Parliament petitions

[Peat]

I happened upon the hashtag '#bloodycyclists' on Twitter. Most of which seems to be cyclists pointing out certain ironies in the usual moans motorists have about cyclists. But one stood out as a someone was trying to garner support for a petition he'd started asking that Cyclists pay road tax for cycling outside urban areas. (Multiple levels of idiocy, yes).

Anyway, I decided to see what other gems the common folk of GB had submitted. You'll laugh, you'll cry, your misanthropy will spike.


https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions?q=cyclists

[Jasmine]

  but it is heartening to see how few signatures they have garnered. Although I do wonder about the mind-set of the people who start the 'cyclists must have insurance because cars must have insurance' petitions. To me, it shows a massive lack of understanding about what insurance is actually for. If I damage your property, I am liable for the cost of reparation, regardless of whether I have insurance or not; having insurance protects me from a financial claim that I cannot pay myself. Having insurance when driving is because there is the very real possibility of causing damage that you cannot pay - namely, causing life-changing injuries such that a third party requires life-long medical care, which would cost 7 or 8 figure sums.

To me, it seems that the 'cyclists don't have insurance' brigade think that motor insurance is some sort of unfair requirement that they are subjected to, rather than understanding what protections it actually gives them.

[Jurek]

There's some delighful foaming-at-the-mouth suggestions listed there.

[ian]

It always makes me a bit sad that people nurture such petty resentments. That's the sum of their life. If I see a family out on their bikes, I'll think 'that's nice.' It seems a lot of people won't think this – instead they'll be ticking off 'pavement cycling', 'no helmets', 'no insurance or number plates' and getting ready to pen a nasty missive to their favourite newspaper or dank corner of the internet.

[quixoticgeek]

It's reassuring how few signatures there are on most of those petitions. That is until you realise that the main reason for this is that most petitions on the number 10 site are found not by people looking at the site, but by people actively publicising them. The people who think we should all be insured and wear full battle dress suck at marketing their petition, rather than because there isn't enough support for the idea.

J

[Greenbank]

It can be good when the petition gets enough votes to receive an official response, and that official response completely destroys their view, e.g. a description of why cyclists do not need mandatory insurance as described above. At least anyone who did sign that petition will get the appropriate response.

[hatler]

What a display of incoherence.

This one made me smile - "Make it a criminal offence for cyclists to not ride in single-file on the roads"

Bloody hell, I'm going to have to find someone to cycle with everywhere I go.

[Wycombewheeler]

I was taken by the reward public who get proof of drivers using mobiles.

Shame it didn't pass, could have been a new career for me.

[Ben T]

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/221459 

[Sergeant Pluck]

This loon thinks we are a danger even without our bikes:

Make Cyclists have a Bell or some Warning device fitted.

A lot of thought has gone into this one but for some reason it was rejected:

Make regulations of irresponsible cyclists harsher

[Jaded]

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/221459 

I think you’ll have to re-word that one to get it accepted, Ben. 

[Peat]

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/221459 

Sweet, because he only wants to protect both of the drivers and cyclists.

The petition they suggest he signs is also comical: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/211313
HIGH VIS. HELMET. FRONT LIGHT.

Evidently, rear illumination will no longer be necessary.

[handcyclist]

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/221459 

Sweet, because he only wants to protect both of the drivers and cyclists.

The petition they suggest he signs is also comical: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/211313
HIGH VIS. HELMET. FRONT LIGHT.

Evidently, rear illumination will no longer be necessary.

I'll take the referral as an indicator that someone in the petitions department has a nice sense of humour.