tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post3351559899620198305..comments2023-10-10T07:14:46.504-07:00Comments on Two Wheels Good: Cycling vs. Cyclists - How to Do Things With WordsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16240236972847891777noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-75809932723625284492013-08-05T06:56:10.769-07:002013-08-05T06:56:10.769-07:00But why single out his size for a snide comment? M...But why single out his size for a snide comment? Much of what he says is foolish enough without commenting on his appearance, it does nothing for your argument - which I actually agree with! However, you alienate people who may not fit your stereotype of ideal body size by calling Pickles "irresponsibly obese". You are doing to obese people exactly what you don't want to happen to cyclists. (And thanks for the link - I am well aware of the dangers of obesity but these also assume a level of sedentary behaviour which not all obese people follow.). Essentially just as to the average Daily Mail reader, all cyclists are RLJs, and pavement riding lycra louts, you are suggesting that all obese people are irresponsible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-29644321064158176402013-08-04T16:22:55.415-07:002013-08-04T16:22:55.415-07:00I don't feel that it benefits cycling advocate...I don't feel that it benefits cycling advocates to avoid emotive language where suitable. Often it makes one's argument stronger. What I object to is people, without realising it, using an emotive or suggestive language that biases against cycling as a form of transport, even when used by those trying to promote cycling.<br /><br />There is a huge body of evidence showing why increasing cycling is a good thing; and a huge number of dead bodies showing why cycle safety in this country is appalling. If emotive language makes the general public more aware of these things then I'm all for it.<br /><br />I'm not in favour of language which implies that 90% of all people of bikes are rabid red light jumpers...<br /><br />If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08205378822164679021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-74552058825637217162013-07-30T04:35:12.555-07:002013-07-30T04:35:12.555-07:00I firmly agree with your suggestion. I think the t...I firmly agree with your suggestion. I think the term cyclist is too emotive for a lot of people and suggests a constituency rather than an open activity. It seems so obvious now you have mentioned it.<br /><br />I also agree with your analysis of 'motorist' being a different term — unlike 'cyclist' you never see it being applied to an individual in the media, but only for the vocal constituency. <br /><br />My concern with passing your advice around however is that this blog post argues against using such emotive language and then at length employs some rather emotive language to make the point. By using both bold and italic emphasis, repeating the point, and invoking Saddam Hussein and the Spanish rail crash, you make it difficult to point someone that doesn't consider themselves a 'cyclist' to this reasoned advice. ffubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160822252353239474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-36849560429092606982013-07-29T13:47:18.894-07:002013-07-29T13:47:18.894-07:00125! Jeez... They need to seriously slow down the ...125! Jeez... They need to seriously slow down the motor traffic there and build some bloody cycle lanes.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08205378822164679021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-41768229587270981592013-07-29T13:46:38.628-07:002013-07-29T13:46:38.628-07:00Dear lichwheeld
I like your post, but I would ser...Dear lichwheeld<br /><br />I like your post, but I would seriously stay away from the verb 'ride'. Saying 'I ride' implies that you are the member of some sub-culture, because the verb 'ride' is not automatically associated with bikes in English. What do you 'ride'? The bus? The train? The tube? A bike?<br /><br />It's much better to say 'I'm not a cyclist I just choose to cycle from A to B or recreationally'. Makes it clear that cycling is an activity anyone can choose to do, even if they don't know that the verb 'ride' can be used to refer specifically to bikes.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08205378822164679021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-72519462329788267352013-07-28T00:38:55.902-07:002013-07-28T00:38:55.902-07:00I did a post on cycling semantics here: http://lic...I did a post on cycling semantics here: http://lichwheeld.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/im-not-a-cyclist-i-just-ride/<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-60968152783517568132013-07-27T09:14:40.926-07:002013-07-27T09:14:40.926-07:00Florida, USA had 125 cycling deaths, population 19...Florida, USA had 125 cycling deaths, population 19,320,000 thats over three times as many as you and they are doing very little to change the numbers. If you decide to visit Florida bike at your own risk. CPCAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00241724237656511652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-7041690737341505552013-07-27T06:27:29.393-07:002013-07-27T06:27:29.393-07:00Thank you, TheClangers.
I agree, 'people on ...Thank you, TheClangers. <br /><br />I agree, 'people on bikes', is very good, and 'children on bikes', where applicably, is even better!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08205378822164679021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-53372315248913930642013-07-27T06:26:29.465-07:002013-07-27T06:26:29.465-07:00haha, yes indeed!haha, yes indeed!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08205378822164679021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-1488093194884249802013-07-27T06:26:21.876-07:002013-07-27T06:26:21.876-07:00Yep, I completely agree. 'Person on a bike'...Yep, I completely agree. 'Person on a bike' is probably my preferred.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08205378822164679021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-35662804493745195062013-07-27T06:25:40.105-07:002013-07-27T06:25:40.105-07:00In the same way that it would be irresponsible of ...In the same way that it would be irresponsible of me to cycle home drunk, because it would shorten my life expectancy, Eric Pickles is irresponsibly obese.<br /><br />Cycling home drunk would expose me to much greater dangers of being hit by a car or falling off myself. It is, therefore, an irresponsible action.<br /><br />Similarly, being as obese as Eric Pickles exposes one to much greater dangers of heart disease, getting diabetes, arthritis, a stroke etc. It is therefore, irresponsible in the same way that cycling home drunk is.<br /><br />https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=dangers+of+being+obese&oq=dangers+of+being&aqs=chrome.3.69i57j0l3j69i62l2.4275j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08205378822164679021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-71461097978720569772013-07-27T03:14:21.138-07:002013-07-27T03:14:21.138-07:00Great blog. It's something I've been ponde...Great blog. It's something I've been pondering myself as UK road users seem to become more and more polarised into tribes.<br /><br />Even though 'cyclist' is the grammatically correct term I fully agree that we need to move away from it. I hate committee-speak, and sadly 'sustainable road user' and the like are in danger of sounding like that.<br /><br />May I propose: 'people on bikes', and whenever possible, even stronger is: 'children on bikes'.TheClangershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03837773183280814402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-42143231795643661002013-07-26T23:55:08.638-07:002013-07-26T23:55:08.638-07:00"sustainable road user" "sustainable road user"RobbieChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11060043062115702615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-82676920080329714712013-07-26T15:22:29.207-07:002013-07-26T15:22:29.207-07:00I fully agree with you. 'Cyclists' is a ta...I fully agree with you. 'Cyclists' is a tainted term which suggests that cycling is the reserve of a tiny minority, when in fact it should be practised by the majority of the population for the many advantages it brings to society. (less pollution, less congestion, keeps people fitter, etc.).<br /><br />How about we use "bicycle people", or "bicycle user" or "bike rider"? I certainly refrain from using the word 'cyclists' whenever possible.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242221516885796514.post-28543471846902114942013-07-26T11:24:26.068-07:002013-07-26T11:24:26.068-07:00"and still less from the irresponsibly obese ..."and still less from the irresponsibly obese Eric Pickles.". Less of the "fattist" comments please. As an "obese" person on a bike (for over 50 years) I can vouch for the fact that cycling does not endow you with an Adonis physique or indeed that you need to be skinny to get on a bike. Comments like yours are unnecessary and insulting. Would you call a Muslim "irresponsibly Islamist"? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com