How to drum up anti-bike sentiments in the papers

goo_mason · June 2007

Sigh. The local rag, the Edinburgh Evening News, published this story yesterday about the growing number of cyclists in the city. To illustrate and possibly stir up the rabid anti-bike gang once more, they put possibly the worst photo of a city cyclist up. See here:

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=873112007#new

There's quite a lively comment debate going on - feel free to resgister and join in !!

Cheers !

Grant
Three From Leith podcast
www.threefromleith.com

Eat My Dust · June 2007

I don't see what's wrong with the cyclist in the picture. If the kid is sitting in one of those child seats on the top tube, no problem.

SNAPS

Tynancp · June 2007

sandals!

Eat My Dust · June 2007

maybe they're spd sandals!!

SNAPS

dondare · June 2007

34. Sarcasm / 1:56pm 4 Jun 2007

Give the guy a break.
He's just had a large chunk taken out of the top of his left arm by the van's wing mirror.
Either that or the paintshop licence has been renewed.

Baby elephants? Pah!!

the reluctant cyclist · June 2007

Blimey all that venom over one picture.

What exactly is the problem with the sandals too? I have ridden in sandals plenty of times - they looked like sandals with straps to me too - I didn't used to have a problem with them - I can't believe how nearly everyone on that site thinks that there is something illegal about the way the cyclist is dressed!

**All I'm trying to do is get to work**

Tynancp · June 2007

no law full stop about dress on a bike is there? I went past an orthodox jew in full rig plus full size and opened umbrella once

I rode once in sandals, and found that I repeatedly scuffed and scraped my toes when putting my foot down, maybe it was my sandals at the time

helz · June 2007

I think what they mean is he is breaking fashion laws by wearing those sandals, not traffic laws.[:)]

*)
`. .*) .*)
(. (.
Cycle commuting since September 2005

graham_g · June 2007

..and there was me thinking - "oh good, it's not some fluorescent yellow helmeted, elbow & knee padded health & safety reps wet dream"

r800sport · June 2007

The Edinburgh Evening News online is the home of the ignorant, the prejudiced, and the just plain stupid. You're better off just not reading the comments.

Fab Foodie · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by goo_mason

Sigh. The local rag, the Edinburgh Evening News, published this story yesterday about the growing number of cyclists in the city. To illustrate and possibly stir up the rabid anti-bike gang once more, they put possibly the worst photo of a city cyclist up. See here:

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=873112007#new

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

FFS, I'd have thought that was one of the best pictures of a city cyclist[}:)] Somebody using their bike legally as everyday transport without recourse to "safety" equipment or special clothing.
Surely that's the kind of cycling we need to promote, cycling as practiced in Holland, germany, Sweden, France etc...
What would have been worst would have been maybe a lycra-clad RLJ'er.

Gordon Bennett.

The pessimists of this world are rarely disappointed....
Fab's TCR1

Hairy Jock · June 2007

You had me worried there for a minute Goo, I thought it was going to a library shot of Wendy Alexander, wearing an oversize helmet, wobbling down the High St., that was really enough to put people off trying cycling.

The article was surprisingly positive for the Evening News which is usually rabidly anti cyclist (mainly because it is sponsored by the motor industry just look at the advertising). Interesting that Spokes are concentrating on "improving the coloured surfaces for both cycle, and shared bus and cycle lanes", I would settle for just smooth surfaces to cycle on no matter what the colour.

A hirsute Scotsman.

**************

Best advice I ever got was "better get a bike then"
Cycle commuting since 1994. Blog with cycle bits.

d_c · June 2007

The trouble with pictures showing people with all the cycling gear, lycra, rod bike, face mask, helmet, etc, is that they add to the misconception that cycling somehow sets you apart in a minority group. This looks like a normal guy in normal clothes taking his kid on the school run. It can only reinforce the idea that cycling should be a mainstream activity that will fit in with everyone's lifestyle.

-> flow with the go ->

dangerousjules · June 2007

that article and following barrage of anti-cycling sh**te is just typical of the ignorance that the intelligent cycling masses have to suffer. we're always having the highway code thrust upon us to know about what is legal for cars to do how about switching it around and making it part of the learner driver program for them to know about dealing with cyclists.

dangerous jules.
god bless those pagans!

dangerousjules · June 2007

forgive my poor wording, a bottle of wine has impared my typing...bottoms up!

dangerous jules.
god bless those pagans!

snorri · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by helz

I think what they mean is he is breaking fashion laws by wearing those sandals, not traffic laws.[:)]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You're right, Edinburgh fashion laws[;)][:D]

Rhythm Thief · June 2007

Interesting article and (I thought) a good photo of a normal bloke doing normal things on a normal bike.
I rode 40 - odd miles, including two enormous climbs, in sandals and cutoff jeans on a borrowed mountain bike in Greece last week and I couldn't see anything wrong with it. Even if it was a bit of a fashion disaster.[:)]

________________________
I'm the national treasure, and I hate noise.
My fixie
My two main modes of transport

Bokonon · June 2007

At least the guy in the picture is well positioned. Unless he is only in the middle of the lane as a result of having to pass the white van parked on the pavement/pedestrian crossing. Good on him for showing that normally dressed people can ride bikes (something I never do (dress normally, that is)) and for transporting his child by bike (something I would be very hesitant to do, if I ever have children.)

Eat My Dust · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by snorri

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by helz

I think what they mean is he is breaking fashion laws by wearing those sandals, not traffic laws.[:)]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You're right, Edinburgh fashion laws[;)][:D]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yeah, where was the white tracksuit, burberry scarf and baseball cap!!

SNAPS

dondare · June 2007

Read post 34 (Sarcasm) and look at the picture closely. It's been doctored in some way. Who knows what was really going on?

Baby elephants? Pah!!

hevipedal · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by d_c

The trouble with pictures showing people with all the cycling gear, lycra, rod bike, face mask, helmet, etc, is that they add to the misconception that cycling somehow sets you apart in a minority group. This looks like a normal guy in normal clothes taking his kid on the school run. It can only reinforce the idea that cycling should be a mainstream activity that will fit in with everyone's lifestyle.

-> flow with the go ->
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What misconception?

 Hevipedal 
Phrase of the week - I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like.
It's got a basket, a bell that rings and
Things to make it look good.
I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.
 
51yrs old and Proud of it - Made it to 87kg 2 more to go for the target.
Pedal to Paris Sept 2007

Eat My Dust · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dondare

Read post 34 (Sarcasm) and look at the picture closely. It's been doctored in some way. Who knows what was really going on?

Baby elephants? Pah!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm pretty up to speed on photo manipulation (photoshop CS2) and the picture looks genuine to me, although it is pretty small. Also, I can't see the Scotsman going to such lengths.

SNAPS

Hairy Jock · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Eat My Dust

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by snorri

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by helz

I think what they mean is he is breaking fashion laws by wearing those sandals, not traffic laws.[:)]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You're right, Edinburgh fashion laws[;)][:D]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yeah, where was the white tracksuit, burberry scarf and baseball cap!!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Eat My Dust your are confusing Edinburgh with Glasgow...

wjhall · June 2007

Comment on the paper concerned seemed to be mainly, and certainly in the beginning, that the article was presenting an over optimistic and complacent view of the situation in Edinburgh assisting the council to pat itself on the back without good reason.

As for the ordinary citizen in the picture. About the best that can be said is that only the illegally parked white van is making his experience at all pleasant, by keeping the buses at bay. How much further down the road does this idyll continue before the bus gets past or he has to return to the traffic stream?

Eat My Dust · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Hairy Jock

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Eat My Dust

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by snorri

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by helz

I think what they mean is he is breaking fashion laws by wearing those sandals, not traffic laws.[:)]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You're right, Edinburgh fashion laws[;)][:D]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yeah, where was the white tracksuit, burberry scarf and baseball cap!!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Eat My Dust your are confusing Edinburgh with Glasgow...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Sorry Hairy Jock, I used to work close to the Banana Flats in Leith!!

SNAPS

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by r800sport

The Edinburgh Evening News online is the home of the ignorant, the prejudiced, and the just plain stupid. You're better off just not reading the comments.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Just try looking at parts of this forum. [:p]

d_c · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by hevipedal

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by d_c

The trouble with pictures showing people with all the cycling gear, lycra, rod bike, face mask, helmet, etc, is that they add to the misconception that cycling somehow sets you apart in a minority group. This looks like a normal guy in normal clothes taking his kid on the school run. It can only reinforce the idea that cycling should be a mainstream activity that will fit in with everyone's lifestyle.

-> flow with the go ->
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What misconception?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Oh come on... this is a huge part of the problem. Cycling is generally perceived by the population at large as being a leisure activity, and not a normal mode of transport. It's a perception that leads people to flash "you weirdo" looks when they find out that you cycle daily to work, that allows the mainstream media to so easily write off cyclists as lycra-clad-hooligans, and that leads to lazy planners to create such useless cycle routes that go from nowhere to nowhere, and which stop and start at every driveway, etc, etc.

-> flow with the go ->

snorri · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Eat My Dust

Sorry Hairy Jock, I used to work close to the Banana Flats in Leith!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Leith is not Embra[:(!], there's a world of difference.[}:)][:D][:D]

Hairy Jock · June 2007

Living in salubrious Gorgie I rarely see a white tracksuit or Burberry scarf (except then the Old Firm are playing at Tynecastle). Maybe it is because our ex-milk man became better know for wearing a DJ.

Eat My Dust · June 2007

Ah, gorgie, used to drink in Stratties sometime, it's very purple in there!!

SNAPS

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Rhythm Thief

Interesting article and (I thought) a good photo of a normal bloke doing normal things on a normal bike.
I rode 40 - odd miles, including two enormous climbs, in sandals and cutoff jeans on a borrowed mountain bike in Greece last week and I couldn't see anything wrong with it. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

After two bottles of retsina?

How to drum up anti-bike sentiments in the papers

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