It looks like the bi-weekly meeting of all London cyclists will have to be moved forward a few days, following an unsavoury incident involving a New Statesman journalist yesterday:
London cyclists: I have nothing against 99% of you, but one of your number just sped through a red light and hit me on a pedestrian crossing, then swore at me and sped into the distance as I stood there in shock. Please do better
— Rachel Cunliffe (@RMCunliffe) April 24, 2023
Rachel Cunliffe, the New Statesman’s senior associate editor, tweeted that a cyclist in the capital “just sped through a red light and hit me on a pedestrian crossing, then swore at me and sped into the distance as I stood there in shock.”
Now, obviously that particular cyclist is completely at fault here, and should be condemned for putting a pedestrian in danger.
However, it’s Cunliffe’s claim that, despite having “nothing against 99 percent” of London cyclists, the fact that “one of your number” put her in danger means they should all “please do better”.
Oh, and she also noted in a separate tweet that “traffic lights are for bicycles too”.
Traffic lights are for bicycles too
— Rachel Cunliffe (@RMCunliffe) April 24, 2023
While it seems to be waning in recent years in the halls of Westminster, as a politics journo Cunliffe should be well aware of the concept of collective responsibility – and how it can’t possibly apply to groups of road users.
As individual cyclist after individual cyclist lined up to tell her on Twitter, with varying degrees of wit, as we’re all individuals of course (cue Monty Python clip…).
I'm sorry that happened to you, and you have my sympathies. Please don't treat us as all the same. I don't hold you responsible for Kenneth Noye, the road rage murderer just because you're also a driver. Don't hold me responsible for the specific cyclist you encountered.
— CyclingMikey (@MikeyCycling) April 24, 2023
“But what has it got to do with the 99 percent of cyclists who haven’t hit you?” wrote Stephen. “We aren’t some grand organisation who are responsible for each other.
“We’re just a bunch of people who share the same mode of transport – some legally, some not – just like any other cross section of society.”
Drivers: I have nothing against 99% of you, but some of your number kill 5 people a day. Please do Better. https://t.co/TgWIrwteJE
— David 🚴♂️ (@HaaaaWords) April 25, 2023
“This type of behaviour is unacceptable by any road user,” noted Paul. “However I’ve had a word with every cyclist so everything should be good from now on.”
Fair play.
London journalists, I have nothing against 99% of you, but you may want to rethink this approach to collective blame.
— Owler Nook (@Owler_Nook) April 24, 2023
Others, meanwhile, noted the potential repercussions of Cunliffe’s call for cyclists to “do better”, following the actions of one.
“Thanks. My daughter is cycling home from school at this minute, and you’ve just made her journey more dangerous,” said Michael.
“Look at the replies. You are egging on the anti-cycling nutters, and they’re armed with two tonne vehicles. My daughter is only armed with a school uniform.
“I vent about dangerous driving when I encounter it but invoking collective responsibility puts other people on bikes at risk.”
Meanwhile, others wondered whether the New Statesman journo had actually encountered the new five-abreast cavalcade of cyclists now accompanying Our Dear Leader – sorry, I mean Rishi Sunak.
was this one of them? https://t.co/RxO84PQoZH
— Sascha O'Sullivan (@saschaosullivan) April 24, 2023
Alright cyclists, time to stand in the corner and think about what we’ve done…