Another pointless dig at cyclists
18 Feb 2012 2 Comments
in Current Affairs, Individuals worthy of contempt
One can only assume, reading Christina Patterson’s most recent column in The Independent, that she was desperately searching for something to write about and could only come up with something designed to be gratuitously offensive for its own sake.
I won’t dwell on the later comments about her thinking that James Corden is funny. That isn’t even worth engaging with. I’m rather more concerned with yet another mean-spirited and petty attack on cyclists and those who defend cyclists.
The targets of Patterson’s smug middle class ire this week are Ghost Bikes. For those not familiar with the concept the bikes are painted white and put up at locations where cyclists are killed or injured. Of course they get vandalised and bits get pilfered off them but they are there to serve as a reminder of the dangers that cyclists face and a memorial to those who died on the roads.
It’s a concept that seems lost on Patterson:
“You might want to explain that people who took big risks did sometimes get killed, and when they did, it was very, very sad for their families. But what was sad for a family didn’t always have all that much to do with anyone else……..accidents did happen, and when they did, it wasn’t always somebody’s fault.”
No of course not Christina. When a cyclist gets killed or injured it’s just a random event. Just like the lottery numbers on a Saturday night. Or you managing to get a career in journalism.
Because cyclists never get hurt because people are driving too fast, aren’t looking where they are going, are on their mobile phones, drunk or just plain irresponsible. Those things never happen so what need is there for people to campaign? I mean, this story here is just a figment of my frenzied imagination isn’t it Christina………
Why is it by cycling one is necessarily taking a “big risk”? Why should it be? Can we not have a situation where people can bikes safely co-exist with motorists? Or would that would be too much of an infringement of “motorists rights”?
Sometimes it is “somebody’s fault” and people need to be reminded of the consequences of their stupidity and selfishness, and Ghost Bikes are about raising awareness of the issue and asking people to think about what they are doing. The number of cyclists killed and injured by cars every year is colossal but for some unknown reason it doesn’t get mentioned that much.
I am dreadfully sorry if such ideas and visible reminders of the consequences of irresponsible driving offend your delicate aesthetic sensibilities Christina, and that you think that these little memorials they are an
“eyesore”
That is a dashed nuisance isn’t it. My heart bleeds for you.
A nasty, spiteful, myopic little article by a nasty, spiteful, myopic little journalist.
Feb 18, 2012 @ 19:00:49
Go and have a look at the comment by payday on the NS site. I cannot believe the nature of the comment – it’s obviously the fault of the cyclist. No matter what has gone on previously, the bus driver has used his bus as a weapon. I used to teach real youngsters (7 – 11) cycling. I told them to ride on pavements unless they were with their parents. With people like the bus driver and payday about I wonder if they should be allowed out on bikes at all. By the way, I am a cyclist, motorcyclist and car driver. It is about time people understood that they are in charge of lethal machines. If they cannot abide by the rules they should lose their license and/or liberty if they cannot behave.
Feb 18, 2012 @ 20:19:52
That was total crassness from Christina Patterson, and the comments universally abused her for it. However the only other articles I’ve read of hers were Pollyfillers of the worst possible kind, so it’s not surprising.