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!
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