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.

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

Now there's a challenge

Ballistic I'm with you but you're about to get annihilated by the cyclist bashing brigade. Who knew there was so much hatred, this is how we've ended up in the Brexit situation I suspect. No tolerance whatsoever.

ballistic as a fellow Londoner, that's a pretty inconsiderate perspective

as I said before, the events here are pretty well organised, but even then it causes massive inconvenience to bus users, people trying to do ordinary things like go to work.

and this event was clearly very badly organised and people in some areas don't have access to other methods of transport.

I also know quite a few people cycling to work but that has nothing to do with these mammoth events that take over and are a PITA in London - sounds like a nightmare in rural areas.

as for "nobody rages about car drivers" - from what I can see, they do, all the time! I don't have a bike or a car btw, just a public transport user.

@ballisticcyclistic
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.

Entire areas aren't shut in and all access in or out isn't closed off though is it.

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.

Cars move out of the way in traffic

Eliza cars very often can't move out of the way in traffic jams in tightly packed areas or where people have parked inconsiderately on the pavement.

I really don’t understand the absolute outrage of some people that roads were closed for 7 hours in a Sunday.

Because outside your London bubble people don’t have the option of hopping on the tube and need to drive to meet their commitments. This “let them eat cake” attitude typifies how out of touch upper middle class Londoners are with the rest of the country.

Having lived in London and the countryside there is no comparison.
London is full of roads and multiple forms of public transport.
Large swathes of the countryside in comparison have very few of either thing.
This makes getting around road closures completely incomparable.

This “let them eat cake” attitude typifies how out of touch upper middle class Londoners are with the rest of the country.

This exactly. I presume ballisticcyclistic hasn't actually read the thread and read all of the accounts of just how inconvenienced so so many people are by these events. Once again, it's not just about slightly interrupting people's day but stopping people from working, preventing people seeing dying family, denying people the care they need.

I really don’t understand the absolute outrage of some people that roads were closed for 7 hours in a Sunday

You really think that it was ok that the helpless and housebound were left without care, medication or food overnight until after 12.30 the next day. No carer was going to go in before 5.30 am, so it was at least 14 hours without care or food, the last calls are never after 10pm. Do the maths. But that's ok with you because your DH and his chums wanted to play on their bikes for a few hours.

A horse died, a foal died. People were left without care. And those of us who are upset by this are unreasonable?

I think you need to check your Cyclist's wife privilege there.

I live just off the Ride 'London' route when it comes out to Surrey. I have no love of cycling, but this is just once a year, on a Sunday and overall with the right planning and notification and staffing on the day I think it's a good thing. My town gets cut in half an people plan ahead, they know it's coming and they move their car the night before if they need to get somewhere. For about a month beforehand every single lamppost has a bright yellow sign tied to it warning of the road closure. You can't miss them, plus leaflets through doors.

My DS was due three days after the event last summer, and planning ahead 'just in case' I emailed to ask what I should do if I needed to get to hospital or worse had to call an ambulance. I received a detailed reply with three possible (granted some very detoured) routes and also had it explained to me how an ambulance could get through should it need to.

It sounds like this Warwickshire event is a farce on many levels, a poor route, poor notification and inadequate knowledge of what to do on the day in case of emergency. It should not be allowed to happen again in this manner.

It sounds like this Warwickshire event is a farce on many levels

You see that's part of the problem. It wasn't just Warwickshire. But Worcestershire and Birmingham too.

You can bet your life the organisers won't have a number (or commit to one) of the people directly affected. But it won't be much less than 50,000 or 60,000 .... maybe a 4:1 ratio with participants. Even then, my gut is that's an underestimate. Our single little cul de sac of 200 people was cut off. And that's what .... 11 yards out of a 100 mile route ?

My DS was due three days after the event last summer, and planning ahead 'just in case' I emailed to ask what I should do if I needed to get to hospital or worse had to call an ambulance. I received a detailed reply with three possible (granted some very detoured) routes and also had it explained to me how an ambulance could get through should it need to

This.

Why did the owner of the horse not make these enquirires if they knew that their horse was likely to have the foal? Just a question, not an accusation.

West Midlands too!

My DH was also on this ride. He raised nearly £1,000 for our local Down syndrome support group. There were loads of riders raising money for the QE hospital, Macmillan Cancer Support and other charities. I took our DD’s (walked as we were also ‘trapped’) to a friend’s to watch and cheer on the riders and it was such a great day for us. A real community spirit amongst those watching-kids high fiving the riders, elderly ladies blowing bubbles and residents handing out water.

Lovely to see men and women taking part and a team of Muslim riders who were riding a shorter distance due to it being Ramadan, clearly struggling riding in the heat with no food or water but giving it their all. A few arrogant club riders but on the whole some lovely people taking part and the majority acknowledged the kids cheering them and seemed grateful of the support.

DDs and I were so proud of DH-he has never ridden that distance before so it was a real achievement and took up cycling to help with severe back pain problems. It’s been amazing for his physical and mental health and so nice for the DDs to see their dad getting involved in this event. It was quite emotional tbh.

Obviously can only speak for us but we had a few leaflets about it and road closure notices up for weeks before the event so from our point of view it was well publicised. DH says they delayed the event for 9 months to work out the planning and round our way it wasn’t too bad. Definitely think the vet should have been let through and more thought given to routes in some parts from what people have said on here and sad to see so many people against it but from my point of view it would be a shame if this event didn’t happen again.

I think the local residents will do all they can to make sure it never comes back here.

Why did the owner of the horse not make these enquirires if they knew that their horse was likely to have the foal? Just a question, not an accusation.

Mares rarely need a vet when they foal, this one had foaled before with no problems. She was a brood mare and presumably the owner was very experienced.

I don't think it entered her head that a vet wouldn't be allowed through in an emergency. It wouldn't enter my head that anyone could be that cruel or stupid.

@Mitzicoco Fair point, but equally, it doesn't sound like there was adequate notification not adequate provision for incidents on the day. On balance, with limited info and only going on hearsay, I think the organisers have a lot of explaining to do.

I think the local residents will do all they can to make sure it never comes back here.

Who the hell do they think they are ? The contract was for five years, it will jolly well run for five years. (Paraphrasing the response I got from Velo in 2017 ....)

Who the hell do they think they are ? The contract was for five years, it will jolly well run for five years.

There are plans afoot to make it so difficult that they won't bother. Obstructions every step of the way.

@BlueSkiesLies

✔️ 👍

There needs to be a balance. I’m in an area with lots of cycle races. Some are organised well and others leave residents pissed off. There was one recently where there wasn’t a road closure and in theory the cyclists weren’t meant to be racing . They clearly were though and it was so dangerous having large groups going at speed through country roads, high streets etc darting through traffic and pedestrians.

I wouldn’t object to road closures as long as the vulnerable are protected, there are adequate diversions and closures are minimised and staggered.

I hate cyclists. Well, not cycling to work cyclists or out for a nice bike ride cyclists. Lycra-clad smug bastards who cycle in packs down country lanes so you can’t get past the obnoxious fuckers for 10 miles cyclists.

And ones who go out for a ride and then clop about town in their ridiculous get ups and shoes talking loudly about waxing their nipple hair to go faster. Get a better hobby and bugger off!!!

That felt good to get out.

Cant be bothered to keep saying the same things over and over again, people clearly cannot think outside their own experiences. To the idiot who is prepared to stand up for her DH who from memory treats her quite badly in favour of spending time with men in tight fitting shorts, you do realise that the tube doesn't exist in the west midlands don't you, and the next road over can be several miles????

What I will say though to those trapped in their homes - its ok because you helped to pay the salaries of the people employed by CSM active limited who organise the event. In 2017 salaries amounted to £754,000 for the 8 employees there. I can't tell you the dividends as it is owned through a tax haven.

So if your parent was left without food for the day, you couldn't get to see an ill relative, were trapped in your house, saw a loved animal bleed to death in absolute agony. Apparently you should be happy, its only one day (the horse owner should have planned to compensate for the steward who was such a tosser? according to the horse owner he refused to speak with his colleagues on the phone to let the vet through - you can't forsee such levels of stupidity and evil) and just think how you helped swell the coffers this year for the fat cats, entirely at your own inconvenience! Wonder if they will top the £100k each mark this year!

There are plans afoot to make it so difficult that they won't bother. Obstructions every step of the way.

Alternatively, the local councils - seeing a large wedge of wonga going out the window - deploy the shock tactics and crack down on any suggestion of public disorder using the police ? Possibly assisted with excerpts from this thread ?

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.

Tend to agree

My DH was also on this ride. He raised nearly £1,000 for our local Down syndrome support group

Sorry, but I can’t stand this.

“I want to be an obstruction on the roads and make the world view my sweaty Lycra. Give me money for charity.”

He could just as easily have passed a bucket around to people to raise money for the local Down Syndrome group.

And just because you weren’t inconvenienced doesn’t mean others weren’t.

And the “I’m alright, Jack” attitude of how great his obnoxious hobby is for him doesn’t really bode well with people who already know how selfish hobby cyclists are. In fact, it rather proves the point.