| Topic: | Re:Re:Lime Bikes Banned in Hounslow Should Ealing Do the Same? | |
| Posted by: | Raymond Havelock | |
| Date/Time: | 15/08/25 08:21:00 |
| You only have to spend time in Hammersmith to see what has become of the place from multiple bike and scooter hire. It's not the principle, which is great. The problem is the with the users. Sadly, All it has done is underline and promote opportunities widespread low level criminality and propagate complete disregard for basic rules and etiquette. The knock on is how a once nice bustling district is now a place where one has to be on full alert constantly from being a potential crime victim, to being hit from any direction by a bike or scooter on the pavement or riding the wrong way in one way roads or on one direction marked paths. I have advocated for years that a proper cycling proficiency needs to be mandatory before riding on roads, not run by groups that spend time indoctrinating rights and opinions to kids rather than ensuring they can understand the Highway Code, ride with one hand, and use signals and be spacially aware etc. It needs to be updated and in my own opinion, return to being run in schools and adult weekend sessions by the Police using uniformed retired or almost retired Officers and those who specialised in Traffic. I cannot think of a better way that would engage Police Officers with community and most certainly be impartial and level in their standard of training. Something positive from the majority of unsavoury tasks the Police have to endure. Passing that test was to me, better than passing the 11 plus. But over time has been invaluable in decades of safe cycling on urban roads. I also more recently did an Urban Cycling addendum to the original RoSPA Cycling Proficiency test run by Camden. That too was excellent. Well run, entirely practical and no waffle about entitlement, politics or opinions. Just how to ride safely, diligently & stay safe with serious traffic. Every day I see truly appalling inept riding, to truly dangerous and careless abuse of a great means . There's no point having schemes costing £££££s if they are abused and made unpleasant for riders who use them sensibly and correctly. It's very clear that I am one who is now in a minority, so I use alternative routes. So changing operators, will make no difference. Its regulation. Needs to be far, far tougher and when that becomes the norm then it can be eased. No personal proficiency ID? No Hire. |