cookiepuss

I have just been reading news stories about the latest round of London bombings, or "attempted" bombings as some were not successful. In almost all the articles I read I saw such quotes as "One Londoner said everyone he knew was buying bicycles." (source)

It is sad that something like terror attacks makes people want to get bicycles in order to avoid using the subway systems.

"This is a replay of last week. Everyone I know is buying bicycles now," said Allan Harp, 32, as he left a bus that was stuck in traffic. (source)

"I wouldn't take the Tube now," he said. "I'll buy a bicycle or walk." (source)

Kyle90

That's true, but! It's safer, and it may help some people in other ways (health, ect..)

jeff williams

Londoners are smart cookies.
A folding bike stashed if you can, commute if you will.
Folding bikes have a history as -military adaptations.

Paracyclists. ?

womble

Having spent four years living in London, I suspect that people are not buying bicycles out of a fear of terrorist attack. Londoners are not so easily frightened.

It is more likely that they are buying them to avoid the massive pile of poo that is the London public transport system. The Tube breaks down with regularity, and anything out of the ordinary brings most of the system to a grinding halt and the resulting overflow of people easily overloads the bus system. The recent series of bombs has just given people that extra spurt of motivation to do something to avoid the Tube.

Wierd Beard

It is actually true that bike sales went up 70% after the first round of bombings. No matter how smart you are, when something like this happens on your front door its difficult to not be a bit scared.
However, I think once they get used to it most people will wonder why they never did it before. All my friends who work in London cycle because it is much faster than any other means of transport.

Dahon.Steve

In one of the articles, they shot a man because he was wearing a coat. It didnt' say if the guy was a bomber or anything. He tripped over the police, fell to the ground and they put five rounds into him. Incredible. I suppose his family should be given millions for this wrongful death.

Back to the bicycles. After the second attack, I'll bet the bikes are selling like hot cakes. However, I still believe that once this subsides, all those bikes will eventually end up collecting dust.

Ubie

Looks like i'll be upping my bike commute from 3x/week to 5x here in NYC because of this inanity:
https://www.newsday.com/news/nationwo...-top-headlines

I don't mind police actions that will effectively keep the public safe. I do mind policies that practically beg for abuses of power and haven't got a snowball's chance in hell of actually achieving their stated goals.

Roughstuff

Yes...i always thought bikes should be marketed as part of an overall pollution reduction/weight control/health fitness/improved transit policy. I hope the British rediscover their love of walking as well, especially those pilgrimages to Canterbury that I read so much about.

Of course, you can put enough plastic explosive inside of a bicycle frame to wipe out a city block. And with ga-ga authorities gushing over bicycles as an alternative form of transport, thats probably exactly what will happen. Does an unattended bike get the same attention as an unattended bag, or illegally parked car? I doubt it.

roughstuff

Roughstuff

In reverse order...lets hope that they don't. There are so many parks and country lanes in the British country, even in and near london itself, lets hope its a habit that sticks and grows.

As for our wonderful bomber, even the earliest stories reported that he jumped the ticket booth, ran down the platform despite repeated calls to stop, and bullied his way onto a train. All this wearing a trench coat in midsummer. While I am sure more facts will come in, on the basis of what I see so far I doubt a civil or criminal jury would find the police actions beyond the pale under the prevailing circumstances.

roughstuff

alanbikehouston

In England, they have a quaint custom: before they hold the police liable for a "wrongful death", they will gather the evidence, talk to witnesses, take statements, hold hearings, maybe even have a trial.

My guess: if the evidence shows that the deceased disobeyed a police order to "stop" in a subway station, just after a bombing, there won't be many English jury members upset with the police.

Dahon.Steve

You're right. It appears the person was a suspect and most likely one of the bombers. I retract my former statement.

Pampusik

Yah, I just saw a short CNN clip on that. But, they also mention that taxi rides are down. Perhaps people are biking more because the cost of transportation and gridlock are too great...?

Roughstuff

Oh yeah!? Trying to curry favor by moving in my direction, eh? I won't stand for it. I am gonna move in your direction too. After all, lets not start gunning down everyone who wears a coat. Still, I agree the released facts seem to suggest he was a reasonable suspect.

I got an idea. Lets require everyone in a subway to wear skin tight spandex. Then, if you have a noticeable bulge, its either a bomb, or, or....well, its a bomb.

Roughstuff

grapetonix

heh... That's true. But then maybe it would be possible to construct an edible bomb. Or to make the spandex out of nitrocellulose

To be serious, I have also had minor thought about the tube terror issue, even though I live in Stockholm...

Roughstuff

Nitrocellulose? hmmm...gives whole new meaning to the expression blow it out your ass!

Yes, in fact I have talked to Gatwick and Heathrow authorities about it, because even post-911 I was allowed to run rampant (left unattended in the baggage area) with my bike box. Not only is there the issue of the fact that the solid metal frame provides an excellent shield, and excellent shrapnel as well, but the fact is that the frame could be coated with a thin layer of lead and thus even a radiological bomb could go undetected.

Bikes could also dash down largely uprotected and policed alleyways and blow up the far more vulnerable sides (in contrast to the hardened fronts) of buildings.

Not that I have given it much thought.

When I was on assignment in the pacific a Marine told me he got so sick of being ripped off in broad daylight by gangs of Filpino youths that he loaded up his fram with explosive and blew them all to hell after the ran off stealing it. I doubt it.

roughstuff

Dchiefransom

I've seen the machines they use to look at stuff, in action. You can tell if something with tubing, like a bike, is hollow. If there's not that "hollow" look, it should be easy to spot.

smurfy

Not to get off topic, but I believe Tony Blair can solve this London bombing problem overnight: just get the heck out of Iraq!!!

linux_author

1. OT: -1
2. wrong forum: -1
3. poor troll: -1
4. ******** world view: -1
5. being a Buckeye: -1

total: -5

you're outta here!

smurfy

Yes, I agree with #1 and 2, but I'm not a troll and I have an ADVANCED world view since I'm for PEACE instead of endless war and occupation!

You are correct on #5 since Ohio is now a pro-Bush festering sore that's the mother of voter fraud thanks to Ohio-based Diebold.

So it looks like my revised score is:-3

So I'm not "outta here" unless the moderator says so, NOT YOU!

linux_author

- thanks to the miracle of modern software, yes you are!

- ta ta!

PLONK!

:-)

Bikepacker67

Doubtful.

Many of the Imam's in the U.K. have no qualms about calling for the creation of an Islamic state in Britain.
How do you suppose they plan on bringing about this transition from a liberal, secular civilization, to a paternal, religious based civilization?


I just get a kick out of the far leftys playing apologist for the Islamic fascists - if the Imams ever get their way, ya'll will be the first ones rounded up and beheaded in the former soccer fields.