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.

There is a big cycling event near us and they are remarkably good about allowing traffic through. It is slow and most people avoid using their cars, but it is possible to get through. Vets should be treated in the same way as doctors - if there is a medical emergency, then access required regardless of the species.

Things like this, the poor planning and riding roughshod over communities doesn't do the cyclists any favours. It should be a fun day for people to enjoy not cause this kind of upset and resentment.

This happens loads in Belgium, especially where I live. I went to get my cats from the cattery on returning from the UK, no problems getting there, but ended up doing a 25 minute detour round country roads to avoid a half mile stretch of road that was being used for a cycle race.

Unless you regularly use the cycling websites, you don't know until the small signs appear showing no parking the night before, or you see the direction arrows fixed to lamp posts that a race is happening. It is a complete PITA.

Velo was a nightmare. People who were in that circular route were stuck. I had friends who had to do an extra 30 miles to get somewhere, someone who was a carer couldn't get to the person they needed to tend... it's all very well to say park your car somewhere else but it's not that easy if you need to transport stuff or if you're in a more rural area and these ride passed through many village areas. There's no consideration to the people's lives it disrupts. It's not just about getting to Sainsbury's, people have real needs to get out and about and it's unfair to affect so many people just for a bike ride.

Cars owners don’t pay ‘road tax’, that’s rubbish. And even if they did, I would imagine that an awful lot of the cyclists are also car drivers, so do pay.

Things like this, the poor planning and riding roughshod over communities doesn't do the cyclists any favours. - It typifies the attitude of smug cyclists every where.

The vet did eventually get through but not in enough time. So it seems that the issue is the delay the race causes - so this would be the same for any other emergencies. An ambulance would get through, but would it be too late, and then further delayed getting the patient to hospital if required?

This happened where we live each year. Trying to get to work was a nightmare. All the diversions were clogged with every other driver trying to find an alternative route.
Fortunately, the event has now been moved to another area. Lucky people who live there 🙄

I find with these sort of events that letting vehicles through slowly for foot events isn't too difficult or unsafe because even the fastest long distance running is easily able to adjust for a car driving 10mph for example

Whereas cyclists who are given complete freedom of the road can reach some pretty fast speeds, it's incredibly dangerous to introduce a tonne of metal into their path if they aren't expecting it.

It really isn't a cyclist vs runners scenario but one is far more dangerous from a risk management point of view.

That being said, the stewards and organisers should be capable of creating 'crossing' spaces that allow controlled access in and out of completely cut off areas for specific reasons...including emergencies involving animals!

All this "completely cut off" stuff is utter nonsense. There are other ways to get around.

You speak from a position of utter ignorance. You don't actually know anything and are just enjoying the "sound" of your voice. And thus have made yourself look a total arse.

An entire housing estate was cut off. Google for the map and you will see. But don't let the facts get in the way of your vacuous ranting.

We would be just as angry if it was runners or anything else that closed down our roads for 7 yes SEVEN hours. 3 or 4 hours, I doubt anyone would mind but 7? We minded. And a horse and foal died in agony so people could have their jollies because the idiots didn't plan it properly.

The other 364 days of the year pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists will all be desperately trying to avoid those roads because they are dominated by motorists

None of those could use the roads during a Velo. It'd be far too dangerous except cyclists who had paid to take part. The 7 hour road closure would affect them too. If you couldn't use a footpath you were stuck.

Just goes to show cyclists up for what they are, doesn't it.

If that had been my dog needing vet care and they refused to let them through, these jumped up jobsworth stewards would have found them selves on the end of a very sharp implement or heavy object. Like fuck would anyone prevent me getting my dogs care. I'd swing first.

Those poor horses

Or most likely I'd have driven through their barricades.

#Belenus ‘it’s a few hours on a Sunday morning’

But I work on a Sunday morning and I need my car to get there. Life doesn’t stop for some of us just because it’s weekend.

Things like this, the poor planning and riding roughshod over communities doesn't do the cyclists any favours. - It typifies the attitude of smug cyclists every where.

But the issue is surely with the organisers and the way they've marshalled the event, not the participants. People who are taking part in the event assume it's going to be properly organised - and most of them have paid the organisers a fair amount of money in the belief that it will be. It's not really the fault of participants that this has happened.

Glasgow hosted the European Championships last year and the road cycling affected roads near me. The roads were closed from 2am until 5pm. Everyone knew about it months in advance - carers, had ample opportunity to plan to park further and walk, or rearrange their routes. As for "people were stuck" well yes they were, but it was ONE DAY and if you'd desperately needed to pop to Waitrose or go out for some reason you had months to plan for that. It was during the summer holidays, but on a normal weekday, not a weekend. Special arrangements were made for emergency services.

These sorts of events bring a huge number of people into the local area to watch the peloton go by and cheer on their favourites. It's all about promoting elite sport. With a country getting more obese by the minute, that's a good thing.

How can meals on wheels be rearranged if no-one can get to the users? is the user supposed to eat 2 meals the day before?

These sorts of events bring a huge number of people into the local area to watch the peloton go by and cheer on their favourites don’t you think the people that live in the local area, and therefore impacted, should be given the final veto?

We have an annual running event near us where roads are shut for a couple of hours and that causes enough chaos. Most of it is rolling closures but poor route planning meant a chunk of suburb was effectively marooned for a while as the runners went round it, and I witnessed several angry motorists arguing with the marshals. They were all folk from out of the area trying to get in to visit relatives for their family Sunday Lunch and had no idea it was going to be an issue.

I’m all for these events for charity and health reasons, but only with minor inconvenience for the general public. I think any event should be routed such that access to your house/property is not cut off for more than a short period (20 minutes?)

You speak from a position of utter ignorance. You don't actually know anything and are just enjoying the "sound" of your voice. And thus have made yourself look a total arse.

[Hmm] Information about the route and road closures is here www.velobirmingham.com/the-route/road-closures/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn&utm_content=Velo+2019

Nothing to do with liking the sound of my own voice. More to do with dislike of the irrational hatred directed at people who cycle.

Tour De Yorkshire comes through my town ... the roads are reopened as soon as they’ve all passed through

That's why I don't get why these roads were closed for so long. I appreciate it was an amateur race so the riders will take a bit longer to pass any given point, but surely not 7 hours?

These road closures are infringing on people's basic human rights. Forcing people to remain in their homes for an entire day when there is no national emergency or even local threat (i.e. hazardous material emissions from factory or from overturned truck) in a giant overstep of authority by your government.

I would argue people's right to 'freedom of movement' has been infringed upon.

Here in the United States we have the Bill of Rights.

"Conversely, public nuisance laws prevent alternate use of public streets designated for public transit from being used for block parties and playing basketball".

Nothing to do with liking the sound of my own voice. More to do with dislike of the irrational hatred directed at people who cycle. in this case it’s justified

A lot of risk assessments, planning and permissions would have come before it.

Not enough to save a valuable pair of horses though, eh? Emotional cost aside, I hope the owners sue for loss of revenue or something.

I think any event should be routed such that access to your house/property is not cut off for more than a short period (20 minutes?) please do explain how 17000 cyclists/runners are suppose to keep together the whole way round and clear a certain area with 20 minutes..

Its one day a year. Told about before hand. Cheer the fuck up. And yes I have an annual event that closes my area off, plus the tour de France, plus the Olympic torch relay etc etc