Cycling Instructor, Mechanic, Disabled Cycling Specialist and Advocate.
ADD/ADHD & PTSD
Proud Gen X'er.
Born 1969, between Woodstock and the moon landing.
@uknikos
@carlafrancome
@haringeycouncil
@IsabelleClement
@Subversivite
Just as not everyone can cycle, not everyone actually needs to drive.
Making our public spaces equitable to the most vulnerable needs to see a serious reduction in uneccessary urban car ownership and use.
This would benefit both cyclists and those who have no option but to drive.
I've got to admit this Tweet has blown up far bigger than I imagined.
All I ask is please credit
@321Marc
for the mic drop and let's keep working to force racists into the light where they can be shamed, educated and rehabilitated. ☮️❤️
I am a cyclist.
I also drive.
At no point as a driver am I publicly expected to take collective responsibility for the actions of other drivers.
As a Cyclist it is my duty to accept responsibility for every action of those on bicycles, everywhere?
I do not accept this.
I can guarantee that even if everyone who cycles in the UK were to ware a helmet, the violent and ignorant attitudes towards cyclists wouldn't change a bit.
I've been cycling for 44 years, I've worked in and around cycling for over a decade and if there is one thing that spoils it all for me is the culture of majority male led competitive and combative snobbery and elitism.
Simply ride how and what you like, do not judge others.
Make it law for Drivers to have a full working knowledge of how public roads are funded, the existence of Bikeability, road law regarding cycle lanes, helmets, insurance and exactly how the DfT advises and allows Cyclists to ride on the road, before granting them a full licence.
As a Cycling Instructor I'm more than happy to enter the helmet debate without resorting to insults or patronising anyone for their choices. I wear a helmet when riding on a velodrome. I'd wear a helmet if I went mountain biking.
I don't wear a helmet to go shopping or commuting.
Unpopular opinion.
Some people cycle on the pavements in order to avoid the fear of trying to share the roads with drivers who openly admit to hating cyclists and make threats to physically harm them?
I don't own a car but I have people park outside my house.
If car owners expect to be able to park outside their houses I want to be able to leave my 'parking space' empty.
Even on my phone I can see the helmet of a horse rider that the cyclist is overtaking, leaving plenty of room.
You'd think a 'Horsey' lady like Ann would be singing their praises, but no.
I've just boarded the 9:52
@CrossCountryUK
train to Leicester.
Asked this couple if they could move their suitcases to make space for my bike.
"What if someone needs to sit down?" they said.
"What if a wheelchair user needs to get on?"I point to the wheelchair & bike signs.
Ffs
In Sussex today a group of Roadies turned up at the cafe we had arrived at 15 minutes earlier, our older, heavier bikes loaded with touring gear were parked nearby.
One Roadie pointed them out, made a derogatory comment and the others laughed.
Some days I hate cyclists too.
Drivers dislike cyclists because they believe (wrongly) that we get something for nothing, rather than having the honesty to acknowledge that it is all about choice.
I choose to cycle because it suits my work and lifestyle, others choose to drive.
They're bitter about choices.
Some of us have been telling you Charlie 'Pimlico Plumbers' Mullins is a 24 carat, unrepentant Arsehole for a while now.
Today he gets booted off Twitter for being a racist and making death threats.
🤷🏻
As a cycling instructor I find it very hard not to notice the number of people who claim helmets saved their lives also admit to having been riding beyond the limit of the conditions.
Helmets shouldn't be for mitigating poor decisions or lack of control.
1/2
@malonebarry
The way some Brits go on about Churchill you'd think he'd founded the nation.
They also conveniently ignor his colonial racism as well as intimidation and violence towards his own people.
People who believe that
@GordonRamsay
was wrong to cycle 22 miles are ignorant of the practical nature of cycling and, most likely, seriously unfit.
My average commute by bike is over 22 miles and takes less than an hour and a half.
Tell me that a lot of drivers don't just make up their own rules when it suits them.
People like this need their cars and their licenses taking off them.
So then.
It's OK for some people to protest LTNs by causing criminal damage but it's not OK to protest SUVs by simply letting air out of the tyres.
Ok.
🤷🏻
THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS
THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS!
Speaking as someone who has a driving license but has chosen not to own a car.
I accept that my taxes pay towards Motorways that I don't use.
I see it as a civic duty that facilitates transport logistics.
Some car owners seem to resent this becoming equitable for Cyclists. 🤷🏻
For anyone cycle commuting along the Worcester & Birmingham canal on the narrow towpath on the between Breedon Cross and The Dingles, I'll tell you this;
If you ride up behind me shouting 'passing on your right' do not be surprised or upset if I don't let you through, ok?
When a cyclist with over 40 years experience says helmets aren't mandatory and they wear one based on risks they encounter, fellow cyclists who tell them they 'should' wear one (or they're 'idiotic' for not wearing one), are part of the bigger issue.
You need to stop doing this.
@Sandford_Police
A cyclist smashed through the back of my son’s PARKED car. It took a solicitor’s letter to get a payment - from the home insurance policy of the cyclist!
@JakeWSimons
@spectator
Your ignorance on road positioning is palpable and goes against DfT standard 'Bikeability' currently taught in schools to keep kids safer when riding in the roads.
Your article is contentious and dangerous.
It's the school holidays and in the morning roads into town are nowhere near as congested as they are during term time.
Doesn't it prove that reducing the number of cars on our roads means all traffic and buses move more freely.
That's not 'anti car'.
@petemorristwit
IMO that's too fast an an approach to overtaking a Cyclist straight after a pinch point.
It looks like the cyclist slowed after missing the right turn.
Highway Code also says to expect Cyclists to move out unexpectedly to avoid debris in the road.
I'd have slowed on approach
What's the likelihood that drivers who believe cyclists have a legal obligation to ride in single file at all times, are the same drivers who hog the middle lane on motorways?
Ignorant drivers:
"Why are you riding in the middle of the road!? Cyclists need training!!"
DfT Highway Code & National Standards for Cycle Training:
* Cough *
I've got some humourless Anti LTN trolls unable to cope with my Evil Cycling Lobby hoodie.
Can we show them it's a thing?
EVIL CYCLING LOBBY, ASSEMBLE!!
Active Travel Twitter.
If a secondary school bans bicycles from their site citing the surrounding roads as too dangerous for their pupils to navigate, would there a case for discrimination against independent travel choice?
Hey, Fellow Drivers!
Stop moaning about the new changes to the Highway Code.
Now is your chance to up your game and finally show everyone what a patient, observant, highly skilled and courteous driver you really are!
That is what you want people to think of you, isn't it?
@jgoodliffe_
@CrossCountryUK
Hi James, thanks for the fantastically ignorant reply!
1/ It's a designated wheelchair and bike space for non folding bikes.
2/ I had pre-booked the bike space with the train operator.
3/ It was an off peak Sunday service, you collosal Divot.
Thanks again! 👍🏻
Forgive me if this sounds a bit silly but as the DVLA has the addresses of every British Driving License holder, why did the DfT not send everyone a prior notice regarding the revisions to the Highway Code?
@theJeremyVine
I've moved an illegally parked car with the help of a friend and a 3&1/2 ton trolly jack.
We moved it 200 yards along the same road.
The confusion in the owner's face when they returned was priceless.
A lot of drivers don't have the confidence to cycle on the roads and cite the danger from other motorists as a reason for not cycling.
This is perceived as 'choice' and in turn becomes a reason to deny measures mitigating that danger.
This is a barrier that needs addressing.
Big News!
Last Friday I was offered a full time technician position at The Bike Project in Birmingham and I accepted. ♥️
After 15 years of being a cycling instructor I can finally be true to my feelings towards Bikeability and some of the companies offering delivery.
Update -
I must offer my sincerest and humble apologies to
@AshleyNealDI
for lying to him yesterday.
I have in fact been a qualified cycling instructor for 17 years, and not 15 as stated previously.
Again, I offer my sincerest and humble apologies.
The level of ignorance in some is actually painful.
Not only is Steve dangerously clueless about the hierarchy of road users, he also claims "no paramedic EVER rode a cycle to and(sic) emergency...".
With all the anti cycling trolls and the triesome tropes around road tax, etc.
I'm starting a once a week list of account to block or mute just to make cycling Twitter more pleasant and a little less daunting for newcomers.
Here's my block tip for today -
@mortonpeas
Those who are crying about the new amendments to the Highway Code either didn't properly read the previous one or casually forgot, handily misinterpreted or ignored it anyway.
🤷🏻
It's disheartening enough to have people make gross generalisations about cyclists not following the Highway Code but when the very same people don't even have an up to date knowledge of the Highway Code and argue with those who do, it beggers belief. 🤦
I want to cycle to the National Cycle Show at the Birmingham NEC tomorrow and nowhere can I find information on secure bike parking.
Nothing on either the event or venue websites.
This is beyond absurd.
Considering their stance on traffic pollution, are the 'One' anti LTN crew out on their local streets requesting fellow drivers switch off their engines when queuing for fuel?
@PaigeLDN__
I'm always impressed by drivers who not only believe they can break the law in order to 'grass' on others and complain about being held up, yet have all the time in the world to stop in the road, cause an actual obstruction in order to complain about being held up..... 🤷
Yesterday, teaching a group of 10 year olds the basics of cycling on the road in Wootten Wawen, I was astounded by the attitudes of some drivers.
Overtaking at junctions and taking every hesitation as an excuse to barge past, no regard for a child or their legal priority.
My Kickstarter MkII L-BOW rear light arrived yesterday and I had my first commute with it on the bike this morning.
On the busiest road section, every single vehicle that overtook me passed in the oncoming lane!
I'm seriously impressed.
@KentishTownLTN
What's astonishing is watching large vehicles getting through without issue being followed by smaller vehicles that crash.
This leads me to believe this is more about driver skill than the width of the road section.
It's my opinion that since lockdown, drivers are now driving as if they're not being watched or Policed.
This will only continue until 'normality' returns, whatever that is.
No one is saying ban all cars.
No one is suggesting everyone can cycle.
No one wants harmful levels of pollution anywhere.
ICE traffic uneccessarily dominates our urban areas.
The call is for change and equity.
To all those demanding Cyclists are registered like cars so they can be identified.
This is the only case where it would prove useful.
Now tell me how well car registration works. 👿
Is it me but is it wrong that I question the motive of anyone who only Tweet about their conflicts as a Cyclist and never about the joys of cycling, any fun they had while cycling or how it enhances their lives?
#GUCAdventure
Just outside of Braunston.
Tow path seriously narrows with only vegetation on bankside.
Slowed, put foot down and there was no bank.
Fell in with bike.
At least we've got it over with.
@MUSIIM_T
What's the point of having the Highway Code if you're not going to read it?
It's dangerous to have drivers with absolutely no working knowledge of how roads and infrastructure are funded.
Today was my last day as a Cycling Instructor after 15 years in the job.
Mostly I will miss the kids, especially the brilliant girl today who idly jammed her finger in the end of her handlebars so severely the Fire Brigade were being called when we finally managed to release her!
So the anti LTN lot are complaining about traffic and pollution but are not actively encouraging people not to drive, which would reduce the traffic and pollution.
Instead they are blaming and threatening those who are actively encouraging people not to drive......
Idiots.