Cyclists being attacked - Jeremy Vine Show Thursday

CiB

Just caught the tail end of a discussion on the Vine show (R2) about cyclists being attacked. Didn't catch enough to get a sense of the audience reaction except for maybe the last flurry of emails that included one from a listener, who said something along the lines of "I don't condone attacking cyclists but..." and then listed the usual pile of horse poo - we all jump red lights, all charge through pedestrianised areas, scratch parked cars, don't pay road tax, aren't insured etc etc. What a numpty.

TBH Vine's researchers might just as well have copied & pasted the comments from any online newspaper article about anything to do with cycling and read them out, saving the hard of comprehending from having to phone in to pass on their ridiculous and ill-thought-out opinions.

It'll be on Listen Again I expect if anyone needs to sit through it. It was over & done with by 12:40.

rich_e

I really hate the argument about cyclists not paying road tax.

I own a car, I pay road tax, I also cycle.
I'm sure there are a lot of others who are the same.

girv73

What I find hilarious is that many (most?) commuter cyclists are higher earners, therefore paying more income tax and so paying more towards road upkeep than the idiot in the car shouting at them for not paying road tax.

I've been looking for statistical reports to back up this claim, but not much luck so far

cjcp

Not a radio show I listen to anymore. Too sensationalist too often.

Perhaps they should vent their spleens on car drivers who use the road, but don't pay their road tax.

mba007

In order to have a nice day I avoid the Vine Show at all costs!

jinnan_tonnix

Rich_E wrote:

I really hate the argument about cyclists not paying road tax.

It's also one of the easiest to counter.

ex 1: "Nobody pays road tax. It was abolished decades ago. The tax is VED which is an excise tax. and for general use. Similarly, there's no obligation to spend the tax from ciggies on the NHS."

ex 2: "Zero and low emission vehicles are zero tax rated. Who should I send my cheque for £0.00 to?"

ex 3: "Roads are funded by council tax and general taxation. So someone who doesn't own a car or bike is also paying for the roads, thus subsidising road users"

etc etc....


Back on topic, I always avoid these kind of shows. They're deliberately designed to get you vexed, and hooked if your not careful. They're for entertainment use only

patchy

jinnan_tonnix wrote:

ex 2: "Zero and low emission vehicles are zero tax rated. Who should I send my cheque for £0.00 to?"

This ^^ FTW... I may even start carrying a cheque made out for £0.00 with me.

girv73

As a commuter cyclist, I'm employed and therefore paying tax that goes to fund motorways that I'm not allowed to cycle on. IT'S SO UNFAIR. BAN THIS FILTH.

glamrox

I find Jeremy Vine is only one step away from Jeremy Kyle and thus best avoided. I've tried listening to him in the past but I found no enjoyment at shouting at the radio!

likewoah

Jeremy Vine is like a radio Daily Mail. I used to respect him on newsnight but....it's sad.
We don't pay road tax because WE DON'T WEAR THE ROADS OUT

suzyb

Tractors and JCBs don't pay road tax either and they get the roads in a hell of a worse state than bikes. They also hold up traffic for so long during rush hour they make you late for work, never had a bike do that.

Yet you never seem to see anything in the media about JCB drivers or framers being attacked.

dilemna

Today's programme was chaired by Mathew Bannister whom I think usually does You and Yours on R4. Yep JV has a very annoying sneering laugh indulging the average DM/Clarkson/Quentin Letts type listener of the programme . But this programme was okish. I tried to ring in when MB read out the anti-cycling rant about cyclists RLJing, riding on pavements, not paying road tax, no insurance and scratching cars so they deserve whats coming to them. Then they read some frothing email about some motorist saying they are fair game to be knocked down as they weave all over the road and cycle 2 abreast, but unfortunately lines were engaged. But the only people that got to talk were cyclists thankfully. The 1st bloke/guest was good although he might have been a little more succinct as MB interviewed him. I think he was a cycle courier. He put the attacks into perspective and definitely played up the vulnerability of cyclists when we meet people who are determined to do us harm. There was a male cyclist, sounded an older more senior cyclist, saying he was shot at!!!!! But said when he went to his local police they didn't appear interested - class putting the police on the spot for what are really serious crimes but sadly are routinely considered as merely pranks.

spen666

Rich_E wrote:

I really hate the argument about cyclists not paying road tax.

I own a car, I pay road tax, I also cycle.
I'm sure there are a lot of others who are the same.

You do NOT pay road tax.

There is NO such thing as road tax


You may pay VEL

Road Tax was abolished in the 1930s