Cycling UK Forum

While this my be missing the point... the adverts for Skyrides offer traffic-free cycling with thousands of cyclists. This is an obvious contradiction.

This isn't just a pedantic point (honest), language matters when producing and confirming perception and prejudice. When I am cycling I expect to be treated the same, roughly, as other road users or, to put it another way, as part of the traffic. To imply that traffic only means motor-vehicles is to suggest that cycles are not part of "traffic"; that they are of a different class. Being in a different class would be fine if this meant that extra consideration is given because of our lack of steel and glass protection; however, I fear that a slightly more negative understanding of us-and-them will be being reaffirmed. As far as I am concerned, I am a (slow) vehicle.

Notwithstanding, anything to get more folk using bikes is positive.

Any thoughts?

I have had vague misgivings niggling away at the back of my mind ever since I first saw a Skyride ad. I thought there was something wrong but couldn't put my finger on it. You've just put it into words.

but they are opportunities to cycle on routes you use normally, in a different way as a new experience, and as an event in itself

The main Sky Rides with the closed roads, displays and other stands are the first step towards getting more people cycling on the roads. The local Sky Rides are the next step with groups of up to 32 taking to the roads every Sunday. I don't think you will easily get people on the roads for the local rides with out the main ones. The only thing I think is badly planed is that the main Skyrides are in August and September and not May or June.

IF the only thing wrong with these events is pedantry about the description then they have done well.

Cunobelin wrote:IF the only thing wrong with these events is pedantry about the description then they have done well.

It's not pedantic (well, maybe a little bit ) to protest at the wording that constantly reinforces the popularly-held view that bikes are NOT vehicles, DO NOT constitute traffic, and therefore HAVE NO PLACE on the roads where "proper" traffic goes.

It's an uphill struggle but I'll keep on doing my bit via email and letter to chastise and correct the organisers of these kinds of events, and other guilty parties too.