AIBU to think this event should never have happened.

[DaisiesAreOurSilver]

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mare-newborn-foal-die-because-15637103

Big cycle race of 100 miles in our area yesterday. Road closures from 5.30 am till 12.30 pm. Some streets were totally cut off for the whole time.

Residents were just told they should have parked outside the area the night before. For some that would mean a walk of a mile, given how many roads were closed. One family escorted through because they had a flight to catch but had to wait 25 minutes for an escort.

Carers were unable to visit the housebound clients, meals on wheels couldn't get through and the stewards didn't give a stuff. For some people it wasn't a question of finding a way around there were areas that were totally cut off for the duration.

But worst of all the stewards wouldn't let a emergency vet through and a mare and her foal died. The foal would have been worth a lot of money as was the mare. I hope the owner sues for every penny she can.

Residents are very angry and cannot understand why permission was granted for this to happen. If they try it again vigilantes have said they'll force the roads open if they try to close them. Feelings running very high.

Many posters must be so far removed from ordinary life that they think it's acceptable carers were not let through to visit vulnerable people (missing meals, personal care, and medication) and delaying an emergency vet caused the unnecessary death of a horse and foal.

I agree with longest. Just had to collect vomiting dd from school. It’s 2 miles. Took me nearly an hour round trip. Sitting in the jam (I know I know am part of problem but I usually cycle) just thought this is mental us all reliant on these cars pumping out pollutants sitting in traffic jams. Has to be a better way.

It's not ok to loose a whole days pay is it. It's not that we couldn't use our cars it's the fact we were trapped in

I live in London and I find these events a pain even with all the good planning

also, buses are usually not running in these situations and buses are much easier to use if you have any mobility issues, need to be dropped off nearer to where you are going etc.

in fact one of the worst things about the anti-car stuff - I say this as someone who doesn't have a car and does have asthma! - is that it's a pain for elderly, disabled etc and can add a stupid amount on to a journey for anyone who works at the weekend

I used to think in London it was an overpopulation problem - but now that problem is UK wide and of course the lack of consideration with these big events is a huge problem.

MsTSwift, I don't know what the better way is, esp in your situation. Glad you are not taking her on public transport! Hope she feels better asap.

@RichYorks I can totally believe it. We used to live quite near to one of two major football grounds on the outskirts of a major city and match days were the bane of our life. Don’t get me started on concerts - the One Direction weekend nearly broke me. No vehicles could get in or out of our street because of the ridiculous traffic and the attendants can be jumped up little hitlers on a power trip at times. A neighbour was blocked from moving at a set of light outside the stadium by the attendants because the match traffic would need to come through. My neighbour was furious - the match was still in the 70th minute and there was extra time. He pointed it out the attendants as he was listening on the car radio and they refused, even though he was the only car and he’d be home with a cuppa by the time the match actually finished.

Yes, absolutely, there really has to be a better way. That better way will have nothing to do with a group of dickheads racing each other around the country.

This idea that people can just walk to a train station or bus stop s hilarious.
No buses here on a Sunday, 8 miles from a train station, 7 miles from a supermarket. Only 1 road option to get past our house out of the village. If that road were closed we truly would be trapped. A 3 mile walk across fields to get to an alternative route.
I have no beef against cyclists but it's only a matter of time before there's an accident on my road when a peloton of mamils goes round the dangerous bend en masse and meets a tractor coming the other way.

Used to live in a city with a major cycling event. The usual walk home was 10 minutes. When the event (more than one day) was running it was one hour. Fucking hate cycling.

It’s not all cyclists we hate. It’s those that are rude enough to think they have more rights than people that live here. Those riding in groups of thirty four abreast. Those shouting at 7 am on a Sunday morning or sticking laminated arrows on our fences.

... and the local cycle club that organises group rides for 30-40 blokes (yes, it is always blokes) on A roads IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MORNING RUSH HOUR!!

Disclaimer: I would love to not drive to work, so if you wouldn't mind laying on a bus service, that would be fab. Although the cyclists would still hold up the bus of course.

StCharlotte "and the local cycle club that organises group rides for 30-40 blokes (yes, it is always blokes) on A roads IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MORNING RUSH HOUR!!"

wait, wut?!!

is it a group ride for pleasure or is it a group of cyclists seeking safety in numbers and travelling to work en masse?

just thought this is mental us all reliant on these cars pumping out pollutants sitting in traffic jams. Has to be a better way.

What do you suggest? Presumably not permanent cycle races?

The Vet is on record as saying he was delayed 20 min by the stupid self important steward who caused unnecessary suffering to an animal (and I hope that steward gets prosecuted and has the book thrown at him). The vet says that there is a good chance he would have been able to save at least the foal if not delayed. He arrived to a dead foal and a mare in agony rolling round thrashing on the stable floor.

Have these bike races, but with frequent crossing points. golf carts to take people into and out of cordoned off areas. If any vet, carer (professional or family), medical professional need to cross the route, or if someone needs to get to an ill relative, get to work inside or outside the cordon this should be done immediately and the bike race made to stop with the use of flags. All of these things are more important than someone's hobby.

The race should be over a smaller rural area doing several laps so people can get round it, it should be planned so there are no residential properties in the cordon.

People don't want it. If half of the cyclists rode to event or got the train, that still leave 8,500 extra cars coming into the city centre travelling from all over the country, participants wearing their non biodegradable "team sky" outfits. Not to mention how all the stewards got to their stations! This event was about people showing how fast and strong they are, nothing to do with being environmentally friendly.

This event was a nightmare. Our road was closed all morning as the cyclists used it as part of the route. I live on a main road and there was no way that I could get anywhere - no public transport running nearby, no possibility for taxis etc. DS was lucky he was working nights and left for work after the roads reopened, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to get to work - he works at the airport and his shift patterns don't lend themselves to train travel, even if he could have got to the station. They wouldn't close the roads for 40 miles if people wanted to drive the route instead so why on earth can a hobby be prioritised over real life like this? It's so frustrating. And to be awoken early on a Sunday morning by middle aged men in lycra yelling at each other as they cycled was not great - and really affected poor DS who hadn't long got in from work and was trying to kip. Ugh. Rant over!

weeping it was a pleasure ride over 40 MILES through two cities and numerous towns/ villages in the area. Widespread inconvenience for a minority's fun.

percheron67, I think we're just furiously agreeing with each other I also love horses and agree that it doesn't matter a jot whether they were worth thousands or 'just' average horses. I did say their deaths were horribly sad and morally unacceptable.

AndNone sorry, my question was to StCharlotte - unless your talking about the same thing?

Sorry I didn't realise - you didn't tag her

Have these bike races, but with frequent crossing points. golf carts to take people into and out of cordoned off areas

Won't anyone think of the profits ?

By the way, the main route was 100 miles in length. The 42 miles was a sub-route.

The thing is though, on the whole cyclists are selfish. There is thread after thread on here about peoples shitty husbands buggering off to do their "hobby" every weekend of the year and its ALWAYS cycling. We have had new roads round here, theyve added cycle lanes. Do the cyclists use them? No. They continue to cycle in the middle of the road.

Im sure not every cyclist is a selfish arse, but a lot are. This wouldn't happen for any other sport either. Not closures for that long.

It can be done properly. Tour de yorkshire was here a couple of weeks ago and they closed and reopened the roads really quickly. Nobody was inconvenienced for more than a couple of hours.

RosaWaiting

Yep. And it's not just once a year either. I honestly don't know what they're thinking. It's usually on a Friday morning but they've done it on a Friday afternoon too which I think is particularly unwise. I'm a pretty placid person but even I felt like mowing them all down when they were holding up me and my weekend!

Ironically, there's a cycle lane on part of the route but why would they stick to that when they can ride two abreast or right in the middle of the carriageway so no one can get past? They are a special breed aren't they?

The issue for me is that this is essentially a pleasure ride for hobbyists rather than cycling as a commuting tool to ease traffic and save the environment.

I’d like to know how plastic free and environmentally aware the whole events was. Events like this inevitably create tons of rubbish.

And that’s the point really. This was a PR pleasure event for an elite group of people. The massive inconvenience and complete ignorance by the organisers to anyone on route was completely ignored.

My village was used for the Tour of Britain. Quite a popular cycling area. We were only closed off for a few hours. And there were people on standby to escort anyone out who really needed to. So it obviously can be done.

WeepingWillowWeepingWino

Ooh sorry got all confused there.

It's definitely a pleasure run.

StCharlotte that's just crazy and of course nothing to do with being environmentally friendly.

I know what a PITA councils are about this kind of thing so maybe more complaining on social media would be better.

I'm glad OP posted about this, it's good to give it a higher profile. So many people just pay lip service to environment stuff, not thinking about the journeys to the races or the rubbish etc

These events should have proper planning and residents should not be cut off from 5:30 am until Lunch time. Carers, meals on wheels etc should be allowed in. The vet clearly should have allowed in and the organisers and council are at fault- there must be ways to allow access to services such as carers and vets. It is also important that people can get out if needed- residents may need to get to GP or hospital appointments, for example, and not everyone can walk a long distance to get to a car perked elsewhere. It is simply unacceptable not to allow services in or people needing to get out.

If I had a family member affected- or was the owner of an animal who suffered- I would be taking it up with the organisers and the council (who must have approved the plan).

It is this sort of thing which makes residents object to these events- of course there are some who are just being awkward- but sometimes it is because of the lack of common sense of the organisers and the attitude of those taking part that their enjoyment is more important than the needs of the residents.