Mate, you went off the deep end for some reason over something inconsequential. You opened up with both barrels of extreme sarcasm and bollocks. I just reacted to that in as measured a way as I could.
There is no criticism of cars in my comments because this wasn't about cars. It was about the council going £30m over budget building a cycle lane that is only getting limited use and that has further constricted a major road out of the city, whilst other roads are dangerous to drive on due to their condition and brand new pavements that are so grubby they're almost black. I'm only guessing, but having a gridlocked city centre with loads of vehicles idling and producing exhaust can't be good for the air quality.
You're not going to get rid of cars, and as both myself and SoS have pointed out it's not just cars that use roads - so it makes a lot of sense to ensure they are in good condition. You never picked up on the point I raised about bus lanes for example - and buses carry far more people than bikes ever will.
It seems more to me that you despise cars, even though you yourself drive. I don't know quite why you hate them so much. I mean yeah, they pollute, and they are dangerous in careless and reckless hands. So are bikes, so are escooters. You get hit by a careless cyclist who is doing around 15-20mph, then at best you're limping home; at worst you're taking a trip to A&E to see if you have a broken wrist.
I'm not drawing some false equivalency here. My criticism of cycle lanes is that from everything I have seen with my own eyes that they are barely used. I've been down Princes Boulevard many times and been passed by cyclists on the walkway, when the cycle lane is right there. You're taking this as evidence that I have a vendetta against cyclists. No, I have a bugbear about people who use their vehicles irresponsibly.
You're acting rather hysterically to be honest, going on like I want nothing but roads. It's quite silly and embarrassing. So I'll leave this discussion. I stand by my comments. The council should spend more on cleaning pavements and maintaining roads in a workable condition. I don't know what's eating you up but you need to chill out a bit.
i'm 'going off at the deep end'? why because i challenged your view on cycle lanes and cyclists?
glad to see that you were measured and calm and i was full of hysterical sarcasm
buses still pollute - but yeh they're much better than single cars
i don't despise cars - where have i said that? again, you're putting words into my mouth - but i despise lots and lots and lots of traffic that pollutes, causes congestion and, i'm surprised you haven't noticed this, but that also kill a lot of people including cyclists... and pedestrians like you too
i don't think there's a person on here who would love to have more traffic going past their home
so your criticism of cycle lanes is that you 'don't see them being used'? ah so you can magically observe every cycle lane can you?
but if you notice a cycle lane that is not full of cyclists then you need to ask why - and that answer is simple, because we prioritise cars and drivers and not because cyclists don't use them
there are cyclists who are dumb fucks going through red lights, driving on pavements and being arseholes... but it's not as if dumb fucks in cars don't drive through red lights, bump up on kerbs, park illegally on pavements and
kill people every single day but yet we still seem to calmly 'accept' that as part of driving
you really don't realise it but you are perpetuating the hackneyed image that cyclists are idiots (they don't use cycle lanes, cycle on the pavement and nearly knocked me over) and in doing so then drivers will continue to treat all cyclists as second class road users because of the bad ones
i have never seen a cyclist crash into a car and kill the driver
i personally, have tried to cut down on my driving at every opportunity - and i don't think 'woohoo aren't i great' but at least i'm trying to my my 'little' bit towards a better cleaner life/city/country/world
escooters are a different debate - they are not bicycles
and i am completely chilled - i have no personal beef with you mate, we are just debating an issue
hope i haven't been too 'hysterical' but i am passionate about a cleaner safer world