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> Remember you position, and tell me in 5 years tell me whether you are more or less able to move. Checking my local council's upcoming plans for bike lanes an
by _dain_ 4y ago
> Remember you position, and tell me in 5 years tell me whether you are more or less able to move.
Checking my local council's upcoming plans for bike lanes and public transport regeneration, I'm pretty confident it will be "more". They're a sluggish lot, our council, but they'll eventually get round to doing the right thing.
>If you love cycling, great. Your grannie or child might not
I find it absolutely hilarious that of all the examples you could use, you say "grannie or child". Tell me, which two demographics are statistically the least able to drive anywhere? That's right, the very old and the very young. The very old, because of physical and visual impairments that make them unfit to drive (and often, but not always, unfit to cycle). And the very young, who are unable to drive either because it's illegal (<18s) or because they have no money (students and underemployed school leavers).
For your information, neither of my grandmothers can drive. And I'd prefer if you didn't just assume that I only cycle because it's an eccentric hobby (I actually do it for health and economic reasons, not for fun).
>So people in just the next town, are, as you say, now out of bounds to you. And you are happy about it.
I'm not at all happy about it, I believe I used the word "infuriating". It is insane that two cities, both >150,000 people and less than a stones throw from each other, have no safe cycling link. But, at least there are plans to build one, soon(tm).
> The plans are quite detailed about all the other things you will get a chance to be happy about. Online everything, micromanagements of resources.
My eyes are about to roll out of their sockets. I'll take the safe bike lanes and breathable air, thanks.
- verisimi 4y agoWell, the plan does suit cyclists, for sure. But not everyone is one. Not everyone wants to be forced to cycle, even if others think its good for them. Cycling is not driven by what people want - around my way bike lanes are basically empty, while traffic is congested. I do cycle by the way. I just don't like being forced to. The same councils that once built roads are now paying to get rid of them. Give it 50 years and they'll be putting them back again. Hard graft, that is. Glad your council is acting so sagely, according to your view. It isn't acting sagely according to mine. But, just as long as you love how you're being governed, that's great, isn't it?
- _dain_ 4y agoYou have this hypocritical outlook: when any bike lanes are built, you think that's the powers that be "forcing" you to cycle. But then what about all the places where literally the only way to get to them is by car? Is that not being forced to use a car? Seems like it to me. There are a lot of places like that. >Cycling is not driven by what people want - around my way bike lanes are basically empty, while traffic is congested. I do cycle by the way. I just don't like being forced to. I hear this all the time, it's bullshit. This has been studied, when you build proper bike lanes and related infrastructure it increases the amount people cycle. When people are polled, a huge percentage of people say they would like to cycle more but are worried about safety. So they're either building shit bike lanes where you live or you're just inattentive or lying. (And occasionally I bike down certain roads and there isn't a car in sight. What entitled motorists, we build these lovely roads for them and they don't get used, grumble grumble) These sorts of things (bike lanes, LTNs, ULEZ, etc) are actually quite popular. This is 100% clear from how people actually vote in council elections. It's really just a loud minority of affluent Clarksonoid motorists that get up in arms about it. Local governments are steadily realizing they can just call your bluff and win.
- happymellon 4y agoMost of the cycle lanes aroud here are just cut out of the existing road, so they are just driven on. They are also not a network, just some roads have a part painted for cycling. Or parked on, which is the usual scenario.
- iso1631 4y agoBanning driving on the pavement would go a long way into solving traffic problems in cities.
- happymellon 4y agoIs this British or American pavement that you are referring to? As far as I am aware, it is illegal in the UK to drive on the pavement.