The Daily Mail seems to have a new hate group: cyclists. Nigel Havers wrote an article in today's Mail criticising cyclists- he implies that they are all rude and shout at people who attempt to criticise them, don't obey traffic laws, they are all smug environmental hippies who don't actually give a toss that their lycras or bikes could be made in a far east sweatshop, don't pay attention to other road users and use the pavements to cycle on in impunity. He says that cyclists don't pay tax, implying that they have no right to be on the road. Oh yes and he also makes out that cyclists lock their bikes up where they feel like it. And there's a bit saying that cycling is a pointless green activity because of David Cameron's papers being transported to work by car.

Well, as an occasional cyclist myself, I have to say that I do obey traffic laws, if I use the pavement I get off and push, I've never shouted at any inconsiderate motorists or careless pedestrians and I have no idea where my bike is made. And I only lock my bike up in a random place if there's no-where provided to park it (what does he think I should do? Leave it out somewhere so that some tosser can make off with it?) And cyclists do pay tax- out of their incomes and they pay VAT on their fuel (ie food) plus council tax. By his reckoning pedestrians ought to pay tax as well for the privelige of zebra, pelican and puffin crossings. And when I cycle to work I tend to carry my work gear in a bag strapped to my back.

Nigel Havers is a twat.

Link: http://tinyurl.com/ltlga

There's a far greater proportion of idiots in cars than there are on bikes.

Well I cycle a lot to keep fit and motorists in general are fine. As with anything there are exceptions. I wonder how much he got paid for writing that trash?




Fit Git!

you could have told me sooner I've been paying council tax and vat this year, apparently for no reason

actually the independent have been doing a lot about cycling recently, it is claimed that the revenue from road tax is not as large as the bill for road work and repair, it does not sustain the upkeep - some money is used from council tax etc to make it up.

as for fuel duty, you pay vat on bananas so I don't know what he's talking about

also, if you're run over by an idiot, a car would probably do more damage to you than a bike would!

_________________
"Stop making up quotes and attributing them to me" - Voltaire

I cycle, I love it. It's fun. I'd cycle more if it wasn't for the fact that the gangs round here have a profitable line in holding cyclists up for their bikes.
That the cycle lane I use is also the bus lane for one of the busiest bus route in Europe (3 buses a minute during Uni term time)also puts me off from cycling into the city centre more often. I get off and push at that point.
My bike is a Claud Butler, hand built in Lincolnshire, I have a rack on the back, and as of next week, panniers. I carry my own stuff.
My next bike will be a Pashley,also made in Britain.


The other half cycles too. He also has a car, so he does pay road tax. His bike frame is from Canada and is handbuilt. Most good cyclists pay for good handbuilt frames from the UK or the US/Canada, it's not worth risking your life on a catalogue special.

As I can't cycle on a motorway (and frankly I am not mental) why should I have to pay to maintain it, which is what road tax pays for.

A few friends of mine have recently been deliberately knocked off their bikes by motorists. For crimes such as being in the cycle lan.

I haven't cycled in nearly 30 years (dodgy knees), so I don't have a personal stake in this, but it still pisses me off.

Cyclists don't pay fuel duty: no shit! Neither do pedestrians, Nige. What's your point?

Cyclists don't pay road tax: I don't know how that "upkeep of the network" breaks down, but I'll hazard a guess that two large chunks of it are road-building and repairing the wear and tear on the road surface. When was the last time a new road needed to be built because there were too many cyclists? How many potholes are caused by cyclists? Interesting fact: on a hard road, the amount of damage caused by a vehicle is approximately proportional to the axle load raised to the fourth power. So: car = damage, lorry = loads of damage, push bike = approximately fuck all damage.

Cyclists don't obey traffic laws: I'm glad that Nige is on the side of the law here, so presumably he champions speed cameras and parking restrictions. It'd certainly be nice if everyone was a safe and considerate road user, but there's an imbalance you need to take into account. How many people are killed or seriously injured on the roads each year? How many of those are caused by cyclists? Cyclist runs into pedestrian (probably rare, but it does happen): bruised pedestrian. Car runs into pedestrian: dead pedestrian. Car and cycle collide: dead cyclist, scratched car (plus, to be fair, traumatised driver). How many person-hours are lost every day due to delays caused by badly parked cars? How many by bikes chained up where they shouldn't be?

I think most anti-cyclist nonsense of this sort has a simple subtext: "cyclists are so smug, and they make me feel guilty".

Dear Mr Havers
My nine year old and five year old cycle everywhere they can. Never seen them recycle fuck-all though....or hug trees. They do agree with me that you are a toffee-nosed wanker though.

Nigel Havers probably has loads of cars and thinks he should be allowed to drive them everywhere he can, in any way he likes. Damn cyclists, getting in the way! I would hazard a guess that he also complains about speed cameras because they don't let him drive as fast as he likes, and traffic lights because they keep making him stop. Bastards!

Why don't these people just write "LOL HIPPIES" and accompany it with a big picture of their shiny car, the midlifecrisismobile? It's about the whole point of their complaints, after all.

Cars V Cyclists

1. Cyclist seriously hurt in collision with car
AN ACCIDENT that left a cyclist seriously injured brought a Kent city centre to a standstill yesterday.

A 26-year-old man had to be airlifted to hospital with serious head, facial and limb injuries after his bicycle was in collision with a car on the London-bound carriageway of Rheims Way in Canterbury at around 3.30pm.

Kent Air Ambulance took the man to The Royal London hospital. Police and ambulance crews were also in attendance.

The road was closed and traffic diverted away from the scene, which caused huge tailbacks and chaos in other parts of the city.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

2. Cyclist killed in road crash horror
A MALE cyclist was killed when he was involved in a collision with a lorry in the early hours of Monday.

He was pronounced dead at the scene on the A21 northbound carrigeway, just before the exit slip for Chipstead.

The collision happened at around 12.30am and also involved a white Scania lorry. There were no other injuries.

The road was closed while emergency services dealt with the incident. It was open again by 6.15am.

The victim had yet to be identified as his next of kin have not yet been informed.

Kent Police are appealing for witnesses to contact the serious collision investigation unit on 01622 798538

no Nigel has a detector so those things don't bother him

origin blue i - satellite speed trap warning system to save lives and your licence



Nigel Havers the actor is also the journalist right? Because I am not certain.

I thourght that speed cameras were sign posted? Sounds like Nige's been had there

I like cycling, but can't do it in any meaningful way because I live in lincolnshire, and cycling on our roads is a death sentance waiting to happen. Smug safe bastard car drivers

I'm just wondering if Nigel Havers lives in Cambridge. If so, I think he'd have good grounds to complain about cyclists not observing the highway code (I did).

What I think is more likely is that some Mail hack sent him an e-mail saying:
<i>"Dear Mr Havers, we at the Daily Mail have seen that Grumpy Old Men is a quite popular TV programme, functioning as it does according to the rule that middle-class people think any old bollocks is entertaining and profound if a celebrity is saying it. We would be very grateful if you would please write 500 words of any old bollocks, in conjunction with which we will happily feature a large photograph of you, print your name in block capitals and plug any book and/or TV show you are currently working on."</i>

Cars V Cyclists

Cyclist killed in crash with car
A CYCLIST died at the scene after he was involved in an accident with a car on Thursday night.

A 35-year-old woman, who was driving the green BMW, was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and later released on bail.

The crash took place on Cryals Road, Matfield, near Tunbridge Wells, at around 10.40pm.

The dead man, who police say is local to the area, has not yet been identified. There were no other injuries in the accident.

http://www.whb.co.uk/socialissues/carscrush.htm

Seems a useful link for all you anarcho-cyclists out there!