Before pushing your pen, try pushing your pedals”
Discussion
In Leighton Buzzard we now have three cycling officers whose job seems to only be writing articles in the local paper proclaiming what an excellent job they are doing. A couple of weeks ago they wrote an article called "Before pushing your pen, try pushing your pedals” in response to a readers letter.
Frankly the arrogrance of the article annoyed me so I sent in the following letter:
Keep it clean but I want to see how much I can wind them up!
Cheers,
Phill
Edited for stupidity.
Frankly the arrogrance of the article annoyed me so I sent in the following letter:
my letter said:
Re: “Before pushing your pen, try pushing your pedals”
I have just finished reading the aforementioned article in your paper dated 29/01/2009, it interesting to see that the three cycling czars deny the claims of “frippery in these straitened” times as their wages are not paid by for by the council.
Instead it appears their wages come from the £1.2 million worth of funding received when Leighton Buzzard received official ‘cycling town’ status. Obviously this money didn’t come from the taxpayer at all, oh no so it must have been grown on trees by Gordon Brown somewhere in Downing Street (a feat, which in this current economic climate is truly a miracle, and one in which he probably needs to repeat on a more regular basis).
What planet do these people think we’re on? It must be so good for them to never leave the confines of Leighton Buzzard and get out in the real world. Although saying that if they ever had to get proper jobs in the real world they’d probably be in for a shock. I mean come on…. Three people to teach 200 children cycling proficiency in one month and stick up a couple of bike racks at the station – it’s not exactly rocket science is it?
A quick calculation (which I’ll be the first to admit I’ve probably got wrong) but based on 20 work days in a month (Mon – Fri) with three cycling officers they only managed to teach on average 3.33 children each per day! Even then I expect you could do that in an hour! What did they do the rest of the time? Stick pins in a local map to work out where they could make life difficult for car drivers and the rest of the local community?
Your article goes on to say that the officers are interested in improving the traffic problems which have plagued the town – quite an interesting point considering it’s the stupidity of the local council and it’s road planning staff which have been causing the issues. Who in their right mind decided it was a sensible idea to put a kink in the road just after Tesco to force the traffic into one (and a half) lanes just before the traffic lights at The Venue? I have a sneaky suspicion though that whoever came up with this hair brained scheme doesn’t drive!
Commuter traffic is simply causing gridlock morning and night due to these poorly thought out “improvements”. When will the council realise that we’re not driving to work for the fun of it, we’re driving to work to earn a wage to pay for our ever increasing tax burden and to put food on the table so our family can eat.
Kind Regards,
Slightly miffed of Leighton Buzzard.
Now the paper was delayed by the poor weather and was only delivered to us on Friday (12th) along with this response which I read this morning while eating my cornflakes:I have just finished reading the aforementioned article in your paper dated 29/01/2009, it interesting to see that the three cycling czars deny the claims of “frippery in these straitened” times as their wages are not paid by for by the council.
Instead it appears their wages come from the £1.2 million worth of funding received when Leighton Buzzard received official ‘cycling town’ status. Obviously this money didn’t come from the taxpayer at all, oh no so it must have been grown on trees by Gordon Brown somewhere in Downing Street (a feat, which in this current economic climate is truly a miracle, and one in which he probably needs to repeat on a more regular basis).
What planet do these people think we’re on? It must be so good for them to never leave the confines of Leighton Buzzard and get out in the real world. Although saying that if they ever had to get proper jobs in the real world they’d probably be in for a shock. I mean come on…. Three people to teach 200 children cycling proficiency in one month and stick up a couple of bike racks at the station – it’s not exactly rocket science is it?
A quick calculation (which I’ll be the first to admit I’ve probably got wrong) but based on 20 work days in a month (Mon – Fri) with three cycling officers they only managed to teach on average 3.33 children each per day! Even then I expect you could do that in an hour! What did they do the rest of the time? Stick pins in a local map to work out where they could make life difficult for car drivers and the rest of the local community?
Your article goes on to say that the officers are interested in improving the traffic problems which have plagued the town – quite an interesting point considering it’s the stupidity of the local council and it’s road planning staff which have been causing the issues. Who in their right mind decided it was a sensible idea to put a kink in the road just after Tesco to force the traffic into one (and a half) lanes just before the traffic lights at The Venue? I have a sneaky suspicion though that whoever came up with this hair brained scheme doesn’t drive!
Commuter traffic is simply causing gridlock morning and night due to these poorly thought out “improvements”. When will the council realise that we’re not driving to work for the fun of it, we’re driving to work to earn a wage to pay for our ever increasing tax burden and to put food on the table so our family can eat.
Kind Regards,
Slightly miffed of Leighton Buzzard.
Jet-propelled start for cycling town team said:
Every month the Cycling Town team publish an informative email update with details of the training, activities and events they have arranged for children, adults and families.
In this month's update is the news that their work has helped win an additional third of a million pounts to be spent for the benefit of people in living in Leighton Buzzard and Linslade.
Like the other Cycling Town funding, this is money that would have gone elsewhere but for the work of a few dedicated people.
When I opened last week's paper I expeted to see this good news splashed across the inside pages. But what I find is an ill-informed bullying letter that I feel belittled the Cycling Town team's enthusiam, competence and contribution.
I only hope the aggressive, arrogant attitude your correspondent shows doesn't carry over into his driving, but I have a sneaking suspicion it does.
The work of the Cycling Town team will benefit everyone who uses or roads for years to come, including your correspondent.
In the previous six years I doubt more than 60 local kids have been trained in the skills needed to ride a bike safely.
From a standing start, the new team have trained three times as many in six short days over six weeks. If it is not rocket science then it is certainly a jet-propelled start. In my opinion we should be proud we won this funding and excited by the opporunity it offers.
So it's time to write back, it's needs to be kept short and to the point so any suggestions? I want to include a response to the comment on my driving standards (clean licence, PastPlus & 8hrs of Advanced Driving) along with a response to the comment they make that as my view is different to their own it's "bullying".In this month's update is the news that their work has helped win an additional third of a million pounts to be spent for the benefit of people in living in Leighton Buzzard and Linslade.
Like the other Cycling Town funding, this is money that would have gone elsewhere but for the work of a few dedicated people.
When I opened last week's paper I expeted to see this good news splashed across the inside pages. But what I find is an ill-informed bullying letter that I feel belittled the Cycling Town team's enthusiam, competence and contribution.
I only hope the aggressive, arrogant attitude your correspondent shows doesn't carry over into his driving, but I have a sneaking suspicion it does.
The work of the Cycling Town team will benefit everyone who uses or roads for years to come, including your correspondent.
In the previous six years I doubt more than 60 local kids have been trained in the skills needed to ride a bike safely.
From a standing start, the new team have trained three times as many in six short days over six weeks. If it is not rocket science then it is certainly a jet-propelled start. In my opinion we should be proud we won this funding and excited by the opporunity it offers.
Keep it clean but I want to see how much I can wind them up!
Cheers,
Phill
Edited for stupidity.
Edited by pmanson on Tuesday 17th February 08:53
Sheepy said:
Phil, the easiest answer is to stop reading the pile of s
te that is the local paper. Of course this does mean that the lycra-clad morons still get on with their "jobs" which we are paying for, but then they will do that regardless of whether you boil your piss or not.
True but then writing the first letter was quite theraputic! te that is the local paper. Of course this does mean that the lycra-clad morons still get on with their "jobs" which we are paying for, but then they will do that regardless of whether you boil your piss or not.It now takes forever to get from our place to the station due to all the 'improvements' around town.
I'm all for improving safety and awareness for cyclists, especially if it reduces injuries in kids. However...
So they are funded to the tune of £1.2 million, and they have just won an additional £300k.
With this, they have trained around 180 children by working 1 day a week for 6 weeks.
Seems like value for money to me
So they are funded to the tune of £1.2 million, and they have just won an additional £300k.
With this, they have trained around 180 children by working 1 day a week for 6 weeks.
Seems like value for money to me
evenflow said:
I'm all for improving safety and awareness for cyclists, especially if it reduces injuries in kids. However...
So they are funded to the tune of £1.2 million, and they have just won an additional £300k.
With this, they have trained around 180 children by working 1 day a week for 6 weeks.
Seems like value for money to me
That's exactly what boiled my pi$$ in the first place, that and their attitude that it's doesn't matter what the locals think as it didn't come from the local council budget but from the government.So they are funded to the tune of £1.2 million, and they have just won an additional £300k.
With this, they have trained around 180 children by working 1 day a week for 6 weeks.
Seems like value for money to me
The shear stupidity and arrogrance just winds me up.
Sheepy said:
pmanson said:
It now takes forever to get from our place to the station due to all the 'improvements' around town.
Where are you living?Nice and quiet this week though due half term.
What you need to do is take the moral high ground back.
Point out that for free you have successfully taught 250 children how to drive on public roads which is 250 more than were taught in the previous 6 years and that they are now mobile and driving around with booster cushions and boxes on their feet like the little Chinese chap in Indian Jones.
Mention that you send out daily emails detailing funny links and stories and stuff (things like video of the cat on the bed running into the wall, and the bloke with the spider drawing)to anyone that has signed up to your mailing list (mainly mates at the moment).
Above all, mention that you do all this because you're a charity and donations are gratefully received.
Point out that for free you have successfully taught 250 children how to drive on public roads which is 250 more than were taught in the previous 6 years and that they are now mobile and driving around with booster cushions and boxes on their feet like the little Chinese chap in Indian Jones.
Mention that you send out daily emails detailing funny links and stories and stuff (things like video of the cat on the bed running into the wall, and the bloke with the spider drawing)to anyone that has signed up to your mailing list (mainly mates at the moment).
Above all, mention that you do all this because you're a charity and donations are gratefully received.
pmanson said:
Sheepy said:
pmanson said:
It now takes forever to get from our place to the station due to all the 'improvements' around town.
Where are you living?Nice and quiet this week though due half term.
When I was a kid, responsible and often retired adults gave generously of their time and knowledge to teach Cycling Proficiency kids in our school. It did not take an army of arrogant tax-payer funded, over-paid, final salary pensioned, Hi-Vi wearing buffoons, puffed-up with their own self-importance, to teach a class of children how to cycle safely.
Respond to the paper outlining your frustration at the late delivery of the last newspaper and that to ensure timely delivery of the next edition suggest they utilise the services of a cycle newspaper distribution service.
Conveniently you know of just such company with three under utilised employees who would no doubt be grateful for the extra work.
Conveniently you know of just such company with three under utilised employees who would no doubt be grateful for the extra work.
Dear Sir,
I write in response to your glorious Jet Propelled leader’s recent comments on my letter of XXXX.
I am saddened to learn that he has been so isolated within his £1,200,000.00 ivory tower that he fails to be able to consider the validity of any argument counter to his own indoctrinated beliefs. Indeed I found it somewhat offensive that he felt the need to attempt to cast doubt on my driving ability and record (I have significant Advanced Driver training, successfully completed the PassPlus course and hold a clean licence for the record) and also try to hide behind a pathetic accusation of bullying. I do not make any comment myself on the doubtless numerous and repeated violations cyclists who believe they are immune to Road Traffic laws make.
I can only hope that the ‘compo’ of a further £300,000.00 will ease his pain and suffering at my hands. Further I hope it allows the Czars the resources to get out on the street and into the schools to teach children, and adults, the basics of Road Safety and the laws applicable to cyclists. I note that the previous meagre funding only allowed them the opportunity to leave their tower once per week, requiring them to spend the rest of their time advising the Town Planners on how best to frustrate private motorised transportation more efficiently. With these new funds it would be good to see them being put to use in considering how best to integrate, rather than frustrate, local transportation of all forms.
Yours
I write in response to your glorious Jet Propelled leader’s recent comments on my letter of XXXX.
I am saddened to learn that he has been so isolated within his £1,200,000.00 ivory tower that he fails to be able to consider the validity of any argument counter to his own indoctrinated beliefs. Indeed I found it somewhat offensive that he felt the need to attempt to cast doubt on my driving ability and record (I have significant Advanced Driver training, successfully completed the PassPlus course and hold a clean licence for the record) and also try to hide behind a pathetic accusation of bullying. I do not make any comment myself on the doubtless numerous and repeated violations cyclists who believe they are immune to Road Traffic laws make.
I can only hope that the ‘compo’ of a further £300,000.00 will ease his pain and suffering at my hands. Further I hope it allows the Czars the resources to get out on the street and into the schools to teach children, and adults, the basics of Road Safety and the laws applicable to cyclists. I note that the previous meagre funding only allowed them the opportunity to leave their tower once per week, requiring them to spend the rest of their time advising the Town Planners on how best to frustrate private motorised transportation more efficiently. With these new funds it would be good to see them being put to use in considering how best to integrate, rather than frustrate, local transportation of all forms.
Yours
pmanson said:
We're on The Planets estate. Might be quicker to start heading out towards the Grovebury Road then around the bypass in the morning but that seems very long winded just to get the station!
Nice and quiet this week though due half term.
Whilst I completely disagree with the tone of the cycling "tsar"'s letter maybe if they can ramp up the training of kids on bikes and also use money to arrange for better bike storage at schools, then the traffic situation will improve as more kids start to cycle to school?Nice and quiet this week though due half term.
I'd be more inclined to offer sensible advice to these people about how to get more kids to cycle to school rather than just complain that traffic is bad. After all, you've pointed out yourself that traffic is better during half term.
And anyway, these muppets will always get the last word in the local press.
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