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Easy does it along the promenade

8:00am Tuesday 9th March 2010 in


BOURNEMOUTH’S cycling fraternity needs Nicholas Rowntree like a hole in the head.

Nicholas is the “arrogant” middle-aged cyclist who doesn’t like the kind of rules and regulations that can influence his level of enjoyment in the saddle.

Unlike the vast majority of his fellow cyclists, Mr Rowntree appears unable to accept the safety aspects of speed limits and biking behaviour around pedestrians and his so-called “infuriation” does a true disservice to the many who somehow manage to work within the guidelines.

But here’s the laughable bit.

That infuriation was aimed “at council busybodies telling me how to ride a bike.”

It makes me wonder whether Mr Rowntree drives a car.

Indeed, whether he manages to keep within the speed limit and whether he throws his toys out of his pram every time a traffic cop stops him for his erratic driving.

I did my fair share of cycling up and down the promenade last year and I admit that it’s sometimes difficult to stay within the 10 miles per hour speed limit, especially during the quiet of the evening.

But if the two factions – pedestrians and cyclists – are going to co-exist without conflict, the attitude of both has to be right.

Perhaps Mr Rowntree should spend less time moaning about council staff and more time with his hands on his handlebars.

Comments(13)

Trish1 says...
8:39am Tue 9 Mar 10

What is the matter with cyclists like Mr Rowntree. His attitude is just what law abiding cyclists don't need with more bad press. I wonder how arrogant he would feel, if someone like him hurt a member of his family?

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Tony7 says...
10:23am Tue 9 Mar 10

Pictured clutching a skateboard at the age of 43 ,surely it can't be his.

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mikey2gorgeous says...
10:32am Tue 9 Mar 10

We get one tit on a bike and it's a major news story.
.
Can the Editor print some details of how many people have been killed or seriously injured by bikes both along the prom and generally in our conurbation?
.
Why is so much time & effort being spent against cyclists (who don't pose a serious threat to our health) and not against motorists??

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Fightingback says...
12:32pm Tue 9 Mar 10

No-one has been killed that's why its a waste of council time and money.

And the police are pathetic. Bikes dont have speedos so no-one knows for certain how fast they are pedalling.

Cops go and catch some real villains or cut your force numbers and save us some dosh

Good on you Mr Rowntree - I loved your fruit pastils when I was younger.

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butlincat says...
12:45pm Tue 9 Mar 10

If one is casting aspertions as this paper is on people, then I would like to draw the aspertion as to the fact of newspapers and the general media not reporting on the Hollie Greig sexual abuse case which is sweeping the internet, namely because a paedophile ring has been exposed which contains such figures as a top policeman,social workers,nurses and a Sheriff in Scotland.The BBC were about to do a programme on thisd case before they were warned off,etc etc. Please see the videos outlining this case of sexual abuse on a Downs Syndrome girl named Hollie Greig on youtube, or simply google "Hollie Greig".A childs well being may depend on ny action you take to stop this unacceptable behaviour

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psatlast says...
2:12pm Tue 9 Mar 10

Does he also ride on pavements and ignore red lights?

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In Absentia says...
2:34pm Tue 9 Mar 10

I do actually agree with most of the editors comments here, but the hypocrisy coming from a local paper that prints some of the tittle-tattle it does is laughable.

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cajohnson says...
4:30pm Tue 9 Mar 10

people/men like Mr Rowntree ruin it for the rest of us. It really annoys me when I see cyclists hurtling along the seafront as if they are in the Tour de France - totally inappropriate behaviour and a total danger to other users especially young children. The rules are there to keep people safe. (And if it is his skateboard need I say more?)

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traindriver3ss says...
4:55pm Tue 9 Mar 10

mikey2gorgeous wrote:
We get one tit on a bike and it's a major news story.
.
Can the Editor print some details of how many people have been killed or seriously injured by bikes both along the prom and generally in our conurbation?
.
Why is so much time & effort being spent against cyclists (who don't pose a serious threat to our health) and not against motorists??
The problem mikey is idiots like this give ammunition to those who say that cyclists ignore red lights, shouldn't be allowed to ride on any pavement etc etc. People have been killed being hit by cyclists. Motorists don't tend to drive on pavements which is why The Echo is publishing this. I've seen this moron riding along the prom like a lunatic he doesn't give a toss about any pedestrians and something needed to be done. If we Cyclists defend dangerous idiots like this we ALL get a bad name

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The Seasider says...
11:19pm Tue 9 Mar 10

Ive twice seen cyclists knock over toddlers on the promenade- one cyclist was speeding another wasnt. I like to cycle along the front myself and it irritates me to see the speed nuts who think this is a race circuit track. Its about time to place speed humps every 200 metres or so- so cyclists can still ride but without building up great speed.

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mikey2gorgeous says...
11:26am Wed 10 Mar 10

@traindriver3ss - actually the figures for pedestrians being killed on pavements and crossings was over 5,000 a year in the mid-90s!
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I agree with the scapegoating issue - that's why I keep calling for the paper to present some facts about the situation in general (ie what is the REAL risk here) - but that wouldn't sell as many papers!

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The-Bleeding-Obvious says...
7:20am Mon 15 Mar 10

Are cyclists more at risk from motorist on the road or are pedestrians more at risk from cyclists on the prom? I suspect the former is true. One thing is certain, cyclist dont seem to have the right of way anywhere. Except in a velordrome!

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mmmmmmm says...
7:43pm Tue 23 Mar 10

as a prominent member of the cycling "fraternity" i say we need idiots like neal butterworth like a hole in the head.
his nonsensical demonisation of cyclists is translated into drivers treating cyclists with no respect on both the roads and the promenade.
Cyclists are vulnerable road users and motorists owe them a duty of care.
it is perfectly safe for bikes to exceed 10 mph on the prom,the attituce of pedestrians who deny this is the problem, not the cyclists.

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