Jeremy Clarkson turns cycling advocate as he praises Copenhagen's approach

Media darling that he thinks he is , clarkson could curry favour by doing a segment on his " show " demonstrating the correct way to drive whilst near Cyclists and other V unerable R oad U sers !
Should he decide to do this he could approach this subject from several points , since , Busses tend to speed up to pass Cyclists then turn into bus stops , taxis overtake then swing into pick up or deposit passengers , all manner of vehicles fail to complete an overtaking manoevre of a cyclist before turning left , Police and Ambulances pass Cyclists without signalling their intentions and so forth .
So many possibilities for him to address , BUT , does he have the ability ?
Suggestions of his riding " Lejog " or a free ticket to " Damascus " are more likely results , than him being able to convince the " selfish motorist " , that a change of their behaviour , will save them from a blanket 20MPH urban speed limit , whilst the Cycling Infrastructure , needed 30+ years ago , is being constructed !
Additionally he will need to bend the ears of those responsible for the " soft attitude " to those that injure or KILL " V R U " ! " Cyclinglawyer's " recent Blog highlights the inadequacy of the Judiciarys' efforts towards deterring the foolhardy who choose to " bully " Cyclists and thus cause injury or death !
Would hope " mercuryone " gets to donate that £100 , and enjoyed " creepymonkey's " points !

I think his observations on CPH are spot on.

However, he might wish to research the history a bit. CPH is the way it is now because 40 years ago cyclists got political and demanded safe cycling infrastructure. I expect if he'd driven there back then he'd have decried that generation of CPH cyclists as "the militant wing of the CND" or whatever choice demonisation he's spouting this week.

Why do so many people give this bore-in-the-pub type any attention at all? Because he's a media luvvie who comes out with half-witted stereotypes and cliches which he 'dares' to say what lots of other half-wits are supposedly 'thinking' but daren't say in these politically correct times. If he thought about for more than his customary 0.0001 of a second, he'd know that all that about cycling being a political statement, beards etc. is total rubbish. He's just getting airtime with all this crap.

He might be hated by some, but he's also loved by a lot more, which makes me lose faith in the human race.

Good for you, Jeremy. What you've said will go a long way to helping fix up the problems that allowing cars to dominate the roads for so long has done. I love cars like anyone but the bike is a beautiful machine that needs its place. The Dutch, Danish and Swedes have had it figured out for years. Give bikes their own space and get drivers to respect them a bit. Then ordinary people in ordinary clothes get back onto them and the whole environment is better.

I agree with all: praise Clarkson for entering the debate with some adult commentary for a change - abusing him just perpetuates the stalemate.

Two observations: London and Copenhagen are not the same and never could use the same solution. That Clarkson suggests if is symptomatic of his casual sound bite mentality. It's 4th ping of lager talk when world solutions suddenly become obvious.

The other observation is Clarkson's separation between those plucky Brits who want to cycle to work ( good on 'em) and those that want to cycle the roads for fun and fitness when they should be at spin class well away from proper road users.

There is growing pressure on road (and off road) cyclists in the UK. We are the bane of everyone wanting to push 70mph on country lanes - whether it be on the way to the paper shop or filming one of those tobacco filter IOM specials. Clarkson and his ilk are frustrated in both city and countryside. The difference between the 2 is the lack of cameras and witnesses in country roads.

In addition to the THINK BIKE signs you see in scenic routes now I would favour the bike signs you see in Mallorca whenever you approach a decent stretch of cycling road: signs that warn motorists that cyclists might be using the road as well.

As for Jeremy? He's a cynical media whore. Tthe way to beat him is to get him onside by boxing him into a corner. I still favour a media campaign to force the BBC into making him cycle LEJOG for Sport Relief in 2013. I'd donate £100 to see Jeremy get as far as Taunton in his jeans before he realises the point of Lycra.

Plenty of cyclists over here in San Fran (another of Clarkson's faves) and it is a lot, lot, lot hillier than London.
Loads of trendies on fixies though. I think they're making a 'fashion statement' rather than a political one...

If anyone remembers the Equinox episode 'the bicycle' from 1989, which delved into the appeal of the bicycle. Probably not ... anyway the point this episode made was that the bike in ideally suited to the narrow confinend street layout of London. It may be a bit hilly in places but it can be a very cycling friendly city but as usually it is the 0.0001% of the population that control the other 99.9999% who can't seem to see what is plainly needed right in front of there faces. It leaders that are the problem not Mr Clarkson and it is these leaders we should deal with.

Personally I quite like him. More often than not I don't agree with him but he does make some serious points, some times some whopping great howlers and more often than not he offends people but where would we be if we weren't allowed to state an opinion except that of the particular ruling bullies who happen to control the agenda at the time.

He has a point in what he says, maybe not put subtly enough for many. He does have a sledge hammer way of putting things. If we say that those we disagree with are mere bullies (although he speaks with no authority - he is just stating an opinion) why is that bullying.

I feel more bullied by people who say I should not listen to him because they don't like what he says. Now that is bulling - big time and much worse than anything Mr Clarkson puts out.

Clarkson's typical polemical style: British cyclists have beards, Danish cyclists very short skirts.

Here some pictures of RECIBT (real, everyday cyclists in Britain Today): http://cycle.st/galleries/206/ - most of them wear whatever they want to wear at there destination.

It might surprise a few of you here, but a lot of car enthusiasts like bikes too. Both churches appeal to a similar mindset - freedom, self reliance, an appreciation of mechanics and engineering; all things you can get from a car or a bike (in the right circumstances).

Clarkson is not (despite his persona) an idiot. He might not have said it before, but what I think he realises is that cars are not the right tool for short distance inner city journeys. Nobody likes traffic jams but get the local traffic off the road and it frees up space for those who are using a car for whatever reason.

@ andrew streit - I think most people will have read the article but like me, been unimpressed that the small crumb of common sense was drowned out by the usual sneering drivel. The most odious thing about Clarkson is that he is no doubt intelligent and insightful but chooses to use those attributes selectively, depending on whether it serves his agenda (which is the promotion of himself mostly) or not.

That's enough of my spleen vented, I shall speak no more of him.

It's worth bearing in mind that London and Paris are the two largest cities in Europe, and by quite a long way. If you include all the burbs around both cities (and being realistic, you'd be silly not to), the total population in both is well over 10 million. Copenhagen is tiny by comparison with either. This is why there are so few cars, as pointed out by the ignoramus Clarkson. I've been to Copenhagen a few times but I go to Amsterdam rather more often, and Munich more often still. It is interesting how Munich is often overlooked as being a centre for cycling, which it is. Like Copenhagen or the Dam, it is relatively flat and is quite spread out, with lots of cycling routes all over the city. As with Amsterdam, Munich has a high percentage of cycling commuters and plenty of people pedal to the (S-Bahn) railway station and leave their bikes there or have an old clunker to pick up at the other end to pedal around the city - only the very centre has narrow streets that are less cycling friendly, but a lot of those are now closed to vehicles. Come to think of it, I've cycled a lot in Berlin as well and it's not too bad either.

Mind you, having been to Copenhagen Iknow the Danes aren't particularly known for being fat, ugly bigots, so I expect the locals wouldn't take to Clarkson any more than anyone with an IQ over 90 does in the UK either.

Good points creepymonkey - topography and the fact that Copenhagen and Amsterdam are much smaller than London - someone will correct me I'm sure but Copenhagen is about the same size as Bristol (but a lot flatter) are points that often seem to get missed out when comparing European cities to British ones. Also Brits tend to travel further to work.

The main reason I started cycle commuting in London the best part of 20 years ago was living out in what was then zone 4 (probably about zone 24 now) I could save a shed load of money on the tube fare and if i kept to a good pace do my journey in at least the same time as the tube (it was the central line mind) and even then there were people coming in from much further out than me. They might not have been going at race pace but the were going fairly quick because again the big advantage was saving money without also sacrificing more time than they would already have been sacrificing had they used public transport - in a lot of British cities, especially London, it is a long way in from the suburbs to the centre.

Back on topic...,(!)

Copenhagen and Amsterdam are flat.. London is not.

My ex is Danish... She would cycle 12km into CPH centre most weekends and the biggest hill she had to tackle was less than 3% and only lasted 50 meters.. We would always, always cycle everywhere.

BUT THE MAIN REASON FOR SO MANY CYCLISTS : car prices.. Fiat Punto base model is 20,000 quid..now the average salary is higher in CPH than London, but not much more and house prices are much lower..2 bed flat with masses of space in equivalent of Soho is 200,000. Beers in bars are bloody expensive, but but in the supermarket they are as cheap as here.

Night clubs are surrounded by bikes.. Come kicking out time we would all try to dig out our bikes and everyone cycles home hammered, and it's OK. It's expected and they cycle straighter than they can walk... No judgment is needed either, you go when it is green and stop when it is red.. You don't mingle with traffic. Some people go two up on bikes.... People stealing unlocked bikes to get themselves home is pretty common.. Her last bike was nicked and found 5km away propped up against a hedge. Often they aren't so lucky.

It can be a bit frustrating for a keen cyclist from the UK though.. If you're in a rush then you are out of luck.. Turning left at traffic lights requires two bike traffic light changes.. Stay on the cycle path and it's so congested you just have to go with the flow.. Flow is quite brisk normally that being said.

I wouldn't be too keen to be on the road though - lots of speeding and a startling amount of red light running.

In recent years, the influx of immigrants has increased the amount of non cyclists and has resulted in people walking in cycling lanes and walking out without looking, which results in all parties being upset.

I am still counting how many people actually failed English comprehension completely in (not) reading this article...jikes people.

"where cars and bikes share the road space, this cannot and does not work. It’s like putting a dog and a cat in a cage and expecting them to get along. They won’t, and as a result London is currently hosting an undeclared war. I am constantly irritated by cyclists and I’m sure they’re constantly irritated by me. City fathers have to choose. Cars or bicycles."

This clown is advocating that bikes be removed from the streets of London.

So JC wants to get dem pesky cyclists off the road and onto cr@ppy cycle lanes? No surprise there, then.

JC's fans already scream "Get on the cycle lane" at cyclists when there's no cycle lane. He's just giving them more ammunition.

In future they'll be screaming "Go back to Copenhagen".

'one way ticket to Copenhagen' Tony? Damascus was on the list as well!

Cannot find his article online but it maybe possible if you log in. There is an article that refers to it that links to their 'roads fit for cycling' campaign. It now includes an opportunity to highlight problem junctions for cycling. Go for it!
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/contact/

Not wishing to fan the flames, pour petrol on the conflagration or anything but I can't help feeling that all the bile directed at Clarkson (more or less whatever he says these days) simply reinforces many people's (and Clarkson's) stereotype of cyclists as humourless ranting types.

The bottom line is that buffoon though he might be when he talks about cycling it gets noticed - the best response from cyclists is probably to mock rather than berate the inconsistencies in his argument… or ignore him… or perhaps offer to have a whip round so we can buy him a one way ticket to Copenhagen.

Hopefully the fat potato-faced bigot will bugger off to Copenhagen and start pissing off the Danes instead then.

I note also he likes Damscus, which is the capital of Syria and as such, isn't exactly the most pleasant place to be right now due to the state of civil war in the country. the fact that this seems to have escaped his attention speaks volumes. Either that, or he's making yet another of his off-colour 'jokes', despite the fact that the Syrian Government is in the process of slaughtering civilians at present.

this guy doesn't know wwhat he's on about half the time. One minute he hates the cyclist, the next he's saying it works in copenhagen. He just says something to shock but doesn't really mean it.

I love cars, fast cars and i enjoy watching top gear, but clarkson doesn't know much about anything.

If he is saying the situation is crap and it does not have to be like this then f*****g horray! There are a few 'tweeks' I would like to see that could make a lot of difference. Clarkson having an epiphany? He did not actually say that he would ride did he? Is he not just saying he does not want cyclists in his way? And what is so great about Damascus? Do they cut off cyclists hands if they get in Mercedes drivers way?

Jeremy Clarkson wrote:

[Y]ou live in Britain, where cars and bikes share the road space [...] This cannot and does not work.

How anyone can see Clarkson's remarks as anything other than negative baffles me.

It's very clear that many anti-cycling types are revelling in, and helping to spread, the fear that cycling on the road will result in inevitable death and destruction. Unfortunately some of the people spreading this fear appear to be cyclists themselves.

No need for separated infrastructure except beside the rare high-speed roads. The rest should be "20 is plenty" and the effing plod and judiciary should be expected to treat car-on-bike collisions as something serious.

Tad cynical but is the reason ole Jeremy likes CPH so much that there is no traffic jams preventing his progress in his overcompensating phallic symbol?