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.

It's hard to shake off the feeling that this entire event (bearing in mind there are a few more contracted to happen) has been sneaked past residents in the most underhand way. And the only reason for that is because had the local authorities been honest upfront, they damn well know the objections would have scared the organisers off.

It seems this is simply indicative of the contempt elected authorities have for their residents and constituents.

That said, following the first one, I did make sure I was on the mailing list and getting updates as and when, and I had the event in my diary since December last year :

Vélo Route team

Belenus - I’m beginning to wonder if a lot of the hatred is because - on here at least- a lot of cyclists are men.

I’m not even a cyclist - I’m a pedestrian first and foremost. And it isn’t cyclists that cause me issues when I’m walking........

Its one day a year. Told about before hand. Cheer the fuck up. People aren’t allowed to be annoyed by something that is, at best, a bloody nuisance? The arrogance of the cycling lobby knows no bounds

carers, had ample opportunity to plan to park further and walk, or rearrange their routes

Carers don't have massive amounts of time to play with to do this. They have limited time slots, and will have had to cut down the time spent with each person needing care if it took longer to get to each house. Presumably none of that matters.

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

Hyperbole anyone ? You could always walk ...

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

Oh, Maybe not then

How pathetic. People stopped from going about their lives because of a vanity event.
There are plenty of trails and parks. People with cars pay road tax, cyclists don't.
There is no way people should have to be inconvenienced for this nonsense.

It’s terribly sad that one of the cyclists died, but presumably he willingly signed up to the event and knew that serious accidents can and do happen.

The mare and foal, and the family who owned them, had less than fuck all choice in the matter.

Clearly the organisers messed up badly here, and the incident with the horses is terrible.
But the fact that this thread has turned into yet another opportunity to bash cyclists is ridiculous.
And most people were not stuck in their homes for 7hrs having their human rights infringed, FFS. Some people are unable to use their legs and walk, most people can.

I agree that the owner should sue but, surely the crux of the matter is that the mare and foal died NOT how much they were worth.?

Its one day a year. Told about before hand. Cheer the fuck up.
Charming. Why not hold the fucker around Chernobyl next year - it’s quiet there.

I’m beginning to wonder if a lot of the hatred is because - on here at least- a lot of cyclists are men.

I think it's more a case of misdirected anger. Really it's the councillors and officials who waved this through that need an arse-kicking.

I know that for the 2017 there was no consideration given to the effect on the less able. Or if there was, it never made it's way into the planning record. Or so my FOI request was told. If I had infinite lives, I would have chased it up, but there's only so many battles I can fight.

please do explain how 17000 cyclists/runners are suppose to keep together the whole way round and clear a certain area with 20 minutes by planning a route that means you only have to close the roads while the cyclists/runners/whatever move through. Tour de Yorkshire manages it ok and gets huge local support.

@Liverbird77 there is no such thing as road tax. People pay vehicle excise duty. Electric CARS are exempt because the are 0 emissions. Bikes are 0 emissions, so would be exempt too. We all pay for the upkeep of our roads in our general taxation. Cyclists have as much right to be there are car drivers.

Clearly the organisers messed up badly here,

For the second time then. September 2017 was hardly a paradigm of planning.

It may have already been mentioned but there was a thread started by a woman whose partner had entered this race and it got a bit heated.

I posted the link to the horse and foals death and there is lots of for and against the race on there if you want to join in.

I'm not surprised by this, it's so sad. It was clearly the most ridiculously badly organised event. We complained about it last year and know that lot of others did and were amazed to see it still on this year. Had to complain about the leaflet pushed through our door again this year with important information about road closures and no info on where to access that information in any other language. Carers told to make sure they had enough time to get to appointments around closures, rather than offering advice or assistance. DH and I live 5 minutes drive from his elderly parents but with the road closures in place where we are, if we had needed to get to them it would have taken at least an hour, including getting on and off the motorway, to get to them. Why on earth a group of cyclists feel their completely unnecessary race has the right to close multiple major routes into a city I don't know, it's so unbelievably selfish. I've never known another event cause such chaos, we've never had a problem with fun runs or anything. I really, really hope this race doesn't happen again.

Cheer the fuck up?

These innocent animals had to die to MAMILS could have their “sporting event”?

They really are a particular breed, cyclists; smug, arrogant, selfish tossers.

I hope the animals owners sue the arse off whoever “organized” this shambles.

Despicable fuckwitted cyclists. I hate the whole entitled lot of them. Bastards.

I'd gently suggest it would be more appropriate (and certainly more fruitful) to direct such venom and energy at the organisers and councils.

its not just the route that is affected either - I'm in a town off the route and the day before, our supermarket delivery was cancelled. tiny in the grand sceme of things, but have heard stories of wedding guests at a hotel near the route having to leave at the crack of dawn or stay at the hotel all day, people having to pre-arrange an escort out to be able to go to work whilst its reported in the news as "Cyclists will meander through the villages of North Warwickshire"

so they get to meander whilst horses die, people don't get their meals delivered or carers services - the local carnival manage by closing sections of road as needed, could this have not been done on a wider scale to minimise distruption?

link

percheron67, I think there are two equal cruxes (?is that the right plural?) I love horses and I do agree that it's is horribly sad and morally unacceptable that they died; but it's also important that they were valuable. The owner won't get them back and the money won't take away the grief, obviously, but I hope at least they get SOME recognition of their financial loss.

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.

Er it wasn't in Birmingham. I said the closure was in Warwickshire. Maybe read the thread properly. And I haven't said anything against cyclists in particular, I said we'd object whatever sport it was. But carry on making things up.

For balance, it is also worth noting that a steward has a suspected fractured hip after a motorist allegedly deliberately drove at him in Bromsgrove. Cyclists don't have a monopoly on knobbish behaviour.

Shitty organisation, people and animals having to suffer for a sporting event, of all things. If a race can’t be routed so that it doesn’t cut people off then it should take place somewhere else entirely or be cancelled. Thinking of those poor horses and elderly and vulnerable people denied care just for a cycle race.