Chris Boardman won't let his daughter cycle on the road.
Discussion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29848778
Any thoughts?
(This topic may belong in Pedal Powered but as I'm not a cyclist myself, for largely the same reasons that Chris Boardman mentions, I thought it might be a cheek, but I understand if mods want to move it).
My thoughts can be summed by saying I agree with all that Mr Boardman says.
Any thoughts?
(This topic may belong in Pedal Powered but as I'm not a cyclist myself, for largely the same reasons that Chris Boardman mentions, I thought it might be a cheek, but I understand if mods want to move it).
My thoughts can be summed by saying I agree with all that Mr Boardman says.
Chris Boardman in Article said:
I won't let my daughter ride the 300m it takes to get to our local cycling path.
>SNIP<
That's because even though I know that she is statistically more likely to have an accident in our bathroom at home rather than on the road ...
>SNIP<
It's a purely emotional response rather than a logical one.
Selective quoting, but I'm sure you'll agree that I haven't misrepresented him. And, I'm sorry to say, it doesn't paint him in a good light. >SNIP<
That's because even though I know that she is statistically more likely to have an accident in our bathroom at home rather than on the road ...
>SNIP<
It's a purely emotional response rather than a logical one.
Shame. I had quite a lot of respect for him.
Oli.
mrf said:
Largely its another piece of "think of the children" twaddle...
1) Road deaths have dropped since the 1970s...
2) The netherlands are largely flat, the UK is largely hilly and in many places extremely so
3) he admits his daughter is more likely to die in the bathroom, yet allows emotion to rule over common sense and facts...heck he should become a politician......
4)People (of all ages) cycling on the pavement are a damned menace...cycles are meant for the road, not the footpath....
5) cyclists would do themselves a serious favour, if - a) they stopped illegally using flashing mode on their lights, b) wore hi viz clothing, c) turned their lights on and d) aimed them properly not mention e) OBEY traffic lights...
On point 4 I agree however in Germany the opposite is the case. Cycling on combined cycle paths/pavement is encouraged over cycling on the road. I still cycle on the road though. 1) Road deaths have dropped since the 1970s...
2) The netherlands are largely flat, the UK is largely hilly and in many places extremely so
3) he admits his daughter is more likely to die in the bathroom, yet allows emotion to rule over common sense and facts...heck he should become a politician......
4)People (of all ages) cycling on the pavement are a damned menace...cycles are meant for the road, not the footpath....
5) cyclists would do themselves a serious favour, if - a) they stopped illegally using flashing mode on their lights, b) wore hi viz clothing, c) turned their lights on and d) aimed them properly not mention e) OBEY traffic lights...
yonex said:
I'm f
king sick and tired of the gospel according to Chris fking Boardman. Jesus fking Christ he's just another opinion not the fking authority on everyone else's fking safety choices.
Totally agree, he isnt doing cyclists any favours now, we get his opinion and a lot of the stuff he says makes sense but the constant bleating and repetition is embarrassing. He doesnt represent my opinions as a cyclist anymore.king sick and tired of the gospel according to Chris fking Boardman. Jesus fking Christ he's just another opinion not the fking authority on everyone else's fking safety choices.mrf said:
a) they stopped illegally using flashing mode on their lights.
Flashing lights are legal on bikes since 2005 if above 4 candella: http://www.ctc.org.uk/cyclists-library/regulations...I was surprised by this as I hate bikes lit up like mobile discos.
Bill said:
Roads are much busier these days, and even if standards haven't fallen the volume of traffic makes it feel that way. I've shepherded my 6 year old along a couple of roads with Muppets passing far too close and it's not something I'd choose to do again.
This is not your fault nor you 6 year olds, please dont give up on cycling. Try quiet roads, build up experience, get training (the british cycling website has loads of info) and above all, dont let your child believe that cycling is dangerous.pablo said:
This is not your fault nor you 6 year olds, please dont give up on cycling. Try quiet roads, build up experience, get training (the british cycling website has loads of info) and above all, dont let your child believe that cycling is dangerous.
Tbh round us it's the quiet roads that are worse because they're narrower and twistier so the traffic you do meet has to have a bit of patience (or not, as seems more common.)heebeegeetee said:
Jasandjules said:
Is this not a good thing? Fewer cyclists on the roads?
I think society is worse off in possibly every way measured, by having fewer cyclists.As for Chris Boardman, he perhaps wants to give her a little longer before he gets her to mix it with the two tonne missiles, I can see that, even as an experienced, reasonably capable, potentially aggressive (when provoked), well built 43 (44 tomorrow) year old cyclist the roads still have the capability to scare the living s
t out of me, the time when I dont get a bit nervous around things that can kill me without much effort is the time I stop riding.heebeegeetee said:
Jasandjules said:
Is this not a good thing? Fewer cyclists on the roads?
I think society is worse off in possibly every way measured, by having fewer cyclists.It's cheaper, healthier, much safer and nobody doing it seems to be constantly angry/obnoxious when they don't get their own way.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff