Just a short plug for the Spokes annual Bike Breakfast, which is coming up next Wednesday - details here ...... with, this year, various satellite 'Breakfast Rides' happening from different Wards in the city, details for Ward 9 can be found here.
Wonder if any other Ward can get all their Councillors to cycle/attend the event; not that it's a competition, of course ;-)
Looking forward to the morning.
9 comments:
Is that not dangerous , having your breakfast while going your bike ? That sort of thing should be outlaw as should cycling on the pavement and creeping up on folk then whizzing passed them. I think there should not be any reason why Adults riding bikes should mount the pavements without the rider first dismounting the bike. Pavements are for the people to walk on without fear of idiots on bikes.
The use of mobile phones and ipods should also be banned while riding bikes. Bike owners should be taxed to pay for the construction of dedicated cycle lanes and pathways
Anonymous
No breakfast will be consumed during actual cycle-movement!
Agree about pavements.
Thanks for checking the blog.
Andrew
Breakfast on the move is what some drivers do.
Cycling on the pavement is what SOME bike users do.
Most cyclists disapprove.
Noted ... agree that minority, of both modes, cause problems. Most don't.
Looking forward to the ride! Hopefully a real community event.
Cyclists should have -
- compulsary insurance - in case of death/injuries to 3rd parties such as pedestrians
- bicycle registration plate - so cyclists can be identified if the cause death or injury to 3rd parties .
- A WORKING BELL OR HORN ( to be used at a reasonable and safe distance when requesting to pass a pedestrian on a narrow pathway . )
There should be a clear law about use/non use of pavements. Penalty Notices / Fines should be such as to deter and the police should actively pursue offenders . A registration plate could help identify offenders.
Any injury to a pedestrian could result in financal hardship and should have the right to redress.
If cyclists want equality on the roads then they must contribute to the costs of providing these safe provisions in much the same way as motor vehicles owners do.
(last) Anonymous
Thanks for your comment/s ... all points noted; but think you might want to look at some evidence about accident-rates, transport modes involved, and also what taxation actualy pays for?
Anyhow, thanks for checking the blog.
Andrew
Sounds like somebody has had a bad experience with a cyclist on the pavement. As a cyclist from Holland, I have a few comments on that as well.
I think the compulsory registration and insurance is a bit overkill. I have used my bike my whole life (I'm 38) and never got in any kind of accident where that could have been useful or heard of anybody else being in one.
I do agree that when possible cycling on the pavement should be avoided. Unfortunately it is sometimes unavoidable. In some places there are cycle lanes, but they are often seen as free parking for cars. It can be quite difficult and dangerous to circle around these parked cars into the road. So sometimes it's better to go on the pavement especially if you are cycling with a little kid. Whenever that happens I do keep in mind that the pavement is for pedestrians and don't zip by them.
Regarding the tax, if cyclists should pay taxes for cycle lanes, should pedestrians pay tax for the pavement?
In general I think it would be good to promote cycling in the city. If cycling would be increased while driving decreased, I think Edinburgh would improve while already being a great city. The air would be cleaner, it would be quieter, the car drivers that don't have a choice would be less in traffic jams, which helps again with air quality and sound.
A lot of this is just getting used to having to share the road, but over that time that'll work. In Holland it has worked for years already and before moving here, I lived in Dublin for some time and it is starting to work quite well there.
Leo
Many thanks for your comments - and for taking the time to check out the blog.
Andrew
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