Brexit, the EU and Cycling

Or: How can balance be found between informed argument and ignorance?

Barry and Margaret Williamson
January 2019

In the context of our end-of-year letter, now on the website as MagbazTravels in 2018, our old friends and fellow travellers, Paul and Sheila Barker, have written with some timely words and sentiments. Their website Travels in a VW Camper 2004 - 2018 is by far the most comprehensive, fully-researched and literate of any account of travels in the seventeen European countries they have visited so far. In addition to the day-by-day narrative, there are splendid photographs, a thorough account of local flora and fauna, maps and detailed reviews of campsites and other overnight locations for the motorhome.

In addition to their experience and skills as travellers, Paul and Sheila have a sound understanding of European history and politics and a well-rehearsed perspective on the ever-widening and highly regrettable schism between the UK and its European neighbours. It has even reached a stage when many in England deny that they are European and regard 'Europe' as a foreign country!

Paul & Sheila write (in part):

“For us, 2018 has been another rewarding year of travels with our circumnavigation of the Baltic, beginning and ending in Hanseatic Lübeck, spending up to 6 weeks each in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, with the privilege of visiting the Parliaments of each of the Baltic Republics, and returning through South Finland, island hopping down the Turku Archipelago and the Åland Islands (our favourite spot on this dear planet of ours) and SE Sweden; a total of 8,700 miles through 8 European countries while the privileged freedom of Schengen still allows this and before the madness of buffoons closes the European door. And now during this miserable winter, we are enjoying the nostalgia of revisiting our travels, enjoying the process of writing them up, gradually adding travelogue episodes to our website.

“As liberal-minded socialists, we doubtless share with you feelings about the unspeakably incompetent, corrupt clowning of the Tory establishment, and the unforgivable non-governing of the country in favour of childlike squabbling; we feel let down by the even greater self-destructive, self-indulgent folly of a Labour Party incapable of managing effective Opposition, let alone being trusted with governing the country; we never cease to be amazed at the indifferent, gullible, tabloid-deluded British public, obsessed by the bread and circuses of royal weddings and similar establishment-contrived distractions; and finally we are appalled by the loutish self-centred greed and absence of any courtesy, good manners and consideration for others, that has become the behavioural norm of contemporary society. It speaks volumes about the divided extremes of today's society that, in the principal shopping street of Leicester city centre (and doubtless every other town and city across the country), the doorways of now closed former shops provide some little shelter for increasing numbers of homeless who daily compete for space to lay out their sleeping bags, as Christmas shoppers pass indifferently by.

“And what of 2019? A rhetorical question. I think we shall seek solace and sanctuary with the reindeer and pine forests of Northern Finland, in the hope of enjoying some peace and the absence of contaminating humans.”

In a later email in response to our comments on the dangers of cycling in the UK, they wrote:

“We particularly empathised with your words about British driving mal-attitudes towards cyclists. Our neighbour and friend, Dave Cooper (graduate of Lincoln College Oxford, friend, boon-companion, polymath and conversationalist extraordinary, traveller, cyclist, mountaineer, and sailor) was knocked from his bike close to home and killed in 2008, before the law was changed on causing death by careless driving; the killer-driver received a token slap on the wrist! We share your words about driving attitudes towards cyclists contrasting UK with continental countries and Scandinavia.”

An indication of what cyclists face out on the road is summarised in this unedited fulmination from Ian Shires, another motorhomer of our acquaintance. He now lives in the Yorkshire Dales (cyclists keep away!) but has close links with Hungary through his partner Judit.

“In the past Hungary was pretty good regarding roads. But now the government are pandering to the Cycling Mafia and building cycle paths instead of repairing roads. They claim to have over 2,000 kilometers of cycle track. You can cycle from Vienna to Budapest, all the way round Lake Balaton and even Budapest to Krakow. The government (that means the people who get grants from the EU and give the work to a family friend) claim to have 200 kilometers of cycle paths in Budapest alone. However, a cycle path mostly means a yellow line marking a lane down one side of a pavement or road and stealing pedestrian or car space. They can even cycle the wrong way down a one way street.

The cycle mafia are a sad lot and seem to think they are the only ones who can save the world. But they often do this by riding on the footpath, across zebra crossing, ignore traffic signal and so on. A purpose built cycle path now parallels the Danube near Batthyány Tér in Budapest. Cyclists often do not use it but speed along the footpath scaring pedestrians. One got a surprise when Ian refused to move and pointed to the cycle path only 2 meters away. The idiot was even more surprised when, after attempting to push Ian out of the way, he ended up on the floor in a tangle of spokes and dayglow Lycra.

We notice that cyclists in the UK now seem to carry cameras so they can record their accidents. Are they wanting accidents to happen?

We along with millions of others have developed a loathing for the self righteous Lycra Louts who take up too much space on roads and use up far too much oxygen. If they want to be really healthy, stop riding a bike and walk. Cycling is exercise cheating.”

More of the same on the Shires' website: Bessie on the Move. No surprise that Ian voted to leave the EU, while spending over half the year travelling in mainland Europe!