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Ex Cambridge mayor offers parking lessons to drivers parked in cycle lanesCambridge (CC licensed by mariosp)

Ex Cambridge mayor offers parking lessons to drivers parked in cycle lanes

Apparently no-one’s yet taken him up on his kind offer
by Alex Bowden
Sat, Sep 26, 2015 13:41
7

Ian Nimmo-Smith – a former mayor of Cambridge, and an expert in artificial intelligence and brain sciences – has grown so tired of drivers parking in cycle lanes that he has taken to offering them parking lessons. The 70-year-old now routinely leaves his mobile number on inconsiderately parked vehicles, offering his services – but hasn’t yet had any takers.

Nimmo-Smith, who represented East Chesterton for the Liberal Democrats, told Cambridge News that his most recent encounter with bad parking was on East Road.

"You'll be surprised to learn that the offer of my services has not yet been taken up but my offer of training in considerate parking is still open.

"It is dangerous for cyclists, particularly along that road as there is a dodgy moment when you have to move into the cycle way and if there is a car parked there it is very dangerous.

"This is not the first time I have offered lessons. I have put notes on cars offering inconsiderate drivers lessons in good parking practice but I have never had any comeback or calls."

The note reads: "Obstructing the cycle way like this is ILLEGAL and DANGEROUS. For free lessons…" followed by Nimmo-Smith’s phone number.

Cambridge city councillor George Pippas recently said that he was "surprised and distraught" that people had been parking in cycle lanes near Addenbrooke's, but a Cambridge University Hospitals spokesman said its security contractor had now received permission from the private road owners to manage the stretch and would be issuing fixed penalty notices on their behalf.

Nimmo-Smith said: "I did see that Councillor Pippas highlighted the problem in his ward so clearly this is a widespread problem across the city. Just as drivers will park on pavements they will park on cycle ways and must think that pedestrians and cyclists are the lowest of the low."

When Cambridge cyclists started posting pictures of vehicles parked in bike lanes on a website back in 2010, no fewer than eight police vehicles made it into the hall of shame.

In 2014, Toronto cyclists started placing stickers on cars to shame drivers into thinking twice about doing so in future. However, while some welcomed the idea, others worried that it could lead to conflict between motorists and cyclists.

Cambridge
parking in cycle lanes
Ian Nimmo-Smith
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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7 comments

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A V Lowe | 9 years ago
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In Scotland obstructing a cycle route has a specific offence, in England, depending on the traffic order various offences, adn IFAIK they can be prosecuted on photographic evidence.

Automated cameras are linked to automated systems which issue FPN's, but there is surely a role for trains and accredited people to use the same system, by submitting photographs and videos with assigned offences to the system, which than processes these at low cost, and with thousands of potential enforcers recruited.

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Titanium collarbone | 9 years ago
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Cycling in Cambridge yesterday on Hills Road along the splendid new cyclepath, 1.5 metres wide, red in colour and separated from the road a clear kerb. Passing the "Perse School for (over privileged) Boys" there were at least five cars parked dropping off precious little Tarquins and Hugos slap bang in the middle of the cyclepath, parking attendents at the school gate doing absolutly nothing. I can only assume the parents think it's a long red layby for dropping off their little darlings for extra prep, rubbing linseed oil into the school cormorant, or what ever they get up to on a Saturday morning.
All power to Cllr Nimmo-Smith, crushing the offending cars seems very attractive, better than crushing a cyclist.

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racyrich | 9 years ago
0 likes

He should have a word with the mayor of Vilnius about how to deal with cars in cycle lanes.

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Batchy | 9 years ago
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Cycle Lanes with broken/pecked lines are car parks. Aren't they ? ? ? !

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Mungecrundle | 9 years ago
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The problem is not so much that it's inconvenient to have to pull out to ride around the illegally parked vehicle, but the risk of catching a bar end on the paintwork or taking the wing mirror off. It could result in losing control of the bicycle.

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Metaphor | 9 years ago
0 likes

A good lesson would be if the vehicle was crushed.

Until then I just take the whole lane whenever I see the cycle lane blocked by a car.

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LarryDavidJr | 9 years ago
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Quote:

others worried that it could lead to conflict between motorists and cyclists.

errrr ..... parking in the cycles lanes IS a conflict between cyclists and motorists.

Do we seriously 'worry' about conflict by pointing out to people that they are selfish single minded pricks? Shall we remind ourselves of exactly which party is in the wrong here?

(I know that quote is from Toronto, but it was being applied to this story in a manner to suggest there was a similar concern).

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