MP urges candidates to "be brave and take cycling out of the culture wars" during election; Cyclists slam Telegraph's quiet correction to story falsely claiming "death trap" cyclists hit "52mph" chasing London Strava segments; Giro + more on the live blog

The rest of the programme was in a similar vein. Not the worst example of the "War on Motorists" trope - not as bad as the last such show I could be bothered to watch on BBC for example - but generally pandering to the victimhood of drivers. And a lot of lying by omission.

For example, the presenter did say that surveys indicate that LTNs are generally liked, but then immediately asked, "So why are some of them being set on fire?" Er..... because a lot of motorists are entitled little pricks and mindless thugs? Nope, it can't be the fault of poor struggling drivers. Instead the blame was pinned on enforcement being some sinister revenue-generating scheme for councils. And in the final segment they tackled electric cars, and the issue of high electricity prices at public car chargers. They probably are a bit of a rip off but they do cost something to install and maintain. Reducing the VAT was suggested but no mention of how that would leave less money to fix potholes, just as years of frozen fuel duties has, something also not brought up when they compared the cost of fast charging to a tank of petrol. It was wrapped up by giving the boss of a major car company a few minutes airtime for unchallenged scaremongering about the effects of "rushing" the ICE to EV transition on jobs.

But at least cyclists weren't demonized. We were only mentioned in one throwaway remark about "pedestrian and cyclists" benefitting from LTNs at the expense of drivers. Of course, that means no recognition in the potholes segment that cyclists report many of them before they become a hazard to cars, and we risk our lives, not just a few hundred quid repair bill.

Talking about LTNs she said that, yes, LTNs are great for pedestrians and cyclists "but what about motorists?!".

And talking about EVs, she said how driving around Manchester City centre was *such* a nightmare that she had left her car at home and was using an electric hybrid taxi instead (?).  You know, I'm sure there were other ways she could have got conveniently around Manchester city centre...

Motor normativity innit. Probably never considered that, sure rat runs are great for motorists, but what about pedestrians & cyclists (won't somebody please think of the children....)

ubercurmudgeon wrote:

So far, so terrible. The first segment is about potholes, so the presenter demonstrates the terrible state of Britain's roads by driving an uber-rugged, ex-army Mercedes G-Wagon. No recognition that the increased popularity of ludicrous two-tonne vehicles like that is part of the reason why roads are deteriorating.

closer to 3 tonnes, you wouldn't raise an eyebrow about a mondeo estate, and they weigh 1.7 tonnes, even a golf can weigh as much as 1.6 tonnes.

The 2010 golf gti weighed twice as much as the mk 1 golf gti, partly due to increased size, partly increased safety and party increased comfort.

IanMK wrote:

Interesting read in the the Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/23/call-for-stricte...

Whatever happened to valueing integrity?

To my mind, any political organisation should just expel any members that distribute false conspiracy theories. They bring the organisation into disrepute (well, possibly not the Tories as they must be rock bottom in terms of reputation) and pollute public discourse.

Exactly.  They shouldn't have to legislate to stop people spreading obvious lies.  As you say, whatever happened to honour and integrity in public life?

Not a given.  See e.g. Ian Hislop (of Private Eye) arguing with Sir Bernard Jenkin MP in a session of a select committee for transparency after the Owen Paterson affair.  Hislop was rather outraged that Sir Bernard was arguing that (just like lawyers) there should be specific training for MPs because you could not take it for granted that MPs would be clear that getting large sums of cash / favours from an organisation while an MP might be seen as suspicious.  Or even cloud your judgement!

Sadly the MP is probably right; but we probably should still be outraged.  Dynamic equilibrium - some people seeking power will always be out for graft and we have to keep pushing back against that...

Nothing inherently good about "valuing integrity" for people seeking power.   (Which *must* be the ultimate aim of parties / MPs, otherwise they'll be out-competed by those who are).

While we might declare it a "good" / want to encourage it in politics it's just another tool in the box.  It can be a good play but its political value may be limited to certain environments.  From the likes of Trump etc. a wider interpretation of "integrity" is clearly accessible in some (still) democratic environments.

Organisations might be expected to try to limit heterodoxy but the bottom line is "what succeeds is success".  I'd like to see it be "a virtue" but ... I'm no longer shocked that people who aren't out-and-out gangsters* sometimes seem less concerned about it.

* Your degree of political cynicism / anarchism may vary.

Exactly I doubt they even had any intention of taking that stupid bill to parliament, it was just a trick to get the gulible to vote for them again

Hirsute wrote:

Cyle miles down, car journeys up.

" It's the only outcome for a country that set a strategy to destroy public transport, forcing people outside of London into car dependency and without the environment to walk & cycle safely. "

"No more war on drivers" = We want obese children and chronically ill adults causing enormous costs to the NHS. 

There is some evidence that the fitter and more active you are as a child - adolescent then this can set a precedent for your fitness levels going into adulthood.  Some say, but not proven, that you can set your body's response and ability to tolerate and change when exposed to training loads at puberty.  That this can set your ability to get fit and maintain fitness throughout your adult life and can even make a difference to how we age, even slow our bodies decline into old age.  If this is so, then we should be doing all we can to encourage our children now to get out, get active and involved in sport whatever shape or form that takes!

Even if that's not the case, children being happier and healthier now is a good thing by itself. if it leads to healthier adults as a byproduct that's even better. 

60kg lean keen climbing machine wrote:

There is some evidence that the fitter and more active you are as a child - adolescent then this can set a precedent for your fitness levels going into adulthood.  Some say, but not proven, that you can set your body's response and ability to tolerate and change when exposed to training loads at puberty.  That this can set your ability to get fit and maintain fitness throughout your adult life and can even make a difference to how we age, even slow our bodies decline into old age.  If this is so, then we should be doing all we can to encourage our children now to get out, get active and involved in sport whatever shape or form that takes!

We shouldn't forget the mental health angle either, especially as kids are suffering with exposure to toxic social media from a young age. Exercise can have a very beneficial effect on mood and even more so when it's in green spaces.

Society needs to push the message that exercise is walking/running/scooting/cycling in green spaces - not using a treadmill in a gym.

I totally agree with you on this, I myself after a full on working day, just long to push my bike out the front door and go for a ride to some of my favourite places and lanes.  You need some level of fitness to do that and make it a worthwhile and enjoyable experience. Both physical and mental health are linked and can not be taken individually, so you are right to highlight that aspect.  

60kg lean keen climbing machine wrote:

I totally agree with you on this, I myself after a full on working day, just long to push my bike out the front door and go for a ride to some of my favourite places and lanes.  You need some level of fitness to do that and make it a worthwhile and enjoyable experience. Both physical and mental health are linked and can not be taken individually, so you are right to highlight that aspect.  

I'm classed as morbidly obese but during the summer I regularly do a 30mile bike ride, it's not helped with any weight loss but mentally it's a huge benefit.

That came up this week on radio4, (randomly heard). Also just call it activity not physical activity, as it can put some off.

Yes but how will I make sure that poor sweet Timothy and Tabitha don't have to scuff their nice new shoes on the way to school if I don't driver them the 1 mile to school in my 7 seater XC90. Sometimes I think you people hate children.  

mctrials23 wrote:

Yes but how will I make sure that poor sweet Timothy and Tabitha don't have to scuff their nice new shoes on the way to school if I don't driver them the 1 mile to school in my 7 seater XC90. Sometimes I think you people hate children.  

My sister in law once got genuinely angry with me because I was playing with her kids on the grass, the grass was wet and ruined the 5 year old's suede shoes. 

No kid should have shoes they can't play in. 

Patrick9-32 wrote:

No kid should have shoes they can't play in. 

No shoes should be ruined by a bit of moisture, not fit for purpose, take them back to the shop!

Meanwhile, in The Netherlands...

https://hollandinternationaldistributioncouncil.com/en/blog-dutch-childr...

https://www.childinthecity.org/2017/01/12/why-are-dutch-children-the-wor...

Of course there are lots of differences around kids and parenting and NL is not perfect.  But I'd say providing for and installing a sense of independent mobility from a young age (and indeed into older age) has is a significant component.

My feeling is that a (slightly) higher baseline level of exercise / time spent outdoors is important too - but since NL is also a "developed modern culture" with excellent public transport and high car ownership I'm not sure how much of a diffence there is.  I would guess overall activity levels in the UK and NL both show quite a drop from e.g. the 1980s (kids - get yourselves to school)...

There is a youtube channel run by someone who moved to the Netherlands with his kids and goes back to the US occasionally. Its interesting to see his take on the difference. How children in the Netherlands still play outside in the street and have automy whereas in the UK the streets are empty and everything a child does is monitored by parents and usually involves driving them somewhere. 

mctrials23 wrote:

There is a youtube channel run by someone who moved to the Netherlands with his kids and goes back to the US occasionally. Its interesting to see his take on the difference. How children in the Netherlands still play outside in the street and have automy whereas in the UK the streets are empty and everything a child does is monitored by parents and usually involves driving them somewhere. 

Not Just Bikes!

There are several notable "cycle refugees" from English-speaking places in NL - e.g. the Bruntletts, or even the Hembrows (of A View from the Cycle Path) from the UK (who have The Campaign for Childhood Freedom page - FWIW seems this site will now give you browser scare warnings).

But yes, NotJustBikes has one specifically about kids and how NL is better through urban planning.

I've seen a couple of clips on the NJB channel of groups of school children cycling to school, including the Finnish (?) town that has snow covered cycle paths. I've never seen such a thing in the UK. What a good way to socialise and build a lifelong active habit which the UK is missing out on due to bad cycling infrastructure.

bikes wrote:

I've seen a couple of clips on the NJB channel of groups of school children cycling to school, including the Finnish (?) town that has snow covered cycle paths. I've never seen such a thing in the UK. What a good way to socialise and build a lifelong active habit which the UK is missing out on due to bad cycling infrastructure.

Oulu I think - although other Finnish cities which also cycle in the winter are available e.g. Joensuu.  Several cycle bloggers have covered it (Bicycle Dutch has done Finnish cycle infra in the winter AND the summer).

You've made another very important point there too - social interaction is a crucial dimension which is largely missing in the UK.  With every other mode of travel, people like to travel socially.  Which ends up being "in a group" and specifically "side-by-side".

That is not only not emphasised in the UK, it's not facilitated - and in fact in many places is discouraged or specifically designed out!

(Also recall the ire that "cycling two abreast" generates in some people).

How many other activities do we have where we make noises about "encouraging" the activity while simultaneously discouraging kids from doing them socially?

I came across an article the other day about an area in Inverness that ran a project called play streets I think. Basically the street in the estate was shut off to traffic to allow the youngsters to play without fear. Unfortunately the bulk of the comments on the article were more than negative. Ranging from streets designed for cars only to teaching kids to be irresponsible and how dangerous it was. 

Slightly pedantic point but it irks me that the headline suggests the problem is "laziness". I haven't read the full article, but from the quote you've picked out it would certainly seem that the author of the article doesn't actually subscribe to that view either (the article's author probably didn't come up with the headline).