To think I should be allowed to access my road 24/7?

[poopypants]

Cycle event. Road closures. I mean why is this s thing? People have lives. What if my holiday return flight booked a year ago before cycle events were published flew me in on this day! What if my pet needed the vet? What if I was pregnant and needed to get to an antenatal appointment ? What if I had a shift job that required me to leave home or I finished smack in the middle of the event? Hospital appointment? Dialysis appointment? Chemotherapy session? It's endless. People have lives that require them to be able to come and go. How is it ok to hold people hostage?

Velo South tried it on last yr . It wasn't just the fact if it had gone ahead our little village would have been cut off for 8-9 hours

Well done you, @Tgiana. I looked up Velo South and was horrified to see that it covers 100 miles of road and a massive geographical area and then found this:

"Velo South’s closed roads will disrupt the lives of over 400,000 residents within the loop; access to 165,000 homes will be cut off and around 100 local businesses (that would have otherwise been open) will close or operate reduced services."

That's huge, and I don't think it can have been that well publicised as I live in the neighbouring county (have done for years) and have never heard of it. We visit that part of Sussex for overnight stays regularly and would be bloody pissed off if we found that we couldn't get home till the evening because of a bike ride.

The number of people afffected is more than the entire population of Brighton & Hove. Can you imagine the uproar if no-one could get out of the city for a whole day? They moan like mad about Pride, and that doesn't even affect half of it.

I think to keep such a big area closed for a whole day is outrageous. It will affect people who have to work and all sorts. And because it's a rural area, it must be well nigh impossible for many people to find alternative routes.

God knows how people on the Isle of Man cope with the TT every year. I'd hate it, and I'm quite a big bike racing fan.

DurexCertified
I don't participate in large cycle events. I couldn't think of anything more dull.

However I still appreciate that other people might enjoy something I don't and they should be able to do a sporting event without the usual hysteria of MAMILs, "but they don't pay road tax" nonsense.

As I've already said, track cycling is different to road cycling. They are different disciplines (or are you going to tell me that the grand tours which are road races are the same as velodrome events?)
Even the 'if you're serious go on the track' makes no sense. Road cycling is not the same as track cycling. I do hope someone got the memo to the grand tour road teams that they can't be serious about their sport because they ride on roads not track.

There is a frankly bizarre and illogical hatred of cyclists on MN where if they ride on the road, they shouldn't be there, if they ride on the few cycle paths that go anywhere useful for a long ride then they shouldn't go at a speed enabling the heart rate to increase (else they'll be front page AIBU with people taking the piss making comments about thinking they're in the olympics) and they are inconsiderate because people take kids on them. If they go to parks the same old whining occurs because people should be able to enjoy the park. Basically cyclists shouldn't ride anywhere that constitutes reasonable exercise. Then you get the MAMIL crap because it makes people feel smug and clever laughing at people for wearing the appropriate kit and laughing at their bodies (would these people laugh at women in running leggings and vests in a women's running group? Probably not. Would they be outraged at anything remotely 'body shaming'? Totally. But cyclists don't count). Then when all else fails the usual crap about road tax gets underway. It's frankly bizarre.

The roads are there to be used. They are used by a range of people on any given day. Sometimes they are closed for a range of events. Some events are well planned and others aren't (and where they aren't then feedback is appropriate). Some are sporting events, some aren't. Some are things I participate in, others I don't. Some appeal to other people and others I couldn't care less about. I manage to get over it because society has lots of different people in it and there's different events for different folk.

Our council have recently put up signs saying that all major roads I to my village within about a two mile radius will be closed for one unspecified day any time up until 9th August but didn't specify which day. They intend to close the only access I have to my house and the road to my sons nursery. I rang up and they wont tell me which day. It will be marshalled apparently. I dont care and will not be waiting for someone to escourt me in and out of my own street.

Lola, I've not mentioned cyclists not being allowed to use parks, I mentioned further up thread that its better than wanting to close roads because of cycling.

But hey whilst we are at it, when cyclists are held the same standards and legal requirements as motorists then we can talk. Until then roads are for transport and they can cycle in the park along with the dossers with throwaway bbqs, scrubbers who let their dogs shit everywhere, tedious sports players, drunk teenagers, annoyingly loved up couples, noisy kids, pensioners feeding the pigeons who crap everywhere. Did I miss anyone? Oh wait they are all using a shared space without demanding to monopolise it

The quality of riding and conduct of some cyclists is a whole other thread. I don't really care what road/track/river cycling is, cyclists can't expect exclusive use of the roads

Lakie they are intending to try again to run velo south in 2020 and are advertising it, even though they haven't yet got council approval!
But the locals are aware this time and will fight to stop it.

@DurexCertified except it’s not cyclists expecting exclusive use of the roads. It is participants in an event for which they have paid a not insignificant entry fee utilising roads the organiser of said event has elected to close. The fact they are cyclists in this particular event makes no difference. Either a particular road closure annoys you or it does not. If it is inconvenient then that is one thing but the council own the roads and they have deemed the event to warrant a closure. It is them you should direct your froth at rather than a group of people going about their lives and paying to do an activity. Instead you’ve made it about cyclists and them taking over ‘your’ roads which is utter bullshit.

I don’t like community events, especially ones with fun fairs and hundreds of youths as the amount of litter, noise and smell of second hand weed ruins my day to day enjoyment for about a week. However I accept that 1) someone has sanctioned that event as ok and 2) not all teenagers smoke weed, ride mopeds on the pavement and throw litter and broken glass everywhere. It seems you can’t manage the same degree of thought.

Lakie they are intending to try again to run velo south in 2020 and are advertising it, even though they haven't yet got council approval!
But the locals are aware this time and will fight to stop it.

Is there an online petition, @redredrobins, or should I just email WSCC? That route encircles practically half the county.

Lakie No petition as far as I know, but there was/is an action group called "stop velo south".
But contacting WSCC to object would be a good idea.
I don't live in the enclosed area but am just outside it so all support gratefully accepted.

DurexCertified
I was pointing out the bizarre and irrational hatred on MN for cyclists.

Nobody is saying cyclists should have exclusive rights to roads, just that when an event organiser are free to book road closures through appropriate channels and people suggesting that one group of people should be prevented from competing in their sport because of their own prejudices are being ridiculous.

I don’t like community events, especially ones with fun fairs and hundreds of youths as the amount of litter, noise and smell of second hand weed ruins my day to day enjoyment for about a week. However I accept that 1) someone has sanctioned that event as ok and 2) not all teenagers smoke weed, ride mopeds on the pavement and throw litter and broken glass everywhere.
That's how I feel.
I also don't like the local music festivals where most people are there for an excuse to drink in the street from 11am (which is a shame as I enjoy going to certain music events).
The people I know offline who do the whole bitch about cyclists and cycle events on social media, joke about running them over are, amusingly, the first to be at these drinking events. It would seem they only have an issue with events they don't engage with and lack the critical thinking or basic awareness that the world caters to lots of different people.

There's a lot of double standards regarding road closures.

@poopypants god help you now they allow closed road motorsport events.

Are they really closing the road for that long that it's a problem. And do they not have process in place for emergencies?

They have closed road events quite regularly on the Isle of Man and it doesn't cause a problem. And if you try to cross one of their road blocks you run the risk of getting arrested.

Rather than flying off the handle and getting all huffy why not speak to the organisers and ask them what contingency plans they have in their place. They won't be allowed road closures without them.

I think you're being unreasonable OP - there are contingencies is place for emergencies and the vast, vast majority of people can plan around it. They will help those who really can't.

My road gets closed once a year for a local run. I love it! One of my neighbours moaned on social media this year because she didn't want get her 'half asleep 3 year old' up the street (to the next open road) at 10 in the morning to a swimming lesson. Rolled my eyes at her - especially as they allow residents access between runners. Our road is about to be closed for major gas work (currently half dug up and they are closing sections at a time, we will get a few days notice of actual closure apparently). I don't expect 24/7 access to my road even though it is inconvenient at times.

cyclists can't expect exclusive use of the roads

Yet there are hundreds of miles of roads exclusively for motorists, of which everyone pays for in general taxation and cyclists are banned from / so go and use them if you don’t want to share with other modes of transport. It’s obviously never occurred to you that people riding bikes to work are transport

It’s people like you that seem to incite behaviour like this, pushed of bike by passing passenger in car

www.thesun.co.uk/news/9538252/cars-plough-crowd-boy-racers-stevenage/

14 hurt by stupid driving event held on public roads but yes cyclists are the problem

I don't take part in these events in but anything that celebrates people being active and fit is a bonus surely, especially the amount of problems we have with sedentary lifestyles and weight issues in society.

Jesus Durex I think you should get out on a bike and get some exercise too. Maybe that will get rid of the obvious pent up aggression and help with the verbal diarrhoea you have built up inside you

Durex - earlier today you wrote - 'roads are for cars', - possibly that's where people get the idea that you think that bikes, or anything else, don't belong on them.

*where have I said cyclists are not allowed on the road?

Durex wrote this Then get the fuck outta my road and go and run or cycle in the appropriate place

Finally where have I said bicycles should not be allowed as a form of transport.

Durex wrote Until then roads are for transport and they can cycle in the park along with the dossers

Where have I said cyclists should be run over?
I didn’t, I wrote that’s it’s your behaviour
It’s people like you that seem to incite behaviour like this, pushed of bike by passing passenger in car

Your attitude is coming across as disgusting, then when pulled up on it you deny it and make accusations that others have lost the plot declaring you said all those things that you wrote on this thread

ack I’m not sure there is any point engaging either durex, that level of aggression and gas lighting about something that has such a temporary impact is unhinged. These threads always bring out women with some kind of irrational hatred of people on bikes.

The councils who essentially sell the road use for the day obviously think it’s worth it... maybe you could be glad that the people paying for entry to ride 100 are essentially helping your local councils budget and helping to pay for the career who visits the elderly neighbour next door and the library your child loves to visit?

If it didn’t stack up economically these events wouldn’t happen.

These threads always bring out women with some kind of irrational hatred of people on bikes.
I agree. There is an irrational hatred of cyclists on here.

@ivykaty44 The first two quotes are in the context of the thread which funnily enough was about closing roads for said cyclists, so again I ask where have I said they are not allowed on the road?

You have lost the plot because you are making a wild leap on the third quote! What next do you want to accuse me of shoving people into the road on Oxford street because they are walking too slow.

@blueskylies unhinged? OK if the cap fits then wear it. You are essentially saying people being able to throw their money around because they can to close the road is a good thing?

There was uproar on here when some devs built flats in London with a big play area for homeowners and a small play area for social housing tenants.

Wossat, a silver sixpence? Well thankee kindly good sir

I've had this for a small event recently both ends of the only road leading to mine was closed. I asked at one end and was told to go round to the other, got to the other and was told to go back to the first side to enter. They were quite dismissive initially but in the end showed my daughters blue badge (she was in the car) and a guy walked ahead of me to my house. He was in radio contact with others giving the position of the race so we didn't impede their race or make it unsafe for them and we got home. So I think the default is to not allow anyone but in scenarios OP mentions they have a backup plan in place.

Yes they had signs ahead of time but in previous years they only blocked the road as they were coming by and reopened as soon as they had all cleared the area.