Came across this and thought some of you may be interested.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmpubacc/665/665.pdf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8319630.stm
I've not read the whole thing yet but two things stand out immediately. Firstly, the spin put on the report by the BBC. Its a fairly lengthy report making many recommendations yet only pavement cycling gets the headline (front page of the BBC news site today). The actual recommendatio is:
The key word here is "perception", no evidence to back it up, only a perception.
The key to this perception comes in the second interesting point. On page 22 there is evidence from David Curry. In this he shows the astonishing ignorance on a subject he has been asked to comment on. Wide ranging stereotypes from gangs of lycra clad cyclists charging the lanes and demanding the road clears in front of them through to recumbents being death traps. Surely as somebody in a position of authority on the PAC he should be relying on something more than anecdotal evidence.
Anyway, back to reading. Interested to hear your comments.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmpubacc/665/665.pdf
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8319630.stm
I've not read the whole thing yet but two things stand out immediately. Firstly, the spin put on the report by the BBC. Its a fairly lengthy report making many recommendations yet only pavement cycling gets the headline (front page of the BBC news site today). The actual recommendatio is:
It is surprising that the Department was unaware of a strongly held perception
that, through the irresponsible behaviour of some cyclists, they are a hazard to
themselves and other road users.that, through the irresponsible behaviour of some cyclists, they are a hazard to
The key word here is "perception", no evidence to back it up, only a perception.
The key to this perception comes in the second interesting point. On page 22 there is evidence from David Curry. In this he shows the astonishing ignorance on a subject he has been asked to comment on. Wide ranging stereotypes from gangs of lycra clad cyclists charging the lanes and demanding the road clears in front of them through to recumbents being death traps. Surely as somebody in a position of authority on the PAC he should be relying on something more than anecdotal evidence.
Anyway, back to reading. Interested to hear your comments.
