tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41439078592491669052024-03-13T14:44:25.174+00:00Rantings of a grumpy youngish man on a pushbike.The rantings of a grumpy bloke from Belfast riding about on a selection of pushbikes, some new, some old, some downright weird.
Apologies for offensive language but I tell it how it is.Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-57735869615991107962016-09-05T21:40:00.002+01:002016-09-05T21:40:50.744+01:00My Experience of being a Dole Sponger.Friday July 1st was an odd day, it started off as any other Friday, and ended in a complete train wreck, basically I was made redundant after 13 years with no warning, from normal to out on the street within 30 minutes. Basically the company was placed in liquidation and as such no redundancy would be forthcoming, sure I filled the RP1 form in, but at the time of writing I've received an acknowledgement letter and no more.<br />
<br />
Firstly, I reported to the bank that I was going to be unable to be able to pay the repayments on my credit card and loan for my car, after speaking to a girl in India who assured me that the bank would help me in every way they could, I felt happy enough to then report to Tax Credits that I was no longer working. That brought me onto monday when I went to make a claim at the benefits office.<br />
<br />
In I went, P45 in hand, letter confirming my redundancy, to be told I would have to make an appointment and come back on Thursday, here's a Housing Benefit form, now clear off. I filled the HB form in and sent it away. Thursday came and I made my claim, then I was referred to my "Adviser"and we drew up a "Jobseekers Agreement" which basically says you'll look for a job in short order. 2 weeks later and I hadn't received a bean, I had just about been able to eat by selling some stuff and through the kindness of friends and family. Meanwhile the NIHE couldn't decide what to do about housing benefit. I live in a 2 bedroom house, seemingly I should be in a 1 bedroom house, fair enough, but where does one find one? Do they expect you to just have one on standby in case you become unemployed? Anything with one bedroom locally is a hell of a lot more expensive than where I rent now. Jobseeking was not a great success, I was applying for everything, usually with no response, I applied for a job driving vans, I drove vans for years, I didn't even get past the psychometric online test, generally I heard nothing back, this would become a frequent theme.<br />
<br />
The last week in July was a killer, I still hadn't received any JSA and I was literally living on noodles and porridge. I had signed on for the second time and must have cut a pathetic enough figure that the woman in the benefits office managed to get me £114 of a payment. That was apparently my sum total of benefits for the whole of July, On returning home, I had a letter lying on the mat from the NIHE, seemingly I would have to pay £64 from my £73 weekly JSA towards my housing costs, clearly this was a massive mistake, ringing the NIHE was a waste of a phone call, disinterested woman on the other end who told me I could present myself as homeless, tough shit was the impression I got from her. This was beyond me so I went to my local MLA's office. This was a real turning point as the NIHE basically crapped themselves and rolled over, the problem was that the NIHE assumed I was receiving £39 tax credits weekly. For the record, I was getting £29 a MONTH from tax credits and they were cancelled at the start of July.<br />
<br />
After much fannying about, the NIHE told me they would pay the full amount for 13 weeks, after that £17pw would have to come out of my JSA. £73 would become £56. Great. Interestingly enough I was given an unofficial breakdown of what an adult on JSA is supposed to spend on food, it works out a £3.57 a day. Meanwhile I was applying for more jobs than I could count, the email applications alone took up 2 pages, the wee books they give you to note your jobseeking activity? I filled my first in by the time I made my first proper signing. Then I got another boot in the balls.<br />
<br />
Another letter arrived, telling me I was losing another £11 odd a week, the reason for this on the letter was blank. A not so quick call to the benefit office revealed it was for overpayment but nobody knew why, they gave me another number to phone, another drone woman told me it was an overpayment from when I was on incapacity in 1999 after a bike crash left me unable to work. Let me take a moment to clue you in on this. Back then, I was a mess, I was in a failing marriage, in near constant pain and throwing down painkillers and antidepressants down me like smarties, I was literally falling apart, I managed to drag myself together long enough to go back to couriering just long enough to have another biggish crash where I literally signed myself out of hospital to go back to work, to the best of my knowledge I informed them of every change in circumstances, certainly they never got in contact until now. They said I was "untraceable" despite being in full time employment, receiving tax credits, having a car registered in my name, a credit history and indeed being on the electoral register, methinks this was just a way for some computer to try and claw back money. £73 was down to £46.<br />
<br />
For the first time I felt useless, old and past it, I could feel the old black dog of depression starting up again, it became an effort to get up at 7am, I had to force myself to go out the front door, I was not a happy bunny and could feel myself withdrawing into a bunker in my head. The old self fortification technique was working again, harden the fuck up Son.<br />
<br />
But, like a bolt from the blue I'm back in work, in the old shop, doing the same job because somebody decided to buy the remains of the business and bring it kicking and screaming into the 21st century.<br />
<br />
A job is a job, but being unemployed is no picnic, I hope to fuck I never have to do it again.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-79535887234500718592016-05-15T23:38:00.001+01:002016-05-15T23:38:20.329+01:00Am I doing it wrong?Tonight I went for a ride on my bike. It's a nice night so I just chucked some drinkies in the bottle and rode off into the great outdoors, wearing nothing more fancy than an ancient pair of cargo shorts and a seven year old t-shirt. It was a nice night so I just pedalled into the wind until I reached Holywood, there I sat down, drank my drink, Skyped my friend in England, photographed a passing bulk carrier.<br />
told two drunken millies how to get to the train station, then got on the bike and went home.<br />
<br />
It wasn't an epic journey, it wasn't fast, it was just a gentle spin on a bike for the sake of it. I didn't wear a helmet and didn't die, didn't wear hi-viz or lycra, didn't see one other cyclist at all.<br />
<br />
So I was a solitary cyclist, no lycra, going slowly and just enjoying the good weather.<br />
<br />
I must be doing it wrong.Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-71626410100710631312016-04-05T15:58:00.001+01:002016-04-05T15:59:12.784+01:00It's a (Death) trap!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZqUcJs2UzOYwVtYCL51NOouA_-4wa8GpPLOJ1-GCziuUfGvplNg7WY4-_UhRvCFrf3lsjHpR17HcugGsnABlX2aj6TpZmM9GkiGsC0U_6vzRTTz6wuZBLlVIIMyBys_3RJ65o1VfFQU6/s1600/Trap%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZqUcJs2UzOYwVtYCL51NOouA_-4wa8GpPLOJ1-GCziuUfGvplNg7WY4-_UhRvCFrf3lsjHpR17HcugGsnABlX2aj6TpZmM9GkiGsC0U_6vzRTTz6wuZBLlVIIMyBys_3RJ65o1VfFQU6/s320/Trap%2521.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
More ranting about the new cycle lane on Alfred St. It was launched, TV crew in attendance, a couple of weeks ago, since then it has proved useful and frustrating in equal measure, when it works, it works brilliantly, when it doesn't, it's frustrating at best and an utter death trap at worst. Firstly the "wands" meant to keep vehicles out, don't. There's a 6m gap between them, quite big enough to get anything smaller than a 7.5 tonner in between, in fact, since the wands are flexible, some bloody minded agency driver will probably drive over them with nothing more than a scratch to the bumper. The original #binlane is still a car park at night. Seemingly the powers that be chose the 6m gap as an experiment. Ok, it has failed, get some more wands in.<br />
<br />
The absolute worst part of the whole scheme is the junction of Alfred Street and May Street, it is, in short, a death trap, sooner or later someone is going to be killed or seriously injured by a car turning left into May Street, this is despite the traffic light having a green arrow, a sign on the actual traffic signals and AHEAD ONLY painted on the ground in six foot letters.<br />
<br />
Here's a few examples lifted from social media.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
I blame the ambiguous signage, not the hard-pressed motorists (PLEASE TURN IN YOUR LICENCES) <a href="https://t.co/3dzz4Li9vG">https://t.co/3dzz4Li9vG</a></div>
— NI Greenways (@nigreenways) <a href="https://twitter.com/nigreenways/status/715976505705283584">1 April 2016</a></blockquote>
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Alfred St cycle track update: guy in a Range Rover nearly hit two guys on <a href="https://twitter.com/Belfastbikes">@Belfastbikes</a>, then near ploughed into me going the opposite way!</div>
— Ellen Murray (@ellenfromnowon) <a href="https://twitter.com/ellenfromnowon/status/717316471437856768">5 April 2016</a></blockquote>
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="600" src="https://vine.co/v/ipHtYnxUaZ1/embed/simple" width="600"></iframe><script src="https://platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js"></script><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="600" src="https://vine.co/v/ipHtelixna9/embed/simple" width="600"></iframe><script src="https://platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js"></script>#<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Your driver (SFZ 7199) almost knocked me down making an illegal left turn Alfred St > May St in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Belfast?src=hash">#Belfast</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CannonHygieneUK">@CannonHygieneUK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space4cycling?src=hash">#space4cycling</a></div>
— Siobhán (@daisybella17) <a href="https://twitter.com/daisybella17/status/717288718621622272">5 April 2016</a></blockquote>
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QK4RaQnCuc4" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Clearly this is a problem that needs sorting out, as it is, it's an accident waiting to happen. Tweets to the PSNI Traffic account have went unanswered, it seems that rather than having a separate signal phase for cyclists top clear the junction, they lumped them in with the cars, hoping against hope that motorists would actually pay attention to the new rules. As it is, it's not if an collision occurs but when.<br />
<br />
#AlfredStreetDeathTrap <br />
<br />Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-19081774540679005842016-03-12T12:17:00.000+00:002016-03-12T12:17:20.880+00:00Keep yer lid on.......Once again the great cycle helmet debate has hit the airwaves in NI. With the usual cries that a few cm of polystyrene foam will act as some super Batfink-esque shield of steel to prevent all injuries to cyclists. Never mind if you go under the 2nd axle of an 8-wheeler, if you've a helmet on, you will be fine.<br />
<br />
This clearly, is bollocks, I could insert a link to a story regarding a cyclist taken to hospital with the famous "Not wearing a helmet" line when they have suffered no head injury at all, but I would probably fry my brain trying to choose one, similarly, I could go equally nuts trying to choose a story where the poor sod <i>was </i>wearing a helmet but still got squished by a FM7.<br />
<br />
Now people perceive cycling as some kind of extreme sport, personally I feel I shouldn't have to wear a plastic hat and dress like a binman or a refugee from Tribal Gathering 1996 to nip into town for a bit of retail therapy. It's not extreme, at all, but lets see how other everyday situations would work out if the same attitude was applied to them.<br />
<br />
Take driving. Over half of fatal head injuries are caused by cars, so going with the better safe than sorry attitude so piously directed at cyclists, I'll look at your average car. Say a Mondeo, just like mine, an ordinary family hatchback. Firstly, we'll fit a full roll cage, only we can't as that would mean taking the rear seats out, we'll take the glass out too and fit perspex windows, your lovely heated reclining seats will have to go too in favour of bucket seats and 6 point harnesses, assuming we keep the back seats for your kids, there's no way we can keep your little ones seated above above a plastic tank with 60 litres of unleaded in it, so we'll put a baffled tank in the boot, then we'll plumb in some fire extinguishers and external cut off switches for the electrics. As for driving to the shops, you'll need a full Nomex outfit. Boots, gloves, suit, balaclava, the whole works, your head will be in a helmet with a Nomex lining and the helmet will be connected to a HANS device to stop basilar skull fractures.<br />
<br />
This sounds ridiculous, and it is, and that's before your car is sprayed in Hi-viz paint.........<br />
<br />
Walking is equally dangerous, you could trip and hurt yourself, so lets suit all pedestrians up in padded suits reminiscent of the Michelin Man, maybe make the suits hi viz too, and the ubiquitous walking helmet and gloves will be worn. Also, lets introduce an alcohol limit for pedestrians, no more walking back form the pub after a few pints, in fact, walking to the bar to get them in, it's deadly! All that glass! Lets limit people to one drink served in a plastic sippy cup.<br />
<br />
If this sounds mad, how do you think I feel when I hear about mandatory cycle helmets? In certain parts of Australia, non wearing of helmets is punishable by a hefty fine, a country with probably the greatest selection of deadly animals on the planet will fine you for not wearing a plastic hat in hot conditions. Gives me another reason to avoid the place if nothing else.<br />
<br />
But if you see me on my commute, I'll be wearing Hi-viz and a helmet? Hypocritical? Yes, but it's nothing to do with safety, it's to do with money. If the worst happens, I would receive less compensation is I was seen to be contributing to my own demise by not wearing a plastic hat. That's how deeply the helmet myth has penetrated into the psyche of the powers that be in this country.<br />
<br />
So far, there have been over 100000 hires of Belfast Bikes, in a year I have seem ONE person riding one with a helmet. Nobody has died. If that's not an example of how ridiculous helmet compulsion sounds, I don't know what is.Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-79847085773019053802016-02-29T14:45:00.000+00:002016-02-29T15:22:46.186+00:00This will lose me a few friends.......Ok, this is going to make me the Katie Hopkins of the Belfast Cycling Community but I don't care. If you're not already offended, read on........<br />
<br />
As it stands, the new cycle lane along Alfred Street is the biggest waste of money since the KLF burnt a million quid back in 1994. That is my take on it so far, Cyclesaurus, although pretty much a REALLY shite bit of infra, has died in vain in the quest of providing a new lane for cars to park in.<br />
<br />
Exhibit A, M'Lud.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ztoB7tzZvPC3SA8UsAxBnM8uyEMXNT17elPTgv9O1eFL0sdz-QcF2fMlKyXRnFvWZgKKBiueyQ8hH4dlYY91HqnfuNyKvqt1N08vccavpbr3YWvdRFMA9TjUw_XKQLa1iKxeiCd9hTbb/s1600/20160215_113418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ztoB7tzZvPC3SA8UsAxBnM8uyEMXNT17elPTgv9O1eFL0sdz-QcF2fMlKyXRnFvWZgKKBiueyQ8hH4dlYY91HqnfuNyKvqt1N08vccavpbr3YWvdRFMA9TjUw_XKQLa1iKxeiCd9hTbb/s320/20160215_113418.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Exhibit B. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57ukV7gB_oKqsW0-tmiD9_DnNGH0WRUfxz2Pr1kVPS6iww4Y8rxk3Xtl35YWVBPrgMxlT0-gVY5pBhEQ4B7URkpDtjA1IBpcHdsoxhG1aqOQtNa2nagPBzeds6hXvfPhUjpbj5QExe0Wj/s1600/20160215_115553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57ukV7gB_oKqsW0-tmiD9_DnNGH0WRUfxz2Pr1kVPS6iww4Y8rxk3Xtl35YWVBPrgMxlT0-gVY5pBhEQ4B7URkpDtjA1IBpcHdsoxhG1aqOQtNa2nagPBzeds6hXvfPhUjpbj5QExe0Wj/s320/20160215_115553.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Exhibit C.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQoMliJTg-kZ8vSbHnTo6aRJYCtFxAl4mgqqEhptpoc1bVf1u6wmHp050zP61MYjiEH_siTtWkXr6Ak9e0clFkEmG13vx1XSmshiPAmfRq8_rObtGmehJqjSXDqTC0yO9wtx-06ALus38/s1600/20160215_115607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQoMliJTg-kZ8vSbHnTo6aRJYCtFxAl4mgqqEhptpoc1bVf1u6wmHp050zP61MYjiEH_siTtWkXr6Ak9e0clFkEmG13vx1XSmshiPAmfRq8_rObtGmehJqjSXDqTC0yO9wtx-06ALus38/s320/20160215_115607.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Exhibit D.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASS0n7a4cNThiwrKKC1Fcj0uodWujVIEQa7n_2lN6eBk-t_-O6ZsmXh3qakhAZ2vrAz4HXPf9BQSWHwQuJdTFKVm2Qh5R6NmH4tjwWRH1I7AxzGMpFryOCRhDT5KGu8CcUVtsqwfcMlRl/s1600/20160218_103148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASS0n7a4cNThiwrKKC1Fcj0uodWujVIEQa7n_2lN6eBk-t_-O6ZsmXh3qakhAZ2vrAz4HXPf9BQSWHwQuJdTFKVm2Qh5R6NmH4tjwWRH1I7AxzGMpFryOCRhDT5KGu8CcUVtsqwfcMlRl/s320/20160218_103148.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Exhibit E.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3HXODZULJs-Do4H2DXFNwfDyWRJHIa-rxXWebjnUzuXn5ZQ1Y_-LyiKzV1sgdosiCLaiAL7g1AumPxxuIvOwrbF9Lf_hWbkZSwL2XEugSHLP0yYGiwAhOQ9emiT8UwgtOejXvRJYyfTw/s1600/20160224_104538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3HXODZULJs-Do4H2DXFNwfDyWRJHIa-rxXWebjnUzuXn5ZQ1Y_-LyiKzV1sgdosiCLaiAL7g1AumPxxuIvOwrbF9Lf_hWbkZSwL2XEugSHLP0yYGiwAhOQ9emiT8UwgtOejXvRJYyfTw/s320/20160224_104538.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Exhibit F.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-U1rnqrEsv5QqiPQZf97G7K6jh9o_XNAhHVwlPl8olLLec6fMVs9TCirb2CtfVvYktT9NzNhoYQdIzkwj2Z_91rWbxd6HFXKmUrXi-p-GDUe3PtWkXM7BEyDOGuFgmsa2iOvLIn_IS0f/s1600/20160229_114006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-U1rnqrEsv5QqiPQZf97G7K6jh9o_XNAhHVwlPl8olLLec6fMVs9TCirb2CtfVvYktT9NzNhoYQdIzkwj2Z_91rWbxd6HFXKmUrXi-p-GDUe3PtWkXM7BEyDOGuFgmsa2iOvLIn_IS0f/s320/20160229_114006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Exhibit G.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEalQfc16yhADeyczNqyXNqoXoyZYn2dSVwJuWyLJbsyHPANgajqhC5WGP3C8Yi_9r3DBAIUHkdEv4gdid9eNZi09BCidSQEYDztfha_2OZoP-CZO61eD6FyGMtuJ04XBZ7FUCl5qMehW5/s1600/20160229_114110%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEalQfc16yhADeyczNqyXNqoXoyZYn2dSVwJuWyLJbsyHPANgajqhC5WGP3C8Yi_9r3DBAIUHkdEv4gdid9eNZi09BCidSQEYDztfha_2OZoP-CZO61eD6FyGMtuJ04XBZ7FUCl5qMehW5/s320/20160229_114110%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
All these photos were taken over about a week since folk had access to the cycle lane, they were taken at random times when I happened to be passing with a camera phone. No particular pattern in taking them, it was entirely random.<br />
<br />
Now what isn't entirely random, is that there is someone either parked in the cycle lane, or they have blatantly driven up a one way street the wrong way. In every photo.<br />
<br />
The last picture with the red Merc is particularly interesting, taken today. I had spotted the Merc on my way into town, I went into town, did some shopping then returned to see it still sitting there, so it's not like they just popped in for a latte. I spied an NSL Redcoat walking towards the cycle lane, would he be writing a ticket? No, he took one look and dodged round the corner. The same Redcoat, only minutes previously, had harangued a van driver unloading on a double yellow because the Arthur Street loading bay was full on construction equipment.<br />
<br />
I know that there are bollards going into Alfred Street, but already drivers are parking in cycle lanes by default, knowing that NSL WILL NOT ENFORCE THEM. Likewise there seems to be reluctance on the part of the PSNI in enforcing the new one-way system in Alfred Street. I also suspect the no left turn onto May St will be similarly ignored.<br />
<br />
Hopefully bollards will help, and maybe, just maybe, someone in a position to actually do something will have the gumption to stand up to the inevitable "WAR ON THE MOTORIST" spewing from the usual media gobshites.<br />
<br />
Until then, it's money down the drain.<br />
<br />Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-86509686861984456202016-02-13T12:03:00.002+00:002016-02-13T12:03:59.712+00:00Twenty brings plenty of angst......Recently, a good part of Belfast city centre came under a new 20mph speed limit. Predictably the local meedja jumped on this as WAR ON THE MOTORIST and a SCAM and equally predictably it turned into an anti cycling rant. 20 mph limits are nothing new and indeed the average speed of traffic in the vast majority of the streets the new limit applies to, would be well under 20mph, at peak times the average speed is less than a brisk walk, so why indeed do we have these speed limits?<br />
<br />
In a totally unscientific test, I took to May Street on the first day the new limit applied, it was a Sunday so May St was pretty deserted. Obviously I used the car for this as there's not a chance in hell of Yours Truly sustaining 20mph on a bicycle unless gravity was assisting. So with the OH monitoring the speed on the GPS, I pointed the car down May St and accelerated up to a true 20mph according to the GPS. The first thing I noticed was that I was immediately overtaken in the Bus Lane to my left by a Black Taxi, then a bus. On my right, I was being overtaken by a Value Cab and an elderly gent in a Nissan Almera. At the 20mph indicated by the GPS, my speedo was reading about 22-23, presumably the speedo in the overtaking vehicles were reading more than that again, especially the bus as I believe that they have calibrated speedos.<br />
<br />
Now what really is funny, is that people are using the 20 mph limits as a scapegoat for increased traffic, certainly there have been a few days when the traffic was diabolical, but a quick scan of the Trafficwatch NI reveals that on the days of the near gridlocks, there has been a crash on a main arterial route far outside the 20mph limited area and indeed the worst gridlock was caused by a multi commercial vehicle crash at 4am on a 50 mph dual carriageway. The local Federation Of Small Businesses has also joined in with the naysaying, claiming that Belfast was a hostile place for cars. This is clearly untrue. Belfast city centre is awash with car parking spaces, vast swathes of empty ground have been converted to car parking, within 150 metres of where I'm sitting typing this, there are no fewer than 5 surface car parks, one of which is exclusively for the use of Belfast City Council, not only that, any vacant piece of ground, such as the corner of the Lucas Building site, is parked on by freeloading commuters who simply do not want to pay parking charges. As part owner of a small business in central Belfast, I have had no customer complain about the 20mph speed limit, I have had several complain of lack of money in the present economic climate, but to be honest, speed limits really aren't that high on peoples agenda.<br />
<br />
Another agrument that has been trotted out is that since people aren't being massacred on the streets by cars, what is the point? That's the sort of argument that I want to answer with "Why have any speed limit then?" My car is capable of cruising at over 100mph, should I be allowed to cruise along the A1 at 100? Of course not, most people would say. So certain speed limits are ok then? What makes this one different? Central Belfast in the area the limit applies to, has a road layout dating back to the 1700's, usually the traffic is such that 20 mph is a dream, but when the roads are that bit clearer, 30 mph is madness. People talk about the "Nighttime economy" in Belfast. In this night time economy, a lot of people have a few bevvies, or they're just so busy having a good time that they're not really following the Green Cross Code as it where, hence 20mph is much safer for everyone using the road.<br />
<br />
So, in short, my opinion is that the 20 limit is a good thing, it's certainly NOT a bad thing, I fail to see the problem? Do You?Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-9366192267232451322015-12-14T15:19:00.000+00:002015-12-14T15:19:03.943+00:00It's all fun, until someone loses a bollock.......Wee cheerful post this.<br />
<br />
Growing up in Belfast in the early 80s, was actually pretty cool, sure you got frisked in town, even a kid like me, but in general it was actually all right, mainly because when you're seven years old, you can't really comprehend what all the crap on the telly is all about. Personally I just wanted to grow up to be a truck driver, albeit one who went to work looking like Adam Ant. Back then, the only people who had computers were banks and offices and only very posh kids had Atari games consoles, for the rest of us, our entertainment was our bicycles.<br />
<br />
Back in '82, nearly everybody round my way rode Raleighs, mainly because there was a Raleigh dealer round the corner, quite a few came from a Littlewoods book, 26 weeks at so much per week. And the main two bikes were the Chopper and the Grifter. The Chopper was, and still is, a design classic, but I never really liked them that much, mainly although in 1982 I was a bigger 7yo, I was still 7yo, and the Chopper was a bit on the big side, there was a smaller version, called a Tomahawk that wasn't as well equipped and IIRC came in a horrendous orange colour. I was firmly in the Grifter camp, Grifters were probably the beginning of my love affair with heavy machinery, the tubing of the frame seemed to come from decommissioned naval gun barrels, it had 3 gears, mudguards, a strange foam seat and tyre that sounded like an army Saracen. Light and agile, they were not, but, they had been in production for 6 years and were showing their age, the Chopper had been about from the late 60s and by 1982 was practically antique.<br />
<br />
About this time, BMX bikes started being sold over here, Eddie Kidd was jumping stuff on a motorbike and The Fall Guy was on telly every Thursday night and in every young boy is a daredevil waiting to get out, and eventually one of our little clique got a BMX. Soon we were building ramps and jumping off them, fine on a BMX but not so good for the rest of us. The ramps got higher and higher and the jumps got longer and longer, eventually we were getting up to about the height of a car, ok for the BMX kiddies, less so on a Grifter! A BMX would fly off the end of the ramp, a Grifter just plummets. Eventually the curvy forks on the Grifter started curving more and more and pretty soon, it was decreed that she was dead.<br />
<br />
My £100 bike was knackered, but fortunately, Mother dearest shelled out for a BMX for me, but that's another story....<br />
<br />
And the title of this piece? There was a chap, we'll call him DJ, who was the big brother of one of the guys in our group, who could wheelie a Chopper, one day he has happily wheelieing away when the front wheel fell out. There has never been a mightier struggle than DJ trying to keep the wheel from coming down, but gravity won and he was hurled over the bars, catching his undercarriage in the process.<br />
<br />
We don't know if he actually lost a bollock, but that was the story, although he was known and "One Hung Lo" from that moment on.<br />
<br />
Poor sod! Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-22833922970825907052015-11-16T15:15:00.001+00:002015-11-16T15:15:39.017+00:00Winter plans all awry........Firstly, apologies for not posting earlier, basically I was in Portugal knocking back Super Bock and then when I returned to Belfast, the weather has been so good up until now, I've been riding rather than blogging!<br />
<br />
Anyhow, as they say in the trailers for Game of Thrones, winter is coming, although at the minute it must be coming by Yodel, it's so late, and being the sort of preparation nut that I am, I had winter plans done and dusted well before the end of October, I was going to retire the Surly over the winter and ride my Genesis Day One Disc on days when there was no snow or ice, and on those days I would be riding my Vitus Vee-29 with a set of Marathon Winter studded tyres on it. Simples! But as usual, it hasn't worked out like that, firstly there is the Genesis........<br />
<br />
I bought the Day One in summer, and at first, I loved it, sure it was a bit heavy and is a bit less CX orientated than previous incarnations, but it rode smoothly enough, and even with 35mm tyres and being a bit hefty, I managed to set a couple of Strava PB's on it. Then, after about 100 miles, things started going a bit pear shaped. The front brake started juddering, badly, which unusal for me as I'm not really the sort of person who is hard on brakes, most of my brake wear is from me trailing the rear brakes on downhills, so the front seemingly having turned into a Pringle, was a bit puzzling. I checked the disc for warp with a dial gauge and it was fine, a quick google brought to my attention that the brakes, which are TRP spyres, are known for juddering and a quick dab of copper grease on the back cured it, so a dab later it was. For a while. The judder came back, not as badly, but bad, I dumped the pads, even thought they didn't seem contaminated, cleaned the disc with brake cleaner, put some new pads in and voila, great braking, especially when the pads got a bit of heat in them. A few weeks later, I was coming back to work via Oxford St in Belfast, which is a slight downhill, I was spinning out so was probably travelling north of 20mph, when the lights ahead changed to red, no worries, I had loads of confidence in the brakes, so I braked and was rewarded with the usual retardation for about half a second before the bike stopped slowing down, I didn't have time to wonder why the front <i>felt </i>normal but just didn't work, so I grabbed a handful of rear and half skidded through the red into the junction, my guardian angel was on form that day as for once, there wasn't any traffic crossing the junction.<br />
<br />
Underpants surprisingly unfilled, I rode to the side of the road and checked the bike, sure enough the pads were gripping the disc, except the wheel still turned. I walked the bike to work and dropped the wheel out. This is what I found.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGgXxAYxfGwez1JkKv7bb5luhaDqJ1xy3ZC6LgAl6BTnKK-BCf8FzUqSrlEptniF2XvwWF_ftaeyxKWYWYXT9_9SLYO6tJKQjS2yleY4FUI7qnX-Uf5PJhSM7-nZkvBJ2DB26Fv4eXYmr/s1600/20151021_140855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGgXxAYxfGwez1JkKv7bb5luhaDqJ1xy3ZC6LgAl6BTnKK-BCf8FzUqSrlEptniF2XvwWF_ftaeyxKWYWYXT9_9SLYO6tJKQjS2yleY4FUI7qnX-Uf5PJhSM7-nZkvBJ2DB26Fv4eXYmr/s320/20151021_140855.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
The brake disc is mounted on a threaded ring which screws onto the hub rather like a freewheel screws on a rear hub, except this one has been unable to take the strain and has demolished its thread, leaving me brakeless on the front. Needless to say, I was NOT happy, I emailed the seller and they advised me to take it to an LBS, it worked out a lot cheaper to get a new wheel built with the ever reliable Shimano XT hub. Even so, for a Singlespeed bike costing the best part of 650 quid to be made of such crap components, pisses me off big time.<br />
<br />
Secondly, winter seems to have buggered off somewhere else. Last night, it was 15 Celsius in Belfast, this time 4 years ago, you couldn't walk up the hill to my shed as it was solid ice an inch thick. It hasn't even rained that much, sure there has been the odd downpour, but in general it has been more like spring than autumn time. I can live with that, but it means that like an animal wanting to hibernate, I'm getting confused as to what the weather is, do I wear that extra layer or not? Do I arrive at work freezing or will I end up like a boil in the bag cod and parsley sauce? Should I take the bike with no mudguards? Why is it warmer at 10pm than 2pm? All questions that I have to think about before setting out.<br />
<br />
Of course all this good weather has an up side, night rides are pleasant when it's mild and the darkness seems almost comforting without a chill, less sinister bogey man, more black labrador.<br />
<br />
Anyway, long may it continue as it keeps the aches and pains at bay for a bit!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-25514945137437284512015-08-17T15:51:00.000+01:002015-08-18T22:47:16.708+01:00Golden Oldies.Apparently I've been given two old bicycles, one is a BSA Twenty and one is a Puch (I think) five speed, the BSA is a known quantity, as my dear old mum rode one (for about 2 days) when I was a nipper. I don't know much about Puch bikes although they made BMX's in the 80's, they also made the rather excellent 4x4 system for the old Fiat Panda and many a 4x4 gearbox for military vehicles. Alas I'm digressing, so I googled Puch and can across a thread where somebody had been gifted a bike and opinions varied from taking it to the tip, to a full restore. One contributor even suggested it would be a better bike to take on a 1000 mile trip to Europe than a modern carbon framed steed, the guy suggesting the tip option, countered that not every old bike is a classic, and that in 30 years people would be dragging old BSO's out into the light and proclaiming them as classic too.<br />
<br />
In fact they are both right, rarity increases the value of anything, so much so that a Ford Sierra for instance, and I sold a cleanish one for £200 back in 2000, would be worth upwards of £2000 today, likewise I see silly prices online for old bicycles, I wouldn't pay them myself, but I wouldn't turn my nose up at riding an old bike, and if I was looking a bike for a tour, I'd take the old bike option myself rather than something new off the peg.<br />
<br />
Old bikes are simple, very simple, no hydraulic discs, no brifters or pod gear shifters, cup and cone bearings, simple old fashioned engineering designed to be maintained and looked after, given some TLC, treated right. No bike of decent construction is intrinsically "bad" however I fear that in 30 years time most BSO's made since 2000 will have long since corroded into dust, due to their build quality.<br />
<br />
I have ridden an bike that is 107 years old, that's not a typo, it was built in 1908. Furthermore this bike is a daily rider, not a museum piece and I can say in all honesty, it's a terrific thing to ride, it is much a much better ride than some modern "retro" imitations which just feel tinny and choppy, so your "Pendleton" is trumped by a bike built when Edward VII was on the throne, on quality alone! Obviously pre WW1 bikes are not the norm, but a walk round Belfast reveals that there are dozens of 1970s-1990s bikes in daily use.<br />
<br />
So why choose an old bike? There are many reasons, the first one is cost, ridiculous priced specimens aside, old bikes are very cheap, some might even turn up for free, parts prices are low too. Pair of shifters off ebay? Less than a tenner. Brake blocks? Two quid, any cable will do. About the only modern part I'd put on one is a cartridge bottom bracket, but if you want to keep it oldskool, new bearings are a couple of quid for the old one. Ebay is your friend in this respect. Secondly, they aren't attractive to thieves, they don't look fancy, you're not going to get much if you break one for bits and no tea leaf is going to waste his time defeating a half decent lock for bugger all reward. Thirdly, they were built when people put mudguards on a bike, so they have a lot of clearance and mounting eyes. Fourth and the best reason, is that they are an involving ride, Most are steel, and a bit springy and flexy, not great for climbing, but bloody comfortable, on most bikes before the mid 80's and quite a few after that, you had non indexed shifters, developing the muscle memory to make a clean shift is deeply satisfying plus the added bonus of being able to use any number of sprockets on your freewheel. (I run friction shifters on my 27 speed Surly!) Braking isn't awesome but you learn to think ahead, you ride the bike, you don't just get on and pedal.<br />
<br />
In short, every bike collection needs something old and simple, would I take one over my modern bikes, probably not, as they're all modified for my needs, but would I take a 1980's 10 speed over say a Halfords BSO if I could only have one bike. I'll go old, every time. <br />
<br />
EDIT: The day after I first wrote this entry, I cam home to find someone had dumped a couple of old bikes at my back door in a state of disrepair, an Apollo MTB thing and an old 1990's 10 speed faux MTB, a Raleigh Raven to be precise, the Apollo will probably end up as spares, but the Raleigh piqued my interest, both wheels were wobbly, both had perished tubes and the cup and cone bottom bracket was all over the place. Two tubes from the spares box, a bit of time with the spanners and I'm riding it to work tomorrow. Such a shame that so many usable bikes are dumped.Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-92079724661850359462015-08-13T21:24:00.000+01:002015-08-13T21:24:00.046+01:00Bring back the Birch.One nasty side effect of the increasing popularity of cycling in Belfast, is that bike theft is on the increase, seemingly 2 a day are stolen and even the anti cycling local media picked up on it, possibly due to a UKIP MLA picking up on it, no doubt the chance to have cycling linked however tenuously with UKIP was too good to pass up and they ran with it.<br />
<br />
One of the points made, was that there was little secure parking for bicycles in Belfast, and this is true, a walk round the BT building, or up High Street reveals bikes chained to every tree, sign and lamp post, looking like strange 2 wheeled fruit ready for picking, usually by some scrote with a pair of bolt croppers. This, more than anything else shows the dearth of proper cycle parking in the city. Coming up to the launch of the Belfast Bikes, cycle hoops started appearing randomly around the city, on a day like today, they are pretty much chock a block with bikes and lets face it, they're not exactly secure at the best of times. But security aside, there are simply not enough of them and they are spread too thinly around the city centre, compare to most street furniture, they're not exactly expensive to buy or install, a quick google reveals a hoop designed to clamp onto an existing sign is £170, and can be fitted in minutes by a bloke with a socket and ratchet.<br />
<br />
Of course a good lock is a must and I cringe every time I see a bike secured with a cable lock from Poundland, such locks can be cut with with pair of scissors, a tooled up thief will be sporting bolt croppers that will cut a cable lock or thin chain like it's made of butter, the only protection worth a damn is a strong, properly made D-Lock, with a cable as well securing the wheels, A couple of my bikes have bolt on wheels, much less inviting than QR wheels.<br />
<br />
Another approach is the "beater" bike, a pile of crap that's so worthless that it's not worth stealing, this is quite common in London, and people will leave a bike chained up at the station so they can ride to work, some people just use a BSO for a commute, leaving the good bike at home, personally I like to ride nice bikes, so a beater ain't my style. Of course a bike not worth stealing is not immune from vandalism so you could well find it's been booted to hell by some idiot knocked back by the girl he's been buying drinks for all night.<br />
<br />
One reason bike theft is attractive, is that it's a relatively low risk crime, plus it's relatively easy to fence the goods, and if caught, the offender will, unless he's on his 357th offence, get a relatively light punishment, fortunately we, the internet savvy cyclists, have a better chance of tracking a stolen bike than the cops do.<br />
<br />
So chaps and chapesses, all we can do is use a good lock and hope for the best! Just don't let it put you off!<br />
<br />Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-63122219897599266312015-06-27T12:29:00.000+01:002015-06-27T12:29:21.320+01:00Cyclists are the rats of the road............In a week where more cyclists are dying under the wheels of lorries in London, another critically injured on the dual carriageway between Moneymore and Cookstown, and reports of any numbers of near misses, the cyclist has once again been the target of near hate speech by the BBC.<br />
<br />
Funnily enough, the catalyst for this was good old Bo Jo, Mayor of London, Father of the Boris Bike, sometime bike rider and professional "Wise man playing the Fool". Boris, made a remark along the lines of pavement cyclists should have their bikes crushed, a reasonably throwaway remark, but dear old Auntie Beeb leapt upon it like a pitbull on a poodle.<br />
<br />
Our local Radio Ulster, as I wrote only a few days ago, took it upon itself to start promoting cycle hate, as this twitter exchange shows.<br />
<br />
https://twitter.com/BBCTalkback/status/613649986488795137 <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en-gb">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
And, are you sick of cyclists on the footpath? Boris Johnson has a possible solution: he says we should impound their bikes. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Talkback?src=hash">#Talkback</a></div>
— BBC Talkback (@BBCTalkback) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCTalkback/status/613649986488795137">June 24, 2015</a></blockquote>
<br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br />
Even funnier was when the presenter, whom I had previously held in high(ish) regard decided to try to be a bit sarky. <br />
<br />
https://twitter.com/nigreenways/status/613659943015723009<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en-gb">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Colouring by numbers <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCTalkback">@BBCTalkback</a> continues its descent into tabloid territory, so much for <a href="https://twitter.com/williamcrawley">@williamcrawley</a>'s reboot <a href="https://t.co/J38MaPY4ry">https://t.co/J38MaPY4ry</a></div>
— NI Greenways (@nigreenways) <a href="https://twitter.com/nigreenways/status/613656505259307008">June 24, 2015</a></blockquote>
<br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br />
He also said NI Greenways sounded paranoid, which as anybody who has met the man will attest, is about a wide of the mark as you can get. Smart, determined and no pushover? Definitely! Paranoid? No!<br />
<br />
Funnily enough, telling Crawley he was Nolan Lite was strangely prophetic, as on his show the very next morning, Fat Lad was on the radio extolling the virtues of a petition for cyclists to be registered like cars.At the time of broadcast, the signiture count of the petition stood at..................<br />
<br />
Wait for it...............<br />
<br />
Four.<br />
<br />
No, that's not a typo, the self proclaimed "BIGGEST SHOW IN THE COUNTRY!!!!!" dedicated a large chunk of licence payer funded airtime to an online petition signed by four people. Seriously, this is the BBC doing their best Wayne Gale impression, repetition works, stir up the rabble out there in Zombieland. NI cancer rates are going up and targets for treatment are not being met and the local BBC care more about a comment about cyclists made by the mayor of a city 400 miles away. Swap "cyclist" for "Muslim" or "Black" and all hell would break loose.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en-gb">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
What?! Tell me you didn't run a segment onto <a href="https://twitter.com/bbcradioulster">@bbcradioulster</a> about a petition with FOUR signatures <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenNolan">@StephenNolan</a>?! <a href="https://t.co/8GDcoG29pj">https://t.co/8GDcoG29pj</a></div>
— NI Greenways (@nigreenways) <a href="https://twitter.com/nigreenways/status/614015566274293760">June 25, 2015</a></blockquote>
<br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br />
Of course, it's not just Radio Ulster who have been sucking at the anti cycling nipple until it bleeds. BBC Radio Kent had a phone in much like Fatty's, here are a few choice nuggets from the presenter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCozOAt-Jg4TCPJsgRdschr8Ozna5YGHdIQrHjDigYyT-mjisWPv__kS0LjsJ4EH2Z6fa6LdgXnk97Pbnsmm8tehR7AO_SMANhUe3-c6MpU_0gp-W0_uH15TvoA0ajkxvMEloqBo8HJy8s/s1600/kent.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCozOAt-Jg4TCPJsgRdschr8Ozna5YGHdIQrHjDigYyT-mjisWPv__kS0LjsJ4EH2Z6fa6LdgXnk97Pbnsmm8tehR7AO_SMANhUe3-c6MpU_0gp-W0_uH15TvoA0ajkxvMEloqBo8HJy8s/s1600/kent.png" /></a></div>
<br />
Charming isn't it?<br />
<br />
What makes me a big deal on the Road? How many tests have I done?<br />
<br />
Well, there's the car test, the motorcycle test, the HGV test, need I go on?<br />
<br />
And after Kent came BBC West Midlands.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en-gb">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
TALKING POINT: should dangerous <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cyclists?src=hash">#cyclists</a> have bikes confiscated? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DannyKelly?src=hash">#DannyKelly</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/bbcwm">@bbcwm</a>
<a href="http://t.co/yspzxxCdTW">http://t.co/yspzxxCdTW</a> (1/2) <a href="http://t.co/NogDD6gRk9">pic.twitter.com/NogDD6gRk9</a></div>
— BBCLocalLover (@BBCLocalLover) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCLocalLover/status/614083009101320192">June 25, 2015</a></blockquote>
<br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br />
So, there's THREE separate BBC regions having anti-cycling phone-ins on ONE day, call me cynical but that is no coincidence, there seems to be a concerted effort to rubbish cycling coming down from somewhere on high.<br />
<br />
Now people on bikes are no angels, just this week a chap who ran an old lady over on a bike was jailed for 12 months, personally I object to the sentence as it is in my eyes, unduly lenient, but what I also object to is everybody making great capital out of his being a cyclist. To me he was a twat on a skip bike, he has as much relation to me as a cyclist as Josef Mengle has to the nice German girl I met on holiday a few years ago. Could you imagine if the headline was "Black Guy jailed for 12 months for killing pensioner" The outcry would be national news for days.<br />
<br />
Also compare the sentence to this............<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.roadjustice.org.uk/case-study/learner-driver-bristol-killed-cyclist-during-car-manoeuvre" target="_blank">Just one example</a><br />
<br />
An unlicenced driver kills somebody and <i>gets off with a curfew.</i><br />
<br />
<i> </i><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10272800/Satnav-driver-who-killed-cyclist-spared-jail.html" target="_blank">And again.......</a><br />
<br />
<i>Community service for killing someone........</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://road.cc/content/news/152750-lorry-driver-who-killed-cyclist-given-years-community-order-and-11-penalty" target="_blank">Yet another...........</a><br /><br />
<i>Mitigating circumstances, but not even banned?</i><br />
<br />
I could go on all day here but my fingers would get tired before I ran out of examples. It seems that it's perfectly ok to whip up hatred, and that's what it is, hatred, agaist cyclists, safe in the knowledge that you can probably get away with it, cyclists are expendable, an inconvenience to be eradicated, in short. vermin.<br />
<br />
These aren't the rantings of some lycra lout Mamil, they're the thoughts of an ordinary bloke, Mondeo Man, a son, a friend, a colleague. And he has had enough.<br />
<br />
<br />Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-68605739214386710102015-06-22T18:41:00.000+01:002015-06-22T18:41:35.395+01:00They build you up and the knock you down......This time last year, cycling in Belfast was still basking in a nice cuddly pink post-Giro glow, cyclists were good people, cycling was a good pastime and all was right with the world.<br />
<br />
Jump back to the present day and you would scarcely believe that the warm fuzzy feeling was barely a year ago. Cyclists, according to the media are the devil incarnate, the local media are baying for blood and they quite literally will get it, with the blatant anti cycling agenda they seem to be promoting.<br />
<br />
Take the Belfast Bikes, there is a short system failure and it's front page news, a former contributor to local media who has moved to London is hit and injured by a cyclist over there and there's a media furore about it, even that fat waste of space Nolan is on giving his 2p's worth because he got stuck in his huge car behind a couple of cyclists on the way down to his huge house. Incidentally, about 3 days after his usual rant, I was held up in my car by the same Nolan who was driving to Comber at 35mph, I would have passed but he was all over the road, maybe he was trying to eat a packet of prawn cocktail, but I'm digressing here.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, the Gran Fondo was here, and quite a few roads were closed off, now I know that it was father's day, but the road closures were advertised weeks in advance, ruddy big signs up poles telling the world what was going on, one contributor to the early morning media assassination of cycling, which started at just after 7am, said he was pissed off because it took him longer than usual to go to Ballynahinch or somewhere, then he openly admits he hadn't been paying attention to signs in the area advising of the road closures? Err, hello? Is there anybody there? The Gran Fondo is not my bag, but considering the amount of roads closed for the 12th parades, and the hundreds of other parades every summer, it was not a big deal, but because it's only cyclists, folk will go on the radio and admit to not being an observant driver.<br />
<br />
The print media are at it too, the Belfast Telegraph ran a piece by their very own pound shop version of Katie Hopkins, only without the looks, Fionola Meredith, saying how cyclists "hogging" the towpath "ground her gears" She talks about "Sneering, privileged blokes" in "Yellow lycra" who are "<span class="st"><em>travelling so fast that you can feel the blast of disturbed air he leaves in his wake"</em></span> This is errant bollocks unless he (because no women ever ride bikes on the towpath) was doing about 60mph. Funnily enough, the last time I rode the towpath, I was in the delightful company of two elegant young ladies with not a trace of lycra between any of us, Lets face it, nobody wears lycra on a Pashley Princess, do they? <br />
<br />
The same delightful paper, frequently posts letters from idiots demanding that cyclists should have licences, fair enough, but what if little Alice, age 6 on her Raleigh Budgie is "detected" by the cops without her licence? She's below the age of criminal responsiblity for starters, but no doubt there would be tweets from the cops with pictures of a sorrowful looking Alice hashtagged "Keeping people safe" quoted in the local rag under a headline about "Pre teen cycle joyrider" or some other bollocks.<br />
<br />
Nationally, the media are getting their collective knickers in a twist over cyclists with cameras, the same media that will happily use cycle camera footage on their own shows, the same media that make entire shows out of in car camera footage, and who can forget Police Camera Action, presented by serial drink driving offender Alistair Stewart.<br />
<br />
The problem is, people take this crap in, a few of us were on a gentle evenings ride, when we were told off for riding on a shared use path by an elderly gent who clearly couldn't see the large sign denoting the path as shared that was no further than 12 feet from his head. The demonizing of cyclists is working judging by the looks we received, a group of normal folk out enjoying ourselves on a summers night. Honestly, if we were swigging buckfast dressed in Kappa's finest, we would have been better received. An elegant picnic? Nope, lets wreck a bus shelter instead, we'll be more popular then.<br />
<br />
Anyway, in a while they'll have moved onto some other poor bastard, maybe it'll be Rottweilers again, or DJ's or the royals. But who cares, it's 99% bullshit in any case.Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-59546488203736463712015-05-31T13:04:00.001+01:002015-05-31T13:04:59.488+01:00When it comes to cycling, one size does NOT fit all.........I've noticed that when it comes to cycle infrastructure, there is tendency to design it for what planners "think" cyclists need, as opposed to what they "actually" need. For instance do a google search in images for "cycling" The vast majority of pictures are of lycra clad roadies, now I have no problem with lycra clad roadies at all, they're cyclists as well, and I have been known to don lycra and ride something with drop bars myself and enjoy it immensely. Now google "Urban Cycling" and you get a slightly different picture, still a lot of drop bar bikes, some fixies and a few upright bikes, lastly google "Utility" cycling and you get a totally different picture, the bikes are usually longer, heavier, wider and fitted with some kind of basket or crate, sometimes pulling a trailer, this is where the local cycling infrastructure falls short, or shorter than normal.<br />
<br />
Planners don't take into account that the bicycle is more than just a way to get a person and couple of panniers at most on a short commute or a leisurely sunday jaunt along the Greenway, they fail to see that the humble bike can be a legitimate alternative to the car or van for city transport.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOe3hANs7oeUOQSHYP8YXxpm2qtk8CIBeI6kRUuUrd6jA6JKo7Fl9nLT1ObzpJIek8GeqQZIta8HPORD9T5WcueXCY85cxRca21A5c7ko_Lj7J-MFK0rupQs1l_y8WwWKUoaslWcz4qiyl/s1600/binlane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOe3hANs7oeUOQSHYP8YXxpm2qtk8CIBeI6kRUuUrd6jA6JKo7Fl9nLT1ObzpJIek8GeqQZIta8HPORD9T5WcueXCY85cxRca21A5c7ko_Lj7J-MFK0rupQs1l_y8WwWKUoaslWcz4qiyl/s1600/binlane.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
This, Folks, is the binlane, Belfast's second most famous piece of bad cycling infrastructure after the much maligned (and secretly loved) Cyclesaurus, the binlane is famous for three things.<br />
<br />
Bins.<br />
<br />
Bad Surfaces.<br />
<br />
Bollards.<br />
<br />
Now the bins are what gives the binlane it's name, usually owned by Biffa, Wastebeater or Belfast City Council, they appear haphazardly in the lane, blocking the path for cyclists, it's not unknown for cyclists to dismount and move the bloody things themselves, complaining to the relevant parties is a waste of a phone call.<br />
<br />
The surface is crap, it's a mismatch of old and new tarmac with a liberal amount of broken glass and other debris thrown in for good measure, no problem on a bike with 2.00 Marathon Plus' on it, rather more of a problem for someone on 23mm GP's.<br />
<br />
Lastly we have bollards, they are aluminium coated in black plastic, and they are supposedly to keep people from parking in the <strike>cycle </strike>binlane.<br />
<br />
Now look at this picture........<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLmxzs86M_KtnGndb2qNHBOUuRJvQAqorcfwPFKop5wHfalYqv8bMZWKx1KOGHCszRq_us8HmSsS8YXzQQoyHOTLsLU3RA3ScUlJXC32pnzKKBiJoiSLTQ8UQcckIh4qZKTe1OHgY6kRg/s1600/Belfast-20130308-00432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLmxzs86M_KtnGndb2qNHBOUuRJvQAqorcfwPFKop5wHfalYqv8bMZWKx1KOGHCszRq_us8HmSsS8YXzQQoyHOTLsLU3RA3ScUlJXC32pnzKKBiJoiSLTQ8UQcckIh4qZKTe1OHgY6kRg/s1600/Belfast-20130308-00432.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Same binlane, but with a Luton bodied van out back and what looks to be a 17 tonner in front. Now, to be fair, the bollards were gone when this photo was taken, but it illustrates perfectly how that even with them in place, any commercial vehicle bigger than a car derived van can hop the kerbs with ease, rendering the bollards ineffective.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6YzgTLxBmusuXXRRwIOwvo_WR0yZn9aIxMseSK9ZQloq_uWr44CyF8lcg8pmSAbjeMZ78rkFKVASI-WwzfG4BsHpm04KRccYFhLhyFZon7GusaMGTXku9o-5Ug04fAumJL5ChO3Gfhx_/s1600/trucklane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6YzgTLxBmusuXXRRwIOwvo_WR0yZn9aIxMseSK9ZQloq_uWr44CyF8lcg8pmSAbjeMZ78rkFKVASI-WwzfG4BsHpm04KRccYFhLhyFZon7GusaMGTXku9o-5Ug04fAumJL5ChO3Gfhx_/s1600/trucklane.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Oh, look at the pretty little truck! Look at the pedestrians dodging the bins. The truck, ironically belonged to the people installing the bollards......<br />
<br />
Here is a Utility Bicycle.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCVOYPW7NGJlAqWHPSm22viTtFhF0ofX86z5q1-6w_RW6KGW8g86zjYkPQFirucmG1EnVx51g8Wy2IVBQIdPWVrDXAWm7w-jFoMOidtZ1NB-9YdX_daoTZCWMtJvKEAcDvDkg6E_bCJwt/s1600/Cargoute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCVOYPW7NGJlAqWHPSm22viTtFhF0ofX86z5q1-6w_RW6KGW8g86zjYkPQFirucmG1EnVx51g8Wy2IVBQIdPWVrDXAWm7w-jFoMOidtZ1NB-9YdX_daoTZCWMtJvKEAcDvDkg6E_bCJwt/s640/Cargoute.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This contraption is my Kona Ute, with my Carry Freedom trailer on the back, and by God is it a capable beast, you could do a full months shopping with this thing, it makes a car redundant in one fell swoop. Small it is not, it's about 10 and a half feet long, the bars are 27 inches wide and the trailer's wheeltrack is about 32 inches. this means that it can just about negotiate the binlane with about an inch or so between the bollard on one side and a kerb on the other, as for the slalom path on the towpath at Shaw's Bridge or the green bridge, forget it!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you saw me piloting this beast in town, you could well write me off as some kind of eccentric, doing something nobody sane would do. Now look at the pic below......</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.utilitycycling.org/wp-content/uploads/yellow-dutch-postal-bike-with-large-racks-and-trailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.utilitycycling.org/wp-content/uploads/yellow-dutch-postal-bike-with-large-racks-and-trailer.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Those crazy Germans! They wouldn't think about doing anything efficient, would they? But they are still doing what the Royal Mail decided was </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
unsafe, now they just drive vans through pedestrian areas instead. Other firms are embracing the bicycle as a workhorse, a cheap, environmentally friendly method of getting goods from A to B in the urban environment, most importantly for business, once the initial purchase is completed, running costs are practically nil.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Back in the day, almost every small business had a delivery boy on a bike, going back to this way of thinking is NOT a retrograde step, it's the smart thing to do in ever more congested cities, but it needs the foresight of infrastructure planners to accommodate it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Of course outside of town, taking the family cycling can be a challenge, so much of the problems encountered with cargo cyclists apply to people with child trailers, trailer bikes and the like.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn275/eugenenine/Bike/20db2a7b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn275/eugenenine/Bike/20db2a7b.jpg" height="477" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This family wouldn't make it from one end of the Comber Greenway to the other without dismounting.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1433073096166!6m8!1m7!1sdMEK4ZLKtVzSTZtOecicVA!2m2!1d54.59053!2d-5.855882!3f70.49596403426396!4f-20.02604064090852!5f0.7820865974627469" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This horrible chicane is tight enough for an adult, with a kid's trailer bike, or child trailer, it is tighter still, no reason why the crossing could not be widened and the railings done away with, I think the risk would be worth taking. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They say the test of infrastructure is that good infrastructure is suitable for an 8 year old to ride, for me good infra should be suitable for an 8 years old to ride, along with their parents, with a cargobike pulling a trailer. Sadly out planners think otherwise.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-89787386868931767472015-05-30T10:34:00.001+01:002015-05-30T10:34:43.070+01:00Belfast Bikes - The First Month<br />
It doesn't seem a month since the local cycling twitterati rocked up to the Belfast Bikes launch at the city hall to get a free T-shirt and a fee 2 hour jaunt on the new bikes. In what must be a huge disappointment to he usual naysayers, whose sole purpose in life seems to be to make negative comments on the websites of the local media, the scheme seems to be be a runaway success. <br />
<br />
Despite a few teething troubles, eagerly swooped upon by the aforementioned media and a docking station vandalised by the local pond life, Belfast Bikes have rapidly became an everyday sight on the city streets and "grabbing a bike" is a phrase that has entered the local dictionary. I would be a typical user, and in the first month I have racked up some 60 odd rentals and showing the ignorance of armchair critics in respect of all things cycling, I still ride my own bike to work.<br />
<br />
So why ride your own bike, but use a rental bike during the day? Simple, you can drop the bike off at a docking station and forget about it, it's not your problem, you don't worry about leaving your own bike to the mercies of Joe Public, you can relax and get on with things. Secondly, the bikes are rather nice to ride round town, they're no lightweights, but not as heavy as the Boris bikes, 3 speed hub gears are more than adequate with the added bonus of being able to shift to a lower gear whilst stopped. Reliability has been generally good, with a fleet of over 300 bikes, you will inevitably get a few rough diamonds, especially when ridden by the general public and left outdoors in a town centre. Worryingly, one bike was clanking horribly at the launch event, and I've ridden a couple that were decidedly rough. Biggest bugbear is off centre handlebars and saddles pointing at the sky, but since it's not your bike, you can put up with it, or just select one that pleases you.<br />
<br />
In some cases, demand at certain stations, like May's Meadow and Bradbury Place, has outstripped supply, likewise other stations have been full, leaving you to chain your bike up to various street furniture, luckily the app seems to inform HQ of this so you don't get hit with the £120 charge for a missing bike.<br />
<br />
But the main problem will always be reliability, since I first started writing this piece, the saddles in the sky problem has increased remarkably, yesterday for example, an entire station's worth of bikes had saddles that were pointing at least 5 degrees nose up, in essence they were unridable. I hired the one nearest to the camera, rode it 15 feet, then realised it was literally painful to ride so returned it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DBBNvgfaTMj_N8TH-kyDOo2-Jyf5PPqse9JoXSQOG2oLoSC-vB5519UHVbRCUExQHSZt8oAZryGO5k1STupcWreAPTXgpgFdZ4gVQHN1ucyETUsqdH3WlXjI5KABQRowzsa9egmmGjyp/s1600/bikes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DBBNvgfaTMj_N8TH-kyDOo2-Jyf5PPqse9JoXSQOG2oLoSC-vB5519UHVbRCUExQHSZt8oAZryGO5k1STupcWreAPTXgpgFdZ4gVQHN1ucyETUsqdH3WlXjI5KABQRowzsa9egmmGjyp/s320/bikes.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
It would be easy to write this off as vandalism, but there was no way the saddles could have been moved, I'm quite strong and I couldn't shift one back to horizontal, so they must have been set up in this fashion. Also the bike I hired from the next station had very soft tyres. Maybe this sounds harsh, but a lot of potential customers will judge the whole cycling experience by these bikes, making them as pleasant to ride a possible should be one of their key goals.<br />
<br />
In short, a good first month, but their eye must not come off the ball regards maintenance. Hopefully the scheme will expand and grow like Japanese Knotweed on the Greenway!<br />
<br />
<br />Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-22588558049497048782015-03-16T17:56:00.000+00:002015-03-16T17:56:18.177+00:00The nightmare on Friday the 13th................Friday the 13th of March 2015 will go down as a day of infamy amongst the commuter cyclists of Belfast. Nobody died, nobody was seriously injured, but the possibility for doing so was immense. And all this was watched benevolently by the PSNI.<br />
<br />
You see, due to a union strike, the reasons for which I won't go into, there was no public transport across the whole province, now you would have thought this was a perfect opportunity to get people on a bike, people were predicting carmageddon, so it would make sense that anyone who had a bike and lived within say 10 miles of Belfast could happily pedal in if they normally used the bus or train.<br />
<br />
Then the Police got involved.<br />
<br />
Somebody decided it would be a good idea to announce they wouldn't be enforcing the bus lanes.<br />
<br />
Genius. In one fell swoop they managed to create traffic chaos and made sure that cycling in Belfast went from merely hazardous to positively suicidal. Now I know that enforcing the bus lanes is not exactly the PSNI's strong suit, but for a police force to announce that they would not be upholding the law (and it was still illegal to drive in them, that much hadn't changed) was simply extraordinary. As someone who tries to stay as lawful as possible I found this a bit much, as much as it would be nice to pull an Uzi and turn the next Value Cab driver who cuts me up into a bleeding mess with more holes than a tea bag, there are laws that say I can't, those laws are in the same statute book as the ones regarding bus lanes. They said they would be "rigorously" enforcing parking offences, I guess they must have gave that up as a bad job. <br />
<br />
So what did Friday bring? A complete nightmare for anyone cycling in Belfast. I couldn't cycle myself because of work, but I had a ringside seat as I drove into town. The main routes into Belfast were gridlocked, anybody cycling was forced to either sit in traffic or illegally ride on the footpath, plenty did, once the usual bus commuters got into town, they found that there was nowhere to park, cars were abandoned on footpaths, green spaces, anywhere that had the potential to accommodate the 4 wheels had a car on it.<br />
<br />
So there you have it, it's semi official, the private car is king.<br />
<br />
Great innit?Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-70248904214709402642015-02-16T17:54:00.000+00:002015-02-16T17:54:56.971+00:00Hoops, you've did it again!Over the past few weeks, the physical infrastructure of the Belfast cycle hire scheme have been popping up round the city centre like mushrooms. This is to be welcomed, however as well as the hire points, a fair few new cycle parking hoops have popped up in random places.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10spCeKO-7kEQr8da2ePtNjVS95WXlpHZiIVF81NfhgM3N6SXHA5qfwC8atT1bmjM8PAI7E3eL-bbds6JcJOkzhh1eLSObI1_tG7TzdAw2bxAY5rUEWHwt0KyWwaDlnLDYBmU_6JdLFhU/s1600/hoop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10spCeKO-7kEQr8da2ePtNjVS95WXlpHZiIVF81NfhgM3N6SXHA5qfwC8atT1bmjM8PAI7E3eL-bbds6JcJOkzhh1eLSObI1_tG7TzdAw2bxAY5rUEWHwt0KyWwaDlnLDYBmU_6JdLFhU/s1600/hoop.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
These hoops have literally appeared overnight, but the placement is bizarre, these ones are up the side of the NIHE, and I have never, ever witnessed a bicycle chained up anywhere near here, another strange site is the small triangle of tarmac underneath the advertising hoarding at the junction of Linenhall St and Ormeau Avenue, which again is odd, how is the sign poster meant to carry out his duties?<br />
<br />
On the other hand, where hoops are needed, they aren't there, you could easily double the number of cycle parking spaces around Upper Arthur St, High Street, around Laganside, but I feel someone has thought "Oh keek, bike hire is coming out, lets plant some bike hoops!" then spread them randomly across this city centre.<br />
<br />
You'd think someone would have actually asked the local cycling community before planting these things, as it is, they're pretty much a white elephant.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEvkYpFOV-Osie4vJozJIStbGr3U9jve-GZYnrm6cjbFcoQTELJb_BrO-06V6-BV87pgwvl0SPC39r5jsIr0eniMbvnew7VxYlytaN2uBE4BrV-a9HunxU_Bd6f7SpQWD7g6IajvcNuLw/s1600/IMG_20150216_134643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143907859249166905.post-25478673698779410742015-02-11T18:30:00.002+00:002015-02-11T18:30:51.624+00:00Vigilantes? Or just trying to stay alive?Apparently I am a vigilante, think about it, a vigilante, I dunno about you, but it conjours up visions of hooded men in balaclavas and black bomber jackets, wielding a selection of nail studded baseball bats, crowbars and motorcycle chains, or maybe Charles Bronson in Death Wish, taking his revenge on all who have wronged him (and those who haven't, for that matter)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwK1RIP5TRZf8UCRLrP0m6oPVvn9XDhy9DF9sgXTGUTWIgpES-D9VpMCjFoErDf-D8e6sv09gWt517yge4ryL5rl_bJmXLN0XCe4vyInycooh41yNb6t26FOkeQYPaDWUL573NgLGAh-J/s1600/death+wish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwK1RIP5TRZf8UCRLrP0m6oPVvn9XDhy9DF9sgXTGUTWIgpES-D9VpMCjFoErDf-D8e6sv09gWt517yge4ryL5rl_bJmXLN0XCe4vyInycooh41yNb6t26FOkeQYPaDWUL573NgLGAh-J/s1600/death+wish.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unlike Charlie, I don't have a dodgy 'tache, a shiny Automag or murderous intentions. I don't even want anybody to get injured, especially myself. My weapon of choice is a GoPro camera, which, unlike a .44 Magnum, won't "blow your head clean off" but like a vigilante, I am forced to use it because law and order have failed me, I'm using it because I want to stay alive.<br />
<br />
It's a pretty piss poor state of affairs when you have to use a camera to film your daily cycling because you run a risk of being wiped out and the person who wipes you out will probably get off scot free, I've only had it a while and the footage is overwhelmingly boring, only a couple of incidents have genuinely been life threatening, but if the worst happens, I want it on film <strike>so my family know who to take their revenge on</strike>, sorry, so the offender can hopefully be prosecuted.<br />
<br />
Some people take it to extremes, one chap claims to have shopped 70 people to the police, ok in London, but probably not the wisest move in Belfast, another has something like 8 cameras on his bike, he must have the worlds best USB charger, but the point remains the same, crap infrastructure, lack of enforcement regarding abuse of existing infrastructure and poor driving have created a climate where the cyclists have to strike back in a metaphorical sense, if nothing else.<br />
<br />
Regarding crappy infrastructure, the plans have been unveiled for the York St/M2/M3/Westlink junction, plenty of room for a separate cycle lane, but as per bloody usual, they have a load of green paint pretending to be cycle infrastructure, the University of Ulster are building a huge mega campus where the old Co-op building once stood, with the resulting influx of student who will no doubt have more than a few cyclists amongst their ranks, if nothing else, it could have made the trip to North Belfast a lot more pleasant, another missed opportunity!<br />
<br />
Oh well, at least I didn't get my hopes up.Me, myself and I.......http://www.blogger.com/profile/07812115837428093996noreply@blogger.com0