Saturday, 23 August 2014

Two Tribes Go To War (people, vehicles, modes)

Some people ask "Why can't we all just get along?"
This is the thinking behind 'Shared Spaces' and 'Share the Road'.
(not to be confused with 'shared space' - roads are shared space by default : exceptions include motorways and 'mandatory cycle lanes').

They generally object to the distinction between cyclists and motorists - "Sometimes I cycle, sometimes I drive, so the distinction is artificial - I am both".

If this approach really worked, there would be no problem.
There is a problem, so maybe it doesn't work ?
Am I missing something ?


Transport for London are trying to appeal to our better natures, in their "Share the Road - Be the Voice of Reason" campaign: among cyclists, pedestrians and drivers (watch all 4 videos)



Get stuck in, or rise above it ?
Lash out, or move on ?
Subtle hint of consequences with the wheelchair.
Nicely done, M&C Saatchi !

It might get taken too far - some balance is needed :
"It's just a flesh wound ..."



Russia has its own approach:



I wonder if it could be compared to the enmity between 'Mods and Rockers' in the 50s ?

It certainly existed in 1950 in America:



The different mindset even makes communicating difficult
I find it hard to make out what Keith Peat is trying to say.
Also, contrast
Cycling Proficiency Part Of The Driving Test? - [ Diary Of An ADI ]
Diary of an ADI - [ Dave McCraw ]

 London taxi drivers go on about cyclists jumping red lights yet when a taxi driver gets on a bike for a documentary guess what he does. - ITV
Pedestrians - Living Streets Edinburgh
Roseburn to Leith consultation begins - [ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum ]
A massive stooshie where pedestrians apparently opposed plans for a segregated cycle lane.
Despite 'Stop the Cycle Trak' and 'No to the Cycle Track' headlining in MSM, their actual position is
* we support the vast majority of the route
* we have two concerns over details - important details, but, in the great scheme of things, details
* firstly, floating bus stops
* secondly, at the east of Princes Street, we think that any space for new cycleways should come from vehicle space, not walkers space
Strange ! Note some are dressed as "I'm a keen cyclist myself", and 69 (?) self-identified as cyclists on the petition.
"they accused the council of “declaring war on the car”
- sounds like infiltration !

Often Drivers are Cyclists too !



See also
Right of Way - Priority - [ Motorism - a failure of democracy ! ]
Sub-tribes ? - [ Motorism - a failure of democracy ! ]

Us, not ‘Them’ - [ As Easy As Riding A Bike ]
Transport tribalism - [ As Easy As Riding A Bike ]
Transport tribalism (part 2) - [ As Easy As Riding A Bike ]
The problem with the word ‘cyclist’ - [ As Easy As Riding A Bike ]
A ‘cyclist’ is not a different species; just another human being - [ As Easy As Riding A Bike ]
The troubling attitude behind the “Nice Way Code” - [ As Easy As Riding A Bike ]
Space Lemmings - Peer Pressure - Race to the Bottom - [ Motorism - a failure of democracy ! ]
Why the war between drivers and cyclists? - [BBC News Magazine ]
Cyclists Vs Motorists - A Difference In Perception - [ motoring.co.uk ]
Childhood bullying is a good preparation for cycling on England’s roads - [ Helen Blackman ]
Welsh mtber kills a man by cycling into him. - [ Singletrack Forum ] - reversal reveals prejudices
Insurance firm to offer cyclists cheaper car insurance – because they're better drivers - [ road.cc ]
'Stop the blame game' say taxi drivers and cyclists - [ Taxi Driver Online  ]
Taxi leader says cyclists are the "Isis of London" - [ road.cc ]
More cycle paths or fewer psychopaths? - [ The Human Cyclist ]
'Disbelief' as sticker on haulage firm lorry labels cyclists as 'road vermin' - [ Belfast Telegraph ]
Sabotage and hatred: what have people got against cyclists? - [ The Guardian ]
Off yer bikes! Cyclists are a menace to society — and self-righteous to boot - [ The Spectator ]

We will never resolve cycling v motoring differences while cyclists think society needs them - [ Keith Peat ]
Sharing Roads? - [ Drive East Midlands ]
Drivers Knock down cyclist in Greenford West London - [ YouTube ]
"Naming and shaming him on here is a bit unnecessary and this whole "us vs them" cyclist/driver preservation club thing creates far more problems than it solves."
"The "War on the Roads" explained" - [ Bez on Twitter ]
Couldn’t make this up – Motorcycle Action Group opposed cos of "possible link between cycling and prostate cancer.” - [ Carlton Reid on Twitter ]
"Yeah, that makes sense" - [ Mark Treasure on Twitter ] - internal conflict of a motorist who cycles !
If driving in Britain was like cycling in Britain - [ As Easy As Riding A Bike ]
New north east campaign urges road users to ‘look out for each other’ - [ RSGB ]
MOTORISTS’ FRONT OF JUDEA: What Have The Cyclists Ever Done for Us? - [ Roads Were Not Built For Cars ]
The ‘Us and them’ attitude isn’t helping cycling - [ Spin Bike Show London ]
LETTERS: Why is there this extreme prejudice against cyclists? - [ Islington Tribune ] - note URL
The Rise of The Idiots - [ Singletrack Magazine ]
Why cyclists make drivers see red - [ South Burnett Times AU ]
Why I don't like cycling on busy - or main - roads - [ Stories from the saddle of a not-so-serious cyclist... ]
"Wise words. I’m exasperated by motorists blaming cyclists and cyclists thinking they’re never wrong." - [ PC Winter on Twitter ]
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