London cyclists "too white, male and middle aged" and this is a problem.

[D.P.]

But why is it so important that there is diversity amongst cyclists?

You got the complete wrong end of the stick here.

no one says there should be equality. What is desired is more people cycling and walking, less people taking cars. Why is it women and minorities are not cycling? Wat can we do to increase the total number of cyclists, well one way would be getting more women and ethnic minorities cycle.

 

[D.P.]

I'd rather risk long term heart disease than the nutters on the roads and you're probably breathing in less diesel fumes walking on pavements.

And this may be one of the reasons why only certain demographics are cycling, so projects to remove these concerns might help increase the total cycling population.

More cycle lanes, and real cycle lanes where cars are completely segregated form cyclists with barriers, roads blocked to cars, banning diesel engines, increase fuel taxes.


Maybe it is simply th case that women don;t like to take as much risk with traffic as men.

 

[dowie]

More cycle lanes, and real cycle lanes where cars are completely segregated form cyclists with barriers, roads blocked to cars, banning diesel engines, increase fuel taxes.

I'd like to see them do all of that, not to mention increase the congestion charging zone and ramp up the congestion charge for polluting vehicles too. (and rethink the Heathrow extension).

I'd quite happily cycle to work if I didn't live in London.

 

[Diddums]

London will never have a proper cycling network. They can paint all the roads they want blue but it's not built around cycling at all and there's no way anyone's spending the billions required to make it a proper cycling city.

 

[FoxEye]

(Raheem Sterling anybody?).

No, thanks. You can keep him.

You got the complete wrong end of the stick here.

no one says there should be equality. What is desired is more people cycling and walking, less people taking cars. Why is it women and minorities are not cycling? Wat can we do to increase the total number of cyclists, well one way would be getting more women and ethnic minorities cycle.

Is there any kind of evidence whatsoever that BAME people have different requirements to get cycling than non-BAME people? Do they need flatter roads? Special BAME road markings? Do their bikes need special BAME-friendly tyres?

Second question: Is there any value in getting BAME people to cycle that isn't also present in getting non-BAME people to cycle?

So what could you possibly do to improve BAME cycling participation that isn't just helping to improve ALL cycling participation? Thus why even talk about BAME cycling in the first place?

 

[explicit4u]

Is there any kind of evidence whatsoever that BAME people have different requirements to get cycling than non-BAME people? Do they need flatter roads? Special BAME road markings? Do their bikes need special BAME-friendly tyres?

Second question: Is there any value in getting BAME people to cycle that isn't also present in getting non-BAME people to cycle?

So what could you possibly do to improve BAME cycling participation that isn't just helping to improve ALL cycling participation? Thus why even talk about BAME cycling in the first place?

Targeting BAME and women will answer those questions and I'd imagine that's where they'd start.

 

[FoxEye]

Targeting BAME and women will answer those questions and I'd imagine that's where they'd start.

 

[dowie]

So what could you possibly do to improve BAME cycling participation that isn't just helping to improve ALL cycling participation? Thus why even talk about BAME cycling in the first place?

Because: diversity. Please remember it is [current year].

 

[Dis86]

Targeting BAME and women will answer those questions and I'd imagine that's where they'd start.

Or should that money be invested in those who already do cycle? We could invest it in their safety.

 

[Nasher]

Or should that money be invested in those who already do cycle? We could invest it in their safety.

Don't be silly, they are mostly white and middle class. They need to be banned!

Anyway most cyclists get killed by buses and lorries, often trying to cut down the inside of them and getting squashed. Or going straight through red lights on junctions. It's deterring that kind of behavior that needs to be the focus.

 

[explicit4u]

Or should that money be invested in those who already do cycle? We could invest it in their safety.

Changing attitudes towards cycling will lead to more schemes and investment in cycling.

Filling up the existing infrastructure (cycling tends to be one of the 'peakiest' modes of transport) makes it easier to sell new schemes and investment to locals.

Don't be silly, they are mostly white and middle class. They need to be banned!

Anyway most cyclists get killed by buses and lorries, often trying to cut down the inside of them and getting squashed. Or going straight through red lights on junctions. It's deterring that kind of behavior that needs to be the focus.

I'd partly agree, however the infrastructure and road planning in this country is awful in terms of cycling. The focus needs to be on designing roads and junctions that are more cycle friendly

 

[chroniclard]

Another day another GD outrage.

Also the police are neutered by the government you voted for.

 

[kwerk]

Does anyone else feel like there might be too many white male posters on this very forum? We need more BAME posters. Someone please call the relevent authorities/quango so they can investigate this sickening lack of inclusiveness.

 

[Minusorange]

Diversity should be lots of people doing lots of different things

Snow flakes however think diversity is lots of people doing the exact same thing

They want everyone to be a clone rather than unique

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Why is this being brought up just now when the article was from May 28?

OMG, everybody stop posting, it's from 3 weeks ago and you know the rules.

Anyway, here in Stoke I cycle commute every day and I've only ever seen 1 woman cyclist and never seen a black person in 6 years.
We have a major problem.

 

[D.P.]

Diversity should be lots of people doing lots of different things

Snow flakes however think diversity is lots of people doing the exact same thing

They want everyone to be a clone rather than unique

trash like this is completely irrelevant.

Diversity has nothing to do this discussion. The entire topic is simply about increasing the number of cyclists, reducing road traffic, improving air quality and reducing emissions.

 

[D.P.]

No, thanks. You can keep him.

Is there any kind of evidence whatsoever that BAME people have different requirements to get cycling than non-BAME people? Do they need flatter roads? Special BAME road markings? Do their bikes need special BAME-friendly tyres?

Well that is probably what they will try and research I would have thought. Find the reasons and see what can be done to make cycling more appealing to a wider audience.

Second question: Is there any value in getting BAME people to cycle that isn't also present in getting non-BAME people to cycle?

well, there would be an increase int he tot number of cyclists, which benefits everyone. if you mean specific schemes such as better cycle lanes then no, liekly whatever helps women or minorities get ona bike will help most people who already willing to put up with London traffic.

So what could you possibly do to improve BAME cycling participation that isn't just helping to improve ALL cycling participation?

Perhaps nothing, who cares? It would be a great beneift that a scheme aimed at increaisng woimen and minorities to cycle also increased the white middle class male cyclists. SO why complain? What does it matter?

Thus why even talk about BAME cycling in the first place?

Because the entire idea is to increase women and minority cyclists, that is obvious. Are you just trolling?

 

[Dis86]

trash like this is completely irrelevant.

Diversity has nothing to do this discussion. The entire topic is simply about increasing the number of cyclists, reducing road traffic, improving air quality and reducing emissions.

So then why do they talk about a focus in BAME? Why not focus this extra resource on everyone?

 

[FoxEye]

@D.P. LOL. You've answered my questions with "There's probably no difference between BAME cyclists and any other cyclist", and yet you've come to the conclusion we should have discriminatory BAME cycling initiatives.

Because you've been taken in like the rest that we need to throw around buzzwords like "diversity" and they're magically relevant to all issues.

You know what this now means... discrimination. Special grants for BAME cyclists to get cheap bikes (etc). When really there should be discounts for anyone to get cheap bikes, because the objective should just be "encourage more cyclists", not "diversity".

This is a fake objective that just gives PC nut-jobs warm fuzzy feelings.

 

[D.P.]

So then why do they talk about a focus in BAME? Why not focus this extra resource on everyone?

Because women and minorities are under represented, so the most effective ways to increase the total cycling population would eb to target demographics that are not particularly active cyclists. There are plenty of schemes that target a general audience but that doesn't seem to be getting women cycling so a different focus is needed.


And I am sure it is no coincidence that you are ignoring the fact that the increased focus is not just on minorities, but ion women and lower income earners, and younger people - many of which are white. BAME is just one demographic beign tackled. Of course that doesn't fit various posters agenda.


SO, why do you think it is a problem getting white British women or young white men to cycle? That is what this scheme is trying to do.