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“Best to avoid cycling in case you fall off” says director of motoring group

British Cycling says riding your bike can be “a safe form of local transport and gentle recreation”

The director and environment spokesman of a motoring group has suggested that it would be “best to avoid cycling” during the coronavirus lockdown, “in case you fall off and require medical assistance.”

Paul Biggs of the Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) made the comments in response to an article in The Scotsman that suggested the coronavirus crisis could prove “a game changer” for cycling.

In the article, Alastair Dalton writes that cycling is perfect for both social distancing and personal transport – “to get to work if you need to, for that essential food shop and for your daily exercise.”

Dalton went on to suggest that with the roads quieter than normal, it was an ideal time to give cycling a try.

Biggs was unimpressed with the suggestion. Responding on Twitter, he wrote: “You can’t do much shopping on a bike – I am walking to local shops for essentials, not driving to large supermarkets.”

Then, for good measure, he added: “You’re only allowed out once a day for personal exercise – bike, walking or running. Best to avoid cycling in case you fall off and require medical assistance.”

Make a comment about being unable to carry much shopping on a bike on social media and you can pretty much guarantee that you’ll receive photos proving otherwise in response.

This one’s our favourite.

As you’ve probably guessed, Biggs claims to be a cyclist himself. It’s easy to be sceptical, but he does actually seem to be telling the truth.

He even has access to panniers (albeit they’re fitted to his wife’s bike).

“I like cycling (e-bike) but in extraordinary times I think any hazardous activity should be avoided unless absolutely essential,” he said. “So car on drive, bike in garage.”

Cycling is of course not intrinsically dangerous. Indeed what danger there is generally arises from interactions with other road users - of whom there are a far fewer at the minute.

The government's official guidelines list one form of exercise – running, walking or cycling – as a legitimate reason for leaving your home during the coronavirus outbreak.

British Cycling is advising people to ride “for calm recreation” and not to challenge themselves.

“It is a safe form of local transport and gentle recreation, keeping us the required distance from others, while at the same time strengthening our immune systems and bolstering our mental health,” said chief executive Julie Harrington.

“All of this helps reduce the strain on our NHS and may make people feel more comfortable about spending prolonged periods at home.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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41 comments

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Yorkshie Whippet | 4 years ago
0 likes

Interesting view from the ABD about speed limits and limiters;

The ABD firmly believes that the main driver behind ISA implementation is to gain acceptance of autonomous cars. These vehicles will form mobile road blocks as other drivers attempt to drive at speeds they perceive correctly to be safe for what they see ahead.

I suggest we all stop breathing......

 

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JAndrewHill | 4 years ago
0 likes

Best to avoid walking too, in case you get knocked down by a car when crossing the road.

 

 

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MattieKempy | 4 years ago
1 like

Best to avoid driving in case you destroy the planet and behave like a fucking tool.

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zanf | 4 years ago
1 like

The times Ive been out either to get shopping or the one time I went to Regents Park for laps, I've seen quite a few idiots racing on the near empty streets.

Thats your problem right there.

Paul Biggs is such a bad faith character that I'm surprised his mum lets him anywhere near scissors

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bikeman01 | 4 years ago
0 likes

Paul Biggs - studied the sceince of biology of pollution/CO2. ABD Director & Environment spokesman.

But promotes driving and lobbies against climate change action. Considers those that challenge him cycling lobby extremists.

I bet he sat in lectures at uni perpetually shaking his head.
 

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peter101cycle | 4 years ago
2 likes

Some road users will never give a damn about cyclists.....I was out yesterday for 63 miles in the South Downs (roads were very quiet other than for joggers and cyclists) and I still almost got taken out by an artic down a country road who pulled back in a bit too quickly.  Just complete and utter poor driving practice, judgement and consideration.

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zero_trooper replied to peter101cycle | 4 years ago
1 like

63 miles...

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roubaixcobbles replied to zero_trooper | 4 years ago
1 like
zero_trooper wrote:

63 miles...

About the same as a ten-mile walk and not breaking any rules, what's the problem?

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martybsays | 4 years ago
3 likes

Best to avoid driving in case you crash; best to avoid stairs in case you fall down; best to avoid cooking in case you slice your hand off at the wrist while cutting the onion.

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Philh68 | 4 years ago
7 likes

This from a man who represents an alliance which is campaigning against 20mph limits, proven to lower pedestrian fatalities (eg Oslo, Helsinki). Campaigns against cycle lanes, pedestrianised zones, ULEZ. Yet he suggests walking to the shops is safer, go figure.

It’s a shame these effing cretins are given the airtime to voice their absurd views, but I guess that’s the price of democracy.

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VinylJEDI | 4 years ago
5 likes

Shopping: 3 panniers and a large karrimor rucksack every week for the last five years. 

Yesterday I had to collect my brother's prescription from the chemist, he's a type 1 diabetic, he couldn't drive because he was self isolating, he's been off work for a week now.

I don't have a licence, my bike is my lifeline - people are depending on me!

It's ok for some! 

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theloststarfighter | 4 years ago
8 likes

I'm sure there's a lot out there who think the same thing, especially if they see you out on a ride actually looking like your enjoying yourself. Quite a large % of antipathy towards cyclists comes from jealousy in the first place.  Of course we have the accept there is a risk, we may hit a pot hole etc etc. I know though that hardware stores have been able to stay open and we all know that more people get admitted to A&E due to DIY disasters than cycling. I for one wouldn't like to have call an ambulance cos I'd put a drill through my hand or sliced it gardening.

 

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Rik Mayals unde... | 4 years ago
7 likes

The M6 when I cycled over it this morning, has anyone ever seen it so quiet? Especially on a Saturday morning?

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eburtthebike replied to Rik Mayals underpants | 4 years ago
3 likes
biker phil wrote:

The M6 when I cycled over it this morning, has anyone ever seen it so quiet? Especially on a Saturday morning?

Did you fall off in surprise?

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Rik Mayals unde... replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
1 like

Almost! I had to stop to take another look.

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Must be Mad | 4 years ago
9 likes

The 'we need to reduce the strain on the NHS' is an interesting argument.
I do want to reduce the strain on the NHS, which is why I cycle to improve fitnes.

Is it really statistically more dangerious than staying at home?

Also, remind me again how many hostipal admissions are linked to smoking or drinking??

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kimmcbride | 4 years ago
7 likes

if he has nothing constructive to say why doesn't he just shut the f**k up

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MattieKempy replied to kimmcbride | 4 years ago
0 likes

He has to justify his existence somehow, doesn't he? Or he'll just become a complete oxygen thief. Oh, wait a minute . . .

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Gary's bike channel | 4 years ago
10 likes

ive ridden 100 miles in the last 4 days, and god, the amount of great passes ive had is lovely. Hardly anything coming the other way, the motorists that are out seem perfectly ok with having me cycling along. If only we could have it as empty as this normally, we'd get along far better. 

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Rik Mayals unde... | 4 years ago
9 likes

Quite an interesting comment, from someone from a driving group. Where driving is resposible for many more deaths than cycling. The greatest danger to cyclists is the danger from motorists. 

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Captain Badger | 4 years ago
12 likes

Is it just me, or does this sound not a little threatening 

“best to avoid cycling” during the coronavirus lockdown, “in case you fall off and require medical assistance.”

Sounds as if he'd be only too happy to assist....

Of course, with fewer drivers out there the odds of requiring medical assistance are much reduced.

Perhaps the advice should read:

“best to avoid driving, in case you inflict injuries on others that require medical assistance.”

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Captain Badger | 4 years ago
6 likes

TBF he does mention this line hidden in the article after most people have stopped reading to post comments

“I like cycling (e-bike) but in extraordinary times I think any hazardous activity should be avoided unless absolutely essential,” he said. “So car on drive, bike in garage.”

So he is advocating walking only and no driving and no cycling. 

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Captain Badger replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 4 years ago
2 likes

Cycling? Hazardous?

Ok...

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zero_trooper replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 4 years ago
1 like

Quite right, but you missed that you could slip whilst walking or pull something whilst running. I once had 6 weeks off work after a particularly bad fall during a cross-country run. It's all about the assessment of risk.

I think what the police have been going on about (or this guy for that matter) is that if you have an accident whilst 'exercising' it's an unnecessary strain on the emergency services. Did I say that it's all about the assessment of risk?

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Captain Badger replied to Captain Badger | 4 years ago
8 likes

As it happens I fell off today - took my daughter for a lycra-clad leisure ride.... err I mean daily exercise, hit a ridiculously small tree root and went over the handlebars. It took minutes for my fatherly gravitas to restore itself, not helped in the slightest by the shrieks of laughter emanating from my daughter.

Luckily I was wearing my hi-viz, otherwise I could have been severely injured, maybe even requiring medical attention.

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eburtthebike replied to Captain Badger | 4 years ago
2 likes
Captain Badger wrote:

As it happens I fell off today - took my daughter for a lycra-clad leisure ride.... err I mean daily exercise, hit a ridiculously small tree root and went over the handlebars. It took minutes for my fatherly gravitas to restore itself, not helped in the slightest by the shrieks of laughter emanating from my daughter.

Luckily I was wearing my hi-viz, otherwise I could have been severely injured, maybe even requiring medical attention.

A badger caught out by a tree root?  Pull the other one.  What really happened?

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Captain Badger replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
3 likes

Sun was in my eyes...

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handlebarcam | 4 years ago
10 likes

The opinion of the "director" (how big is his staff, just him and his mum when she makes him a cup of tea?) of such a pitiful, short-lived organization (its been around for mere a blip compared to the CTC) is irrelevant. Alliance of British Drivers? What mutual benefit can drivers give to each other, when the environmental and societal costs of private car ownership make it a fundamentally selfish proposition. This would be like the "director" of the Alliance of British Smokers (if such an organization were to exist it would presumably be headed by Nigel Farage) saying it was best to avoid eating vegetables during the Mad Cow Disease outbreak, in case you get a speck of meat mixed in. Merely reporting this climate-change denialist's pratfalling on Twitter is to give him twelve thousand times more attention than he deserves.

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alchemilla | 4 years ago
2 likes

Spoken in ignorance, Mr Biggs.

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eburtthebike | 4 years ago
4 likes

An idiot from ABD, the Association of British Dick***ds, making absurd, idiotic comments is hardly surprising.  It's a condition of membership that you don't have any trace of common sense.

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