http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/Boy-misses-out-on-Pompey.4461833.jp

Ian wrote:
> http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/Boy-misses-out-on-Pompey.4461833.jp

I wonder why he wasn't arrested, more leniency for privileged cyclists.

"Ian"  wrote in message 
news:6cqwk.140211$6p1.103962@newsfe19.ams2...
> http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/Boy-misses-out-on-Pompey.4461833.jp

Mrs Winter said: 'They should put more speed bumps in the road, or lower the 
speed limit from 30mph to 20mph."

Talk about irrelevant. How would that prevent this kind of incident?

Brimstone wrote:

> Ian wrote:
>> http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/Boy-misses-out-on-Pompey.4461833.jp

> I wonder why he wasn't arrested, more leniency for privileged cyclists.

"The Pompey-mad six-year-old was getting ready to go and play football with 
his friends when the cyclist crashed into him on the pavement in Grove Road, 
Gosport"

and:

"Samuel Winter had his leg broken in two places..."

So that was Gosport and... where else? ;-)

Graculus wrote:
> "Ian"  wrote in message
> news:6cqwk.140211$6p1.103962@newsfe19.ams2...
>> http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/Boy-misses-out-on-Pompey.4461833.jp
>
> Mrs Winter said: 'They should put more speed bumps in the road, or
> lower the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph."
>
Presumably by making the road "safer" for cyclists who would then give up 
using the footpath.
> Talk about irrelevant. How would that prevent this kind of incident?

JNugent wrote:
> Brimstone wrote:
> 
>> Ian wrote:
>>> http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/Boy-misses-out-on-Pompey.4461833.jp
> 
>> I wonder why he wasn't arrested, more leniency for privileged cyclists.
> 
> "The Pompey-mad six-year-old was getting ready to go and play football 
> with his friends when the cyclist crashed into him on the pavement in 
> Grove Road, Gosport"
> 
> and:
> 
> "Samuel Winter had his leg broken in two places..."
> 
> So that was Gosport and... where else? ;-)

I wonder if the cyclist was breathalyzed?

-- 
Moving things in still pictures!

On 6 Sep, 11:12, "Graculus" 
wrote:
> "Brimstone"  wrote in message
>
> news:YbKdnaW7r8ydz1_VRVnyhwA@bt.com...
>
> > Graculus wrote:
> >> "Ian"  wrote in message
> >>news:6cqwk.140211$6p1.103962@newsfe19.ams2...
> >>>http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/Boy-misses-out-on-Pompey.4461833.jp
>
> >> Mrs Winter said: 'They should put more speed bumps in the road, or
> >> lower the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph."
>
> > Presumably by making the road "safer" for cyclists who would then give up
> > using the footpath.
> >> Talk about irrelevant. How would that prevent this kind of incident?
>
> Yeah, and I'm sure that was what was going through her mind when she said
> it.

It's amazing how well the black and white conditioning of the public
that drivers=bad, cyclists=good, has gone. Even when a mother sees her
innocent child mowed down by a selfish criminal, she blames motorists
like herself, not the criminal cyclist.

Graculus wrote:

> "Ian"  wrote in message 
> news:6cqwk.140211$6p1.103962@newsfe19.ams2...
> 
>> http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/Boy-misses-out-on-Pompey.4461833.jp
> 
> 
> Mrs Winter said: 'They should put more speed bumps in the road, or lower 
> the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph."
> 
> Talk about irrelevant. How would that prevent this kind of incident?
> 
Some people ride bikes on the pavement because they are frightened of 
the fast-moving motor traffic. One advantage of 'traffic calming' is 
that it might encourage more cyclists to use the roads and fewer to take 
to the pavements in the misguided belief that it's safer.
I'm sure that someone here could take the view that the boys leg was 
broken by motorists since their behaviour motivated the cyclist to use 
the pavement. I don't think that is right, but neither is it 100% wrong.
Roger Thorpe

Roger Thorpe  gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying:

> Some people ride bikes on the pavement because they are frightened of
> the fast-moving motor traffic.

So what?

It's already been legally demonstrated that that is not a valid reason to 
obey other traffic laws.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7171154.stm

> One advantage of 'traffic calming' is that it might encourage more 
> cyclists to use the roads

I'd prefer cyclists on the road to be competent and confident, thank you 
- training rather than cotton-wool is a more appropriate solution.

Adrian wrote:


> I'd prefer cyclists on the road to be competent and confident, thank you 
> - training rather than cotton-wool is a more appropriate solution.

Fair enough, but I don't see why we can't do both.

Roger Thorpe  gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying:

>> I'd prefer cyclists on the road to be competent and confident, thank
>> you - training rather than cotton-wool is a more appropriate solution.

> Fair enough, but I don't see why we can't do both.

If they're competent and confident, the cotton wool won't be necessary.

Adrian wrote:
> Roger Thorpe  gurgled happily,
> sounding much like they were saying:
>
>>> I'd prefer cyclists on the road to be competent and confident, thank
>>> you - training rather than cotton-wool is a more appropriate
>>> solution.
>
>> Fair enough, but I don't see why we can't do both.
>
> If they're competent and confident, the cotton wool won't be
> necessary.

Life would be better for all if there was less aggression all round and a 
lot more give and take.

<fx: oink flap oink flap oink flap oink flap oink flap oink flap oink flap 
oink flap oink flap oink flap oink flap oink flap oink flap oink flap oink 
flap oink flap oink flap oink flap oink flap oink flap oink flap oink flap 
oink flap oink flap>

Adrian wrote:

> Roger Thorpe  gurgled happily, sounding
> much like they were saying:
> 
> 
>>>I'd prefer cyclists on the road to be competent and confident, thank
>>>you - training rather than cotton-wool is a more appropriate solution.
> 
> 
>>Fair enough, but I don't see why we can't do both.
> 
> 
> If they're competent and confident, the cotton wool won't be necessary.
I'm not at all sure how we get to that stage. All cyclists have to be 
nervous beginners at some stage. I can only try to imagine what its like 
for a new cyclist or a slow, unfit cyclist. I think that they both need 
the cotton wool.
Roger Thorpe

Roger Thorpe  gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying:

>>>>I'd prefer cyclists on the road to be competent and confident, thank
>>>>you - training rather than cotton-wool is a more appropriate solution.

>>>Fair enough, but I don't see why we can't do both.

>> If they're competent and confident, the cotton wool won't be necessary.

> I'm not at all sure how we get to that stage. All cyclists have to be
> nervous beginners at some stage.

So do all drivers, motorcyclists, horse riders.

Should they be given the option to take to the pavements if they don't 
want to play with the traffic? Or would they be better off practicing and 
training on quieter roads until they gain the skills & confidence?

Adrian wrote:

> Roger Thorpe  gurgled happily, sounding
> much like they were saying:
> 
> 
>>>>>I'd prefer cyclists on the road to be competent and confident, thank
>>>>>you - training rather than cotton-wool is a more appropriate solution.
> 
> 
>>>>Fair enough, but I don't see why we can't do both.
> 
> 
>>>If they're competent and confident, the cotton wool won't be necessary.
> 
> 
>>I'm not at all sure how we get to that stage. All cyclists have to be
>>nervous beginners at some stage.
> 
> 
> So do all drivers, motorcyclists, horse riders.
> 
> Should they be given the option to take to the pavements if they don't 
> want to play with the traffic? Or would they be better off practicing and 
> training on quieter roads until they gain the skills & confidence?

No, I don't think that the pavement *should* be the option except for 
the very young.
The problem is that the quieter roads often don't take you where you 
want to go. Dedicated 'cycle facilities' sometimes help, but these can 
often result in a blurring of the difference between cycle path and 
footway. I wouldn't condone pavement cycling, but I can understand why 
some might do it. Maybe the enforcement by Police that has been promised 
will change things.
It seems to me that the current traffic densities and speeds in 
residential areas that should have those 'quieter roads' has changed 
since the seventies when I learned how to ride (and how not to) by 
experiment. That problem will need to be adressed too.
Roger Thorpe