Cyclists Again!

It goes without saying what my views are on cyclists who use the pavements as I have made those views very publicly in my blogs.  Living as we do here in Sussex we often see well known personalities, mainly those appearing in theatre, who are for one reason or another visiting our city. 

Today, while taking our usual “yomp” into town we were confronted by Jeremy Paxman!  Yes, he of the TV.  He who famously asked Michael Howard the same question 14 times! He of the often razor like put down! Yes, the man himself, on a bike….. a bike…. I still can’t quite believe it.  Sadly, Mr Paxman was riding on the pavement and sadder still he was heading directly towards us and showed now sign of giving way to us mere mortal pedestrians from such a rural or provincial town such as ours.  We were peasants no doubt, blocking his path, standing in his way.

He cycled past us as if we didn’t exist, brushing so close to me that I could swear I smelt his cologne.  Not a word to say, excuse me, sorry or whatever platitude he could offer that would compensate for my having to step sharply aside from his frantic pedalling.

Mr Paxman, pavements are for people, roads are for cyclists!

Next time on Newsnight or University Challenge please try to remember that ordinary mortals always remember famous faces, especially when they are rude and inconsiderate. 

PS: Why were you not wearing a safety helmet, reflective vest and goggles for your epic cycle ride around Chichester?

For more on Mr Paxman and Cycling please click here

Why so Precious?

A broadcaster questions and challenges a local government representative about food in schools and, quite rightly some may say, accuses the said official of being a “food fascist”.  Now, the broadcaster has not called the official a Nazi or of being a member of a fascist political party. No he has simply equated a dictatorial approach to giving dietary advice as being some what “fascist”. Oh heavens above and hand wringing terrible of this blunt speaking broadcaster to have called a policy of a single individual “fascist”.  The outpouring of outrage and accusations fly about with threats of legal action (and no doubt the hope of a nice little windfall from the case) and gasps of horror about one little word.

These days it seems impossible to not be accused of some sort of “ism” or “ist”, be it “fatist”, “hightist” or whatever other invented word that is really meant to mean, prejudice.  However, I have to exclude from this the true “isms” of Racism and fascism which are truly unwanted and detestable “ism’s” of the worst types. 

Recently I dared to write in my local paper about the cyclists who ignore all sanity, riding in and out of shoppers in the pedestrian precinct and generally terrorising anyone who gets in their way.   In my minor rant I dared to use the expression about this irresponsible group of cyclists when I referred to them as “cycling fascists” . Oh oh dear or dear oh dear!  I found a response in the paper the following week from someone called Colin Turton of Williams Road in Bosham.  He was, he said largely in agreement with what I had ranted about but he was outraged that I should use the word “fascists” to ridicule this minority of cyclist who plague our precincts and pavements.  He went on to accuse me of “serious and dangerous prejudice”  He refuses the let my statement go unchallenged well he can, for as far as I am concerned that is what they are! I of course concede that my remark was not in any way attributed to the law abiding and responsible cyclists of this land!  Mr Turton, get a life and stop being so precious.

Just for the record and so I can feel better, can I just refer Mr Turton (if he has inadvertently come across my Blog) of my much earlier rant about cyclists and see on context my frustration particularly after an attempt by one idiot on a bike to intimidate me by cycling around me on the pavement.

b***** cyclists!!! August 2009

I rest my case"!