeability.
http://www.cycle-n-sleep.co.uk/safety%20cycle%20test.htm
http://www.cycletraining.co.uk/
http://www.cyclingengland.co.uk/training2.php [don't see these links on NCCs web] Why???
Are Norwich Cycling Campaign , too liberal wholely green idealed muppets, appeasing bad cyclists, and through neglect of this key highway area giving cyclists a tarnished public /highway ASB reputation???????? I think so and the key reason I don't have anything to do with NorwichCyclingCampaign. I haven't seen they are responsible enough to bit this bullet. I think they can do much better promoting and prioritising proficiency tests in schools, working with bike proficient trainers in Norwich as well as what they do already.
I want more cyclists, but not more idiot mindless untrained cyclists that NCC seemingly turn a blind eye to.
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28/06/2008, 2:05 PM
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ironsmad
Joined on 12/03/2008
Posts 131
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Steve Morphew is a prime example of muppets in power, he finds a campaign to stop the closure of the walkin centre "muddling ". What a wimp you are Steve. This local Labour Party are wet and weak , and insult to old Labour and common sense. No-wonder the BNP pushed Brown pants into last the other day.
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28/06/2008, 3:08 PM
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GreenBlue
Joined on 24/05/2008
Posts 85
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As a result traditional Labour voters go off and vote Tory (Bowthorpe) or Green (Wensum) with a few scallies going for ultra right/ultraleft muppets. Thinking of 1970's Traditional Labour and unions, then Militant I can't concur on common sense, more like Komikaze's. It was a socialist haze and failure with perhaps the NHS its few notable legacies. Traditional labour knew little about competiveness and more about nationalised fudges. British Rail, British Leyland, Coal Board and British Steel epitimised Traditional Labour success and common sense.
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28/06/2008, 7:13 PM
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ironsmad
Joined on 12/03/2008
Posts 131
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As a result we now have nothing or make anything.Thanks to muppet governments and unelected bureaucratic fools from Brussels. Where is your push -bike made Blue bottle?.
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28/06/2008, 7:33 PM
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JoPublic
Joined on 04/11/2006
Posts 2
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Other than the City's money making which could migrate to somewhere sunnier one day, uk produces two things in huge amounts. Garbage and Spin.
Raleigh, Chevron UK. But not in this century.
So how full of tosh are your bins this week madtosh?
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28/06/2008, 8:01 PM
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GreenBlue
Joined on 01/06/2008
Posts 59
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Jo, tosh is probably on his third bin this week. Dawes is good for me, although they probably make components globally. Three times the gears than gas guzzlers though, and probably more hi-tech alloy.
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28/06/2008, 9:02 PM
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ironsmad
Joined on 12/03/2008
Posts 131
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Oh gawd another fat bottom cyclist hits the scene! Remember the Python sketch " This is a job for bicycle repair -man " I see Jopubic as this man , come and sniff the bins man!
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29/06/2008, 12:10 AM
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GreenBlue
Joined on 01/06/2008
Posts 59
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Sniffin bins, nah, we leave this virtual maggot monitoring to folks like you and Dorian whatnot!!!
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Evening News 24 » You Say » Opinion » Encouraging Cycling
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