BBC cycle reporting, why so negative?

robhowes

Over the last few weeks the BBC have run at least 2 reports on cycling. One on commuting and then another this morning, on the grants awarded to the cycling towns and cities.

All of this is good news for cycling and frankly the health of the nation and of course the planet but the BBC seem to be focussed on "how dangerous cycling is", "how difficult it is" and anything else they can drag up with a negative slant.

Anyone know why?

Rob

cupofteacp

Because thats what they think, without doing any resarch.

Sitting on a bike in traffic feels dangerous, just as it would standing in a bull ring (at least you know what the bulls going to do :-))

The media need to get emotive words into there articles to make then interesting,

dang65

I've always found that danger is always the Number One reason people give for not cycling to work. Some people genuinely live too far away for reasonable cycling, but the vast majority live within very easy cycling distance of work and are only put off by the perceived danger. So I think it's fair for the BBC to refer to it, even if experienced cyclists feel very comfortable and safe.

Of course, cycling safely is something you only learn with experience and it's easy for long time riders to forget how terrifying traffic can be for a beginner.

meanwhile

dang65 wrote:

Of course, cycling safely is something you only learn with experience and it's easy for long time riders to forget how terrifying traffic can be for a beginner.

Especially given that the journos will be based in cities, London in particular.

whyamihere

cupofteacp wrote:

Sitting on a bike in traffic feels dangerous, just as it would standing in a bull ring (at least you know what the bulls going to do :-))

I dunno, it gets busy at times, and I don't like going there at Christmas, but it's not so bad the rest of the year...

</Brummie>

Lif30057840

saw tonite a guy from the French AA saying cycling was an alternative to walking but not to cars :P what nonsense!!!

doyler78

There are a few cyclists who regularly ride that work for the BBC and indeed one such cyclist, Louise Minchim (sp?) was on the sofa this morning on BBC breakfast and she herself said she felt intimidated on the roads by other vehicles and my own view she is expressing a view that a lot of other cyclists have. I think it is just as bad to put a positive spin on things as it is to put a negative one it.

We all see day in daily the risky and dangerous behaviour of others which does put our lives at risk therefore to pretend that somehow those risks don't exist means that we have no argument for change. We can't have it both ways can we?

| think personally the health benefits of cycling and the eco benefits are well represented in the media it is just that when you ask the ordinary man on the street why they don't cycle then you get the answers that they then report after all it is these attitudes that have to be changed and that is not the job of the BBC that is our job. If you get into work spitting chips about what such and such did on your way then you can expect those around to think you are a raving nutter for putting yourself through it especially when you can get soaked too. Why don't we try and present a better picture to others.