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.

The more you hear about absurd decisions made by politicians at all levels the more you have to accept that most of them are either stupid or corrupt. I'm not sure which is more likely to be honest.
Really annoy the people who vote for them by selling the use of local roads to companies and non locals or preserve their voting base?
They have got to be thick as a thick thing.

or as some vile poster said a couple of pages back, of having someone putting a wire across the road at handlebar height shock I mean really???

Obviously not bloody really

Given that nails and razor blades were thrown onto the road by disgruntled local residents at this event two years ago, Ivana, and given that a steward has a broken pelvis after being driven at by a motorist, fantasising about violent sabotage of the event is pretty inappropriate.

Clearly there was some very poor organisation on Sunday.

Clearly a very large number of people suffered an unacceptable level of disruption due to the event.

The event was also a brilliant experience for many of the participants and spectators.

Some posters on this thread and others have posted some despicably hateful and violent things aimed at cyclists.

All of these things can be true, and none of them especially justifies or cancels out another.

Sebastian Coe and his partners don't give a damn about dead horses, sick people without carers, farmers unable to care for their livestock or people not being able to get to work!

It's him behind this then is it? Why am I not surprised.

Some posters on this thread and others have posted some despicably hateful and violent things aimed at cyclists. people are sick of the cycling lobby being pandered to the detriment of everyone else

I sympathise with that view, DontTreadOnMe. Are you suggesting that it justifies violence?

There is a huge difference between functional cycling, a green way to get from a to b and weekend mamal behavior.
As someone who lived in a prime mamal targeted area it gets tiring very quickly.

Sebastian Coe is executive chairman of CSM sport who run the Velo events.

Obviously not bloody really erm that's exactly what you wrote Ivana, and as pockets quite rightly pointed out people have thrown nails on the road in the past, that wasn't a joke either or do you think all those obnoxious, Lycra clad cyclists deserve all they get during an event that they've chosen to pay for and enjoy?

The cycling lobby are hardly pandered to in this country jeez. People are just so completely intolerant to anything they aren't involved in or approve of.

I sympathise with that view, DontTreadOnMe. Are you suggesting that it justifies violence? Not at all but a event like this being forced on an area where the majority don’t want it, is inevitably going to get a backlash.

I know what I wrote. You asked was it serious, and I said not.

Where’s the confusion?

do you think all those obnoxious, Lycra clad cyclists deserve all they get during an event that they've chosen to pay for and enjoy?

So glad you’ve acknowledged that they’re obnoxious.

Do I think they deserve injury? No.

Do I think innocent animals should have suffered for their midlife cycling fetish? Also no.

After the 2017 incidents, I'm sure CSM and the local authorities had considered the possibility of a backlash and that consideration is documented in minutes and exchanges.

#justsayin'

I have so much F you to whoever was responsible for stopping the vet, carers, meals on wheels etc getting through.

What happened was awful but could hardly be expected, I'm sure they will be reviewing their procedures now.

I'll tell you what could have been foreseen and planned for; that people who need carers and meals on wheels might not have been able to have made alternative arrangements and a human death could have been on the organisers' hands.

If emergency services were considered in the risk assessment, emergency animal services (IE a vet) isn't too big a leap in thought. The horses in the area should have been on their radar and in their risk assessments, as a cyclist(s) and horse & rider incident would have been entirely foreseeable and measures should be in place to reduce the risk.

@Rabbitmug Tue 14-May-19 15:25:19
The cycling lobby are hardly pandered to in this country jeez. People are just rightly so, completely intolerant to anything they aren't involved in or approve of that causes innocent animals to die and elderly and disabled to lie in their beds unaided, probably soiling themselves and hungry.

Fixed that for you.

Ivana I'm paraphrasing you. Of course I don't think all cyclists are obnoxious any more than I think all Range Rover drivers are. You know exactly what you were implying though. Please don't tell me you hold some random middle aged man (pretty sure there would have plenty of young women taking part too but don't let that stop you) for the death of a horse he/she would have no knowledge of? You sound ridiculous.

Exaggerating much?

Omg this thread is nuts. It really is, you should listen to yourselves

I’m not sure how good your powers of observation and understanding are, Rabbit.

I hold the event organizers responsible. And the events wouldn’t exist if cyclists didn’t want them.

Aside from the event, I think cyclists are, for the most part, utter twats. That’s anecdotal based on the ones I’ve encountered. And the ones who I know in real life, unfortunately.

Anyway, you’re becoming rather hysterical. I don’t think it’s me who looks ridiculous. 🤷‍♀️

Ivana I know a fair few cyclists and they're all lovely, so where does that leave us?

does it have to leave us anywhere?

Its nuts that a commercial venture traps people in their homes without food or medicine! If an icecream van parked over your driveway you'd be up in arms but 17000 cyclists, totally fine?

Ivana I have no dog in this fight as I have no interest whatsoever in cycling, ironically I'm a horse person who rides a lot. I just think this en mass loathing of a vast swathe of the population helps absolutely no-one in the long run. There are literally millions of people who cycle in this country, how on earth can they possibly all be 'twats' as you so delightfully describe them?

Did you miss where I said it was anecdotal based on who I’ve encountered? I don’t know every cyclist. All of the ones I know are twats.

Barring a Venn diagram I’m not sure how I could make it clearer.

My DH was on this ride and I had a thread about it last weekend which was largely trolled by a couple of posters with their own agendas. But anyway...

What happened to that horse was absolutely tragic, but, beyond this, I really don’t understand the absolute outrage of some people that roads were closed for 7 hours in a Sunday. Nor the incandescent hatred towards cyclists. What’s that about? They’re only people riding bikes, fgs.

Here in London, a city of millions, there are road closures all the time and people just get on with it. We have the “Ride London” every year. The marathon. Not to mention roads being closed for protests all the time - look at the recent Climate Change Protests or any of the Brexit / Anti-Brexit marches. Nobody bats an eyelid. I’m sure there must have been instances where these events have made it difficult for people to get to hospitals or whatever - it just probably hasn’t been reported.

I mean there could be a bad traffic jam which hinders the emergency services - this no doubt happens all the time. Nobody rages about car drivers. It’s unfortunate, but it will happen.

No idea why people hate cyclists so much but what I will say for men like DH (and I know a lot of this type) - there wouid have been a time when these same men were driving to work or cramming onto already overcrowded tubes, buses or taxis. No more though, because so many commute by bike. Call it a “mid life crisis sport”all you like, but at least they’re all super fit and healthy while their having that mid-life crisis. Think of the benefits for the NHS. Plus their carbon footprint is reduced, with benefits for the capitals traffic flow, air quality and parking.

Just another perspective.