Post APEHoUCTXfg4WOOdhw by tpheine@mstdn.io
(DIR) More posts by tpheine@mstdn.io
(DIR) Post #APEG8kj1c1vrek9oSO by dick_turpin@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-03T14:12:04Z
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In an attempt to alienate yet another group of people.The reason there is so much grief between cyclists and car drivers is that 98% of UK roads are not wide enough to accommodate cycle lanes. Most of them can barely support two cars passing in opposite directions. Our roads were built for horses and carts, not 40 ft juggernauts. Citing the Netherlands et al. as an example of Cycling Utopia is both naive and stupid because most of their roads are wider than ours.
(DIR) Post #APEHHnCjrcTpuDvjCS by penguin42@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-03T14:24:55Z
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@dick_turpin Although I did read that's because .nl actually fixed a lot of it, and in the 70/80s Amsterdam was just as bad for traffic. SO maybe we can fix some of it. (Not that I cycle but still)
(DIR) Post #APEHUnSCFRkwRZMSC8 by dick_turpin@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-03T14:27:16Z
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@penguin42 Na, I think you'll find most of Europe has lovely straight railways and nice wide roads because the Germans, the Americans and the Brits bombed the buggery bollocks out of their infrastructure.
(DIR) Post #APEHoUCTXfg4WOOdhw by tpheine@mstdn.io
2022-11-03T14:30:48Z
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@dick_turpinYou know, also the Netherlands once had horses and carts. The real question is, why didn't the UK adapt the roads to actual conditions?
(DIR) Post #APEJVFUoBiYdK5vUW0 by dick_turpin@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-03T14:49:46Z
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@tpheine Because we are BRITISH! Silly. 🤣 🇬🇧
(DIR) Post #APELH48Zp1YxwutNgm by steevc@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-03T15:09:36Z
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@dick_turpin It helps if people have a less selfish attitude. Car drivers will squeeze past cyclists to save a few seconds. So I see adults riding on the pavement. Then there's the guy riding on the road last night with no lights whilst looking at his phone...
(DIR) Post #APELlUAvZu4VOMUtCC by dick_turpin@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-03T15:15:06Z
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@steevc The problem is the roads. The people are merely reacting to the conditions. You have cyclists riding a few feet from the kerb because the drains are in such shocking conditions it's impossible to ride closer, which means cars either can't get around them or are forced to move across the middle line to get around them, so they drive ever closer to the cyclist because they're softer than and on coming 4x4 on the other side of the road.
(DIR) Post #APEMDUloxX5FLV6ria by steevc@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-03T15:20:11Z
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@dick_turpin Well the roads are not changing any time soon, so we have to find ways to work with what we have. I don't cycle much, but I will go on the road and keep a good eye out for cars. In our village the roads are blocked by parked cars that are more of an issue than cyclists.
(DIR) Post #APEMaUsAkDT6K934b2 by tpheine@mstdn.io
2022-11-03T15:24:19Z
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@dick_turpinGlad we agree on this one 😜
(DIR) Post #APENwcYgwv8qUC3AOW by dick_turpin@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-03T15:39:32Z
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@steevc Yeah, well, that's another element of the problem. I suspect we must all wait for a Star Wars bike.
(DIR) Post #APEORiYggwiq4UsO3s by steevc@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-03T15:45:10Z
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@dick_turpin You say 'the problem' like there's only one. Inconsiderate people is another issue. Car drivers feel entitled and safe in their expensive metal boxes. Especially in towns cars should be discouraged. I would say lower the speed limits and enforce them.
(DIR) Post #APEOooPJ725Ws5V7Fg by dick_turpin@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-03T15:49:20Z
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@steevc Making everyone equal in terms of speed is not the answer. As it says in the book, I'm currently listening to. "Just because you have a legless person, cutting everyone else's legs off to make them all equal is not the solution."
(DIR) Post #APEPjCdME2aaE2xhWC by steevc@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-03T15:59:32Z
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@dick_turpin Well enforcing existing speed limits might help. We have people doing 50mph+ through the village. The car does not have to always get priority anyway. The idiots spoil it for everyone else. More consideration makes for a better living environment. It should be possible to cycle on most roads, getting back to your original point.
(DIR) Post #APEQaYPvxvPJ8M7grQ by dick_turpin@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-03T16:09:09Z
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@steevc Yep, I agree, it's a problem, but how do we enforce that? We want coppers walking the beat again. Catching the people that beat up that 96-year-old. Stopping that Machette fight down the precinct. Looking after those poor souls that the mental health service is forced to abandon. The list of commitments is endless, and yet everyone demands a solution to whatever is the latest news story. And then, if PC plod were stationed in your village, it would be: "Picking on the motorists again!"
(DIR) Post #APEQmfT5ZnA6TcNJXk by steevc@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-03T16:11:21Z
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@dick_turpin I rarely see Plod around here and others will take advantage of that.
(DIR) Post #APEplWSM5uKJ5jaB4C by ken_fallon@mastodon.sdf.org
2022-11-03T20:51:12Z
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@dick_turpin Nope. The Netherlands has equally narrow streets to the UK. It's a choice they made.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuBdf9jYj7o
(DIR) Post #APFxUilu2xS59gBXXM by dick_turpin@mastodon.org.uk
2022-11-04T09:52:35Z
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@ken_fallon Ah, well, in that case, we must make the opposite choice; we are British, after all! 😉 🇬🇧