| Topic: | Is deferring CS9 till after the election a bit of an avoidance? | Forum Home |
| Posted by: | Raymond Havelock | |
| Date/Time: | 17/01/18 10:13:00 |
| As a cyclist of decades, I've yearned for cycleways since being a kid. Somehow, I've cycled for decades with very few skirmishes. Took the Cycling proficiency test at 12, a more recent urban update course in Camden. Now we have cycleways, I find my self rather strangely, going out of my way to avoid them. They have become racetracks and dominated by cyclists who seem to lose all sense of sensibility when on their machine. No mudguards so they soak the rider behind, no bell or horn, no hand signals, no acknowledging other traffic, no courtesy shown even to other cyclists on 'inferior' machines. In all, no discipline. Yet these riders, devoid of road safety basics manage to have cameras, but can't afford a bell? We cycle more abroad in flat countries. The mentality is completely different and it is still a pleasure, especially as we get a bit slower with joints and muscles beginning to show the inevitable signs of getting older. So why is this? Well I have not been impressed by the CS9 plan. So wanted to get involved in getting a better set of options. I found out pretty soon that open debate is not on the cards. Having visited a meeting of the Hounslow Cycling Campaign I was truly disheartened. First few were really nice people. But it became very apparent that they are not welcoming at all to anyone who dares to not agree with them. They have a very closed mindset. And do not seem very open to anything other than their own views and attitudes. Far too anti anything other than cycling. So now we hear it's not going anywhere until after the election. So are the council running away from this? Or the Hounslow Cycling Campaign? Or the electorate? Or are they hoping to push this through in the usual clandestine way post election? As for the Hounslow Cycling Campaign, Just who are they? I now know they certainly don't fit the bill to represent me as a local cyclist. I doubt I am alone on this. But a look at their website shows no names, no organisers, no details of who funds them nor if anyone funds them at all. No membership specifics and an assumption that to join them, that you therefore fully support CS9 in all it's glory. They have an opportunity, to stand for election fielding a candidate or two which might indicate the level of support, or to ensure that they are clearly on parties manifestos for the coming election. There is clearly a debate for CS9 and a need for better solutions that suit All cyclists and All other road users, pedestrians as well. So should it not be an election debate with a clear stance? And names to those who claim to represent ? |