Cyclists are morally superior in every way

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Cyclists are morally superior in every way

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#3211164 26-Mar-2024 14:13

Rikkitic:
In these places and others, factors such as infrastructure, cultural attitudes towards cycling, and the availability of alternative transportation options all contribute to the popularity of cycling despite mountainous or hilly terrain.

That's the difference.

MikeAqua

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#3211166 26-Mar-2024 14:16

While I have no particular problem with cyclists, I do object to: -

1) The cyclist who rode into me while I was crossing on a green man.

2)The other near misses I've had as a pedestrian/motorist because of cyclists running red lights

3) Being in a bus full of people that is stuck behind a cyclist, griding their way up a hill. That is not a good outcome for public transport.

4) The street I drive regularly where oncoming buses have to cross the centre line in place because of a new cycle lane.

Mike

elpenguino

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#3211172 26-Mar-2024 14:22

MikeAqua:

While I have no particular problem with cyclists, I do object to: -

1) The cyclist who rode into me while I was crossing on a green man.

2)The other near misses I've had as a pedestrian/motorist because of cyclists running red lights

It's bad that some cyclists dont follow all the road rules. Luckily, every other type of road user follows every rule all the time /s

If only there was some kind of organisation that made sure people follow the road rules.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

johno1234

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#3211177 26-Mar-2024 14:36

People are not commuting around a country. They commute around part of a town. Japan might have mountains but Tokyo is quite flat. I've been to a few central areas there and hardly recall seeing any cyclists though. The streets are incredibly busy and it has one of the best train systems I've ever seen so not surprising that cycling was not seen there. Christchurch is quite flat too. It's a great place for cycling but that doesn't mean other places in NZ are.

"While Denmark is generally flat like the Netherlands, it does have some hilly regions," ... Are you arguing with me or against me? It's hard to tell there.

If you try to use chatGPT to make your argument for you I'm not surprised you ended up with something nonsensical. Resorting to chatGPT ... is that better or worse than Wikipedia?

MikeB4

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#3211178 26-Mar-2024 14:37

One of the negatives often put forward in anti-cycle lane arguments is that the cycles lanes are killing retail trade in Poneke. It was extensively promulgated through the opposition to Get Wellington Moving proposals. The argument that cycles are killing retail trade in the capital is erroneous. Retail trade through bricks and mortar stores is in decline and was in decline well before the move to promote alternatives to cars as personal or mass transport.

Retail trade has been shifting from stores to online shopping especially amongst those under fifty. Secondly the inner-city retail trade was heavily impacted by the rise of the suburban shopping mall well before the cycle rise which in turn is now suffering from the rise in online shopping. Thirdly, inner city shopping became less attractive due to traffic congestion, noise, pollution and the inherent dangers associated with high density traffic. Retail trade will continue to change and those businesses that are agile and can evolve will survive and thrive, those that refuse will not. Trade changes, just like the car changed to prospects of wheel wrights and blacksmiths the current change will have its impact.

The move to transform the inner city to have a vastly reduced vehicular traffic would have eventually made the inner city a cleaner, safer, quieter people friendly place for individuals and families to live, work, shop, eat and play. Vehicle congestion in Poneke and greater Wellington will not be solved by greater provision of roads but by reducing the dependency on motor vehicles as personal transport with a bonus of a cleaner less toxic environment.

From the perspective of a significantly disabled person the provisions of shared cycle pedestrian lanes or cycle lanes has not negatively impacted my ability to get around. The opposite is more likely the case. I have no increased problems accessing medical needs or general mobility. The change to online shopping has been a huge benefit for me. CBDs free of cars would make the inner-city way more accessible and safer.Yes, the motor car revolutionised personal transport making the folks of the twentieth century the most mobile in history but that has been at a huge cost in resources and the viability of our only home. It is time for change and the opening of minds to that change

Rikkitic

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#3211191 26-Mar-2024 14:47

johno1234:

People are not commuting around a country. They commute around part of a town. Japan might have mountains but Tokyo is quite flat. I've been to a few central areas there and hardly recall seeing any cyclists though. The streets are incredibly busy and it has one of the best train systems I've ever seen so not surprising that cycling was not seen there. Christchurch is quite flat too. It's a great place for cycling but that doesn't mean other places in NZ are.

"While Denmark is generally flat like the Netherlands, it does have some hilly regions," ... Are you arguing with me or against me? It's hard to tell there.

If you try to use chatGPT to make your argument for you I'm not surprised you ended up with something nonsensical. Resorting to chatGPT ... is that better or worse than Wikipedia?

I am not 'resorting' to ChatGPT. I am making use of a pretty good tool. It was a quick and easy way to get an overview of this particular subject. If I was working on a doctoral dissertation, I would want to verify the informaiton. For you that is not necessary.

You might want to quit now. You are starting to sound silly.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

MikeAqua

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#3211192 26-Mar-2024 14:50

elpenguino:

It's bad that some cyclists dont follow all the road rules. Luckily, every other type of road user follows every rule all the time /s

The near misses I've had with moving vehicles as a pedestrian (that weren't my fault) have all been with either buses or cyclists running lights. Fortunately, I've only been hit by the one cyclist and both he and his bike came off way worse than I did.

Mike

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elpenguino

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#3211195 26-Mar-2024 14:56

johno1234:

People are not commuting around a country. They commute around part of a town. Japan might have mountains but Tokyo is quite flat. I've been to a few central areas there and hardly recall seeing any cyclists though. The streets are incredibly busy and it has one of the best train systems I've ever seen so not surprising that cycling was not seen there. Christchurch is quite flat too. It's a great place for cycling but that doesn't mean other places in NZ are.

E-bikes mean hills are no longer a limiting factor for people.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

Dingbatt

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#3211197 26-Mar-2024 15:00

Rikkitic:

I chose the title because I figured it would piss people off and provoke responses. It seems to be doing the job!

Hence the Ricky Gervais quote.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

MikeB4

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#3211200 26-Mar-2024 15:03

MikeAqua:

The near misses I've had with moving vehicles as a pedestrian (that weren't my fault) have all been with either buses or cyclists running lights. Fortunately, I've only been hit by the one cyclist and both he and his bike came off way worse than I did.

I have experienced cyclists ignoring pedestrian crossings and traffic lights. I have experience buses creeping forward while I try to exit the crossing in my chair, kerbs can be terrifying and hard to cross. Buses not stopping at a bus stop when they see I am in a chair. I experience vastly more issues with cars such as ignoring pedestrian crossing rules, parking across footpaths, parking on mobility parks without permits, coming out of driveways stupidly fast, launching off at lights as if they are in a drag race the instant the light turns green even though I may still be negotiating the kerb.

There will always be idiots be they cyclists, drivers, or wheelchair racers

MikeAqua

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#3211204 26-Mar-2024 15:07

MikeB4:

I have experienced cyclists ignoring pedestrian crossings and traffic lights. I have experience buses creeping forward while I try to exit the crossing in my chair, kerbs can be terrifying and hard to cross. Buses not stopping at a bus stop when they see I am in a chair. I experience vastly more issues with cars such as ignoring pedestrian crossing rules, parking across footpaths, parking on mobility parks without permits, coming out of driveways stupidly fast, launching off at lights as if they are in a drag race the instant the light turns green even though I may still be negotiating the kerb.

I imagine being in chair gives you brief perspective on interactions with traffic. Maybe you need bullbars and a light bar.

Mike

MikeB4

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#3211208 26-Mar-2024 15:14

MikeAqua:

I imagine being in chair gives you brief perspective on interactions with traffic. Maybe you need bullbars and a light bar.

My team when I was still working borrowed my chair on the pretence they wanted to service it for the boss (they were techies). It came back later with lake pipes, fake spots, a rear spoiler and mirrors. I reprimanded them for the dreadful omission of cup holders. Their excuse was they would then have to add a waste water bottle, I had no argument with that

Eva888

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#3211210 26-Mar-2024 15:17

@freitasm Really sorry to hear about your issues and I hope all is now on the mend.

There are many ill people who need to see specialists on Featherston St and The Terrace where there are no busses and it’s too hilly to walk especially if incapacitated. It’s now a struggle to get parking anywhere close to their destination.

I need a procedure that requires anaesthetic in one of those buildings and am beside myself trying to plan how to get from the surgery back into a car that will need to pick me up. Groggy and half out of it on a bus? I don’t think so. They now have a designated bus lane next to the curb and one driving lane next to that. No one can stop to pick someone up. I have had to postpone the procedure while searching for a specialist in a more accessible area.

You now have mothers with babies and small kids unable to park near their homes in Onepu Road because of new cycle lanes that are always empty. I have yet to see someone on them. The mums drive around looking for a park and stop a mile away from home carrying the baby in a car seat, not light, so choice is leave the baby and kids alone in the house while she walks back to the car to grab all the supermarket shopping or leave the shopping to melt until someone comes home. Bike will never be an option in this case.

Relate to your 3rd and 4th sentiments @MikeAqua. Seen it many times when on a bus. Additionally stepping on to a bus stopped in the driving lane to pick up passengers who have to stand on the cycle way to board the bus outside the hospital, borders on the most insane idea Council have ever had. You can’t drive to the hospital because there is no parking on the street outside and parking underneath is limited and you may end up not finding one and being late for an appointment as you travel around Newtown searching for a park that will give you limited time and having to factor in a long walk to and from your appointment, up a hill in most cases. So sick people and their supporters now have to factor in the stress of how to get to the hospital.

Wellington has become above ridiculous and no one listens while Council continue with their smug plans for cutting more parking and building more cycle lanes and my favourite…extended (pregnant) footpaths that have no meaningful purpose but waste money that water pipes could do with.

The decisions are made by the able bodied in a one size fits all manner without proper consideration for the difficulties and suffering they are causing to citizens. Practical, sensible ideas like Mike Gazleys' and others are never considered.

Earbanean

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#3211212 26-Mar-2024 15:20

In terms of banal threads, this is right up in podium level dumbness. When a thread is kicked off from the word go, with stated goals of pissing people off, my immediate thought is do people not have jobs or absolutely anything better to do. Where do you get the time for this nonsense? Are you guys all retired, or unemployed, or recovering from surgery in hospital or something?

freitasm

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#3211213 26-Mar-2024 15:24

Earbanean:

In terms of banal threads, this is right up in podium level dumbness. When a thread is kicked off from the word go, with stated goals of pissing people off, my immediate thought is do people not have jobs or absolutely anything better to do. Where do you get the time for this nonsense? Are you guys all retired, or unemployed, or recovering from surgery in hospital or something?

Perhaps out of five million people there are quite a few in those conditions?

How is that impacting you? You are free to not read the thread, for example.

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