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.

I'm unclear on the need to have the race be one long unbroken circle - if you lived inside the route and needed to get out then there was NO way out before 10.30am, none at all, not even a tiny side road.

www.velobirmingham.com/the-route/road-closures/

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

What does that even mean?

You sound mad as a brush Daisies. Just read what your coming out with.

you’re

To be fair, your post was ridiculous.

“It doesn’t inconvenient me in London therefore it’s not a problem.”

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

Actually the final portion was closed from 8am to 7pm, so 11 hours.

Horses also have a much bigger due window than people - it's about a 50 day window of 'normal'. Barring a big stud with a resident vet, the vast majority of foalings are unattended by a vet - they usually get there to check the foal because normal foalings are quick! Also middle of the night is most common as well.

I'm unclear on the need to have the race be one long unbroken circle

It wasn't a race. That's one of the problems. It was an "event" for all, so the road closures were predicated upon people cycling for leisure, and therefore taking a lot longer.

If I was being cynical, I would have suggested that getting the biggest course for the least number of local authorities involved was also a tactic to maximise profit. A 100m straight run would have involved a lot more local authorities. That's more palms to grease.

Incidentally, what's the West Midlands Mayor, Andy "no magazines for the blind" Street said about it all ?

the organisers could have paid more to the local authorities, but then they'd make less money. And since the whole events primary purpose was to make money for them, that was never going to happen

Exactly, Velo - which is why a happy (but perhaps unintended) consequence of expecting the organisers to pay might have been the whole thing not happening in the first place

And a FOI request to a local authority you say? That must have been a lot of fun ... not!! Naughty of you not to have realised that scrutiny really isn't welcomed

It went past my house and I thought it was fucking awesome. There are very few inconveniences that can’t be dealt with with a years notice to do it.

The horse and foal were sad but the mare bled to death, I’m not sure what the vet was going to be able to do about it anyway. The mare was 21. Breeding old horses is risky business which I’m sure the owner considered.

So people can’t get out of their houses for one day in 365. It’s hardly the end of the world.

And a FOI request to a local authority you say? That must have been a lot of fun ... not!!

Well it's Birmingham. Someone has to pay for that world beating website they spunked millions on.

As an aside, when Wolverhampton City Council had to put road restrictions, diversions and closures in place, in December 2017, they had a full DDA assessment undertaken which I got almost by return when I requested it. Which sounds impressive, but the flip side is they never explained why they felt the need to carry them out in the first place. (The stated reason was "security", but whose, how and why were left as supplementals .... ).

The assessment included provision for Blue Badge parking by switching off a red-light camera, so cars could divert down a one-way street.

in fact thinking about it probably the best way to get a response from Birmingham council is to tell them Wolverhampton does it better. Ah, the strange life of people outside London .....

It's perfectly possible that it was a shit event with poor planning and jobsworth stewards, AND that some people are unreasonably intolerant of any other human endeavour encroaching on their unfettered right to use their car 365 days a year.

And very worked up and insulting towards anyone who doesn't agree with them.

Why oh why can’t people understand it’s not about people not being able to get out of their houses for a day it’s about vulnerable getting basics like food and care, it’s about animals not being left in agony to the pp who thought it was lovely to see men and women an Muslims (wtaf) cycling yes I bet it was a lot nicer than seeing a horse thrashing around in agony bleeding to death), it’s about people not being able to get to their work. It’s not about not being able to pop out to do a bit of recreational shopping or getting an extra couple of pints of milk in on the Saturday.

Professor it’s almost worth causing civil unrest to get a police officer out round here, forgot what they look like.

I apologise for my comment about the mare. I had no idea that there was such a long period in which they might give birth in. It is very sad. But the vitriol here about a bunch of middle aged men in lycra is a tiny bit extreme!

Ivanapee, no, I don’t think he would have raised as much standing with a bucket. People sponsored him to do the event. And I acknowledged people were inconvenienced, I can see both sides, shame you can’t.

So people can’t get out of their houses for one day in 365. It’s hardly the end of the world.

RTFT, ta.

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 ? I wouldn’t be so sure, I’d imagine local councillors won’t be keen on being voted out in the next round and of local elections, which would be the natural result of throwing residents under the bus for the sake of upper middle class hobbiests.

The vitriol in here is way too extreme. It’s bizarre trading.

Now we have the concept of “the cyclist wife”

What about if she’s the cyclist? Does it work the other way?

Let’s face it, some people just hate cyclists. They associate it with a certain type of man and “Londoners”.

The circumstances with that horse were tragic. No disputing that.

But would it have been ok if the roads were blocked due to a marathon? Or a protest march?

It’s very clear that certain people would be professionally outraged if a bush got damaged, as long as it was by a cyclist. It’s disingenuous of them to pretend otherwise.

Just admit it people - you have a chip in your shoulders. Now think about why that might be?

You “acknowledged people were inconvenienced”?

I’m sure the owner of the mare and foal who died in agony is delighted you’ve acknowledged their inconvenience. Along with the plethora of people who were more than inconvenienced.

Oh but it’s ok, because there were Muslims cycling.

Let’s face it, some people just hate cyclists. They associate it with a certain type of man and “Londoners”

And you think your post about how to still managed to get around London helped that?! 😂😂😂

I wouldn’t be so sure, I’d imagine local councillors won’t be keen on being voted out in the next round and of local elections, which would be the natural result of throwing residents under the bus for the sake of upper middle class hobbiests

I didn't quote it, as it's too outing, but my local councillor basically said "well what did you expect with a Labour council ?" and that was that. I didn't vote for him last year, but somehow he still got in.

But would it have been ok if the roads were blocked due to a marathon? Or a protest march?

No, obviously it would still have been a fucking disgrace.
But it was a cycling event, that's why we're talking about cyclists. Maybe you should ask yourself why it is that so many people have a bad opinion of cyclists, maybe it's because people are sick of the behaviour of an awful lot of them.

I agree with a PP... why on earth does it have to be a closed circuit that prevents people access to/from their houses?! Yes it’s only one day but it’s a PITA as a minimum and completely avoidable with better route planning!

I hope all the carers and the families/friends of the vulnerable get together and complain about how badly they have been let down.

Races or whatever in London is in no way comparable. There are many different routes around London. Not really how it is in other parts of the country.

You cannot cut off people for several hours without expecting a backlash. It's not just about people getting their cars in/out it's about a piss poor planning to ensure those vulnerable weren't cut off. And for those, the use of cars was paramount to be able to reach them.

The age of the animal is irrelevant. Would you say the same if it was an 80 something year old who was having a cardiac arrest?

This whole thing about “everyone has access to a tube” in London is not quite accurate anyway. Not by a long way.

For instance, the “Ride London” goes out ybrough SW London to Box Hill in Surrey. No tubes in sight once you get past somewhere like Sheen in SW London.

If a road is closed, it’s closed. The “plethora of alternative transport options” ie buses and cabs can’t use it.

In this area now, Hammersmith Bridge is closed. Not for a day. They are saying it will be closed for 5 years! (except to pedestrians). This happened with no warning whstsoever. So my local hospital which used to be a 5 min drive may now take at least an hour via alternative bridges and no there is no tube under this part of the river. Ambulances will obviously be affected. It’s rificulous to say people don’t know what it’s kike to be inconvenienced, just because it’s London. Inconveniences happen everywhere.

We were once held up in country lanes because of bloody fox hunters.

There is a complete hatred of cyclists on here which I don't see in RL thank God. My DH raised a load of money for MIND doing Ride London and no of course he wouldn't have raised thousands with a bucket. He was so proud of what he did and I'm very proud of him, no we don't live in London either. Yes I agree that clearly the organization of this particular event was clearly lacking and awful about the mare and foal but let's face it, if they can foal at any time over a 50 day period it could have tragically happened in the early hours or whilst the owner was out. Lessons need to be learnt if it's to be held again but honestly the vitriol on here towards cyclists is shocking and quite weird.