Charlie Alliston case - fixie rider accused of causing pedestrian death

[oldstrath]

[QUOTE 4958213, member: 43827"]It was clumsy, unprofessional journalism but I don't believe it was part of a deliberate offensive against cyclists. Cycling is increasing in popularity and is here to stay, despite some motorists' naysaying lobby, and without us playing the victim card.[/QUOTE]

If it was merely ' clumsy' they'd have replaced it with the correct version, rather than just losing it.

If you really don't think there's a concerted campaign, just look at the way Briggs' ridiculous efforts at revenge have been promoted. Any halfway rational and unbiased politician or journalist would simply tell him they are sorry for his loss, but more important issues exist.

Instead, his grief is parlayed into a concerted campaign to make people fear and hate cyclists. They want rid of us, to keep the streets clear for autonomous vehicles.

 

[snorri]

[QUOTE 4958213, member: 43827"], unprofessional journalism but I don't believe it was part of a deliberate offensive against cyclists. Cycling is increasing in popularity and is here to stay, despite some motorists' naysaying lobby, and without us playing the victim card.[/QUOTE]
I wish I could agree with you.
There are localised increases in the popularity of utility cycling, but this is by no means widespread.
I believe the press are influenced by the advertising revenue they earn from the car industry and are opposed to anything, including utility cycling, they see as threatening to diminish that industry.
Just this week a newspaper carried that hackneyed phrase "long suffering car users" to describe those enjoying a mode of private transport heavily subsidised from general taxation.

 

[MacB]

I would have said it was a bit tinfoil hattish but all the recent stuff on driverless cars/lorries has me wondering. The technology would certainly be a lot easier to achieve if roads were motorised vehicles only and pedestrians strictly limited to pavements and crossings.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

If it was merely ' clumsy' they'd have replaced it with the correct version, rather than just losing it.

If you really don't think there's a concerted campaign, just look at the way Briggs' ridiculous efforts at revenge have been promoted. Any halfway rational and unbiased politician or journalist would simply tell him they are sorry for his loss, but more important issues exist.

Instead, his grief is parlayed into a concerted campaign to make people fear and hate cyclists. They want rid of us, to keep the streets clear for autonomous vehicles.

This is just.so much nonsense.

Revenge? Get a grip.

Every carp outcome isn't evidence of a conspiracy.

 

[snorri]

I would have said it was a bit tinfoil hattish but all the recent stuff on driverless cars/lorries has me wondering. The technology would certainly be a lot easier to achieve if roads were motorised vehicles only and pedestrians strictly limited to pavements and crossings.

Like a rail network?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I would have said it was a bit tinfoil hattish but all the recent stuff on driverless cars/lorries has me wondering. The technology would certainly be a lot easier to achieve if roads were motorised vehicles only and pedestrians strictly limited to pavements and crossings.

Far cheaper to give everyone a proximity tag and insist they carry it to avoid getting squashed.

Big Brother would love it.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I would have said it was a bit tinfoil hattish but all the recent stuff on driverless cars/lorries has me wondering. The technology would certainly be a lot easier to achieve if roads were motorised vehicles only and pedestrians strictly limited to pavements and crossings.

And again, do you really think the petrol heads are going to give up their driving 'rights' without a long and protracted fight?

 

[oldstrath]

[QUOTE 4958849, member: 43827"]That's one way of looking at it.......if you're trying to paint cyclists as victims. His wife died and clearly and understandably he feels strongly about it
[/QUOTE]

Of course he does, understandably so. Doesn't mean that his campaigns are in any way sensible, or useful, or that they should be promoted.

Brakeless fixies have killed at most one person in 2016. Mobile phones while driving have killed many more. Which should governments try to fix?

And I tell you what, when a bus driver tries to squash me, then says 'you bastards shouldn't be on the road, you kill people', I surely feel like a victim.

 

[oldstrath]

This is just.so much nonsense.

Revenge? Get a grip.

Every carp outcome isn't evidence of a conspiracy.

You think his goal is something other than revenge? He's clearly an intelligent guy - if it was road safety he would direct it better surely?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You think his goal is something other than revenge? He's clearly an intelligent guy - if it was road safety he would direct it better surely?

I think his goal has NOTHING to do with revenge. The fact his head and heart are in a bad place explains the poor direction. He is sincere but misguided.

 

[bigjim]

Of course he does, understandably so. Doesn't mean that his campaigns are in any way sensible, or useful, or that they should be promoted.

Brakeless fixies have killed at most one person in 2016. Mobile phones while driving have killed many more. Which should governments try to fix?

And I tell you what, when a bus driver tries to squash me, then says 'you bastards shouldn't be on the road, you kill people', I surely feel like a victim.

On average, TFL bus drivers alone kill one person every three weeks.

 

[srw]

On average, TFL bus drivers alone kill one person every three weeks.

To my surprise you're right.
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/q2-london-bus-safety-dashboard.pdf

Although when you realise that London buses drive half a billion km per year that puts it rather into perspective....
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-bus-network-statistics.pdf

You've fallen for exactly the same kind of denominator neglect as people who think that cycling in London is dangerous.

 

[srw]

To be fair, he stated it as a fact

True. And I might have read a bit too much subtext, but frankly I doubt it.

 

[bigjim]

To my surprise you're right.
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/q2-london-bus-safety-dashboard.pdf

Although when you realise that London buses drive half a billion km per year that puts it rather into perspective....
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-bus-network-statistics.pdf

You've fallen for exactly the same kind of denominator neglect as people who think that cycling in London is dangerous.

Not fallen for anything. It's just a fact that I would be happy to relate to any ignorant bus driver having a go at me.
Nothing deeper than that. Live with it.

 

[srw]

Not fallen for anything. It's just a fact that I would be happy to relate to any ignorant bus driver having a go at me.

It's also a fact that one cyclist dies in London every five weeks. But that doesn't make it a useful fact.

Like I thought, there's a subtext going on.