Anyone else read this? She trots out all the usual anti-cycling clichés: helmets should be compulsory, bikes need MOTs, bikes shouldn't be allowed on the road if there are cycle lanes.
Most bizarrely, she compares Boris building cycle superhighways to North Korea building monuments to Kim Jong-Il.
Link? I always quite liked Janet Street Porter.. Maybe not now..
She came in to my local the other day. She asked the barman, "Could I have a large aperitif?"
Barman replied, "I very much doubt it!".
teef
*Chuckles*
More London BS, no-one cares who doesn't live in the city. Move out of London then you silly cow.
'Spose that's a privilege of having lots of homes. You can whine about London then scoot off to your Yorkshire bolt hole.
She's not making much sense..
London gridlocked.. Nothing new there.
Cyclists getting preferential treatment over pedestrian? They already have pavements and crossings
She then goes on to say the number of cyclist's on pavements is lethal.. Urr.. Ok so more cycle infrastructure would help that?
As for helmet compulsion.. She's simply uneducated on the facts or she'd know very well why it's not compulsory.
As for mot's.. Well more ignorance.. Bikes are very simple machines compared to cars, if they are un roadworthy, chances are they are unridable, I suppose you could get away with riding with poor brakes, but you wouldn't live long and they cost pennies to fix, relatively speaking.
Silly woman with a silly argument.
Surprised the Independent even printed that to be honest. It's all well and good promoting free speech but those kinds of opinions belong in the last century.
If she's going to come out with such hateful bile, she could at least make some kind of attempt to back it up with evidence.
And then they spend money on hair brained infrastructure like this..
[url= http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/bike-lanes-portland-street-dangerous-11091014 ]Manchester evening news [/url]
And wonder why there's still a problem..
Surprised the Independent even printed that
So bad they've had to stop doing a print version.
I really don't see what her physical appearance or gender has to do with anything. 🙄
Janet Street Porter is a highly intelligent, educated person. However, she's really let herself down with this piss-poor article. It's no better than a cabby's rant about cyclists.
Stuff like this just makes her look like an uninformed reactionary idiot:
"The London Cycling Campaign claims that “thousands of Londoners would like to cycle”, but I wonder on what evidence it bases its claim. "
The 'evidence' of extensive questionnaires and surveys, I'd imagine. I know one or two people who do work for the LCC, and such research forms quite a significant part of their activity.
She does raise a reasonable point re infrastructure, but does it very badly. What she fails to recognise, is that the infrastructure is often ill thought out, and creates more problems than it solves. Without addressing the real issue, which is unnecessary motor vehicle journeys in cities, just squeezing cycling provision alongside existing roads is simply creating even more congestion. Using private vehicles to travel within cities, when there are perfectly good alternatives available (maybe just not quite so 'convenient), is selfish and thoughtless in my opinion. We need to be looking at how to change people's thinking about private personal transport, rather than simply trying to force more and more traffic to share the same space.
"Surprised the Independent even printed that to be honest."
Really? Can you imagine the extra site traffic such clickbait creates? I'd guess there will be a good few hundred if not thousands of clickthroughs just from this thread alone. JS-P channelling the spirit of KT Hopkins...
I've just been walking round Manchester today as it happens on a quick visit, and really couldn't get my head around the green paint, buses straddling it,taxis parked in it trying to get into the rank. It's not continuous so I'm not sure what you're supposed to do when it ends; disappear? I didn't see any bikes, although easter Saturday lunchtime is quiet probably compared to a weekday morning.
As for JSP; bite me!
Can you imagine the extra site traffic such clickbait creates?
Good point. Does seem like trolling. Do they really pay famous column writers to troll now?
It's an opinion piece and she's entitled to an opinion, but its really disappointing that a major newspaper would print such an uninformed article.
Chair of The Ramblers wasn't she? Hardly surprising that she's a gobby bike-hating old bag. Just ignore her and ride on, like you would any other red-socked git.
JSP don't like cyclist when she is at her holiday house in Yorkshire, let alone that there London dump.
Is the Independant a major newspaper? Last day tomorrow for the Indie on Sunday.
Another rant-u-like clickbait from Boaty McBoatface, nothing to see here.
😀
She's abit vanila. What is shown memorable for exactly?
We should.all cycle round her house..... 😀
Is she still in charge of the Ramblers Association?
joat- I know what you mean about cycle lanes in Manchester. When I commuted to work by bike in the 1990s in Manchester, a gaudy green bike lane was painted all the way through Rusholme, but it was never useable, because cars parked in it all the time, plus taxis and buses were constantly pulling into it. I complaine to Manchester City Council and their reply was that "ethnic minorities don't understand cycle lanes"
Bonkers.
I had a running with her about 5 years ago in Pately Bridge, driving a corsa and nearly rode into a group of us, she went absolutely berserk.
She was banned from the Borders I used to work in after she was so rude to the staff on a signing event.
Wow, that was a bad bit of writing..
Clickbait innit
Should bikes have MOT's ?
Doesn't seem like a bad idea You see plenty of BSO's that really haven't been that well maintained.
You'd fail every one that didn't comply with standards then?
Reflectors front and rear
Pedal reflectors
etc?
You see plenty of BSO's that really haven't been that well maintained.
Yes, but are they really a danger to anyone? I know theoretically yes - poor brakes and control, etc., but realistically? They tend to be ridden by more casual riders who will avoid the more dangerous roads anyway.
🙄 that old trout.
I've got no time for her
Tedious, opinionated, loud, rude, boring
mrblobby - MemberLooks like she's still going...
Thought Gilligan made her and Jacob Rees-Whatever look a bit silly TBH.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03tm40m
still depressed after poor HINY performance - all a bit embarrassing.
Journalistic gold.
[quote=mattyfez ]She's not making [s]much [/s]any sense..
Apparently the traffic fumes are the fault of the cyclists. Though this is the real gem:
It seems extraordinary that riding a bike (unlike driving) is subject to so few rules. You are not legally compelled to wear a helmet and, most extraordinary of all, when these cycle superhighways have been built, cyclists don’t even have to use them.
You're not required to wear a helmet when driving, nor are you required to use the motorways which are provided solely for the benefit of motorists. In fact, given cyclists have to follow almost all of the same rules as motorists (some of which involve stuff such as traffic lights which are only required because of motor vehicles) cycling is over regulated - anything which motorists have to do and cyclists don't is down to motor vehicles killing thousands of times as many people as bicycles do.
Though of course I'm preaching to the choir here - does JSP have a twitter feed in order to educate her?
when these cycle superhighways have been built, cyclists don’t even have to use them.
Quite an interesting point this. Are they safe, fast, suitably extensive, and have capacity? There must be some issue if cyclists are choosing to mix it up with cars, lorries and busses instead!
I imagine one of the issues would be that all cyclists don't live in the same house at one end and don't all work n the same bike shop at the other
Put "cyclist" in the title and it guarantees clicks, something both she and that website need.
when these cycle superhighways have been built, cyclists don’t even have to use them.
Quite an interesting point this. Are they safe, fast, suitably extensive, and have capacity? There must be some issue if cyclists are choosing to mix it up with cars, lorries and busses instead!
My commute just got longer in both directions with CS6 over Blackfriars bridge. Slightly more pleasant, but a touch longer, due to being pushed into different light cycles. If I was bothered, I'd nip onto the road at the end and through the lights with the cars.
Cyclists doing that aren't holding anyone up, and the highway will encourage more onto bikes, so it's still all good.
Janet Street Porter is a highly intelligent, educated person.
TBF she failed her maths A-level, only has art A-levels and dropped out of college after two years lol
She may well write utter toss in the papers and online but at least in those mediums you don't have to hear her acidic **** of a voice.
Still, at least she took the time to tell us how incredibly brave she was to write the article. Maybe she's the hero we need.
Whilst the CS on the Embankment was being built, it was a nightmare.
I commuted on it yesterday, there are a couple of waits to get on and off it but I'll take that any day over the lottery of the traffic light filtering at Charing Cross & Waterloo Bridge.
I also didn't see that much stationary traffic - or people on bikes using the road.
Again I'm preaching to the choir, but when I was recently in that there London I came across this gem:
https://goo.gl/maps/HuBPTfSA74S2
When I first saw it I thought great, proper segregated infrastructure. Until I noticed that it doesn't really link up with anything and is a pain to get on and off at either end. Went past that several times and didn't see a single cyclist on it but several on the road - last time was on a Boris bike when I used the parallel road rather than waste 30s at each end getting on and off that.
I imagine that's the sort of thing JSP is frothing about.
Surely the correct thing to do would be for the cycling community to extend an invite to JSP to join them on a morning commute, to see first hand how bad the cycling infrastructure is?
Jim, I work just off the embankment and it has been an absolute nightmare as you say whilst being built, now it's finished I can honestly say that the traffic lights on the underpass into the city have created an absolute nightmare, the traffic is tailed right back past monument where those traffic lights just add to the congestion, I've driven that a route hundreds of times over the past 10 years and now it's finished the standing traffic is definitely a lot worse, from what I have seen its mainly tourists using the cycle lane and not commuters. And it's very quiet for a cycle lane in the centre of London.
We were discussing this the other day, we thought making the embankment one way to motorised veh's and the strand opposite would have been a better option? What do you think? Cycle lanes on both approaches,
I think it would get veh's in and away from the city much quicker.
As you know though the roads in London aren't really catered for Veh usage and would be much better off restricting certain veh's to certain times of day or maybe not at all, it's a tough one.
Again I'm preaching to the choir, but when I was recently in that there London I came across this gem:
https://goo.gl/maps/HuBPTfSA74S2
So to get off it at that end you have to ride across two lanes of oncoming traffic with no priority? Looks like the road is the safer option!
I would have been getting on it that end, but even so I figured staying on the road is safer - it's the junctions where you get most of the danger and that just makes them worse. Bizarre, because it's properly built and segregated just the way infrastructure should be, but totally pointless.
Her arguments in the video clip are completely incoherent. That video of her ranting about how bad it is for pedestrians is filmed on embankment on a large new section of pavement.
I'm don't go into central London daily but I've been up a few times since the new CSH's started opening at different times of the day. During morning and evening rush hour (hours - for London 7-10 /430-730) they are properly busy - running at near capacity within days of opening. Outside rush hour, in the middle of the day and late in the evening I was surprised how many people were on them. Yes, a higher proportion of tourists outside rush hour but that's true of the tube/commuter rail lines as well (everywhere except the roads - No tourist would rent a car in London). Ultimately you need a network - there may be outer sections that get very little use until they meet up with further useful infrastructure in the future.
I was surprised how quick they are - you pick up a 'green wave' on some sections really well and sail through the junctions. Others aren't so great but light timings are easily changed.
Look at the use these cycleways are getting already - most of these junctions were picked out because they were the worst for casualties - previously you'd ride out of your way to avoid them. there is massive pent up demand.
Blackfriars Road
[img] 
[/img]
Blackfriars Bridge heading south in the A.M.
Just picking up on this thread second time around. What an absolute load of old shite she is talking in both of the articles. Increased pollution?! WTF. Arr aye pet I'm well known for breathing out nitric oxide as I pedal along on my bike you thick ****.
I think some people have just got a block on this stuff and she is obviously one of them. I've mentioned it on here before but there are a couple of blokes at work (normally intelligent, sensible people) who strongly dislike cyclists for no apparent/logical reason.
Also - the amount of people that see me in cycling gear at work and then stay stuff like "is your car in the garage?" is unbelievable!
Not only is cycling to the office in the city centre cheaper, healthier, etc. etc. it is ******* quicker! Lunchtime rant over.
[quote=nickewen ]I've mentioned it on here before but there are a couple of blokes at work (normally intelligent, sensible people) who strongly dislike cyclists for no apparent/logical reason.
Cyclists are an out group - people used to be racist and sexist, but now those are unacceptable people still have to find some "other" to blame
I think the apparent hatred towards Cyclists is often from those who want to or once have but don't actually do it anymore,
So, I'm likely (I can't be arsed to read her article) to be on the opposite side of an argument to Janet Street-Porter?
Sounds like I'm on the right side, then.
those poor old pedestrians, never been provided for, maybe we could create a space for them and call it say the pavement, and create crossing points for them where they have the right of way to cross over the cars or on faster roads their own private traffic lights. Dozy bitch.
I once saw her beat a poor blind child.... she stopped as soon as she knew I had clocked her.
I guess being hated is one thing cyclists have in common with JSP.
Thank **** I don't have to cycle in London, looks aweful.
...the traffic lights on the underpass into the city have created an absolute nightmare, the traffic is tailed right back past monument where those traffic lights just add to the congestion...
I didn't come down Lower Thames Street last night (went over top at Cannon St / Blackfriars). It's always been a bit crap down there, but take your word for it that it's got worse - I won't be on it again until Thursday & it will take a while to see what I think is the nicest route.
Seems like avoiding the crossing at the Blackfriars underpass will be my primary concern, but the boost from having a free run down Lower Thames St might make up for the long wait (which I might not get) .
, from what I have seen its mainly tourists using the cycle lane and not commuters. And it's very quiet for a cycle lane in the centre of London.
It was chockers about 1815 when I went through - few tourists/Boris bikers, but a lot of commuters too. Waiting to go round Parliament, there were easily 40 riders waiting at the lights and I missed the first cycle, by the time they went green again, another 30 or so had joined us.
We were discussing this the other day, we thought making the embankment one way to motorised veh's and the strand opposite would have been a better option? What do you think? Cycle lanes on both approaches,
I think it would get veh's in and away from the city much quicker.
As you know though the roads in London aren't really catered for Veh usage and would be much better off restricting certain veh's to certain times of day or maybe not at all, it's a tough one.
Too many cars, too many lorries, too many [i]people[/i].
I think the only solution is to move everybody else up north 🙂
Other than that, a sort of "North Bank" gyratory could work - there are loads of cross roads to use...
After seeing her on HIGNFY last night I think it would be kindest if the media were to just stop paying her any attention, I'm not sure she's fully well.
After seeing her on HIGNFY last night I think it would be kindest if the media were to just stop paying her any attention, I'm not sure she's fully well.
+1
She barely said anything on HIGNFY and when she did it was some negative comment about something or somebody, nothing positive to say and she generally looked rather uncomfortable throughout.
I used to have a mate who was generally unhappy with himself who had nothing good to say anything much about anybody - blacks, gays and the working class being his favoured targets. She reminds me of him...
It's a real shame that this kind of person has happened upon cycling as their latest target (as mentioned above, abuse of most other minorities is legally and socially unacceptable these days - immigrants being the exception) - it's poisoning the debate and take up of something which would bring innumerable benefits to society...
I'm amazed by those pics of the CSHs - the numbers cycling in rush hour at the end of last year before I left London were fantastic and it looks like it's getting better and better. bring on even more of it 🙂
After seeing her on HIGNFY last night I think it would be kindest if the media were to just stop paying her any attention, I'm not sure she's fully well.
Or she's just an effing idiot?
Anyway, it's easy - Janet Street-Porter appears on my TV, channel gets changed within 10 seconds.
Same as the radio in the car:
Halfwit being interviewed? Off.
Robert Peston talking? Off.
I just wish it was so easy to switch off the muppet in my office who talks bilge all day at 120db......... 😐
Can't she just stick to being a mediocre Welsh "rock" band?
Can't she just stick to being a mediocre Welsh "rock" band?
Very funny
Though not as funny as the aperitif joke at the start of the thread
Janet Street Porter is a highly intelligent, educated person.
Sources please.