If there was compulsory training for cyclists, would that put you off cycling?

modsandmockers

It’s not easy! Cycling struggles to find acceptance on inner-city routes, and MSE struggles to find a place for a discussion about different forms of commuting. Employers and local authorities are under green pressure to provide facilities for cycle-commuters, but the uptake is low. It’s really not easy, but I appreciate a non-aggressive reply...

brat

modsandmockers wrote: »

But it’s not a cycling forum, is it… it’s a public transport forum (with cycling included).

According to you just two days ago, it was a cycling forum.

modsandmockers wrote: »

On MSE, cyclists (and public transport) have been awarded their own forum

It's a public transport and cycling forum, where interested parties can talk about either equally.

If Tilt wants to comment on cyclists’ behaviour, then where else should he do so?

I've been out for an hour and a half bike ride tonight with my wife, very leisurely in the evening sun, acknowledging cyclists we meet, and thanking motorists for giving us due consideration. I never met a single cyclist like the ones that Tilt meets. I don't personally know any of Tilt's 'cyclists', and I know that no cyclist on here would identify themselves with the cyclists he rails against. Tilt knows this, yet he actively seeks out sources of disagreement and continues to try to find fault in our attitudes to cycling. He is a very poor troll, just like yourself, who get kicks out of irritating people because this is the only way they can bring the tiniest bit of excitement into your otherwise dullard lives.

Neither you nor Tilt have made one single point on this board that has stuck, or to which people have said, "D'you know, he's got a point." You either make a numb statement of the bleeding obvious, or you're wrong. I haven't a clue why you bother.

modsandmockers

brat wrote: »

I've been out for an hour and a half bike ride tonight with my wife, very leisurely in the evening sun, acknowledging cyclists we meet, and thanking motorists for giving us due consideration. I never met a single cyclist like the ones that Tilt meets

PC Plod meets Postman Pat....

Elfbert

modsandmockers wrote: »

It’s not easy! Cycling struggles to find acceptance on inner-city routes, and MSE struggles to find a place for a discussion about different forms of commuting. Employers and local authorities are under green pressure to provide facilities for cycle-commuters, but the uptake is low. It’s really not easy, but I appreciate a non-aggressive reply...

Dunno where you work, but all my boss has done is provide a really good bike pump, and we used to have showers (have moved premises, and haven't installed showers in the new place yet) and we've moved from 100% of the staff driving/using public transport to get to work to 100% of the staff cycling to work. No pressure, we just all rapidly worked out it was cheaper, easier and faster. (Our workshop is in London.) And more enjoyable! Well, apart from the odd lunatic motorist, but none of us have been squashed yet

So I wouldn't say the uptake is that low.

Tobster86

I get moaned at for taking the bike through the building, moaned at for taking the bike around the back of the building (because it involves pressing a doorbell which pulls someone away from their work to open the door), and am expected to store the bike in the workshop toilets which sometimes results in being moaned at.

A good third of our workforce are overweight.

Tilt

brat wrote: »

According to you just two days ago, it was a cycling forum.
It's a public transport and cycling forum, where interested parties can talk about either equally.

Equally as long as they don't criticise cyclists that is.

brat wrote: »

I've been out for an hour and a half bike ride tonight with my wife, very leisurely in the evening sun, acknowledging cyclists we meet, and thanking motorists for giving us due consideration.

Sounds idyllic. And seeing as you are a fully fledged responsible and competent cyclist, one of the motorists that gave you "due consideration" could of been me!

brat wrote: »

I never met a single cyclist like the ones that Tilt meets.

What cyclists are they then?

brat wrote: »

I don't personally know any of Tilt's 'cyclists', and I know that no cyclist on here would identify themselves with the cyclists he rails against.

Well of course you don't and of course they wouldn't because in your little worlds they don't exist.

brat wrote: »

Tilt knows this, yet he actively seeks out sources of disagreement and continues to try to find fault in our attitudes to cycling.

See there you go again. My criticisms are only aimed at those cyclists who ride irresponsibly and recklessly. The link I provided (showing the cycle race) demonstrates a good example what I am talking about BUT there were a number of cyclists who DID act responsibly and obey the barrier, lights AND the police officer. You being (apparently) a police officer should of been a bit miffed at seeing the directions of a fellow officer being ignored. I mean come on, what about the last cyclist? Blatant or what??

brat wrote: »

He is a very poor troll, just like yourself, who get kicks out of irritating people because this is the only way they can bring the tiniest bit of excitement into your otherwise dullard lives.

I'm a "poor troll" because I am not a troll. My contributions should only irritate the kind of cyclist I am critical about or those who try and justify why they do it.

brat wrote: »

Neither you nor Tilt have made one single point on this board that has stuck, or to which people have said, "D'you know, he's got a point." You either make a numb statement of the bleeding obvious, or you're wrong. I haven't a clue why you bother.

Oh really? So you (and your little forum club) would rather not have any negative points or comments made about the type of cyclist which gives responsible cyclists (like yourself) an bad rep? Is this forum then all just about the "fluffy clouds" and bees and honey side of cycling? My bad... i'm so sorry I thought this forum (like most on MSE) was open to debate but as long as you don't criticise cyclists. Ok, I'd better go back to the real world then!

It may surprise you to know (and I know it won't because I've told you before) that I have a go at motorists too on the motoring forum... But no doubt your detective friends will all ready have researched my post history (again!)

Ride safely

armyknife

They may not have a good word to say about cycling, but I'll give the 'our' trolls their due, they're certainly good a re-cycling the same old material, time, after time, after time.

The post above this one just sounds like an old broken record;

nrh, nrh, nrh, nrh, click,
nrh, nrh, nrh, nrh, click,
nrh, nrh, nrh, nrh, click,
nrh, nrh, nrh, nrh, click,
nrh, nrh, nrh, nrh, click,

ad nauseam.

Johnmcl7

Tilt wrote: »

I'm a "poor troll" because I am not a troll. My contributions should only irritate the kind of cyclist I am critical about or those who try and justify why they do it.

The problem is that's unlikely to be the cyclists on here, I get irritated seeing cyclists breaking various road rules and riding stupidly but as I realise cyclists are not a huge, single gestalt entity (something many people don't seem to understand) I don't see the point in complaining about them here.

John

Johnmcl7

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Its a money saving forum with a public transport and cycling board. Cycling was removed from the motoring board and added to the public transport board at the suggestion of one forum user who combined cycling with public transport to commute. There were comments at the time from cyclists who never linked cycling with public transport or commuting but mse decided not to create a separate board as it believed there wasn't enough interest.

To be fair, I think it was a reasonable decision as there's not that many cycling or public transport topics, the forum already has a huge number of sections and while there's little overlap between the two topics the two can clearly co-exist without issue. The problem comes from people who seem to have nothing better to do with their time than come in here and have a go at cyclists and in some regards I think a dedicated cycling section would be worse as it would be more of a target.

John

armyknife

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

To be fair, I think it was a reasonable decision as there's not that many cycling or public transport topics, the forum already has a huge number of sections and while there's little overlap between the two topics the two can clearly co-exist without issue. The problem comes from people who seem to have nothing better to do with their time than come in here and have a go at cyclists and in some regards I think a dedicated cycling section would be worse as it would be more of a target.

John

I think we're unwittingly providing a care in the community programme for lonely individuals who come here, try and 'engage' with us, but because of their poor social skills they have difficulty not exhibiting the built-up hostility resulting from them feeling socially outcast.