Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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12 comments
The Times survey asks us what would make us cycle more then lists a few options including cycle training NOWHERE does it say better/and ongoing training for ALL road users. It still appears to be blaming the victims and ignoring/failing to see the elephant in the room. Again with Q4 "who is the greatest danger to cyclists" there is no option for bad drivers I had to use the other box to point out vehicles are mechanical objects it's the person who is driving it who's the danger.
The Telegraph poll did have some odd questions and I did wonder who had put it together. It didn't ask about other forms of vehicle used, which I thought was a major omission. But then I suppose cycling and motorcycling are still seen as fringe pursuits, despite the fact that if more people were to switch to two wheels the congestion problems would evaporate.
Reading the comments on the Telegraph page there is more than a bit of a stench of racism, bigotry, and sexism about them.
The questionnaire plays to those ignornant attitudes and is so biased as to be inrrelevant.
What can more could you expect from the Torygraph!
Both surveys were absolutely terrible. Primary school children produce vastly better questionnaires.
Times lumping high vis and lights into one question. Barking.
Agreed, I put that as a comment in the 'Other' box.
Yes, odd to put these together - light-less cyclists at night frustrate and terrify me, but hi-vis I couldn't care either way. Personally I usually wear a bit of reflective stuff but I wouldn't want to have to dress like a highlighter pen when I'm pedalling a couple of miles to the shops.
The Times one was nice and quick (!)
The Telegraph one was longer, also:
Q4 I say a car is unimportant, then Q5 asks me *why* it is important !
Q9 what make of car: I am not a car owner, but in a car sharing scheme, so can driver may cars !
*shape << in the subheadline
Only one mention of cycling on the AXA/Torygraph survey, and in a negative context at that ('ban cyclists from using certain roads' as an option for how to improve road conditions).
Curiously, cycling was not given as alternative to using the car along with walking, public transport etc.
I agree, a shame....
Pedant spelling: 'specifically'