Why not a cycle-free day?

On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 19:13:05 -0000, "Mr. Benn" > wrote:

>I can't work out why Tom complains about not being able to cycle through the
>Blackwall tunnel when London has one of the best integrated transport
>systems in the country. Maybe he's too tight to pay for an Oyster card.

Spoken like a man who has never used TfL at peak hours.

Guy
--
Guy Chapman, http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk
The usenet price promise: all opinions are guaranteed
to be worth at least what you paid for them.

On 06/03/2012 19:31, Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:

> On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 19:13:05 -0000, "Mr. > wrote:

>> I can't work out why Tom complains about not being able to cycle through the
>> Blackwall tunnel when London has one of the best integrated transport
>> systems in the country. Maybe he's too tight to pay for an Oyster card.

> Spoken like a man who has never used TfL at peak hours.

So why would anyone want to sentence more car-drivers to use TfL (or British
Rail) at rush hour?

On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:42:08 +0000, JNugent >
wrote:

>On 06/03/2012 19:31, Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 19:13:05 -0000, "Mr. > wrote:
>
>>> I can't work out why Tom complains about not being able to cycle through the
>>> Blackwall tunnel when London has one of the best integrated transport
>>> systems in the country. Maybe he's too tight to pay for an Oyster card.
>
>> Spoken like a man who has never used TfL at peak hours.
>
>So why would anyone want to sentence more car-drivers to use TfL (or British
>Rail) at rush hour?

To demonstrate that 15 minutes of pure hell on the Grove Park to
London Bridge train is slightly more tolerable than the 60 minutes of
even purer hell on the South Circular, A21 and Lower Road during the
morning rush hour?

On 06/03/2012 19:27, Bertie Wooster wrote:
> On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 19:13:05 -0000, "Mr. > wrote:
>
>> "JNugent" wrote in message ...
>>
>> On 06/03/2012 18:34, Mrcheerful wrote:
>>> "Bertie > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 14:13:08 -0000, "Mr Benn"
>>>> > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I HAVE just read an opinion in this section relating to having a
>>>>> car-free
>>>>> day in Bristol. I personally think a Cyclist free week would be far more
>>>>> beneficial!
>>>>
>>>> Lol! Can you imagine the traffic chaos in London if every cyclist took
>>>> their car to work every day for a week!?
>>>>
>>>> What a great idea - a bicycle free week - to show motorists what a
>>>> favour we are doing them by taking our cars off the road.
>>>>
>>>
>>> why wouldn't most of them use the public transport systems?
>>
>> After all, it's not as thrugh they all have access to cars anyway, or that
>> the few who do would be able to park in Central or Inner London.
>> ================================================== =====
>>
>> I can't work out why Tom complains about not being able to cycle through the
>> Blackwall tunnel when London has one of the best integrated transport
>> systems in the country. Maybe he's too tight to pay for an Oyster card.
>
> My complaint is not that I can't cycle through the Blackwall Tunnel so
> much as the proposed alternative for cyclists and pedestrians will be
> charged.

Sponging freeloader.
>
> I have an Oyster Card which in currently in credit by over £35.

How much did that 'come' to'?


--
Dave - Cyclists VOR. "Many people barely recognise the bicycle as a
legitimate mode of transport; it is either a toy for children or a
vehicle fit only for the poor and/or strange," Dave Horton - Lancaster
University

"JNugent" wrote in message ...

On 06/03/2012 19:13, Mr. Benn wrote:
> "JNugent" wrote in message ...
>
> On 06/03/2012 18:34, Mrcheerful wrote:
>> "Bertie > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 14:13:08 -0000, "Mr Benn"
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> I HAVE just read an opinion in this section relating to having a
>>>> car-free
>>>> day in Bristol. I personally think a Cyclist free week would be far
>>>> more
>>>> beneficial!
>>>
>>> Lol! Can you imagine the traffic chaos in London if every cyclist took
>>> their car to work every day for a week!?
>>>
>>> What a great idea - a bicycle free week - to show motorists what a
>>> favour we are doing them by taking our cars off the road.
>>>
>>
>> why wouldn't most of them use the public transport systems?
>
> After all, it's not as thrugh they all have access to cars anyway, or that
> the few who do would be able to park in Central or Inner London.
> ================================================== =====
>
> I can't work out why Tom complains about not being able to cycle through
> the
> Blackwall tunnel when London has one of the best integrated transport
> systems
> in the country. Maybe he's too tight to pay for an Oyster card.

If I lived in London (God forbid), I would have an Oyster card.

Some say I should have one anyway, because it would make my occasional trip
into London (on business) cheaper. But it would be of no advantage to me.
================================================== =========

Although I'm happy drive in outer London areas, there is no way I'd want to
drive or cycle in central London. There's no need to anyway as the public
transport system is brilliant compared to most other parts of the country.
The only criticism I have apart from engineering work on the tube lines at
weekend is the fact that the tube services aren't a 24-hour service.

"Dave - Cyclists VOR" wrote in message
...

On 06/03/2012 19:27, Bertie Wooster wrote:
> On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 19:13:05 -0000, "Mr. > wrote:
>
>> "JNugent" wrote in message ...
>>
>> On 06/03/2012 18:34, Mrcheerful wrote:
>>> "Bertie > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 14:13:08 -0000, "Mr Benn"
>>>> > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I HAVE just read an opinion in this section relating to having a
>>>>> car-free
>>>>> day in Bristol. I personally think a Cyclist free week would be far
>>>>> more
>>>>> beneficial!
>>>>
>>>> Lol! Can you imagine the traffic chaos in London if every cyclist took
>>>> their car to work every day for a week!?
>>>>
>>>> What a great idea - a bicycle free week - to show motorists what a
>>>> favour we are doing them by taking our cars off the road.
>>>>
>>>
>>> why wouldn't most of them use the public transport systems?
>>
>> After all, it's not as thrugh they all have access to cars anyway, or
>> that
>> the few who do would be able to park in Central or Inner London.
>> ================================================== =====
>>
>> I can't work out why Tom complains about not being able to cycle through
>> the
>> Blackwall tunnel when London has one of the best integrated transport
>> systems in the country. Maybe he's too tight to pay for an Oyster card.
>
> My complaint is not that I can't cycle through the Blackwall Tunnel so
> much as the proposed alternative for cyclists and pedestrians will be
> charged.

Sponging freeloader.
=====================================

I think that's what it comes down to. Tom expects everything to be free.
It's not like that in the real world.

On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:36:54 +0000, Bertie Wooster
> wrote:

>On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:42:08 +0000, JNugent >
>wrote:
>
>>On 06/03/2012 19:31, Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 19:13:05 -0000, "Mr. > wrote:
>>
>>>> I can't work out why Tom complains about not being able to cycle through the
>>>> Blackwall tunnel when London has one of the best integrated transport
>>>> systems in the country. Maybe he's too tight to pay for an Oyster card.
>>
>>> Spoken like a man who has never used TfL at peak hours.
>>
>>So why would anyone want to sentence more car-drivers to use TfL (or British
>>Rail) at rush hour?
>
>To demonstrate that 15 minutes of pure hell on the Grove Park to
>London Bridge train is slightly more tolerable than the 60 minutes of
>even purer hell on the South Circular, A21 and Lower Road during the
>morning rush hour?

Precisely.

Door to door times to the City by train & bike 1:00; by train & tube:
1:15; by car: 2:00.

Guy
--
Guy Chapman, http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk
The usenet price promise: all opinions are guaranteed
to be worth at least what you paid for them.

On Mar 6, 3:44*pm, Simon Mason > wrote:
> A good move or not?
>
> QUOTE:
> The controversial traffic ban on a stretch of Deansgate was today
> facing its first rush-hour test.
>
> A 300-yard section of the busy city centre road outside Manchester
> Cathedral has been turned into a pedestrian-only zone.
>
> The scheme began yesterday – with the big test coming as commuters
> return to work after the weekend.
>
> The Victoria Street section of Deansgate outside Chetham's School – a
> key gateway into the city centre – is used by thousands of drivers
> every day.
>
> Cars, taxis, and buses will snake through Salford to join Deansgate
> outside Harvey Nichols department store.
>
> Motorists will have to travel along Chapel Street and Victoria Bridge
> Street before rejoining Deansgate. Victoria Bridge Street will also
> become two-way.
>
> The scheme was given a cautious welcome as it began yesterday – but
> some shoppers called on the council to re-think its plans in the event
> of traffic chaos.
>
> Businesses in the area also backed the closure.
>
> Mark Dent, from Hanging Ditch Wine Merchants in Victoria Street, said
> he hoped the plan would breathe new life into the area.
>
> He said: “I think the whole thing is brilliant. It is going to bring a
> whole new slant to Manchester. This whole area is going to be
> regenerated and for the general public, it is going to be brilliant.
>
> “It is going to be a new space for everyone. All cities should be
> heavily pedestrianised.
>
> “I am a great believer in public transport in cities. It is going to
> bring us into the 21st century and it is going to give this area a
> whole new lease of life, a slightly continental feel.
>
> “The Spinningfields development has transformed that area and we
> expect similar change here. Nobody takes to change immediately but we
> have to change with the times.”
>
> Driver Rachel Vose, 32, from Prestwich, said: “I travel into
> Manchester during the week and at weekends and the traffic is pretty
> bad at the best of times, especially during the evening rush-hour, so
> it will be interesting to see how this all works.
>
> “I hope that the council will look at how it is working and if there
> are problems, which I am sure there will be, they should consider
> changing it back.”
>
> The Deansgate closure plan was first considered by town hall bosses
> two years ago in a redevelopment masterplan which also proposed that
> St Peter's Square should be traffic-free.
>
> It is hoped that drivers will be encouraged to use the inner ring road
> surrounding the city centre.
>
> Shopper Dawn Wrigley said drivers would find routes around the area
> and cause rat-runs.
>
> Mrs Wrigley, 46, from Beswick, said: “I can only think that it will
> clog up other parts of the city and people could end up avoiding
> entering Manchester that way.
>
> “Using the area up to the top of the city near Piccadilly and walking
> down to the shops is what I will be doing.”
>
> Council engineers will monitor traffic for six months as part of a
> trial before considering whether to permanently close the stretch.
>
> Bollards will be introduced and access to Manchester Cathedral will
> only be allowed on specific occasions.
>
> New pedestrian zone outside Manchester Cathedral will see traffic
> banned from entrance to Deansgate
>
> http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...312_traffic-ba...


I think this is an excellent idea.
We have a similar scheme under way in Hull down Princes Dock Side
where there are a lot of bars and cafes and like in the Mancheser
case, the local traders are heavily in favour of the scheme.
It maes for a very pleasant atmosphere in more ways than one.
--
Simon Mason

On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:14:40 +0000, "Just zis Guy, you know?"
> wrote:

>On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:36:54 +0000, Bertie Wooster
> wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:42:08 +0000, JNugent >
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On 06/03/2012 19:31, Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 19:13:05 -0000, "Mr. > wrote:
>>>
>>>>> I can't work out why Tom complains about not being able to cycle through the
>>>>> Blackwall tunnel when London has one of the best integrated transport
>>>>> systems in the country. Maybe he's too tight to pay for an Oyster card.
>>>
>>>> Spoken like a man who has never used TfL at peak hours.
>>>
>>>So why would anyone want to sentence more car-drivers to use TfL (or British
>>>Rail) at rush hour?
>>
>>To demonstrate that 15 minutes of pure hell on the Grove Park to
>>London Bridge train is slightly more tolerable than the 60 minutes of
>>even purer hell on the South Circular, A21 and Lower Road during the
>>morning rush hour?
>
>Precisely.
>
>Door to door times to the City by train & bike 1:00; by train & tube:
>1:15; by car: 2:00.

Hmmmm. I wonder if you could confirm that by issuing a car v bike
challenge to the Medwit? Or do you think that he'd bottle it - even if
given a choice of transport mode?

On Mar 6, 2:13*pm, "Mr Benn" > wrote:
> A letter in a Bristol newspaper:
>
> I HAVE just read an opinion in this section relating to having a car-free
> day in Bristol. I personally think a Cyclist free week would be far more
> beneficial! All too often Bristol boasts how cycle friendly it is. Is this
> really a good thing? Myself, and many colleagues and friends disagree
> strongly.
>
> Now before I go any further, I must point out that I am a part-time cyclist,
> and when cycling I aim to stay out of the way of proper road users by
> sticking to cycle paths and lanes wherever possible. I wish this was the
> case with all cyclists.
>
So you would like to see cyclists banned from all public roads? BTW,
why are you cross-posting from so many motorist related newsgroups,
troll?
>
> I commute by car daily from outside Bristol to Temple Meads station. I would
> catch the train, but lovely First Great Western do not run a train early
> enough, but that's a whole other issue! Everyday I experience horrendous
> behaviour from cyclists. Considering they are vulnerable, they often risk
> their lives jumping red lights, undertaking at junctions, hopping on and off
> of pavements at their convenience and generally getting in the way of the
> legitimate road user. I realise not all cyclists behave like this, just the
> vast majority, especially the Lycra ones who think they are as wide as cars!
> I also appreciate not all us car drivers are saints as the odd couple let us
> down.
>
As a motorist do you consider yourself a serious threat to vulnerable
cyclists?
>
> I lay part of the blame with Bristol City Council for trying too hard to
> please cyclists and look trendy.
>
Can't you see the reason for this? Cycling is virtually pollution free
and provides healthy exercise, unlike motorists whose emissions pose a
threat to public health and the environment and gives virtually no
exercise.
>
> All these advanced starting grids at
> traffic lights is the dumbest idea yet. Encouraging the roads slowest users
> to blatantly sit right in the way of the cars before the lights change, then
> get in the way of our desire to get somewhere quick. That is, when the
> cyclist obeys the lights!!! Another gripe is the fact that despite all the
> cycle lanes on pavements, cyclists still use our road. Coronation Road is a
> prime example. A few months back I was following a lorry along there, who
> was struggling to get past a dad and two young boys cycling along the road.
> The lorry eventually passed, narrowly missing the boys. I tried to tell the
> father this fact, but was met with typical cyclist arrogance. It should be
> law to stick to a cycle lane where provided, to protect the cyclist, and
> more importantly, improve the car drivers progress. I feel there needs to be
> more legislation to protect the proper road user from the menace cyclist. To
> start with, cyclists should have insurance. Can you imagine the damage they
> could do to a cars paintwork if they were to get in the way? Bodywork repair
> costs a lot these days. I find it harder by the day to avoid cyclists who
> flout the highway code. They should also be made to pay a small tax, and
> have a registration plate of some description. This would help to hold them
> accountable for the accidents they cause. The tax could pay for cycle
> wardens to fine them every time they break the law.
>
> I would also like to add, cyclists are also a menace on the pavement
>
So are cars. Your point? Also you seem to favour traffic speed over
safety. Explain.
>
> I'm
> sure many readers would agree. Trying to walk near Temple Meads station is a
> gamble. If you think I am anti-cyclist you would be right. Years of trying
> to avoid their antics have made me this way. I am all for saving the
> environment, but please do it in a lawful, polite manner, and stay off the
> road where possible. Do not undertake where its dangerous, obey road signs
> and traffic lights and respect the car driver who funds the cycle lanes you
> fail to use!!! Do all this and we can all be friends!
>
> http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/cycle...rivers/story-1...
>
Given the mindset and typical behaviour of motorists, such as that
displayed here, I seriously doubt that they can ever be regarded as
friends with vulnerable cyclists. Instead they present a very serious
threat to cyclists which is not reciprocated, apart from a few
scratches on your cherished paintwork.

What vulnerable cyclists and pedestrians need long-term is car-free
cities, much slower maximum speed limits and where there is no longer
a general complacence about road-safety leading to much harsher
punishments for dangerous drivers, instead of the derisory ones at
present.

-- .
A driving licence is sometimes a licence to kill.