Now, I like Top Gear's brand of laddish adventure humour and I don't really see that there should be any fuss over what was clearly designed as a funny bit in a show where nothing (even the car reviews) is taken too seriously. Bear in mind that all of the presenters have been known to ride bikes in the real world, consider how they are actually mocking themselves and look at the support form Chris Boardman in his role as a government advisor. Yes, it raises a clear point about how some motorists see cyclists, but by even including it in a car programme it's making a point that they are a legitimate part of the road landscape. I even think a good point was made about busses which are not always the nicest vehicle to negotiate around and about being courteous to other road-users. I'm sure not everyone will agree with me but then some people are determined to feel put down and attacked whatever they do.
There was debate of a different type in Surrey where one person's separated trail for bikers to keep them off the shared bridleway and less of a threat to other users (from MBR) is another's serious risk of upsetting horses at trail crossings. You can't really have it both ways, on balance I think the new trail is a great idea to keep everyone safer and happier, but horseriders will never agree. I mean you could get me startedon the way horses rip up muddy trails like no bike ever does butI won't...
Finally there was a question raised about whether the Boris Bikes would be better without all that annoying pedalling. Something Jeremy Clarkson might well approve of, but not, somehow,the point.
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