Growing hostility towards Mountainbikers and Cyclists

[M-Power]

Good rant Groovy!

+1

A few years ago, I had the feeling attitudes to cycling and cyclists had finally changed for the better and we would be seen as the 'solution' to many city traffic and pollution issues. Sadly, the media spin has successfully turned the tide of public opinion against us as irresponsible Lycra louts. The U.K. the home of the World Champion NIMBYS and other grumpy gits is winning the PR war.

I predict a steadily growing campaign of bans of riding in forests, on public lands on the pretence of health and safety. Lots of petty minded rules, regulation and additional cost, with the result many will give it up. Then the media will be back moaning about congestion, pollution, climate change...it's all utter insanity :facepalm:

Sorry for the rant..

Forgot to add. When I'm out riding I'm always courteous to other trail users. Say high, smile, slow down so as not to agitate pets, kids, parents, horses, give way etc. I'm sure most of us here being mature do the same. The few idiots that behave in an aggressive irresponsible manner should be maligned in the same way drivers of that ilk are.

 

[eshew]

I LOVE living in Washington state. If you guys are looking to turn things around you may want to look at https://www.evergreenmtb.org/ . They;ve essentially grown from nothing over the last 15 years and have an incredible relationship with state agencies, Dept of NAtural Resources and private land owners (Typically private timber companies). The number of trails built legally in the last 10 years is astounding. The quality is amazing. Even in small communities I've been involved with incredibly well put together single day builds where up to 3 miles of high quality trails are built in 6 hours. 80-100 volunteers can accomplish an amazing amount with the right leadership.

That being said in Portland Oregon, an incredibly bike and commuter friendly town all parks are banned for mountain biking. Even parks of 120+ acres, no dirt riding, it's been banned. It's insane.

For Washington, it took years for the first relatively small project to be approved by Seattle. It was incredibly well managed. All labor was from 100+ volunteers. All supplies and tools were donated. That project, I-5 Colonnade started it all. A few of the major accomplishments are Duthie Hill ( https://www.evergreenmtb.org/trails/duthie-hill ) & the expansion of the stagnant Tiger Mountain trails ( https://www.evergreenmtb.org/trails/tiger-mtn ). Get organized guys! Volunteer & you'll reap the benefits.

And all this from the most litigious society in the world... If we can, you certainly can.

 

[kingbling]

Just a thought
what would happen if we dumped 20million bicycles in london around parliament do you think people would have something to complain about do you think we'd get noticed even 1 million would be enough. If we as a cycling community stand together our voices would be heard and what political party in there right mind would want to alienate us think of all those votes.

Its up to us to stand together and fight every up rising against our hobby or choice of transport and be prepared to pull down every rouge ride who give's us a bad name (not literally) block them in call them out for jumping red lights, cycling on the path etc. And take note do not build, ride on private/ public land where its forbidden or you have not asked permission.

As we are seen as a small minority in our own towns we are often over looked. I say lets converge on these towns and cities and show then what a critical mass can really look like 15000 riders in one place WILL make people sit up and take notice of the cyclist.

As I mentioned in an earlier post its a vicious circle but it has to be broken by someone so why not the cyclist after all we do cycle and recycle

As I said just a though

 

[eshew]

Re:

A large group of unorganized people solves nothing and gives others a chance to put you in a bad light. Hell I'd hate cyclists if hundreds were protesting. The lycra only makes it worse.

Get somewhat organized, find an abandoned or crime ridden piece of land owned by the government/city etc. The more drug users, bums, tent shelters the better. You want to start off nasty The Colonnade was a former drug infested tent town under a 8 lane highway. https://www.evergreenmtb.org/trails/i-5-colonnade

Find some laborers. make sure you can source tools. Gotta make sure you've got some man power. Present your idea to whomever you need to. The plan would be to take the above mentioned parcel of land and turn it into user serviced, built, and maintained series of trails. Figure out how Evergreen got around the liability portion and make sure you can use the same coding/law that can reduce liability.

 

[kingbling]

@ eshew as a member of IMBA and having worked for the Forestry Commission in the UK I am well aware of the benefits organising unsanctioned trail builders and riders into a proactive group. In the UK we seldom have if ever large areas occupied by drug users and bums (or unfortunate homeless persons as I prefer to see them as having been one myself) to convert into bike parks. Our local councils can be quite accommodating in providing site's for bmx and skate parks were need has arisen. In the UK cycling has many different factions it is bringing these factions together to make our voice louder which is my point how else can you bring together so many cyclist without proper organisation be they in lycra or not.
The claim culture that has seeped into UK society over the last 30 years from the US has had a negative effect on land use due to our Duty of Care laws, under these laws if a trespasser comes on to your land and injures themselves they can still claim against the land owner wether this claim is held up or not is entirely down to the legal system and lawyers.
The growing negativity against cycling has stemmed from irresponsible cyclist and the media's drive to sell papers because there is a rift between user groups it is all to easy to exploit.

PS for all its pitfalls I LOVE living in the UK

 

[Silvergoat]

Good rant Groovy!

+1

Forgot to add. When I'm out riding I'm always courteous to other trail users. Say high, smile, slow down so as not to agitate pets, kids, parents, horses, give way etc. I'm sure most of us here being mature do the same. The few idiots that behave in an aggressive irresponsible manner should be maligned in the same way drivers of that ilk are.

Great thread!

I do agree with this last point of yours in particular – I endeavour to apply this approach wherever I ride because as group, we're really up against overwhelming attitudes to us. I feel I have to work hard to counter the negative opinions about us. Odd as it may seem, when commuting by bike, I aim to ride like a professional driver would. It's a strategy that's served me well so far and importantly, kept me out of danger as much as possible. Other road users are often taken aback by it – they're expecting a lycra-clad road warrior. If you can win a black cab over, that's something.

Btw, thanks to everyone who enjoyed my rant.

 

[legrandefromage]

I was a taxi driver 6 years, I was as nice as 3.14159265359 towards cyclists regardless of my behaviour. Weirdly it might have been to do with the fact that I understood I was in command of 2 tons of reinforced crap...

 

[Silvergoat]

Re:

Friday 19th Feb: "Die cyclist, die!" came the strangely disembodied howl from some household to my right, as I serenely wended my way down the long steep descent from Harringay Hill to Finsbury Park in golden sunlight and crystal blue skies this morning. Really mate, is that your best shot? That's not even worth a micro second flicker of my time diverting my attention to someone's moronic utterance. It was a portent, may be, of never to break my golden rule of 'never cycle to work on a Friday'. However, there was no choice, I had to – South West Pains were not running a service as there had been yet another jumper at Earlsfield on my route route into Wimbledon.

Cycled back from Wimbledon. At one point, I was in the middle of the road waiting for a gap in the endless traffic to turn right. Some geezer slows to my left and stops to shouts: "Get out the Effing road! My Road! Not yours!". Oh, right you are. Later, in Islington's Upper Street, a poor soul clearly unable look away from their iPhone just steps out into the road in front of me without looking – managed to stop on sixpence. Further on the route home, coming up to a give way line ready to cross over to the next road, someone tries to beat me to the line in their car and attempt to turn left over me. Nice try, but you're not fast enough mate. Further on again, waiting to do another right turn into a side street just before a pedestrian crossing. It's very slow moving traffic, there's a big gap – nows my chance! So what does the guy in the Beemer do? Speeds up and drives at me as I'm carefully turning. Nice try mate, I'm still too fast.

I'm halfway between Hornsey and Ally Pally now. My rear flats out instantly. It's dark, it's starting to rain – **** it, let's get the train! Never again, shall I cycle on a Friday. I'll take the day off instead. Yep, a small snapshot of everyday life commuting by bike (in London).

PS: "Cab drivers lose cycle superhighway High Court challenge". Yey!

http://road.cc/content/news/178365-...ay-high-court-challenge#sthash.lRZdSPiM.dpuf
http://road.cc/content/news/178365-cab- ... -challenge

 

[M-Power]

Re:

^^^ Fuxx that is unbelievable ! I rode for 20+ years in London, was knocked off 3 times and had innumerous close shaves and road rages but not in this manner !! That is all down to a concerted media campaign to stir up animosity against cyclists. These stories get lots of attention etc People are also more angry these days due to all the things bugging us, that alas we can do little about. Cyclists have become a quasi lightning conductor for all the pent up society angst.

Maybe helmet cameras are the answer and a website dedicated to outing aggressive menacing drivers. Hopefully insurers will take note of them and triple their car insurance. Price these psychos off the roads as well as educate them where possible.

I watched in horror yesterday as an impatient driver aggressively overtook a Mammil on a blind bend on the way to Welwyn. I almost had to lock up and pull right into the hedge just to let the tw@t through. Pointless !!

 

[Silvergoat]

Re:

It's just an average day. Thursday to Friday are the worst days to cycle around London. Drivers seem to be more impatient. On Thursdays, there's a section of society who are just waking up and coming out of the woodwork for the weekend and drive like idiots. Friday lunchtime onwards, everybody is hectic – school's out and workers – demob happy – are trying to get to the bar or home or whatever. Everyone's rushing about to trying get somewhere fast and they don't care who's in their way. Quite often, there will be drivers who like to let you know of your place on the road and just how much bigger they are in their car (until they get out on foot). So, my golden rule is never cycle on a Friday. Never.

Cyclists are now another group of sub-species who are up there to hate by the public and media – on a par with immigrants, the unemployed, environmentalists, the EU, human rights and anybody with a bushy beard and a suntan. Or if you walk on the cracks in the pavement. You don't need to be doing anything wrong – people just seem to hate and resent cyclists for wanting to ride a bike. To be honest, I just don't understand where it has all come from, but then there's no accounting for the irrationals whipped up by media sensationalism.

The bad cyclists are very few and very far between. Most of us are just going about our business trying to get through life. We're not taking the P, we're not trying to get something for nothing, we are paying our way, we are law abiding. And the public highways are just that – they're there for the benefit of everyone in the land, however one uses the roads. They're not there exclusively for just one group of people.