Still got a long way to go

Rich

We may think that the principles of design for cyclists and the facts behind
cycle helmets are general knowledge, but they sure as hell ain't.

Went to a meeting of cycling officers last week (I won't name it so that the
conspirators can't be identified) and two comments stuck in my mind:

"I'd better wear a helmet then" (when informed that the ride would be mixing
with motor vehicles)

and

"I can't understand why all these cyclists insist on riding on the road when
there is a perfectly good shared use path"

and these were cycling officers! No wonder it's such hard work campaigning
for cycling.

--
cheers

Richard Burton

[Not Responding]

On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 14:22:29 GMT, "Rich"
<burtthebike@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

>We may think that the principles of design for cyclists and the facts behind
>cycle helmets are general knowledge, but they sure as hell ain't.
>
>Went to a meeting of cycling officers last week (I won't name it so that the
>conspirators can't be identified) and two comments stuck in my mind:
>
>"I'd better wear a helmet then" (when informed that the ride would be mixing
>with motor vehicles)

When I come across this idea that you should wear a hat to protect you
from cars, I always say like "wonderful, I've been waiting for a
helmet that can do that; what make is it?"

>and
>
>"I can't understand why all these cyclists insist on riding on the road when
>there is a perfectly good shared use path"
>
>and these were cycling officers! No wonder it's such hard work campaigning
>for cycling.

Hope you did some educating.

Not all cycling officers are alike. I'm sure that a great many have a
great understanding of cycling but I know that some (most?) wear the
title of "cycling officer" as a second hat along with their real work
of highway engineer. The cycling officer in these LAs therefore is
chosen by being least quick to step back rather than because of any
knowledge about cycling.

Paul - xxx

Rich vaguely muttered something like ...

> "I can't understand why all these cyclists insist on riding on the road
> when there is a perfectly good shared use path"

I think many, not all, 'Cycling Officers' are there more by the chance that
they have a cycle, and the councils have to appoint a 'Cycling Officer',
rather than they're actually interested and enthusiastic cyclists. If all
you deal with in your working life are Local Council structures and Highway
Engineering Departments, your outlook is likely to be coloured somewhat. It
is possibly also the case, it is in my council anyway, that cyclists views
are expressed more from a car drivers viewpoint purely because enthusiastic,
knowledgable and cyclists who are interested in campaigning for and changing
views, don't work for councils, and especially don't work for small
councils.

> and these were cycling officers! No wonder it's such hard work
> campaigning for cycling.

It's easy enough campaigning, the hard bit is getting them to listen and
understand.

--
Paul ...
http://www.4x4prejudice.org/index.php
"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."
(8(|) Homer Rules !!!

David Hansen

On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 15:01:43 +0000 someone who may be " [Not
Responding] " <not_responding@dev.null.invalid> wrote this:-

>Not all cycling officers are alike. I'm sure that a great many have a
>great understanding of cycling

Even if they do they are often stuck amongst anti-cycling officials
and councillors, such as those in Edinburgh behind the A90 cycle
ban. In such circumstances they have to be very brave to speak out
against such injustices.



--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

[Not Responding]

On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 16:32:30 +0000, David Hansen
<SENDdavidNOhSPAM@spidacom.co.uk> wrote:

>On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 15:01:43 +0000 someone who may be " [Not
>Responding] " <not_responding@dev.null.invalid> wrote this:-
>
>>Not all cycling officers are alike. I'm sure that a great many have a
>>great understanding of cycling
>
>Even if they do they are often stuck amongst anti-cycling officials
>and councillors, such as those in Edinburgh behind the A90 cycle
>ban. In such circumstances they have to be very brave to speak out
>against such injustices.

And then there is democratic process to follow. I'd hope and am
optomistic enough to expect a cycling officer or, indeed, highways
officer to brief councillors on the downsides of such a ban. If the
councillors then decide they still want the ban then it is the job of
officers to get on and do it.

I don't actually like having cycling officers when it comes to
highways - negotiating and creating off road routes is different
issue. If the "cycling officer" presents a case as to why a scheme is
bad for cyclists it is easy to dismiss his brief with "well, it's his
job to put the cyclists' view". I'd much rather work to see that
cycling is understood as key part of the transport mix by all staff in
the transport dept.

Which is, in part, what I was doing last week when I was on the panel
interviewing for a new Director of Planning and Transportation.

David Hansen

On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 16:45:04 +0000 someone who may be " [Not
Responding] " <not_responding@dev.null.invalid> wrote this:-

>>Even if they do they are often stuck amongst anti-cycling officials
>>and councillors, such as those in Edinburgh behind the A90 cycle
>>ban. In such circumstances they have to be very brave to speak out
>>against such injustices.
>
>I'd hope and am
>optomistic enough to expect a cycling officer or, indeed, highways
>officer to brief councillors on the downsides of such a ban.

Your optimism is misplaced in this particular instance.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

Nick Kew

In article <0uvor05sijdamdkjdr8h7j0g75th5hr3lg@4ax.com>,
David Hansen <SENDdavidNOhSPAM@spidacom.co.uk> writes:

> Your optimism is misplaced in this particular instance.

How constructive. You have a certain tendency to sound like our
politicians whinging about the EU (yet vetoing on principle any
serious attempt to improve it).

He may be Not Responding, but at least he's doing something positive
for cycling.

--
Nick Kew