TBH I'm truly fed up of all this Grand Depart cycling event that is to invade Yorkshire quite soon. I'll be glad when they've all departed to la Francais.
In view of the expected tourism for the fact that the Tour de France will Depart to France from Yorkshire, we natives have been told that cyclists have the right to ride in the middle of a narrow road, so we can expect long tailbacks. We cannot call them 'love' which is standard Yorkshire talk, (even if we are being agressive we call people love). Yellow painted bicycles adorn walls and lamp posts to point the way to each town they will pass through. Cycle lanes are going to be promoted at a huge cost and once all this cycle mania has died down they will be chucking their bikes into the hedges and going back to the telly.
Thankfully ayg that's not the attitude that has seen our cyclists become the fantastic Olympic champions and world beaters they are.
If only a little more tolerance could be shown, like it is in continental europe, then the whole country would feel the benefit, as would a large section of the population, when obesity is on the increase and we are being advised to alter our lifestyles in order to combat it.
Thank you Baldric, that clarifies it for me. Chill, I have no objection to law abiding cyclists but so many here are ignoring traffic lights and are really a danger to themselves. The pink bicycles are still hanging around and I feel sorry for the poor pink sheep!
I agree Psybbo, I'd like to see cyclists who disobey the Highway Code prosecuted far more often, especially RLJ(Red Light Jumpers) and anyone without lights using the road (even in daylight) should have an on the spot fine. You can get a set of lights in Poundland, there's no excuse.
And don't worry about the sheep, I'm sure they'll not develop a complex!
Unfortunately we do not have continental european weather it's a bit hit and miss - mostly miss in this country, and all but dedicated cyclists will cycle in bad weather unless they really have to.
No Baldric, I'm talking about changing the mindset of a population. One that needs to embrace cycling in the 21st century even more, to prevent obesity, diabetes and a sedentary lifestyle.
To prevent kids becoming fat as a result of the Playstation Generation, to see less traffic on the roads and a lessened reliabilty on vehicles. Less vehicles, less pullution, fitter population.
Small steps can make huge changes that will eventually be of benefit to all.
Chilldoubt, so sorry to intervene here, but was it you that once posted a vid of you nearly getting hit by a car whilst on your bike?
If so, any chance you could post the link again.
I was talking about this to a friend some time ago, but couldn't find the video on YouTube.
With regards to the OP (apologies), kids in general are annoying, but I really enjoy cycling so find it hard to dislike this ad :-)
I walk miles with the Dogs, I cycle locally, a lot, I'm not in any way Obese, yet I'm still Type 2 Diabetic for last 4 years, (not on any Meds, yet!) I can't totally agree with your argument.