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The UK is such a land of contrasts. Are we pro cycling? Anti cycling? The record shows that we provided the world with its finest cyclists over the past decade,

The UK is such a land of contrasts. Are we pro cycling? Anti cycling? The record shows that we provided the world with its finest cyclists over the past decade, but the experience as a cyclist on the roads is not pleasant. Are we pro-car? Anti-car? Driving is usually miserable anywhere but the hinterland, and yet we supply the world with almost all its F1 cars. The answers seem so obvious and yet we struggle to bring about change. This is the land of Newton, Maxwell, Hawking for God's sake! Why is this land of progress yet so stunted in ambition? It confuses me.

jdavis703 9y ago
Racing vehicles (let's include bikes with that) are not really comparable with a daily commute though? If you assume that most bikes and cars are just trying to get to work or the grocery store the stark contrast seems a bit more muted.
- Boothroid 9y ago
  But surely that renders the contrast still more poignant, not less - the juxtaposition of the rarest exception with the commonplace?
loblollyboy 9y ago
Quite a few of team sky/team gb is from the same youth club in wales, Wiggins started as a track cyclist and froome never lived in the U.K. The yates' started cycling - according to Wikipedia - as a result of their dad getting HIT by a car. So a lot of the great UK cyclists have their roots in track - which was heavily supported (£££) before the 2012 olympics and served as the foundation for further investment by team sky - the richest team in cycling. GB's success in cycling defo doesn't correlate with cycleability of her roads.
7952 9y ago
People have a code of ethics about the correct way to behave on the roads. And the most aggressive nutty drivers tend to believe they are following those unwritten rules. And anyone who breaks that code is rude and selfish. Actually British roads are a chaotic free-for-all. Some users tend to cooperate for their own benefit (cars) at the expense of other users (pedestrians and cyclists). This creates a culture that gives preferential treatment to motorists based on misplaced politeness. People hate to be seen as rude and selfish so they just go along with it. The only way to change that is to redefine what counts as rude behaviour. Driving cars in busy city centres would be a good start.

jdavis703 9y ago

Racing vehicles (let's include bikes with that) are not really comparable with a daily commute though? If you assume that most bikes and cars are just trying to get to work or the grocery store the stark contrast seems a bit more muted.

Boothroid 9y ago
But surely that renders the contrast still more poignant, not less - the juxtaposition of the rarest exception with the commonplace?

loblollyboy 9y ago

Quite a few of team sky/team gb is from the same youth club in wales, Wiggins started as a track cyclist and froome never lived in the U.K. The yates' started cycling - according to Wikipedia - as a result of their dad getting HIT by a car. So a lot of the great UK cyclists have their roots in track - which was heavily supported (£££) before the 2012 olympics and served as the foundation for further investment by team sky - the richest team in cycling. GB's success in cycling defo doesn't correlate with cycleability of her roads.

7952 9y ago

People have a code of ethics about the correct way to behave on the roads. And the most aggressive nutty drivers tend to believe they are following those unwritten rules. And anyone who breaks that code is rude and selfish. Actually British roads are a chaotic free-for-all. Some users tend to cooperate for their own benefit (cars) at the expense of other users (pedestrians and cyclists). This creates a culture that gives preferential treatment to motorists based on misplaced politeness. People hate to be seen as rude and selfish so they just go along with it. The only way to change that is to redefine what counts as rude behaviour. Driving cars in busy city centres would be a good start.