OPEN SEASON ON CYCLISTS ?

Season  of Peace and Goodwill to ALL ? Are YOU kidding ?
The only good thing about the Festive season is that it is nearly over ! Unseasonably warm weather here in Austria , has seen me out on the bike most days , instead of on Touring Skis . Despite dental and stomach problems , i have been able to get 3+hrs daily , on the bike , on the dry roads in sunny weather , even dressed as if out on a Summer's Day at the Giro or TDF.

Whilst the normal expectation for the Tirol is good snow , this season it arrived in the East Tirol , particularly around Lienz , where i spent the weekend watching the Women's Ski races . The mothers of two local families were able to see their Daughters race in the World Tour . In previous posts , i have mentioned riding with Eva Marie Brem's mother , there are photos of them both elsewhere . Alexandra Daum's  family , whom i have also ridden with over the years , were also happily watching their Daughter come in at 17th in her race .

Elsewhere , the Internet has  reported any number of Outrageous behaviours towards Cyclists in a variety of countries . I have had my share of " Mutants " that decide that Cyclists have NO RIGHTS on the roads , even recently on an empty , quiet country road , where a " local " decided to express their displeasure with klaxon/horn as they passed " tapping " their " empty? head "! This incident escalated and left the local Polizei telling mr that drivers EXPECT Cyclists to use the " Cycle Paths ( cluttered with snow , ice & stones )"?

Here are a FEW of the links to World Wide Cycling Stories that i have seen in recent days :

http://www.victorharbortimes.com.au/story/1994036/cyclist-killed-in-alleged-hit-and-run-at-lower-inman-valley/?cs=1537

http://road.cc/content/news/104036-lorry-driver-jailed-death-careless-driving-kent-cyclist

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/felix-baur-killed-while-training-in-spain

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/9555204/Cyclist-hit-by-egg

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-78481974/

http://t.co/jXhw8ppgag

http://www.keyetv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/cyclist-killed-crash-crusaded-bike-lanes-15105.shtml

http://globalvisionremixed.wordpress.com/2013/09/02/what-is-a-cyclists-life-worth-in-australia/

http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/melbourne-man-killed-in-los-angeles-riding-bike-20131224-2zvw4.html

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/cyclists-allegedly-assaulted-on-beach-road-20131228-300kp.html

http://www.examiner.com.au/story/1995867/cyclist-killed-on-west-tamar-highway/?cs=95

http://www.watoday.com.au/rugby-union/wales-rugby/woman-crashes-with-cyclist-in-byford-20131229-301ex.html

Many MORE stories are out there , but as a lone voice , i have few options to try to assist in creating the breakthrough needed to help bridge the divide between Cyclists ( Vulnerable Road Users ) and Motorists (Careless, Aggressive or MINDLESS ) .

World Wide , there are numerous " Cycling safety Org.s " in many Countries , each have their NEEDS  , Ideas & Initiatives that could be used by OTHERS , to meet the same target : SAFE USE of the ROADS BY CYCLISTS ! 

 Politicians in most English speaking Countries are BUSY promoting Cycling for many reasons . They see the opportunity to reduce " Infrastructure Costs " , reduce Health services and WIN votes . SElf serving Media Op.s have been created by Boris Johnson , Mayor of London with his Blue Paint Super Highways ? David Cameron , Prime Minister of U.K., hopping on his down market mountain bike with a Helmet hanging off his handlebars ? Tony Abbott on the Sunday of his Election to Prime Minister of Oz , riding his Up market street bike , properly kitted out , with his mates . Years ago we were seeing George Bush , out on his MTB with a guy he possibly no longer wishes to talk with , i know the former Premier of Sth Oz , no longer wishes to be reminded of that person .

Knowing that Politicians and EVEN Police Forces are ONLY Interested in their OWN backyard , i thought that Creating an opportunity for ALL the International Safety Groups to come together would be appropriate. Seems that this idea has fallen short of my expectations :

https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/ioc-chairman-thomas-bach-create-an-international-umbrella-cycling-safety-organisation

Are there any of my readers that are NOT Interested in Sport ? How many Athletes , grew up without aspiring to succeed to High Level Competition , perhaps even the Olympics ?  Most High level Athletes use Cycling as Cross Training , even " Jo public ",  uses Spinning at the Gym as a form of exercise . Fact is some form of Cycling Exercise is used by most that aspire to Fitness or Competition .

This petition , could have been aimed at the UCI as the manager of the " Umbrella Org. " , but since Skiers , Rowers and other Athletes using Leg Muscles , take to the ROADS for Cross Training , i thought to make the agenda more inclusive . Thinking Social media would assist i have posted links in " Twitter , Facebook & LinkedIn " , virtually to no avail !

Currently i have been advised by " @change " , that i could be addressing the Petition to the wrong person ? WHO runs IOC ?  Thomas Bach having recerntly taken over from Jacques Rogge , no doubt delegates responsibilities to OTHERS , but WHEN did you contact the low man on the totem pole to get the BOSS to take action ? So far @change has not seen fit to reply to my request that they assist in promoting to the "Social Media World "! " LinkedIN " tell me that i have numerous contacts :

Your LinkedIn Network

955 Connections link you to 9,852,113+ professionals

14,320 New people in your Network since December 23

Oh yeah ? ALL ASLEEP during the Festive Season ?

Facebook show 4000+ friends ! I know of a couple that are awake !

Twitter show 217 followers at present , my blogs used to be posted automatically after " publishing " , not any more it seems ?

IN summing up SOCIAL MEDIA appears to be a DEAD LOSS !

Once again i wsould like to remind People that December 2013 has been UNKIND to Cyclists , certainly in those English Speaking areas that i see reported .

I use my bike to " Advocate Para Sport " at the Grand Tours , i have NO WISH to join their Community !

Each Cyclist is alone on their bike , yet the following is what they can expect as an Individual .

  

Any doubts about the DANGERS on a bike , visit this Hospital workers feed :

https://twitter.com/jessica_r_lane

Those that are adverse to wearing Helmets , may have been  reminded of the NEED , with the recent terrible news of Michael Schumacker ? Every Ski story about him shows him wearing a Helmet ! 

Addendum :

Earlier there was a link to THOSE Mutants that chose to attack Melbourne Cyclists , weighing in on this Story is the FAMOUS FOOT IN MOUTH , Melbourne Radio/Media "star"( legend in his own mind ) Darren Hinch :

http://www.humanheadline.com.au/hinch-says/no-love-lost

Must have read my Facebook comment to the article on Saturday :

 "  With the rego plate visible in the photo , it is likely that the Police will take MORE Severe action AGAINST any Cyclist retaliating against these Mutants , thaese Mutants , were NOT aware of the damage they were creating should seek counselling ? That they were not locked up IMMEDIATELY demonstrates thast the Police are condoning the CONTINUAL BULLYING of Cyclists, let alone unable to HONOUR their Responsibilities to the Community they " Serve & Protect "!